If you’re familiar with Foxen, then you probably know that they’re located in the Santa Maria Valley Wine region, and also that they were one of the wineries shown in the movie “Sideways”. They’ve got a pretty long history in the SM Valley…and it just happens to be the first wine club that Annie ever joined.
Foxen makes some seriously beautiful wines, they do/have done just about everything. There’s Italian varietals, Bordeaux, Rhones, and umm…other stuff that’s really tasty. They’ve taken advantage of the SM Valley climate with its foggy mornings and cool nights, to make some great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They’ve also taken advantage of the area vineyards to make some really interesting blends and some not-so-common bottles of wine, ranging from Sangiovese to Cabernet Sauvignon to Chenin Blanc.
So, much of the draw to Foxen is their down to earth charm. The original tasting room is literally on the side of a winding country road in an old wooden shack! They’ve since built another tasting room just down the road, but will never abandon the “shack” because that’s what Foxen is all about! They’ve got a shrine in the shack, with all kinds of funky stuff that people have collected and shared through the years.
There’s some newspaper articles posted around the place, charting the path to fame that the “Foxen Boys”, Dick Watham and Bill Dore have taken. This is one of the old school wine tasting places that has made its mark, and deserving of a visit if you’re ever in the area. Hey, it’s like they say….”If you don’t know Foxen, you don’t know Dick…or Bill!”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWddC9BHX80[/youtube]
Sandra says
Do you recommend their wine club now?
Hoot 'n Annie says
I would, their wines are great…but I haven’t tasted them in a long time up until this recent trip. I think they’re one of the better wineries in the area, and have a great range of wines, so probably a great club! Did that help?
Hoot (Matt) says
Hey Sandra, I liked their wines but Annie knows more about them since she’s been going there for so long. So I will let her give you an answer when she checks the comments from work in a little while!! Cheers!!
Hoot (Matt) says
Huh, that’s funny…she snuck the answer in while I was answering…lol.
Hoot 'n Annie says
I’m a sneaky answerer!
Beverly says
Sweet. Show us how the other place looks, if you can. Did you see the Bachlor last night they were at a vineyard in Santa Maria but I couldn’t read the sign as they dove by. 🙂
Hoot 'n Annie says
Hey Bev! We’ll show you the other place soon…we just happened to stop in there, too! Missed the bachelor, but I bet it was a great place! There’s some really nice wines along that road!
Beverly says
Okay Annie, love to see the other winery on your next trip out there. Have a great day, Cheers!
Hoot 'n Annie says
Cheers to you, Bev! Happy Tuesday!!!
Sandra says
Thanks, and yes, I did see the Bachelor (ducking and running). 🙂
Hoot 'n Annie says
Ha! You watch the Bachelor! That’s okay, we watch Biggest Loser!
Beverly says
I found out the winery in the Bachelor last night was Cambria Estate in Santa Maria. Maybe you guys can show us this winery or have you already?
Hoot 'n Annie says
Hi Bev, don’t think we’ve blogged on Cambria Winery yet, but we definitely have been there many times and think it’s great! We’ll hit them up next time we’re down that way!
Beverly says
That would be cool. Thanks.