Taste our Legacy
44 YEARS • ONE FAMILY
DRY CREEK VALLEY • HEALDSBURG, CA
Come Taste With Us
Enjoy an Assortment of Tasting Experiences that combine Fine Wines with Warm Hospitality and Stunning Views of the Dry Creek Valley.
COME TASTE WITH US
Wine tasting doesn't have to be stuffy.
At Optima, we pour the wines we think you'll enjoy based on what you like to drink. Want to talk about winemaking? We'll get geeky. Want to sit back and enjoy a glass? That's good with us too.
Come as you are. Stay awhile.
Located in Healdsburg, California, in the heart of Sonoma County.
Step into an unforgettable tasting experience at Optima Winery, where the rich history of wine awaits your exploration. With 48 years of expertise, trained under André Tchelistcheff, the godfather of wine, you'll have the opportunity to sit and savor our single vineyard wines. Amidst the breathtaking views of the Dry Creek Valley in Healdsburg, each sip unveils a story of passion and dedication, leaving an indelible mark on your memory.
A love for Alexander Valley that started it all.
In 1980, Mike Duffy left Napa for Healdsburg, drawn by the untapped potential he saw in the vineyards of Alexander Valley. At the time, Sonoma County was home to only about 100 wineries, and Mike saw an opportunity to make exceptional wines in a place that still felt personal, independent and connected to the land.
He wanted to make wine from this special corner of Sonoma County and be part of a growing wine community where relationships, craftsmanship and the vineyards came first.
Two years later, in 1982, Mike founded Optima. More than four decades later, we are still a family owned and run winery, and we have intentionally remained small. We have always produced fewer than 10,000 cases a year because our wines are hand crafted in small lots, with Mike personally involved in the winemaking from the cellar to the bottle.
Mike is best known for his exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley and Knights Valley, along with his collection of small production wines. Each wine is made to express the character of its vineyard and vintage, rather than following a formula.
At Optima, we believe great wine is about more than what’s in the bottle. It’s about the place, the craftsmanship and the people who come together to enjoy it.
WELCOME TO OPTIMA
Thoughtfully crafted wines. Genuine Sonoma hospitality. And a place to slow down, have a glass and enjoy the moment.
A Dream Built on Passion & Hard Work
OUR WINEMAKER
Mike Duffy
Owner & Winemaker
Mike has spent 48 years making wine, with 44 of those years right here at Optima. His experience, passion and hands on approach are a big part of what makes every bottle of Optima uniquely ours.
A UC Davis enology graduate, Mike began his winemaking career working alongside some of California’s most respected winemakers, including the legendary André Tchelistcheff. Those early years helped shape the small lot, hands on approach that has remained at the heart of Optima from the very beginning.
Mike founded Optima with a passion for making wines that reflect the vineyard, the vintage and his own style of winemaking. Today, he continues to be involved in every part of the process, from the cellar to the finished bottle.
What makes Optima special is that these wines are personal. They are made by a winemaker who has spent nearly five decades learning and staying true to the way he believes wine should be made.