Katie Hughes, main host of La Crema
For those wine-loving, adventure-seeking and sustainability-supporting travelers, Celler La Crema provides informative information The best of The Vine Estate Tour this gives you a new appreciation for one of Sonoma County’s premier winemakers.
The estate’s vineyard entrance is filled with flowers as guests drive down a long paved driveway to a historic barn. This is the tasting and educational center of La Crema. Bright red umbrellas provide shade on warm, sunny days as guests select from a variety of on-site tasting opportunities.
What was once a cattle barn in the 1880s was converted 100 years later into a luxurious four-story wine house by previous owners Saralee and Richard Kunde.
The estate’s main host, Katie Hughes, welcomes visitors with a pour of Saralee Rose 2022 before taking a tour of the luxury barn-style home.
Tour of the ‘Barn’ of La Crema – Photo Jill Weinlein
The multi-level tasting room offers a glimpse into the Saralee Lounge and custom kitchen upstairs. “Because Saralee was six feet tall, the kitchen counters are taller than a normal kitchen,” Hughes said on the tour.
There is an extensive art collection that shows Saralee’s love of the land, farming and cows. “The Kunde family has deep agricultural roots in the area,” Hughes said. “Richard is from the multi-generational Kunde Family Winery in Sonoma Valley, and Saralee’s family were dairy farmers in Two Rock. When they bought this property in 1988, they started planting grapes in 1989.’
Glorious La Crema Vineyard Views – Photo by Jill Weinlein
Saralee and Richard woke up every morning looking at their vineyard. Adjacent to their master bedroom is a marble master bath they built. Visitors will notice a huge shower with multiple heads.
Legacy Cream – Photo by Jill Weinlein
Stopping to admire a mural, you’ll notice that the Jackson family now owns the winery. Barbara R. Banke is an innovative leader in the wine industry, president and owner of Jackson Family Wines, which she co-founded with her late husband, Jess Jackson.
“When Saralee became ill with cancer, she and Richard offered the Jackson family the first opportunity to purchase La Crema Winery,” Hughes said. “Saralee knew that Barbara and her daughter Katie Jackson had the same style of viticulture and would carry on their legacy.”
Katie Hughes pouring wine at La Crema vineyard – Photo Jill Weinlein
The La Crema estate at Saralee’s Vineyard is spacious. Guests tour as they ride a bumpy golf cart through the vineyards with a glass of wine in hand. The tour enlightens visitors about the Jackson family’s sustainability initiatives. When they bought the 200-acre estate from Saralee and Richard Kunde in 2012, they helped make the winery one of the most recognized in Sonoma County.
While cultivating the land of this iconic vineyard, they continue to foster a sense of community in Sonoma County with their large grassy Richard’s Grove event space.
La Crema event space – Photo by Jill Weinlein
As well as hosting community events, they also host ‘Picnic at the Grove’ in the summer. On selected Saturdays the public can purchase a ticket to arrive in the afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m. La Crema pours wine, has lawn games and offers live music. The food is prepared in one of the wagons converted into a kitchen, and can be bought to pair with La Crema wines.
One of the two rainwater lakes in La Crema – Photo Jill Weinlein
One of the most important areas of the vineyard are the multiple tall cement cisterns. Water from two picturesque rainwater lakes is pumped, filtered and transferred to these cisterns.
These beautiful ponds are full of tadpoles, blue herons and colorful water lilies. “Synergy and biodiversity for regenerative agriculture help maintain the health of the entire vineyard ecosystem,” Hughes said.
Sustainability study in La Crema – Photo by Jill Weinlein
Driving through rows and rows of Pinot Noir grapes, we stopped between two rows to learn about a UC Davis soil test study of five years in the vineyard. There are five different ways these trials help support vine growth and protect the vines.
“We’re planting sweet peas and clover between the vine rows,” Hughes said. “We have South African draft sheep that are short and will eat the dry clover, but they can’t get to the grapes and their protective leaves.”
Some rows are worked to aerate the soil and allow moisture and air to penetrate, while other rows are left natural. The study will help determine what is the healthiest soil and grape maintenance. “They’re determining what toolset and what tools to use going forward,” Hughes said.
