Bowman Cellars
Winemaker Alex Bowman learned his craft as a lad, making hobby wines with his father, an electrical contractor with deep West County roots. By his late 20s the wine-making bug had bitten Alex hard, inspiring him to make wines "for real." His debut wine won a double-gold ribbon at the local county fair, prompting him to draw on the experience of several wine-industry relatives to establish Bowman Cellars with his wife, Katie, whose family has long owned a roadside produce market in Sebastopol. The two pour their wines (reservations required, same-day possible) in a casual tasting room fronted by a patio twice as large. Alex shows a light but knowing touch with Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the winery's two stars.