Now you can enjoy a random wine-inspired quote every time your MyQ page is loaded. Some will delight, some will inspire, some will make you LYAO!

We here at WineQ believe that wine is about telling stories. In fact, each glass of wine is brimming with them! From the land and weather conditions during the year that the grapes were lovingly tended, to the people who harvested each ripe bunch, to the winemakers that make numerous decisions while crafting each vintage. And let’s not forget, your stories! We all have wines that remind us of special times we’ve spent with loved ones, toasting to each other, to more good times together and of course, to sharing more great wine.

So, if you’re interested in stories, then gather round while we tell you a little more about Deerfield Ranch Winery! We recently had the pleasure of visiting the Ranch and hanging out with the Rex family (Robert, PJ, Sandra and Martin), where we got to hear some wonderful stories firsthand. And believe us, it made the wine even more interesting and delicious to get the inside scoop (or should we say, the inside pour!).

Deerfield’s story begins in the 70s, with a friendship and a much-loved Alfa Romeo in need of repair. Known for being a renaissance man, Robert Rex (Deerfield’s founder, winemaker and co-owner) not only possesses a great palate and exceptional talent for both winemaking and gourmet cooking, he’s also a chemist, a graphic designer and has the ability to fix almost anything! Enter PJ (Robert’s future wife and partner) and her Alfa Romeo. The Rex brothers offered to help their friend PJ fix her car, and knowing Robert’s love for cooking (and also that he already had tons of kitchen gadgetry), she decided to buy him a home winemaking kit as a thank-you gift. Thus began Deerfield Ranch Winery and the start of a beautiful relationship! Robert’s very first vintage was award-winning, and with the harvest of 2007, Deerfield celebrated 35 consecutive years of great winemaking.

And, after two years of red tape, Deerfield is now a certified organic wine producer - one of few in Sonoma County! While the winery has been producing wine in this manner for years, they are now officially recognized, and for good reason. The Rexes believe in taking clean wine to the extreme, and as Robert says, “We hand sort all of our grapes and remove anything you wouldn’t feed to a baby.” Deerfield wines also contain very, very low levels of sulfites and histamines - the culprits, for many, of the dreaded red wine headache! PJ herself is personally sensitive to these and says, “It takes eight more people to do the sorting. It’s expensive to make clean wine, but I can drink it without the side effects!” The “first” organic Deerfield wines will be from the 2007 vintage, and WineQ will be proud to offer them once they’re available.

This is definitely an exciting time for Deerfield Ranch and the Rex family and friends. Along with the new CCOF certification, they are also in the midst of greatly expanding their facilities (they’ll now be able to produce upwards of 45,000 cases of wine!) and are doing so in sync with the natural environment. Not only is Deerfield committed to organic/ biodynamic farming and other green practices, they are also restoring 14 acres of wetlands on their property. “Our goal was to restore the wetlands, reestablishing the natural habitat, and to create a beautiful place for people to enjoy nature,” explains PJ. They even have a Bioreactor water treatment system which recycles all of the facilities’ wastewater!

Once the expansion is complete, the winery will finally be open for public tours and tasting, and we encourage you to visit if you can. Not only is Deerfield Ranch a beautiful, serene place to visit (and the new 23,000 sq. ft. wine caves are pretty impressive too!), we promise you’ll love the warm, familial and the eco-friendly environment, not to mention the wonderfully delicious, complex flavors of Deerfield Ranch wine.

But hey, if you can’t get out for a visit anytime soon, we encourage you to live vicariously through your WineQ.

