Bucklin Old Hill Ranch

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch isn’t going to show up on any of your “Top Wineries in Sonoma” lists but I’ll tell you right now that his wines are some of the best I’ve ever tasted.

Originally, people didn’t plant just one varietal in a vineyard; all different types were planted and then fermented together. This is called a “field blend.” We first tasted Bucklin’s under the name “Pickberry” at Ravenswood Winery almost a decade ago. When Ravenswood was purchased and subsequently closed by Constellation in 2019. we thought that wine was lost to us forever

In a strange twist of fate, Will Bucklin, the winemaker, showed up in a wine class I was taking a few months later! We got his contact information and set up an appointment for a tasting.

Bucklin holds tastings at his estate between Sonoma Creek and Highway 12 behind the old Sonoma Development Center, which has been closed since 2018. The old, institutional architecture with overgrown weeds in their yards looks straight out of a horror movie set. Drive over the bridge with the wild turkey on the rail, and you’re just a few turns away from oenologist bliss.

Bucklin serves several different blends. The Otto’s and Ancient grenache-dominant field blends were amazing and we bought several bottles, but the real star of the show is the Zin-dominant Ancient Field Blend. Standing in the shade of the barn, playing with the furry friends while I watched hawks circle lazily over the vineyards and sipping this wine was a perfect moment.

Have you ever seen a more perfect wine bar?

Baby grapes

Boomer at the entrance to the barn with Will in the background packing up our wine.