This is a wonderful place for different wines. You must call to arrange an appt and do so at least a week or two in advance. The grounds are wonderful and the building is special. We got to see the caves which had cement containers for some of the wine. Bring your camera for great garden photos. I personally loved their Chardonnay and Cab.
Fetzer Vineyards was founded in 1968 in beautiful Mendocino County by Barney and Kathleen Fetzer. One of the first California wineries to branch out into serious Chardonnay production, Fetzer remains committed to sustainability and environmentally conscious wine production. Dennis Martin oversees all wine-making at Fetzer and is assisted by Charlie Gilmore and Michael Chupp, who are in charge of white wine making and red wine making respectively.
This is an appointment only winery, and it has a quiet, more laid back feel than other places in Napa. The tasting room is really cute, with artwork and photography lining the walls. The wine maker's son, Julius even sells some of his beautiful photos at the winery.
Our server was the wine maker's daughter, Sam, and she was great. We tried several different wines, including a Chardonnay, Malbec, and my personal favorite, the Cab-Franc. Everything was super well done. The Chardonnay was sweet, and not overly buttery, the cab-franc was smooth and the Malbec full of flavor. Sam was even kind enough to let us try one of their Napa Jazz wines. Very good, with a fancifully designed label.
The best part? The wines are moderately priced. Most bottles cost around $30-40.
The scenic rolling hills of grapevines, and large, earthy smelling wine cellars are great for photo opportunities. When we visited, the vineyard was in bloom with wild flowers. Super pretty.
If you're in the Valley looking for great wines and an affordable price and gorgeous vistas without all the crowd, definitely give this place a try.
Producers of the 1st Green Portfolio of Wines from sustainably farmed, certified organic and Biodynamic vineyards. Labels include: Ukiah Cellars, Old River Vintners, Talmage Collection, & Mendocino Farms.
Relic is the label by Mike Herby, one of the Napa Valley winemaking young guns. Mike is also the winemaker for Realm and consulting for Sherwin Family.
This is one of the stop to visit while you are on Spring Mountain, Relic is being housed at Erna Schein (formerly Behrens & Hitchcock). You will find some intriguing Pinots and Syrah, a nice break from the norm on Spring Mountain.
Charnu Winery is a boutique winery in St. Helena, CA, owned by Bob and Louise Dye. The goal was to create a site that would allow them to market their wine and interact with their customers. The owners' produce Cabernet Sauvignon that is in the rich Napa Valley style yet that is still elegant.
This place first charmed me because of their wonderful hospitality. Paul was my pourer and he really made me comfortable, especially because I was tasting by myself. Excellent buttery Chardonnay!
Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre moved to California for love. For Guillaume, it was his passion for winemaking and farming without limits that brought him to Paso Robles. This love led him to one of the most prestigious wineries in Paso Robles, L’Aventure, and eventually to start his winery, Clos Solène. Arnaud’s story is much more like that of a movie scene. His move to California was to follow the love of his life, Chloe. This is how the two brothers -Les Deux Frères Fabre- ended up in Paso Robles.
The story gets far more interesting, but you will have to come find out for yourself!
As a tribute to the six-generation family legacy in the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux regions, BENOM harmoniously combines the freedom of winemaking in Paso Robles with the innate talent of the Fabre bloodline.
If you are wondering around El Dorado County and looking for a nice place for a picnic, Iverson is one of the places you should try. They have plenty of tables on their patio. The wine is pretty good too! The people behind the bar are friendly, so don't be afraid to ask questions or make conversation.
Alma Sol WInery is a micro-boutique winery that sources premium fruit from top vineyards sites in California. This micro-boutique winery is family-owned and operated with the mission to craft exceptional Bordeaux wine varietals and special blends. All fruit is hand-picked in small lots that respect the fruit and is just one of the hands-on facets of producing the artisan wines of Alma Sol Winery. Owners John and Lisa wanted to make the best possible Cabernet Sauvignon they could and to set out and prove that California's Central Coast could provide a great Bordeaux. Noteworthy is that their inaugural release of 2009 recieved numerouis accolades, including a 90pts review from Wine Enthusiast. *
Hours:
Sat- 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Sun- 2:00pm to 5:00pm
