Anaba Wines

The name Anaba comes from the anabatic winds: the cool Pacific air that sweeps upward across the western edge of Carneros, slowing ripening and concentrating flavor in the vineyards. Founder John Sweazey spent four decades in computer systems sales and real estate while making small batches of Napa Zinfandel in his garage and studying winemaking. In 2006, with that career chapter behind him, he launched Anaba on land in the western corner of Carneros, drawing on his 1970s travels through the Rhône and Burgundy to define what the winery would actually make: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rhône-style blends, sourced from partner vineyards across Sonoma alongside the J McK Estate Vineyard. In 2009, Anaba became the first winery in Northern California to install wind power on-site; a 45-foot turbine and 465 solar panels generate 95–100% of the winery's electricity.

Winemaker Katy Wilson, named VinePair's 2025 Winemaker of the Year, has shaped the modern Anaba portfolio across Rhône and Burgundian registers. The Pinot Noir program is the heart of the winery, with bottlings from Carneros, Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and the Petaluma Gap (the 2021 Roberts Road Pinot scored 99 points and Best of Class at the Sunset International Wine Competition). The Rhône program runs from estate Picpoul Blanc and Grenache Blanc through single-varietal Syrah and a Late Harvest Viognier dessert wine. The Vintners House tasting room, a modern farmhouse-style hospitality center, sits beside the estate vineyards and includes bocce ball, pickleball, and paddle tennis courts, fireside lounges, and wood-fired pizza. Tastings are seated, 90-minute affairs paired with seasonal chef-prepared bites.