You know that feeling when you’re finally done with the week, you kick off your shoes, and all you want is a really good glass of wine? That was me last Friday. Except instead of grabbing my usual go-to from the store, I had two bottles from Herzog Wine Cellars waiting for me, and they came with a backstory I genuinely did not see coming.

Disclosure: LittlePinkTop received these wines courtesy of Herzog Wine Cellars. All opinions are entirely our own.

Here’s the quick version: the Herzog family has been making wine for over 150 years, across nine generations. Their wines were so good that Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austro-Hungarian Empire made Phillip Herzog a baron and asked the family to supply wine for the royal court! 

But enough about emperors — let’s talk about what’s actually in the glass.

Herzog Lineage Chenin Blanc 2024, Clarksburg

I opened this one first, and I’m glad I did. The “Lineage” line is Herzog’s estate-grown series, and the name isn’t just branding — it’s a nod to those nine generations of winemaking heritage. This Chenin Blanc comes from Clarksburg, California, a region where Chenin Blanc is actually the standout grape of the area. The terroir there is pretty special: warm summer days get cooled every afternoon by breezes rolling in off the San Francisco Bay, which keeps the fruit bright and the acidity crisp.

What I got was a refreshing, fruit-forward white with tropical and stone fruit character. It’s the sort of bottle I’d open for a casual dinner with friends or honestly just sip on the patio while pretending I don’t have emails to answer. The Lineage series runs around $22 a bottle, which is seriously well-priced for what you’re getting. We’re talking wine from a family that once served literal royalty, people.

Herzog Special Reserve Clarksburg Pinot Noir 2024

Now, this is the bottle you save for when the occasion calls for something a little more elevated. The Special Reserve line is Herzog’s premium tier — production is extremely limited to fewer than 10,000 cases across the entire lineup. So you’re holding something genuinely small-batch.

This Pinot Noir is gorgeous. Rich red fruit aromas, a smooth and layered palate, and a finish that lingers in the best possible way. I paired it with a salmon dinner and it was the move. It would also be fantastic with roasted lamb or even some hearty grilled mushrooms for a cozy night in.

At around $37, it’s a step up, but it genuinely delivers. Think of it as the “I’m hosting and I want people to ask me where I got this” bottle.

The Backstory That Makes It All Better

I teased the emperor detail, but the full Herzog story is honestly remarkable. The family fled the Holocaust — Eugene Herzog survived, though his parents were tragically murdered in Auschwitz. He later escaped rising communism in Slovakia, flew his family to New York City in 1948 with six kids and almost no money, and slowly built his way up in the wine industry. In 1985, David Herzog moved the family operation to California and launched the Baron Herzog label as a tribute to their ancestor, the original baron.

Today they operate out of a custom-built, state-of-the-art winery in Ventura County, where up to 2,500 barrels of reserve wine age in their cellar. They even have an on-site restaurant, Tierra Sur, if you’re ever in the area and want the full experience.

What I love about these two bottles is that they tell a story that spans centuries and continents — and somehow ends up in my living room on a Friday night, making the weekend feel a little more special. You can explore their full collection and dive into the fascinating family history on their website.

Cheers to nine generations — and counting!