Woodenhead

Artisan Wines

Woodenhead wines are lovingly made by hand in accordance with the cyclical patterns of the land, the water, the air, and the seasons. There is no mechanical pumping used. What you get is French oak, inoculated yeast, malolactic cultures, hand punching, basket pressing, and California fruit. The aim is to produce ultra-premium wine in small, distinctive lots.

The Heads of Woodenhead

The winemaker for Woodenhead is Nikolai Stez. His immigrant parents taught him how to make the traditional Russian beverage "kvas," which is a fermented bread or fruit drink when he was a young boy. He began making home wines sincerely in 1986 after making wines for his biology and botany classes in college. Zina Bower, an escapee from Los Angeles and Nick's business partner, is the other half of this equation. She was bitten by the wine bug in 1992 and has been obsessed with wine ever since.

The Russian River Valley AVA

Approximately one-sixth of the total planted vineyards in Sonoma County are located in the Russian River Valley AVA. The climate in the Russian River Valley is typically cool and is greatly influenced by the fog that is produced by the valley's proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Pinot noir and Chardonnay are two cool climate grapes that the region is renowned for producing successfully. The Woodenhead tasting room is situated in the heart of the Russian River Valley.