“This well-made wine is not your typical California fruit bomb. It had interesting aromas and flavors and is drinking very well right now.” -One Wine Per Week review of the Sky Saddle Zinfandel

“I liked the wine so much that I added [another] bottle to my Q and a bottle of the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. If they are half as good as this, I think I’m in for a treat.” -Wannabe Wino review of Sky Saddle Zinfandel

“The aroma revealed something very sharp initially, with its hint of peat reminding BK of a glass of scotch, a beverage I personally find rather piercing. Later, it took a graceful bow and began dancing under my nose with vanilla, tar, and a brand new leather jacket then waltzed into black pepper, cherry, plum, and finally a greenhouse of sage and other herbs. The palate was nearly as graceful as it stepped from vanilla to cracked pepper to fig and then to an amazing display of chocolate. We both enjoyed this wine thoroughly.” -Behind the Vines review of Sky Saddle Zinfandel

WineQ’s two newest wineries are both organic producers. Is this a coincidence, you ask? Well, kind of. But, WineQ is always on the lookout for small, boutique wineries of distinction, and often times, this means small, passionate operations making limited lots of handmade wines, from grapes grown with minimal pesticides and without a bunch of commercial manipulation! And, if you ask Matthew Wilson, owner and winemaker of Sky Saddle Wines (and also Assistant Winemaker at Deerfield Ranch, another Q winery), organic, sustainable winegrowing and winemaking is as good for the environment as it is for your vino-loving tastebuds.

Matthew believes that there are some very compelling reasons to go organic when you go for a bottle of wine, with the first being better flavor and taste: “Organic farming starts with nourishment of the soil, which eventually leads to the nourishment of the planet and our palates. Perfectly ripened, organically grown grapes offer pure flavor and great fruit intensity.” In addition, Sky Saddle’s philosophy keeps chemicals out of your glass, supports organic farmers and their health, protects groundwater quality and prevents soil erosion. Who knew that being this environmentally friendly could taste so good?

And Sky Saddle wines certainly do taste good — the wines are all single-vineyard designates and are made to capture the essence and purity of the land from which they come. Matthew believes that “…this is where the organic and biodynamic processes really do shine… these farming methods produce superior grapes and this trend is growing. Such farming methods are widely employed in Europe and some of the best, most prestigious names in California winemaking are heeding the call to better, more sustainable farming practices.”

Sky Saddle has only released two vintages, and all of the wines have won awards. For a limited time, WineQ is pleased to offer their 2003 Zinfandel, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Syrah, after which we plan on snagging more of their offerings when they release their third vintage this Spring! (Be sure to get it while it lasts – Sky Saddle makes less than a thousand cases a year.)

Also for you eco-enthusiasts, Sky Saddle has chosen eco-certified French Oak wood barrels, which originate from environmentally-sustainable managed forests, and water-based paints for their foils. Be sure to check out the lovely photography on their labels – it was taken by none other than Kate Wilson, Matthew’s wife and partner-in-wine!

Watch this video of a Sky Saddle Bottling.

Sky Saddle 2003 Sonoma County Zinfandel $25.99 rich · earthy · black cherry · organic Twin Oaks Vineyards is our favorite! Perched high in the Mayacamas Mountains, the grapes exhibit the brambly character of the volcanic hillside - rich… »More

Sky Saddle 2003 Mendocino County Cabernet Sauvignon $21.99 bold fruit · blackberry · cherry · organic Our Sanel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is full of bold fruit flavors and aromas of blackberry and cherry - a shining example of a wine with a sense of pl… »More

Sky Saddle 2005 Sonoma County Syrah $25.99 lush · dark fruit · organic · syrah The 2005 Sonoma County Syrah is a lush wine and still the darkest wine we have ever seen - lots of color pigments translate to lots of flavors!… »More

Mashable.com, a social networking news site that receives over a million pageviews per month, recently featured a post entitled, “30+ Resources for Enjoying and Learning About Wine.” The list is divided into various categories, including a “Shopping” category where WineQ is aptly featured with the summary, “Load up your queue and build your own monthly wine club.” While “Shopping” is at least partially accurate, I suppose “Online Wine Clubs” would have been a rather short list, since it would only be featuring WineQ!

