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Jeriko Winery in Hopland — Trader Joe’s Connection

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Joe Becerra

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If you read our last couple of blog posts, you will know that we were in the Hopland area last week for our Bocce tournament. As you might imagine we stopped in at several wineries and tasting rooms in the Hopland area including the Jeriko Estate Winery. This wine area is beautiful and has much to offer to the wine country lover. You certainly won’t find any crowds up here in southern Mendocino County, and the area has much to offer in terms of peace and solitude and most importantly some very good wines.

Danny Fetzer owns the Jeriko Estate winery. The Fetzer Family made a fortune when it sold the Fetzer label to Brown-Forman Wines, and later many of the family members went on to establish their own wineries.

Danny Fetzer purchased Jeriko in the late nineties. All the vineyards at Jeriko are farmed organically. The winery has a beautiful tasting room and peaceful setting among many acres of vineyards. It is the ideal location for a wine country picnic.

Jeriko Estate Winery, Hopland CA
Jeriko Estate Winery, Hopland CA

We sampled several of the Jeriko wines and another label they call San Greal. The wines are very good and reasonably priced and that is what we like in a winery. Our favorites of our tasting were the Chardonnay, the Rosé, and the Pinot Noir. But the bargain bonanza of the day was the San Greal Red Supper Wine and, this is where we found the connection to Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe’s Connection

While we were tasting wine, a group of winery officials including Danny Fetzer and the winemaker were huddled at a table in some very serious discussions. Later, our host told us that they were tasting wines for a special label of wine they sell to Trader Joe’s. That’s when he pulled out the San Greal Red Supper Wine. This is a lovely, very drinkable and food-friendly wine. The 2006 is a blend of 23% Merlot, 55% Syrah and 22% Sangiovese – all organically grown. It sells at the winery for $9.99 and I thought that was a very good price for this wine. But here is the kicker. Yesterday I found the wine at my local Trader Joe’s for $6.99. I bought one bottle and sampled it with dinner. Yes, this wine is a winner and is definitely one of the better wine bargains to look for at TJ’s. Try it at your local Trader Joe’s and look for more varietals under this label that may be appearing at your local store.

The Jeriko Estate Winery is open daily for wine tasting April – October: 10:00am to 5:00pm, and November – March: 11:00am to 4:00pm. It is just about a mile past the Hopland Inn as you drive north towards Ukiah.

  • Joe Becerra

    Joe Becerra has been traveling to wine country and enjoying wine since 1965. He is a retired educator, and now have the time the opportunity to share his wine travel experiences through this Website.

2 thoughts on “Jeriko Winery in Hopland — Trader Joe’s Connection”

  1. Thank you for the nice review of the San Greal. I’m the winemaker. I have a few other things to tell you and attach. E-mail to use? Regards.

  2. Hi…to Danny. I’m a friend of Bennyhana from the Oregon Coast. Come to Oregon for fun!

    😉

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