with the vision of sourcing quality grapes, bringing the fruit to Truckee in order to take advantage of the high elevation and cold temperatures to naturally cool the fermentation and slow down the barrel aging process. Thus becoming the highest and coldest winery. Our focus from the beginning has been to produce handcrafted wines with great structure and finesse. Our award winning Pinot Noir is the winemaker's pride and joy.
In 1989, Russ and Joan Jones began making wine in their 2-car garage in Sierra Meadows (a suburb of Truckee).
For 9 years they made great wine for their friends and family in the area, and decided to expand. They moved the winery into a two story barn on the Truckee River, where they could make 1,000 cases, with the help of their daughter and friends. Four years ago they opened a tasting facility, so that locals and visitors of Truckee could come and enjoy their wine and hard work. They continue to become a fun, high quality winery dedicated to preserving the local environment and providing a quality product for locals and tourists alike.
Our Winemaker and Owner
Russ Jones was born in Yosemite National Park, where he spent most of his childhood, until his family moved to Squaw Valley.
Russ learned how to ski in Yosemite, but he learned how to race in Squaw. He spent his high school career racing and loving the snow. He and his wife met on the high school race team, where Russ dominated the field. He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Enology and Viticulture (winemaking and grape growing). He and his wife traveled through Oregon, Washington and Paso Robles after graduation, where he worked at several wineries and perfected the Pinot Noir process. They then moved back to Truckee to start a family, and that is when he decided to make his own wine, using the natural ideal temperatures and humidity of Tahoe to make the wine distinctively unique. His artistic and analytical mind ensures that the science and art in winemaking is used to its potential, and with this perfect blending of art and science, Truckee River Winery's wines have exceptional flavors and aromas.
Our Staff
Truckee River Winery has a small, but tight knit staff.
Katy Jones
White Winemaker and General Manager. She is an avid skier and 2nd generation Truckee native. Favorite varietal: 2016 Lodi Zinfandel
Tiffany Cato
Office Director and Ordering Manager. A transplant from the Livermore Wine Country now living the dream in Tahoe. Level 1 WSET Favorite Varietal: 2016 Lodi Chardonnay
Our Winery Puppies
Max
Max is the official winemaking dog, and tasting room greeter. He is 7.5 years old, and is a miniature Australian Shepard. Russ and Joan Jones adopted him when he was just 8 weeks old and he loves the snow, corks, wine bottles and WINE! He hangs out at the tasting room or winery with Russ and loves to run, jump and play! His favorite toy is a pine cone and loves any and all attention.
Hamond
Hamond is our white winemaker, Katy's, gentle giant. He is a 5.5 year old Giant Schnauzer and is a total "Ham." He loves the snow and enjoys cross country skiing and lots of walks. He and Max are best of friends and both are seen often hanging out at the tasting room, or the winery and are the best helpers. He helps Katy with all outside work and keeping the tasting room safe for all. He is quite a giant at 130 pounds, and loves to cuddle and be the world's largest lap dog.
Chester
Chester is our newest member of the Truckee River Winery family, and is Hamond's baby brother. He just turned 9 months and is quite the cutie. He is a 35 pound Standard Schnauzer with lots of energy and a playful attitude. He loves his tennis balls, playing fetch and getting belly rubs.
Wines
2016 White Barn Pinot Gris
Silver Medal Winner in 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Competition! Our 2016 Pinot Gris is being sourced from Lodi. It is crisp and clean with hints of pears and apples, and a touch of nut. The straw colored white wine goes great on a hot summer afternoon, playing bocce, hanging at the beach or relaxing on the porch. We are excited to carry a second white wine with a great amount of clarity and depth.
Bottle$24.00
Case$288.00
2016 Maid of Honor-Symphony
White Winemaker Katy Carroll Jones vinified this hybrid varietal of Granache Gir and Muscato in stainless steel. A touch of sweetness in this wine, creating a fun and light hearted wine that is both sweet and sassy like your Maid of Honor! Floral melody with hints of melon, pear and rose petal. The label is specially made from Winemaker Katy Carroll Jones' own wedding and is her and her Maid of Honor's bridal bouquets.
