We booked the 10am tour and tasting. For $15 I was very impressed. The tour was about an hour and a half. We started in the front tasting room, went outside to the vineyards, to the caves where they store the barrels and finally to the room with the tanks. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. She was willing to answer any questions we had.
I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants the full winery experience!
The tasting room is a very casual and welcoming place. It doesn't boast the best gift shop, but they offer enough to let you feel like you've gotten a shopping fix. But you're really coming for the Zins, each one better than the last and most at very affordable prices.
Négociant Urban Winery is located in the heart of North Park’s Boulevard District at the intersection of Texas Street and El Cajon Boulevard. Négociant joins the rapid influx of businesses and residential developments bursting into the “Boulevard” neighborhood. This revitalization is anchored by improvements to the nearby Lafayette Hotel as well as multiple new major condo developments including one directly south of the winery! The neighborhood is becoming a walking community to fit the life styles of those living in the area. Art festivals, boutique shops, coffee shops, street fairs, and area activities lend to strolling and dropping into Négociant for a pleasant afternoon of wine tasting.
Dan Souza is the winery owner and an entrepreneur of many businesses who has found new passion in the fine art of viticulture and winemaking. He comes from a long line of farmers and cattle ranchers, and cultivating the land with extraordinary results is nothing new to him. Besides successful efforts in many of his ventures, he also greatly enjoys donating his time and resources to those who need it.
Bovino Vineyards is an 83.5-acre property with about 45 acres planted to grapes. There are 16 different grape varieties grown on the ranch. Some, like the sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon. The different clones were selected for the characteristics each brings to the finished wine. There are 27 separate blocks with different rootstock/clone combinations in each. Add this complexity to the fact that there are three primary soil types on the property loam, silt loam, clay loam, the elevation ranges from 1,020 and 1,125 feet above sea level, and the blocks have multiple exposures and sun tracks, and it makes the winemaker glad he does not also manage the vineyard.
This is one of Napa's most memorable wineries - and the newest. It took more than half a decade to build and involved hand masonry by Italian artisans. Why? Because Castello is truly a castle. A Medieval, stone castle.... with a moat!
Currently offer a Sangiovese, Zin, Vin Santo dessert wine (from Malvasia Bianca) and Sauvignon Blanc. We also grow and make Chardonnay, Barbera, Syrah, Cab, Cab/Sangio blend, Vernacia, Pinot Gris, Nebbiolo, Primitivo.
We went to this winery without reservations to do a quick tasting if possible. They were totally accomodating and both people we talked to their were really sweet. IThe winery has great feel to it, with the old houses in front of the newer barrel room the tasting area is located in the middle of their vineyard.
Their wines were definately not inexpensive, but you do get what you pay for with their wines. They are solid, even robust in character with a long finish.
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon would be a great wine for someone special at $60 a bottle. This one can easily cellar for ten years. Only 1000 cases are made of this one. It's smooth and mellow, and good for Merlot and Pinot Noir afficiandos as well as lovers of the Cabernet Savignon wines.
Dube Vineyards and winery is located in the small unincorporated community of Deerhorn Valley. Dube Vineyards offers the varietals they grow in their own vineyard (Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and beginning with this year's harvest, Zinfandel and Sangiovese), but in addition we go around to other local vineyards to select other varietals to supplement our production. In 2006 and again in 2007 we harvested Zinfandel and Syrah grapes from a vineyard in Campo, and made very nice blends from that.
Established by the family patriach, Emilio Guglielmo (gool-yell-mo) has been producing award-winning wines in Santa Clara Valley since 1925.
Allora Vineyards was established in 1999. The proprietors of Allora Vineyards are Terry and Nancy Klein. They manage their winemaking business along with their children, Kelly, Cortney, and Christopher Klein. Presently, 10 acres of grapevines are planted on the Klein's estate. Eight acres are Cabernet Sauvignon vines, and the remaining two acres consist of Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah. Additionally, the vineyard employs a unique planting style in which vines are grown closely together, forcing each plant to produce only a small amount of fruit of the highest quality possible. Allora had its first harvest in the fall of 2002 and has been producing exceptional wine with each new vintage. You can visit Allora but remember that tastings are by appointment only and during the summer you will likely have to book a couple of months in advance.
