Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Franc

Mt. Vernon Winery

clusters of grapes

Mt. Vernon Vineyard and Winery is a small, family-owned and operated winery nestled in the grassy foothills of Auburn, California. The Taylor family transforms Sierra Foothills grapes into outstanding, lush aromatic wines, featuring riveting fruit flavors that are fit for a president.

The winery provides a majestic view and a relaxing atmosphere. Regarded as the largest winery in Placer County since Prohibition, Mt. Vernon offers an exceptional selection of wines and unique blends that are sure to captivate the taste buds.

Established in 1996, Mt. Vernon is pioneering the production of various foothill grapes, including Old Vine Zinfandel, Syrah Port, Barbera, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold Country Nectar, and a Sur-lie aged barrel-fermented Chardonnay that is joining the Mt. Vernon collection.

Photo courtesy of photographer Randy Caparoso 

Favero Vineyards

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Fred and Ginger, winemaker and owners of Favero Vineyards and Winery, take pride in the production of their fine quality wines. From clearing the rugged and rocky hillside, to hand planting vines, to the precision thinning of fruit and the pulling of leaves for improved circulation, Fred Favero crafts the entire production of Favero Vineyards wines. The result of this exacting vineyard management and careful handling of fruit is wine of extraordinary complexity, power, and finesse.mmGinger brings her talent for design and marketing to the Favero family winery and vineyards.

Jean Edwards Cellars

Entrance to Jean Edwards

Karen and John Troisi started Jean Edwards Cellars in 2004 and released their first wine in 2006, which was spectacular. Wine Spectator Magazine named them as one of "20 new cabernet producers to watch that could be the next cult wines". Jean Edwards Cellars is in the good company of well-known producers such as Scarecrow, Kapscandy, Ghost Block, MacAuley, and Oakville East. The fruit for this wine comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard located on Pritchard Hill on the eastern side of the Napa Valley. Their vines (neighboring with Paul Hobbs) have produced a delicious full-bodied, solid and classically styled Napa Cabernet. In the glass deep garnet-purple, with lovely dark cassis, plum, cedar and earth notes, hints of tobacco and vanilla and a delicious hint of dark chocolate on the palate. Aged 24 months in French Oak, the wine is 92% cabernet sauvignon and 8% cabernet franc. Jean Edwards Cellars produces full-bodied and wines yet not at all over the top, this wine has a balance and fineness that so many of the huge framed super expensive Napa Cabs seem to lack. Drinkable now, especially with a decanter, it will continue to gain complexity with additional cellaring for 5-10 years. Production was a mere 250 cases.~

Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday  - Closed
Thursday - Monday- 11:00 am to 5:00 pm           
 

Ledson Winery & Vineyards

red wine swirling in the wine glass - Pixabay

It was a good trip to Ledson, the estate was impressive, and they have a deli market, which was just right when I needed a small bite between wineries. I think the lady ended up giving us 8 or 9 wine. She was generous and knowledgeable. Asked for something really "earthy", the 2004 Cab Franc was a good one. Took a few bottles home.

Coyote Oaks Vineyards

Cyotote Oaks Label

Coyote Oaks Vineyards tasting room is located at the Escondido Wine and Culinary Campus in The Hidden Valley Enoteca Chateau style castle. The Enoteca opened September of 2012, and is San Diego’s most unique wine tasting venue. It is home to several of the finest artisan wineries from Escondido Wine Country, which have collectively joined together to offer their limited production wines. The inviting tasting room is located inside the Mediterranean-style chateau castle on the Escondido Wine & Culinary Campus at 26312 Mesa Rock Road, Escondido, CA 92026. The Escondido Wine and Culinary Campus is home to The Hidden Valley Enoteca, Belle Marie Wines and Chateau Dragoo. The Campus is open 7 days a week, and Coyote Oaks Wines are poured on Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. Please check hours as they change seasonally.

Firestone Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Founded by legendary tire innovator Harvey Firestone’s son, Leonard, and his son, Brooks, Firestone Vineyard was the first estate winery established in Santa Barbara County in 1972. What began as a dream to plant a vineyard and establish a winery has today, with Vintner Bill Foley’s guidance, grown to 325 certified sustainable vineyard acres in one of the most desirable appellations in California — Santa Ynez Valley.

Firestone Vineyard's wines include varietals such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their 325 acres of historic vineyards lie approximately 26 miles from the cold Pacific Ocean, creating a moderate, arid climate and an extremely long growing season. These unique growing conditions, combined with certified sustainable farming techniques, yield wines that are concentrated, elegant, and firmly structured.

Obrien Estate

grape clusters in the vineyard - Pixabay

Bart and Barb Obrian's property is a 33 acres of vineyards, a bonded winery, and their home. When you visit, you will be treated to an intimate experience in their backyard sitting at picnic tables under oak trees. Tour and Tasting – a 60 minute tour and tasting experience. Your tour starts outside at a picnic table overlooking hundreds of acres of vineyards. Then you will visit the main fermentation and barrel storage room of the winery and learn about how wine is fermented in our 500 to 3,000 gallon stainless steel tanks and then aged in French oak barrels. Your tour will conclude in our bottling line room, where you can see thecrusher/de-stemmer, must pump, and bottling line. $20 per person; fee waved with the purchase of 1 bottle of wine per person or wine club signup per couple.

Fisher Vineyards

wine barrel and wine - Pixabay

Ended a lovely wine weekend at Fisher Vineyards with a tour and tasting overlooking the valley. Cameron was our hostess and what knowledge, charisma and overall hospitality! Their cabs are phenomenal - the Coach Insignia and the Cameron's Vineyard are my favorites. It was a pleasure to tour the smaller, family run wineries, where wine is their passion, their history, their legacy.

Chimney Rock Winery

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

The Chimney Rock estate began to take shape in 1980 when Hack and Stella Wilson purchased a 180-acre parcel on the east side of the Silverado Trail, which included a golf course. They constructed a country house inspired by Cape Dutch-style architecture and soon began planting vineyards.

The initial 59 acres were planted with a mix of red and white grape varieties, leading to the production of the first vintage of Chimney Rock estate wines in 1984. In the early 1990s, the estate saw the addition of a Cape Dutch-style winery building, featuring a massive allegorical frieze of Ganymede, the cupbearer to the gods, and a new tasting room.

In 2000, the Terlato family partnered with the Wilson family, bringing additional resources and a vision to enhance Chimney Rock’s reputation for producing exceptional estate Cabernet Sauvignons. By 2002, the remaining 46 acres of land were exclusively planted with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Since the Terlato family assumed sole ownership of Chimney Rock in 2004, they have been dedicated to realizing the estate's full potential. They have consistently upheld the highest standards in viticulture and winemaking. Today, the Chimney Rock estate spans 119 acres of vineyards, divided into 28 distinct blocks, each tailored for specialized viticulture to match the unique characteristics of each site.

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