Click here to read a wonderful article about Ulises and Valdez Family Winery in The Bohemian
Ulises Valdez proves that there's more to the American dream than just dreaming
Click here to read the special report about Valdez Family Winery in Wine Wise
Interview with Ulises about his vineyards, his philosophy and his family
Ulises speaks about the vineyards and history of Valdez Family Winery.
Latest Reviews
Zinfandel Russian River Valley Lancel Creek Vineyard 2006
Wine Spectator Insider Review
93 points | $35 | 400 cases made | Red
Dense, ripe and beautifully structured, with delightfully briary cherry and blueberry aromas and powerful yet still supple licorice, sage and cracked white pepper flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2014.—T.F.
Zinfandel Rockpile Rockpile Road Vineyard 2006
Wine Spectator Insider Review
92 points | $38 | 642 cases made | Red
Ripe, briary and full of personality. Offers aromas of dried sage and wild berry, with dense yet still supple huckleberry, cracked pepper and dried anise flavors that linger toward ripe but rustic tannins. Drink now through 2014.—T.F.
2006 Valdez Family Winery Zinfandel Lancel Creek Reserve Russian River Valley
Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
Volume 33 Issue 7: May 2009
95 points | In all honesty, we do neither look for nor expect such high ripeness and weight from Zinfandels grown in the Russian River Valley as are conveyed by this very deep, very outgoing, impressively extracted effort, but, if not speaking so directly to "place" it unmistakably shouts "richness". It is simply awash in rich oak, sweet plums and ripe blackberries and offers immense immediate appeal, but its extravagance comes with balance and structure enough to guarantee another four or five years of wholly enjoyable drinking.
2005 Sauvignon Blanc
"....bright, racy wine. Mineral, grapefruit, lime and melon aromas and flavors finish with very refreshing acidity.
Linda Murphy, for the San Francisco Chronicle, October, 2006
"Extremely tasty and food friendly wine ....Deliciously crisp ....bright citrus including grapefruit and lime peel are softened by melon notes with nice mineral elements. Finish is refreshing and crisp with a touch of flintiness. The perfect wine for delicate seafood dishes..
Porthos, The Wine Insiders
Orange County Register, January 18, 2007
Wine writer Linda Murphy's story (which originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle) of a day with Ulises, and reviews of his initial releases, for the Orange County Register .
Food and Wine, October 2006
The October issue sheds some light on the relationship between Mark Aubert and Ulises Valdez. "...Aubert, openly admiring of Valdez's efforts, notes, "I've watched Ulises progress from grape grower to fine-wine grower." See the whole story at Food and Wine.
Valdez Family Wines Released July 8, 2006
Ulises Valdez poured his initial releases for one hundred and fifty eager and enthusiastic tasters including close friends and family, and a few reknown winemakers. See Alison Smith's blog at the Texacali Wine Trail for commentary and photos.
First Valdez Wine Bottled February 21, 2006
Ulises and close friends celebrate the bottling of the Valdez Family Winery 2005 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc at Paul Hobbs' Winery in Sebastopol. Ulises uncorks his first wine at eight o'clock on a frosty morning, twenty years from the time he worked as a vineyard pruner in Dry Creek Valley. Fellow field worker, and long time friend and employee Jose Mederos joins Ulises, along with growers Dick Handal and Kent Ritchie, vineyard manager Chris Bollen, and Jack Florence, Jr.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The December 2005 issue of the Wine Advocate evaluates some of the wines from Ulises' Laguna Road Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. "...One of the finest viticultural managers in northern California is Ulises Valdez, and his 2004 Chardonnay Ulises Valdez Vineyard (Paul Hobbs Wines) boasts a wonderful, leesy/brioche character intermixed with honeysuckle.....Interesting, Valdez also farms for both Pahlmeyer and Aubert, so he is unquestionably at the top of his field...." Parker gives the Aubert Pinot Noir from this vineyard 96-98 points, saying "....The 2004 Pinot Noir UV Vineyard, named after the well-known viticultural manager used by Mark Aubert (as well as Paul Hobbs) Ulises Valdez, emerges from a Sonoma Coast vineyard planted with the Calera Clone....."
Wine Spectator Online
Read more about the collaborative efforts of Mark Aubert and Ulises Valdez in this August, 2004 Wine Spectator article.