Vineyard & Winemaking

The Heart of Tara Bella: Vines, Craft, and Care

Tara Bella’s six-acre vineyard is planted exclusively to two prized clones of Cabernet Sauvignon—Clone 4 (Mendoza) and Clone 7 (Wente). While hundreds of acres in nearby Napa Valley are planted to these same clones, we grow them on a far more intimate scale—making every vine, and every cluster, count.

As a small, family-owned and operated winery, Tara Bella runs on passion and hands-on dedication. Owners Kevin and Wendy Morrow wear many hats—Kevin serves as vineyard manager, and together with Wendy and a few close friends, they form the hardworking vineyard crew. This deep involvement gives Kevin a profound connection to the land, allowing him to carefully guide the vines through every stage of the growing season.

Long before Sonoma County pledged to achieve 100% sustainable farming practices, Kevin was already there—committed to thoughtful, environmentally conscious farming. This vineyard is a treasure, and he treats it with the respect it deserves.

From these meticulously tended vines, Tara Bella produces just 500 cases of wine annually—each bottle estate-grown and estate-made. Our lineup includes Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, and Portal, a rich dessert wine crafted from 100% Clone 7 Cabernet grapes.

As the saying goes, great wine is made in the vineyard. The winemaker’s role is to preserve the beauty of the fruit from harvest to bottle—and in our case, that winemaker is Kevin himself. With decades of experience and a wall of awards to his name, Kevin ensures every bottle reflects the integrity of the land and the love behind the craft.

Tara Bella Winery & Vineyards, located in the beautiful rolling hills in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, is diminutive in scale, especially compared to most other Sonoma County vineyards and wineries.

The vineyard is six acres, planted to two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon—Clone 4, also know as the Mendoza Clone, and Clone 7, called the Wente Clone. The neighboring Napa Valley is planted with hundreds of acres of both these clones, so this is the right stuff!

Being a small family owned and operated winery means owners Kevin and Wendy Morrow wear a lot of hats. Kevin is vineyard manager, and he, Wendy and some good friends are the vineyard crew. This gives Kevin intimate knowledge of the vineyard, and allows him to carefully nurture the vines throughout the growing season. Long before the Sonoma County Winegrowers pledged that all Sonoma County vineyards would be 100% sustainable by 2019, Kevin was committed to sustainable farming practices. Their vineyard is a treasure, and Kevin treats it with the respect and care it deserves.

From these Cabernet vines, Tara Bella annually produces around 500 cases of estate grown and produced wines. This includes the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon and Portal, a dessert wine made from 100% Clone 7 Cabernet grapes.

As with all great wines, they are made in the vineyard. The winemaker’s job is to preserve the beauty of the flavors from the time the grapes are picked until the delicious elixir is bottled. Fortunately for Tara Bella Cab fans, Kevin is a seasoned winemaker with a wall of medals and awards to prove it.

Though the grapes travel only a short distance from vine to crush pad, every step of that journey is carefully considered. From the moment harvest begins, nothing is left to chance—from the gentle handling of the fruit to the meticulous selection of barrels. Every decision is intentional, driven by a deep respect for the craft and a commitment to excellence. This unwavering attention to detail, both in the vineyard and the winery, is what allows Tara Bella to produce premium Cabernet Sauvignon, vintage after vintage.