KillerStartups.com also decided that WineQ was a “killer startup!”

You’ve got a nice selection of red and white wines in your Q, maybe even a couple of rosés — now how about adding some green wines?

Green wine?! Don’t worry, we don’t mean green like the beer on St. Patty’s day. That’s green, as in eco-friendly, environmentally-conscious, organic wine!

Enter Jeriko Estate, WineQ’s newest winery. Jeriko Estate produces hand-crafted artisan wines from 100% organically grown and certified grapes from their vineyards in beautiful southern Mendocino county. Farmed in accordance with the organic standards set forth by the USDA, the vineyard and winery are certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers.

Vinter Daniel Fetzer learned the art of winemaking and viticulture at an early age, being a part of the renowned Fetzer family. (The Fetzer family gained world-wide recognition for producing premium wine while spearheading the organic winegrowing movement.) Today, Daniel is continuing this family heritage at Jeriko Estate.

Danny and the good people at Jeriko are committed to stewardship farming practices and producing fine wines in harmony with nature; implementing new technology with old wisdom is the basis of their tread-gently-upon-the-earth approach. Key to Jeriko’s philosophy is the use of biodynamic and organic farming practices. Danny found that grapes grown in this manner have more structural balance and require less manipulation during the winemaking process, and are also good for animal life and the environment. It’s common to see chickens, goats, and sheep roaming Jeriko’s vineyards and hillsides.

Paying further homage to old wisdom, the name Jeriko Estate was inspired by the ancient civilization of Jericho, with its rich and progressive agricultural history. Dating back 9000 years and written about in the Old Testament, it is referred to as the “City of Agriculture” and widely regarded to be the birthplace of farming.

Today, Jeriko is producing nine varietals, and WineQ is pleased to offer their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Rosé and Brut. The multi-award winning Brut is the nation’s first and only sparkling wine made from certified organic grapes. It also scored 93 points and “Editors Choice” in Wine Enthusiast, placed “Best of Show” in the 2006 premium price category at the prestigious Orange county Fair wine competition, and won a Silver medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Furthermore, this luxurious bubbly is no longer available from Jeriko, so we expect it will go fast — hurry and get yourself a bottle or two for the holidays!

Jeriko Estate 2001 Brut $49.99 lemon · yeast · toasted almonds · luxurious Our award-winning Brut is America’s first and only sparkling wine made from certified organically grown grapes! It’s as unique as it is delicious - cr… »More

Jeriko Estate 2005 Pinot Noir $28.99 raspberry · cherry · black pepper · toasted oak Made from 100% organically grown and certified grapes! This varietally correct Pinot Noir reflects the traditional Burgundian style of silky elegance… »More

Jeriko Estate 2003 Syrah $25.99 blackberry · white pepper · cocoa · bacon Made from 100% organically grown and certified grapes! This lavishly oaked varietal marries lots of juicy blackberry fruit with peppery spice, suggest… »More

Jeriko Estate 2005 Chardonnay $19.99 lemon · tropical fruit · pear · Peach Made from 100% organically grown and certified grapes! This rich yet refreshingly crisp Chardonnay offers intense lemon and tropical fruit aromas, fol… »More

Jeriko Estate 2006 Rosé $12.99 vibrant · dry · strawberry · raspberry Made from 100% organically grown and certified grapes! This vibrant yet dry wine demonstrates complexity, structure and depth, with refreshing berry a… »More

Thank you to Dr. Debs from Good Wine Under $20 for recommending this winery to WineQ!

Founded by husband-and-wife team Michael and Joey Barreto in 2002, Barreto Cellars is a Central Coast Winery dedicated to producing premium-quality wines featuring grape varietals native to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Having relatives who migrated to America from these regions, Michael and Joey have a strong connection and desire to develop fine wines from these unique varietals.

