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Brutocao Cellars

Brutocao Cellars Description

Brutocao Cellars has two tasting rooms: their redwood barn storefront facility in the bucolic Anderson Valley, and their large downtown Hopland tasting room and winery.

With family winemaking roots in Italy, the winery specializes in red wines, especially Merlot and Zinfandel. The distinctive Lion of St. Mark logo is the winery symbol found on all their labels, and represents the family traditions of winemaking and quality work. The Brutocao family has been producing wine in the area for more than 25 years.

Inside the redwood barn structure is a spacious tasting room with tall ceilings, a nice gift shop, and a circular tasting counter with a stainless steel top. There is an inviting picnic spot on their covered patio.

The Hopland facility is located in the Schoolhouse Plaza on the site of the old Hopland High School. It has an extensive gift shop, a restaurant and six competition bocce ball courts.

The winemaker intensifies the fruit flavors of the grapes by fermenting in small lots. Many of their red wines are unfiltered and unfined, which ensures that they retain all their full, rich character. The use of practices such as punching down the cap by hand, using whole-berry fermentation for reds and whole-cluster pressing for white wines, also contributes to the flavor nuances.

Brutocao produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel port. Other offerings include Italian varietals Primitivo, Sangiovese, Barbera and some red and white blends.