Our first stop on our #PetalumaMade wine tour was Saltonstall Estate. Saltonstall is a sprawling 170-acre estate with both olive trees and pinot noir vines. Sam & Marina Saltonstall bought the property in 1995 as a hobby project and have recently begun bottling their own award-winning olive oil now that the trees are mature enough to produce fruit.
Marina was a gracious host and her wines and olive oil were terrific. I was pleasantly surprised that I liked her 2008 Pinot Noir but I really enjoyed the 2009 Fizzy White made with pinot noir grapes as well. It was a lovely way to start off our day of wine tasting! They find that their property is actually colder than most of Petaluma, which affects the skin of the grapes even more and changes the flavor.
The real winner for me though was the Oregon White Truffle Olive Oil. Heaven! I don’t usually care for most olive oils alone as I feel like there’s not enough flavor to make it worth it, but this was flavorful and rich while still being light. I am still kicking myself for not purchasing a bottle from her when I had the chance. I guess that means I’ll have to go back!
The sprawling grounds are lovely and it’s definitely worth a visit when in Petaluma! We made an appointment to visit during the week, but their normal tasting room hours are Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Be aware that it’s cash only – so be sure to hit the ATM before heading down Spring Hill road for your olive oil fix!
Check out Saltonstall Estate and like them on Facebook!
2805 Spring Hill Rd.
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-658-2581
http://www.yelp.com/biz/saltonstall-estate-petaluma