Bottle$32.00
Case$384.00
2016 Lodi Chardonnay
It has crisp apple flavors, subtle French oak, and full bodied and well rounded for a Chardonnay. This wine starts its life in Nevada County, and then it is barrel aged in French oak and bottled in Truckee. The wine tastes great all by itself or accompanies grilled salmon, chicken, veggies, antipasto and cheese.
Assistant winemaker, Clair Stover, vinified this special blend of Tempranillo, Zinfandel, and Petite Syrah grapes grown in Lodi. Experience the crisp notes of honeydew, lemongrass, and basil. Subtle tones of white strawberry and key lime make this wine a perfect pairing for a sunny afternoon.
Bottle$32.00
Case$384.00
Volo-chilled Red Summer Wine
This varietal was originally a fun experiment. Friends were always complaining of the hot days of Tahoe, and how they couldn't enjoy a glass of red wine during the summer. Russ Jones created a young, fruity red table wine that is meant to be served chilled. Now our friends can cool off while drinking a red wine! We only create and sell this wine during the summer months as it is a light red wine. It is a secret blend of varietals and is very lightly flavored, with lots of fruit and floral flavors, not to be confused with a rose or blush! This is the perfect afternoon, appetizer wine, and goes excellent with a bocce game (or two).
Bottle$22.00
Case$264.00
Red Barn Red-Red Table Wine
This wine is a blend of Merlot and Zinfandel. It is a very drinkable, easy tasting red that goes well with pizza, pasta dishes, steak, chicken and many other dishes. We believe that this is a everyday, every meal wine. We produce this red table wine, with its own label, for Zano's Italian restaurant, which is located on Donner Pass Road, next to the Jerky Junction caboose.
Bottle$24.00
Case$288.00
2016 Lodi Merlot
This Merlot has been aged in American oak barrels for 18 months. It is well rounded with lots of tannin, fruity cedar box and full of life. It pairs well with figs, blue cheese, spicy dishes and drinks wonderfully by itself as well.
Bottle$32.00
Case$384.00
2014 Chalk Hill Malbec
Coming from the Chalk Hill AVA in Sonoma county, this wine is aged for 1.5 years in 50% American and 50% French oak. This is a full bodied wine with a deep purple hue. There are aromas of cedar box, violets and leather, spiced blackberry and toasted oak flavors. Pairs well with cigars, osso buco, heavy lamb dishes, pork chops and fun winter items. It is a truly hedonistic wine.
Bottle$52.00
Case$624.00
2016 Tondre Grapefield Pinot Noir
Silver Medal Winner in 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Competition! Tondre Grapefield is located in the gorgeous and rich soil region of Santa Lucia Highlands. With its warm days and cool nights, it becomes the perfect place to grow Pinot Noir. Our limited production of the grapes and careful unfiltered processes make this wine uniquely distinctive. The grapes are transported up to Truckee's cold climate in a refrigerated truck, then crushed and cold soaked for up to 4 days. Fermentation starts slow because of the cool nights in Truckee and then ends strong about 4 weeks later. Our barrel aging cellars are a cool 50-55 F. We age in 100% new French oak for a minimum of 2 years. All this has produced a very delicate Pinot with the complexity, depth, and soft tannins. The 2016 is a full bodied pinot with vibrant flavors of dark berries, cassis, black tea, medium tannins and a nice mid pallet structure. Great match with lamb, pork and seafood dishes.
Bottle$56.00
Case$672.00
2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver Medal Winner in 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Competition! Historically, Truckee was home to "block ice"-over 300 thousand tons of ice were harvested annually from the Truckee River and shipped by railcar south to Arizona and east to New York City. Block Cutter also refers to the special block of grapes that yields this intense, full flavored Cabernet from Vyborny Vineyards produced by the Highest and Coldest winery. Enjoy on a cold winter's night-it will warm your soul.This Cult Cabernet begins with a subtle aroma of new leather, ripe bell pepper and a touch of black pepper. On the tongue this Cabernet is smooth like black velvet with hints of aprium, blackberry and violet. This finishes strong but clean and black currant, cassis and subtle licorice linger on the tongue.
