scherrer winery
Scherrer Winery and Wines:
2001 Alexander Valley Cabernet

Old and Mature Vine Zinfandel

Learn how Fred Scherrer makes
Chardonnay - in pictures.  

A letter to Fred and Judi Scherrer
from Candid Wines.
~~
Reviews

Wine Advocate #168
elegant zin is only the
beginning.
(seriously)

If we say California Chardonnay and Zinfandel,
you would of course respond with "balanced,
elegant and age-worthy".  But then, you already
know and love the wines that Fred Scherrer
makes from Russian River and Alexander Valley
fruit.

Before we met Fred, we might not have
understood, but he literally introduced himself
by pouring an eight year old Chardonnay from
his family's one hundred year old vineyard.  The
message in this bottle was clear, and that
message was delicious.  Since then we have
learned that Fred picks his fruit carefully, seeking
balance and not over ripeness.  We have learned
about the importance of extended lees contact
and how treating Zinfandel with the same care
and delicacy as one treats Pinot Noir can lead to
all sorts of wonderful surprises in six, seven and
even ten years' time.  

Don't believe us?  Neither did we, but a few
bottles convinced us of our error.  We hope
you'll come around as well.

Candid Wines offers a broad range of Scherrer
Wines including:

Vin Gris (aka Rose)
Non-Vintage Zinfandoodle (goofy name, serious wine)
Old and Mature Vine Zinfandel
Scherrer Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County Cabernet
Sonoma County Chardonnay
Helfer Vineyard Chardonnay
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

For many of these wines, we offer both full and
half bottles, a rare format for good wine that we
love.

And whenever we have the chance, single
vineyard gems like his Ft. Ross Chardonnay and
Pinot Noir.  

A number of great restaurants and wine shops
carry Fred's wines in the Chicago area.  For
information on which ones, please call or email
Damien.  630.485.0860 / damien@candidwines.com
top of page
Scherrer Winery's Home Page:

www.scherrerwinery.com

(No bears there either - is this is a
winery only Stephen Colbert could
love?)
2004 RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIR
Fred Scherrer knows wine.  A fixture in Sonoma
County since the late 80’s, he has been learning
the wine trade since his youth.  His father Ed
Sherrer of Scherrer Vineyard helped pass the
love of wine along.  After going to U.C. Davis for
technical training, Fred made wine at Dehlinger
for 10 years. With the support of Tom Dehlinger
and his father, Fred went out on his own in 1991.  

I first knew of Fred back when I worked in
Oregon, having had a chance to try many of his
delicious Zinfandels.  It wasn’t until last week
when Fred came to the store that I discovered
his great Pinot Noir.  After all, working for one of
the greatest California Pinot producers in
Dehlinger, it figured that Fred would have
caught the Pinot Noir bug.  

Sourced from Russian River fruit, this 800 cases
cuvee of Pinot Noir is absolutely delicious and a
tremendous value. Notes of griotte cherry,
cranberry, and spice on the nose lead into a
silky textured palate with plenty of dark cherry,
well balanced acidity and great length.  No hard
edges, herbal notes, or charred tones on this
wine.  The fruit really shines through
beautifully.  This is one to buy by the case as it
tastes great now, and will continue to age
gracefully through 2012.

Craig Perman, Perman Selections, 2008
hardly a secret anymore

Once upon a time, Fred Scherrer was called
names, people couldn't find the winery, and
(gasp!) some of you had never tasted his
wines.

Those were the days.

People use to say things like "he's a
winemaker to watch", but that "Scherrer has
been accused by his customers of trying too
hard to not sell his wine."

Back then, we could buy as much of Fred's
wines as we could afford and we loved it.  
Those days are gone.  Despite his best
efforts to stay out of the spotlight, the word
is out: Fred's wines are good.  They are
good with food, they do nicely in the cellar
and they have a sneaky way of making wine
lovers happy.

While others might expand and capture the
wave of great press and national attention
to build a brand, Fred still just focuses on
the wine.  He can comfortably make about
5500 cases a year on his own, and expansion
would mean that he could not (literally) do
most all the work himself.  

Today, Fred's wines are selling faster than
ever and we are learning about allocations,
limited quantities and what happens when
demand outpaces supply.  We love to see
the success, but it feels a little like the rest
of the town has discovered our favorite
fishing hole...