Barreto creates award-winning wines in the New World style, while trying to capture the truly unique characteristics each variety possesses. The climate and soil around the Mediterranean Sea is very similar to the Central Coast of California, providing Barreto the opportunity to create new varietal wines and blends unfamiliar to many wine drinkers. In an attempt to represent both Spain and Portugal equally, a red wine noted for each country is being produced.

Spain is represented by Tempranillo, one of the most widely planted wine grapes in the world and famous for its use in Rioja wines. There are over 15 different names for this grape in Spain alone, but whatever it is called, Tempranillo is known for quality, complexity and great aging potential. The predominant Portuguese red is Touriga Nacional, which plays a big part in many of the best Ports and is increasingly becoming respected as a delicious table wine.

Barreto also features a red blend, Vinho Tinto, made from both of these varietals, as well as a decadent vintage Port! Be sure to catch this write-up on Barreto by redwinebuzz.com, which features reviews of the current vintages of Vinho Tinto, Touriga Nacional and the Tempranillo, as well as an older vintage of the Port and Verdelho.

Barreto Cellars 2004 Vintage Port $34.99 berries · spice · velvety · chocolate Brimming with berries and spice, the seductive nose of our vintage Port invites you to discover what lies beneath its many layers of aromas. The velv… »More

Barreto Cellars 2005 Lodi Verdelho $14.99 crisp · honeysuckle · passion fruit · easy-drinking Crisp acidity, highlighted by aromas of honeysuckle and passion fruit, make this easy-drinking wine a great choice as an aperitif or the perfect accom… »More

Barreto Cellars 2004 Lodi Tempranillo $16.99 Fruit-forward · smooth · velvety · pleasant finish This interpretation of the king of Spanish wines dares to break from tradition by capturing the upfront fruitiness of the variety and presenting it to… »More

Barreto Cellars 2004 Vinho Tinto $17.99 complex · rich · great balance · well-rounded The wines in this blend have melded wonderfully over time and have created a complex and rich-tasting wine with great balance, producing a well-rounde… »More

Barreto Cellars 2004 Touriga Nacional $23.99 bold · Fruit-forward · Floral · spicy Touriga Nacional is one of the main grape varieties used in the production of Port wines. This example makes a bold statement by exhibiting fruit, flo… »More

Bonneau Wines, a favorite among WineQ members, has released new, incredible vintages that are now available on WineQ!

Bonneau 2004 Los Carneros Chardonnay, Catherine’s Vineyard pineapple · ripe apple · vanilla · caramel · cream · smooth · silky · spicy oak · long finish · well-balanced · complex · rich “Our Mission is to produce the best Chardonnay in the world,” says Bonneau owner John Bambury, and with a Double Gold at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, they seem be doing just that. This exquisite Chardonnay is bright golden yellow in color, and aromas of ripe, juicy apples and ripe tropical fruits jump out at you. These ripe fruit flavors fill the palate along with vanilla, caramel and cream derived from aging 10 months in high-quality French oak. The texture is supple with a smooth, silky feel in the mouth. This is a complete and opulent wine that releases its sweet, spicy oak and pineapple flavors before leading to a long, insistent finish. This well-balanced wine has layers of complexity and richness that demonstrate the care and attention to detail in the making of this wine. All the grapes for their flagship Chardonnay wine were hand harvested from the Catherine Bonneau Vineyard and carefully transported to the winery. After gently pressing whole clusters, the juice was fermented in 100% French oak barrels. Bonneau Chardonnay goes well with Brie and fruit, as well as light pasta, rich seafood, poultry & veal. Enjoy the wine now - however, it will continue to gain depth and richness for at least 5 years. »More

