The beautiful, incredibly ornate and Victorian/ Baroque style tasting room coupled with the very friendly service makes this a great place to take out-of-towners.
Barrel tasting after barrel tasting, we truly learned a lot. The final tasting was complimented by an immaculate tray of cheese, cured meats, and bread/crackers (which, let's say, we definitely needed. . .and loved).
Alapay owners Scott and Rebecca Remmenga are passionate about their wines and giving each customer personalized attention within an approachable, relaxing, non-intimidating setting. Alapay does not distribute to wholesalers, restaurants or wine shops, so you will only find these special wines in their seaside wine cellar. They pride themselves on being part of the total wine production process and being "hands-on winemakers".
The atmosphere of the tasting room is simple but modern. You can tell that they put their real energy into the wines. It's a nice stop with the Jimtown Store right next door where you can pick up a tasty sandwich and sit out back looking over the vineyards. When it comes to the people and service, you really get a feel that this is a family run operation. Stephen Hawkes the owner/farmer/winemaker is there every year at the barrel tasting to share the experience and crafted love that goes into these amazing red wines.
Fitzpatrick Winery and Lodge is located in the Fair Play AVA (American Viticultural Area) at the heart of the California's Gold Country, in the beautiful and idyllic Sierra Foothills of El Dorado county, nearby historic Placerville. We feature fine hand crafted wines made from organically grown premium wine grapes and a unique Irish Bed & Breakfast. 37 years in Fair Play. Fitzpatrick Winery & Lodge became Fair Play's first winery in 1980.
After following the challenging road up the mountainside we came to this beautiful home overlooking the valley and their fields. While the view from their home porch was breathtaking, and the active hummingbird feeders captivating, the time spent talking to this husband-wife wine making team was fascinating. A visit to this winery not only includes a tasting of their wonderful Syrahs, but also great conversation about wine making, genetics and theories of growing grapes in Napa Valley. A great stop and we will remember this visit each time we open a bottle at home.
Longtime Placer County residents, the Mendez Family, broke ground on their Auburn vineyard in 1999, with no illusions of simplicity. When Viña Castellano was started the family knew it was going to be a labor of love, with a strong emphasis on “labor”. Teena Wilkins, who co-owns and manages the vineyard and winery, is the youngest of Gabe and Carolyn Mendez’s four children. She and her father, along with her husband Craig and their vineyard & winery foreman, Victor Brambila, oversee the weekly work at the winery, but the entire family contribute to the winery in some form or fashion.
Anglim Winery is a small, family-owned label producing vineyard-designate Rhone varietals and blends plus limited-release Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is owned and operated by Steve and Steffanie Anglim based out of Paso Robles. Winery is a small, family-owned label located in downtown Paso Robles producing vineyard-designate Rhône varietals and blends plus limited-release family favorites. You will probably be greeted by either the winemaker himself or his wife. Support small winemakers making really fantastic wine by checking this place out. You will not be disappointed.
Nice tasting room with a wide selection of wines is what you will find at Terre Rouge & Easton Wines. There was a wine festival that weekend and all the tasting rooms were bustling. Whats nice about Terre Rouge is that they actually had the space to accommodate everyone. So many wines, so little time.
Hours:
Tues-Weds Closed
Thur 11:00am to 4:00pm
Fri 11:00am to 4:00pm
Sat 11:00am to 4:00pm
Sun 11:00am to 4:00pm
Mon 11:00am to 4:00pm
Try the 2008 Primativo - spicy, black pepper,complexity, a real treat. On Saturdays they have live music to go along with great wine tasting. Gary and Christina Smith continue the fine art of winemaking and vineyard tending that Gary’s father began with his three sons. Now with three sons of their own, the Smiths handcraft small lots of classic varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Primitivo, Syrah and Chardonnay from their 10 acre certified organic vineyard near Grass Valley, CA.
In 1965 most people were tinkering with cars in their garage. Davis Bynum was tinkering with wine. He created Barefoot Bynum Burgundy in that tiny room. But our spirited ways really began with our founders, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey. In 1986, they took a sleepy label and gave it Sole. Both agreed it was time for a wine that didn't take itself too seriously. So, Barefoot Cellars was created. Winemaker:J ennifer Lynne Wall is a native Californian born in Sacramento. Originally she intended to attend medical school after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. However, she moved to Sonoma County following graduation in 1991, where she took her first winery position at Vinwood Cellars-Gauer Estates, a custom wine-processing facility. She started on the ground floor there, working in the lab and checking fermentation tanks daily. During the harvest of 1995, Jennifer started her career as the winemaker for Barefoot Cellars Winery.
