Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Deliciously crisp, this is full of citrus and fig, medium in body and high-strung in acidity. Dry, crisp and balanced, it’s focused and linearly conceived. An enjoyable glass from start to finish at an unbelievably fair price.
Heron focuses on California's most respected appellations to craft balanced, fresh wines that are both expressive and easy to enjoy. Inspired by the strength and determination of its namesake bird, the brand was founded by Laely Heron, one of the pioneers of female-owned and produced wine brands in California.
Heron wines are never made to a formula. Each vintage begins with a thoughtful search for the best grapes across California's top growing regions, resulting in wines that consistently highlight finesse, freshness, and balance. Year after year, Heron has earned "Best Buy" recognition from Wine Enthusiast, a testament to its outstanding quality and value—and its ability to stand out alongside much larger wine brands.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
Responsible for the vast majority of American wine production, if California were a country, it would be the world’s fourth largest wine-producing nation. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates allow for an incredible range of red wine styles, and unlike tradition-bound Europe, experimentation is more than welcome here. California wineries range from tiny, family-owned boutiques to massive corporations, and price and production are equally varied. Plenty of inexpensive bulk wine is made in the Central Valley area, while Napa Valley is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious and expensive “cult” wines.
Each American Viticultural Area (AVA) and sub-AVA of has its own distinct personality, allowing California to produce red wine of every fashion: from bone dry to unctuously sweet, still to sparkling, light and fresh to rich and full-bodied. In the Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate vineyard acreage. Sonoma County is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé and Zinfandel. The Central Coast has carved out a niche with Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah, while Mendocino has found success with cool climate varieties such as Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer. With all the diversity that California wine has to offer, any wine lover will find something to get excited about here.