Bonneau 2004 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon blackberry · ripe raspberry · cranberry · mocha · cassis allspice · black cherry · ripe fig · full-bodied · smooth · supple tannins Bonneau’s first red wine release from Sonoma County features equal amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes selected from two outstanding vineyards - one located in the Dry Creek appellation and the other on Sonoma Mountain. To enhance and compliment the wine, Petit Verdot and Malbec varietals were blended. In the glass, you’ll find a deep purple-ruby color and wafting aromas of blackberry, ripe raspberry, and cranberry mingled with mocha, cassis and allspice. Our Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied and luscious on the palate, with tannins that are finely integrated with a defined amount of French oak. The texture is smooth as black cherry, juicy black fruit and ripe fig flavors capture the mouth, and the finish is long lasting and satisfying. This wine is made to enjoy with meals in its youth, however, it will continue to gain depth and richness for at least 5-7 years. »More

When it comes to wine, many people have never heard of Contra Costa County, despite the fact that wine grapes have been cultivated there for nearly 120 years. Located on the edge of the California Delta waterway, Contra Costa County has long warm summers with cool evenings and a terroir which, according to Appellation America, produces wines with distinctive earthy, dusty and leathery characteristics.

Unfortunately, laws implemented 60 years ago to protect the agriculture industry have prevented winemaking there, but that hasn’t stopped several vintners from obtaining Contra Costa vines and producing wine. Cline Cellars is one of the more well-known wineries producing wines from Contra Costa County grapes. But, another lesser-known winery - Hannah Nicole Vineyards - has also been in on the secret of Contra Costa fruit and has been quietly earning numerous accolades for its wine for several years now…

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Be first to review it!$23.99 plum · black cherry · licorice · anise Our 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep in color and complex, with intense flavors of plum, black cherry, licorice and anise. … »More SILVER MEDAL, 2007 SF Chronicle Wine Competition

2003 Meritage Be first to review it!$27.99 black cherry · plum · chocolate · mint Deep in color and rich in flavor, this wine exhibits a smooth and elegant texture. Flavors of black cherry and plum converge with hints of chocolate a… »More SILVER MEDAL at 2007 SF Chronicle Wine Competition SILVER MEDAL, 2006 L.A. County Fair Wine Competition

2004 Fumé Blanc Be first to review it!$14.99 grapefruit · citrus · vanilla · smooth Our 2004 Fumé Blanc is a blend of 88% Sauvignon Blanc and 12% Viognier. Ripe with flavors of grapefruit, citrus and vanilla, this wine is as flavorfu… »More BRONZE MEDAL, 2006 SF Chronicle Wine Competition BRONZE MEDAL, 2006 CA State Fair Wine Competition

2006 Viognier Be first to review it!$15.99 Peach · Apricot · honeysuckle · pear Our 2006 Viognier jumps from the glass with hints of peach, apricot, honeysuckle and pear. The addition of Sauvignon Blanc lends a citrus note that fi… »More New Vintage! Previous Vintage won SILVER MEDAL, 2006 SF Chronicle Wine Competition

Across the street from Silver Oak Cellars’ vineyards in Alexander Valley lies Joseph Family Vineyards, and the owner, Jon Joseph, has traveled quite a long way to be here. After several years in Japan where he began his career as a journalist, Jon spent the next two decades as a Wall Street technology analyst. Several years of investment success afforded Jon the opportunity to do what two generations before him had done privately — produce a fine Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Joseph Family Vineyard produces a Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon that could best be compared to its’ closest neighbor, Silver Oak. However, one thing that JFV’s Cab doesn’t share with this prestigious vintner is the price. While a Silver Oak Cabernet can sometimes run upwards of $200 a bottle, a Joseph Family Vineyards Cabernet is much more reasonably-priced at $39.99.

Joseph Family Vineyards 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon

Be first to review it!$39.99

From the Winery: This is a bigger wine than our 2003. Exotic wild berries and fleshy stone fruits infuse our 2004 Cabernet. This wine is characterized by sweet, mature tannins well-integrated with creamy, textured oak. This Bordeaux-style wine can be enjoyed immediately or cellared for 10 to 15 years.

Read more about the Joseph Family 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon and add it to your Q today!