A relatively new winery in the Healdsburg area, Merriam Vineyards nonetheless has "roots." Co-owner Peter Merriam is a lifelong friend of local radio personality Tom Simoneau, "The Wine Guy," who urged Peter and his wife to start making wine in Sonoma, even though they lived in Maine. The imposing tasting room and production facility sits atop a hillside vineyard south of town on Highway 101, on Los Amigos Road. There is plenty of room for picnicing on the grounds, and the wine store will soon be serving cheese, salami and other foods. Bordeaux varietals are the speciality, grown on the 11-acre property.