Learning about composting – Photo by Jill Weinlein
At the next stop on the tour, Hughes refilled wine glasses with a pour of Saralee’s Chardonnay 2021. We detected almond and floral aromas on the nose, before tasting the essence of brioche, vanilla and butterscotch in the palate
Exploring the vineyard’s compost field, Hughes scooped up a handful of rich soil while discussing the positive impact of spreading compost throughout the vineyard. “There’s enough compost to cover the entire vineyard,” Hughes said.
La Crema is on its way to creating a better tomorrow. As a founding member of International Wineries for Climate Action, La Creme is committed to helping decarbonize the global wine industry.
In collaboration with several third-party agencies, they measure nitrogen and carbon in the soil to benefit the vines. “Once a grape has been crushed, pulpy pomace is added to compost piles to provide nutrients to the soil,” Hughes said. ‘We also don’t throw away the old stems and leaves, we compost them.’ Composting increases the organic matter that goes into landfills. Mulch makes the soil healthier and absorbs water better for retention. They also collect food scraps and manure from neighboring farms to divert up to 99% of organic waste from going to landfills.
Composting in La Crema – Photo by Jill Weinlein
When compost water is steeped it is called “Compost Tea” and is loaded with rich nutrients and healthy organisms. Farmers spray the vines with this tea and add it to the irrigation system.
During the fall, rows of mustard flowers grow. Not only do they look pretty, but they help limit weed growth and prevent soil erosion. They also retain moisture and attract pollinators, such as butterflies and bees.
Admiring all the flowers, I later learned that Richard Kunde proposed to Saralee at Butchart Gardens in British Columbia. He wanted to create a bit of botanical wonderland at his Estate Vineyard.
Birdhouse in the Vineyard – Photo by Jill Weinlein
Among the vines are five areas with nest boxes for raptors, owls and hawks. These safe havens for birds of prey to raise their young also help keep rodents at bay.
In addition to sheep, the vineyard also has chickens that graze on unwanted weeds and provide natural fertilizer. Chickens also maintain the insect population, especially grubs and beetles. When they dig the soil they also aerate it.
Sipping Wines at La Crema – Photo by Jill Weinlein
Sitting on the hayloft terrace, we enjoyed four different Pinot Noirs with cheese and charcuterie. The board had Triple Cream French Brie from Marin French Cheese, Fiscalini Cheddar Cheese from Modesto and a piece of Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese. There were also slices of meat, bowl of olives, some mixed fruit with nuts and different types of biscuits.
Our first pour was Los Carneros AVA 2020 made from grapes grown on the border of Napa and Sonoma. This area is idyllic for growing Pinot with the cool air of the Petaluma Gap, known for its wind tunnel. “Pinot Noir is a diva,” Hughes said. “This wine is aged for 9 months in 30% new French oak.” In addition to the aroma of juicy blackberries and cherry, we tasted some pomegranate and a hint of tobacco. The long finish offered a nice trail of cocoa beans.
Tasting Pinot Noirs from La Crema – Photo by Jill Weinlein
Hughes led us to the indoor pool area and shaded brick patio for our final tastings. Saralee’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 is made from a mosaic of Pinot grapes. “They’re in the barrel for at least 10 months,” he said. We noticed a pleasant floral and berry aroma, and pleasant flavors of black cherry, blueberry and a hint of coffee in every sip.
The last tasting of the tour was a 2021 Skycrest Vineyard Pinot Noir. It was smooth and very easy to drink. Made from grapes near Boonville in the Anderson Valley, this ruby red wine stays longer in barrel to deliver beautiful bright blueberries, ripe plum, hints of black tea and exotic spices on the palate.
Next time you’re in Sonoma Valley, make a reservation to experience La Crema’s dedication to winemaking. From the grapes grown at Saralee’s Estate to the vineyards of Arroyo Seco, Monterey, Los Carneros, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley and Oregon’s diverse Willamette Valley, sustainable practices, organic management and healthy soil provide exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.
