The original vineyard and winery were started in 1856 by a Frenchman named Adolph Siot, who later sold the successful enterprise to Joe Rotta in 1908. In the 1920s, Rotta then sold it to his brother Clement Rotta, who bonded the winery after Prohibition in the 1930s and forged the label into one best known for its hearty Zinfandels.
The Foxen Boys (aka Bill Wathen and Dick Doré) have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen Winery & Vineyard at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic on Foxen Canyon Road.
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
A nice find as we were wine tasting in Livermore last weekend. As you drive into the parking lot, you immediately forget about everything since the grounds are so gorgeous. There's even an outside patio where you can enjoy your wine and a packed lunch you may have brought with you. The tasting room is HUGE!
The staff was super friendly and helpful, especially since we'd never been to McGrail before. Enjoyed the '08 Picazo Merlot and the '08 Picazo Proprietary Red.
Marietta Cellars is located just outside the little town of Geyserville in one of California’s premier wine growing regions, Sonoma County. Owner and winemaker Chris Bilbro initially founded Marietta Cellars in 1978 in a rented cow barn in the Dry Creek Valley. The winery is named after Chris’ great aunt.
Founded in 1994, La Sirena is Heidi Barrett's own winery. With over 30 years of winemaking experience, Heidi specializes in beautifully balanced, silky, elegant wines that are purely delicious. La Sirena has Cabernet Sauvignon (similar style and blend she used to make for Screaming Eagle), Barrett Syrah, Pirate TreasuRed (red blend of 7 varieties), Art Bus (proprietary blend) , and a dry Muscat Canelli called Moscato Azul. La Sirena means the mermaid in Italian and Spanish combining Heidi's love of the ocean with the magic of winemaking. Heidi also makes wine for eight other wineries in Napa Valley and is co-winemaker with husband Bo on their new joint venture, Barrett & Barrett.
The rich history of California agriculture and winemaking is evident everywhere. The winery, especially the historic structures on the property, represents a snapshot of time and place, and evokes a strong feeling of connection to the past. The high integrity level of the structures and surrounding vineyards encapsulates visitors into a time and place that was so very different from present day. Boeger Winery has a complimentary and reserve wine tasting daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Boeger Winery is only 45 minutes east of Sacramento.
Modus Operandi Cellars puts out some truly fantastic wines and Jason is the perfect host for the tasting experience. We found him years ago almost at random, joined the club, and haven't looked back since. Both Jason's whites and reds are something special and still rank among my favorites of all time.
The people were friendly and even though they didn't have a lot of white wine to taste their red wines were plentiful. The tasting room in Murphys is nice but you have to experience the winery and the trip to the winery to fully appreciate this twisted place. Of course, not everyone is into rubber chickens...
Rios-Lovell has grown into much more than an award-winning winery— it has become a Livermore Valley destination. Our picturesque grounds feature an event center, concert center, tasting room, picnic grounds, gazebo and gift area surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and an outdoor Tuscan style village. Rios-Lovell Winery’s unique charm makes it the ideal place for everything from tantalizing your palette to hosting your special event.