Bottle$76.00
Case$912.00
Apres Dessert Wine
A blend of traditional port varietals from different vintages-Tinta Madera, Tinta Cao, Touriga and Sauzao. These varietals are blended by our winemaker to achieve a balance of young fruit and older barrel aged flavors. This port encompasses both the intense alcohol flavor of a tawny and the rich, sweet fruit flavor of a ruby. It goes great with chocolate or strong cheese. It has been fittingly named Apres, which means after in French, and is meant to be served after a meal.
Bottle$24.00
Case$288.00
Garys' Vineyard Past Vintage Vertical Box
$285.00
A wooden box with past vintages, 2007-2010, of the Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir is available for purchase. This is a great opportunity to explore the nuances of different vintages from the same grapes and winemaker, truly a one of a kind experience. Quite possibly the only vertical of Garys' Vineyard on the market. This makes an exceptional gift, or a great party idea.
Retail and Food
Tasting Room Offerings!
TRW Retail Items
Truckee River Winery loves to support the locals, as they have supported us over many years. We carry many local and unique retail and food items, from jewelry and spa products to bread, candy, chocolate and more! We pride ourselves in picking products that are all natural, local and great! Below is a list of many of the local vendors we use.
Truckee River Winery Bocce Courts.
Truckee River Winery has 6 crushed oyster courts available for all guests in the spring and summer, or until it snows!
All of our courts are free for customers and they are first come first serve, however groups may rent a court for $35/hour. If you are interested or would like more information about the courts please call 530-587-4626.
Truckee River Winery hosts 3 bocce leagues through out the year.
The leagues are open to anyone, and registration information goes out to all of our newsletter members. Registration is first come first serve, so get your team today!
Info
Let Truckee River Winery host your next private event!
The Truckee River Winery tasting room is an ideal location for any event you may be planning.
Whether it be for special events, birthday parties, family reunions, professional meetings or casual gatherings of friends we are able to accommodate your private event planning needs.
Regardless of the season, Truckee River Winery offers an excellent selection of our wines as well as beer and non-alcoholic beverages.
We are also able to prepare a number of artisan cheese platters or panini selections to supplement a self-hosted or catered event. Propane barbeques are available for guest use should you decide to cook for your event. Additionally, we are happy to provide you with a list of our preferred catering and event planning services throughout the area.
For pricing information, availability and booking please contact:
Event Coordinators Katy Carroll Jones and Tiffany Faulkner at events@truckeeriverwinery.com
Events
Summer Events
During the summer season (May 1st to October 30th) both our barrel room and outdoor spaces are available for private events. We have bocce, horseshoes, badminton, croquet and many other lawn games. For more formal outdoor events, our large lawn space allows for ample dining space as well as room for a music system and dance floor.
Fall and Winter Events
We are proud to offer our barrel room that comfortably seats up to 20 people. We have two choices of either a casual mixer set up with bar tops and stools, or a more formal setting with a long dining table and chairs. This option is ideal for private tastings, socials, seated dining events or meetings. The barrel room is available during the tasting room hours of operation: 12:00p-7:00p.
Special Occasions and other large events
In addition to hourly rentals of any of our tasting room event spaces, we offer you the year round option of renting the entire tasting room for your event. Closure events allow you the opportunity to host an intimate gathering where you and your guests have access to all of our amenities, weather permitting. This is an ideal option if you are looking to host a casual wedding event or larger gathering (100 or more people during the summer, 20-50 people during the winter). Our event coordinator would love to help you plan your next big event, and can explain our pricing and event details. Please email Katy Jones at katy@truckeeriverwinery.com for more information, pricing and policies.
TRW Event Pairing Menu
All items on the event pairing menu are made in house by Truckee River Winery. We would be happy to make a platter or multiple for your next party, whether it is a Truckee River Winery or not. All platters are available TO-GO as well as here, please order at least 7 days prior to your event.
