“I was born and raised in Hungary, in the middle of a wine region where almost every family had a little vineyard and made their own wine,” says Sandor Faludi. His grandfather was a winemaker and viticulturist, letting Sandor help out around the vineyard and winery from a young age. Sandor and his wife, Sabrina, moved to Santa Rosa, Calif. in 2010, where he landed a job as assistant winemaker at Derbès Wines, caring for a five-acre family vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley.
Sandor knew he wanted to open his own winery someday but didn’t quite have the right space. While living in Santa Monica, he began to make wine and beer in their small garage, eventually gaining the attention of neighbors who would come by to sample—and even lend a hand—in destemming grapes during harvest time. “I felt like I was in the middle of the Prohibition Era, and my garage was a speakeasy bar. It was then and there that I decided to name my future winery Prohibition Cellars,” says Sandor.
After an inspiring trip to Washington in 2016, the couple packed their bags and moved to Woodinville, allowing Prohibition Cellars to get its commercial start in a new garage, later moving their wine production into the Woodinville Warehouse District.
Now open in a huge, spacious and tastefully appointed tasting room, Prohibition Cellars embraces an Old World philosophy, producing distinctive wines that demonstrate Sandor’s dexterity and skillfulness. If you’re lucky, he might even reveal the hidden wall door that connects a secret passageway to the production and barrel room.
This budding craft producer is a winery to watch. The tasting room space is located in the Woodinville Warehouse District at 19501 144th Ave NE, F-900, Woodinville. Phone (818) 431-0074 or visit online at www.prohibitioncellars.com.
Below are five releases we recently reviewed:
Prohibition Cellars 2017 “Hatchet” Cabernet Sauvignon, $65
94 pts. – Outstanding
Lustrous and pure, with expressive dark fruit flavors of blackberry, cassis and black cherry, joined with immaculate details of pipe tobacco, vanilla, graphite, spice and crushed rock. The lithe, powerful frame is supported by compact tannins that carry long on the sophisticated finish. Shows outstanding depth and harmony.
Prohibition Cellars 2017 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, $45
91 pts. – Outstanding
A deep and flavorful style, centered on dark berries and spiced cherry flavors that blend with notes of anise, brown sugar and earthen forest floor. Buffed tannins lend depth on the finish.
Prohibition Cellars 2017 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, $55
91 pts. – Outstanding
Fermented 12 days on the grape skins, this single varietal from Quintessence Vineyard is bursting with bold personality, leading with dusty spice, graham, mocha and dark fruit. The mouthfeel shows a rich purity and lofty structure, driven by complex layers of blackberry, black raspberry, vanilla bean, earthy minerality and fine tannins that extend the finish.
Prohibition Cellars 2019 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Chardonnay, $24
91 pts. – Outstanding
Rich and expressive, with a lovely rounded feel and seamless notes of tropical citrus, peach, pear and honey infused with a sheen of crushed pebbles that glide along the smooth finish.
Prohibition Cellars 2019 Rosé, $25
89 pts. – Excellent
Offering aromas of cherry and raspberry, this broad and generous version was build predominantly from a base of Pinot Noir and blended with five other varietals. Rippling with rich energetic flavors of red berries, watermelon and citrus, the deep finish is streaked with stony minerality and spice notes.