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Blacksmith Cellars

painting women with wine

In 2003, winemaker Matt Smith embarked on his journey with Blacksmith Cellars, debuting his 2001 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This elegant wine quickly captured the attention of wine enthusiasts, showcasing the artistry, craftsmanship, and tradition of exceptional independent winemaking.

By 2005, Smith expanded his repertoire with the release of his first white wine, the 2004 Monterey Chenin Blanc, which earned a prestigious 4 Star Gold Medal at the Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition.

While Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc remain the flagship offerings of Blacksmith Cellars, Smith’s passion for exploration is evident in his diverse portfolio. Over the years, he has introduced classic varietals like Syrah and Chardonnay, alongside lesser-known treasures such as Torrontés and Verdelho. Wine lovers can also savor his exceptional proprietary blends, “Adamantine” and “Hephaestus,” making a visit to Blacksmith Cellars a must for those seeking unique and high-quality wines in California's vibrant wine country.

In 2003, winemaker Matt Smith launched Blacksmith Cellars with the release of his 2001 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, an elegant wine that celebrated the artistry, craftsmanship, and tradition of great independent winemaking. Rock Wall Wine Company represents a new chapter in the East Bay urban winemaking scene. Founded and operated by a group of industry veterans, including Kent Rosenblum and his daughter, winemaker Shauna Rosenblum. Rock Wall wines are founded on the philosophy of the right grape in the right place and are the result of many long-term relationships with acclaimed vineyards. Grapes are sourced from all over California.

Image-painting women with wine by wine artist Agata Zamborowski

Treasure Island Wines

Glass of white wine at Treasure Island Wines

What I can say, I love visiting this winery. First of all, you get the fantastic views of San Francisco and the East Bay from Treasure Island. Some really great wines The building is a cool space that the Winery uses for tastings, storage, and production of a few other smaller winemakers too. The folks at Treasure Island Wines are extremely knowledgeable. We had an opportunity to sit down with Jim Mirowski and do a little video interview with him. You can take a peek at what your visit to Treasure Island Wines will be like by clicking HERE. Prices are right for most budgets and this is a fun and unique space to visit with friends! Open on the weekends and for special events.~

Hours:

Mon-Fri     Closed
Sat        1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Sun       1:00 pm to 5:30 pm

R&B Cellars

wine glass and wine corks - Pixabay

At R&B Cellars, wine-making is viewed as an art form with the power and influence of music. It’s meant to inspire, brim with passion, and unite people in celebrating life, happiness, and community.

Situated in the East Bay of San Francisco, owners Kevin and Barbara invite visitors to Riggers Loft, their scenic winery, tasting room, and wine bar in the Port of Richmond, Point Richmond. Here, guests can enjoy a blend of delicious wines and vibrant music in one of the most welcoming communities in the area.

As lifelong musicians, Kevin and Barbara recognize that, much like music, wine is crafted to be shared—whether with old friends, new acquaintances, or the world at large. To suit a variety of tastes and personalities, they offer several varietals at different price points. Riggers Loft is their dream: a place where music and wine harmonize beautifully. The experience is made even more memorable with a sweeping 270-degree view of the San Francisco Bay.

Skylark Wine Company

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Skylark Wine Company is a collaboration between Boulevard Restaurant Wine Directors John Lancaster and Robert Perkins. Both have years of experience in the Wine Industry. I wanted to taste this wine strictly because it was an interesting blend of 47% Carignane - 47% Syrah and 6% Grenache. Carignane has a long history in the state of California and add a texture layer to this wine. The wine has heavy heavy earth and spice notes. I couldn't quite put my finger on them all. The confusing part is a good thing because it made me keep coming back for a new sip to figure out the components. This wine would definitely benefit with food

Heron Wines

wine corks and wine glass - Pixabay

Winemaker Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Laely Heron’s philosophy and wines embody her adventurous, daring, and non-traditional spirit. A global traveler, she has visited or lived on six continents and all 50 states, with a remarkable ability to converse in multiple languages, including French, Danish, and several others.

By age 10, Heron had already lived in 12 states due to her father’s career as a mining engineer and adventurer. The family’s move to Algeria led to extensive travels through southern Africa and other regions before returning to the U.S. for her high school education.

After two years at the University of Colorado, Heron spent her junior year in France, which ignited her passion for wine and led her to the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux. Following her studies, she became the first American employee of Lindeman’s in San Francisco before moving to Denmark to start an import company, open a restaurant, teach wine classes, and pursue Master of Wine certification.

In 1995, Heron founded Heron Wines in San Francisco, breaking new ground as a female business owner in a male-dominated industry. Her first release, a Merlot from St. Chinian, quickly gained acclaim. Over the years, Heron Wines expanded to include a diverse portfolio of wines from California and Spain, earning a reputation as a “cult wine” among sommeliers and top restaurants.

Today, Heron Wines continues to produce California Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, celebrating 28 years of success in the wine industry.

 

Kendric Vineyards

cluster of grapes - ai generated - Pixabay

Kendric Johnson was my Dad and is the person for whom this enterprise was named. He died in 2001 just as we were getting started. Naming the company after him is meant to both honor his memory and to impose his high personal standards upon the undertaking.

Covenant Wines

glass of wine - Pixabay

In 2003, Covenant founders Jeff Morgan and Leslie Rudd were inspired to bring a new California perspective to a 3500-year-old winemaking tradition. What started as a 500-case Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon project has now grown more than ten-fold. Today, Covenant’s 9,000-square-foot urban winery is situated in Berkeley, California, also home to other urban wineries.

Back Box Wines

picture of black box wine - blackbox

Where is the bottle? What’s the most delicious way to enjoy acclaimed wines without a hefty price tag? Lose the bottle. In 2003, Black Box Wines redefined the category by becoming the first U.S. vintner to offer super-premium, appellation-specific, vintage-dated wines in a box. Since then our expanding repertoire has earned 28 gold medals in wine competitions nationwide, yet still costs 40% less than comparable bottled wines.

August West Wine

Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery  Gallery | Agata Art Gallery

August West Wine and Sandler Wines are both produced at the winery located in the industrial area of Bay Shore. Anyone familiar with the area would think what an out of the ordinary place to have a winery, but following the new tradition of the urban winery concept, the location is perfect for their production volume. Ed Kurtzman partner for August West and owner/winemaker for Sandler Wines is a great person and interesting winemaker. He sources his fruit from Gary Francioni, Howard Graham, and Gary Pisoni. His wines are approachable, 3 dimensional with a bright red fruit - raspberry, cherry & strawberry, on the fore-palate with just enough acidity, accompanied by a dense forest-floor, earthy yet a bit of a symphony going on ones palate.

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