Hot Pressed Paninis
Paninis prepared fresh on your choice of Truckee Sourdough Bread options: Sliced Sourdough, Marble Rye, Ciabata, and Herb Focaccia. Served with Dirty Chips and a McClures Pickle.
Cuban Panini
$16.00
Black Forest Ham, Uncured Mortadella, Swiss cheese, Garlic Dill Pickle Relish, and Hot&Sweet Mustard.
Savory Turkey Panini
$12.00
Oven Roasted Turkey with Spinach Artichoke Spread, Raw White Cheddar, and Roasted Tomatoes.
Club Panini
$14.00
Turkey and Prosciutto with Cheddar Cheese and Basil Pesto.
Hot Pastrami
$13.00
Niman Ranch Pastrami, Swiss cheese, Mustard, and Chipotle Sauerkraut.
Turkey Panini
$12.00
Turkey with Artichoke Pesto and Oven Roasted Tomatoes.
Salami Trio Panini
$12.00
Artisan Salami with Basil Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes, topped with Chipotle Cheddar.
The Hammond & Chester
$12.00
Our version of the classic ham & cheese! Black Forest Ham and Gouda with Whole Grain Mustard.
Spicy Grilled Cheese
$12.00
Chipotle Cheddar and Swiss with Spicy Pepper Jam.
Fancy Grilled Cheese
$12.00
Gouda and Swiss with Roasted Tomatoes and Hot&Sweet Mustard.
Kids Grilled Cheese
$10.00
Cheddar and Monterey Jack
Cheese & Charcuterie
Traditional Taster
A sampling of four types of artisan cow's milk cheeses, either fire roasted tomatoes or Greek olive mix, and choice of Truckee Sourdough Bread, crackers, or gluten-free crackers.
2 people$12.00
4 people$24.00
Reserve Taster
A sampling of four types of artisan goat and sheep's milk cheeses, either fire roasted tomatoes or Greek olive mix, and choice of Truckee Sourdough Bread, crackers, or gluten-free crackers.
2 people$14.00
4 people$28.00
Master Platter
Six kinds of artisan cheese and three kinds of salami, either fire roasted tomatoes, or Greek olive mix, and choice of Truckee Sourdough Bread, crackers, or gluten-free crackers.
2 people$24.00
4 people$48.00
8 people$96.00
Antipasto Platter
Mixed salami and assorted cheeses with nuts and pickled veggies. Add bread/crackers $2.
2 people$24.00
4 people$48.00
Sausage Platter
Two types of Fra Mani sausage, paired with Sonoma Brinery chipotle sauerkraut, cornichons, and mustard.
2 people$14.00
4 people$28.00
Charcuterie Platter
Prosciutto, pate, salami, smoked salmon, nuts, olives, cornichons, and mustard, served with bread or crackers.
2 people$30.00
4 people$60.00
Small Plates
Smoky Mac and Cheese
$10.00
Apple and cherry wood smoked Beechers flagship cheese. Add chorizo or Italian herb sausage: $4
Homemade Bread Basket
$8.00
Truckee Sourdough Bread with O Extra Virgin Olive Oil and O California Balsamic. Upgrade to Roasted Garlic, JalapeƱo Garlic, Meyer Lemon, or Blood Orange Olive Oil: add $1. Upgrade to Fig Balsamic or Port Balsamic Vinegar: add $1.
Bread and Dips
$18.00
Choice of two dips: Basil Pesto, Artichoke Pesto, Spicy Pepper Jam, Cucumber Hummus, Black Bean Hummus, Spinach Artichoke, Three Cheese, or Spicy Pepper Jam. Choice of side: Roasted tomatoes or mixed olives Choice of: Gluten free crackers, bread, or crackers
Truckee River Winery was established 29 years ago with the vision of sourcing quality grapes, bringing the fruit to Truckee in order to take advantage of the high elevation and cold temperatures, to naturally cool the fermentation and slow down the barrel aging process. Thus becoming the highest and coldest winery. Our focus from the beginning has been to produce hand crafted wines with great structure and finesse. Our award winning Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir is the winermaker's pride and joy. Come and visit our new tasting room and enjoy all of our unique and distinctive wines.