Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

Boccali Vineyards & Winery

people drinking wine

DeWayne and Marilyn Boccali have been the heart and soul behind Boccali's Pizza & Pasta, a beloved home-style Italian restaurant in the picturesque Ojai Valley, for over three decades. Renowned for its traditional Italian dishes with a local twist, the restaurant uses farm-fresh produce sourced from their very own Boccali Ranch in Upper Ojai Valley. The rich, fertile soil combined with DeWayne's impressive five decades of farming experience results in a bounty of flavorful fruits and vegetables that give their menu a unique edge. DeWayne also serves as co-winemaker and vineyard manager for the family winery.

Joining him in this venture is his partner and fellow winemaker, Joe Boccali, who also happens to be a musician and educator in Ventura County. Raised in the farming tradition, Joe has been involved in developing the land that is now home to Boccali Vineyards since he was a child. As co-winemaker and cellar master, he continues to deepen his winemaking knowledge and skills.

In 2004, the Boccali family planted their first rows of vines where their Christmas tree farm and seasonal pumpkin patch once thrived. By 2006, they harvested their first crop, which was used to create a small batch of wine exclusively for family enjoyment. The following year marked a milestone with the production of their inaugural vintages: Topa Topa Syrah, Old Winery Zinfandel, and Shangri-La Grenache Blanc, all offered to the public for the first time. Each subsequent year saw the planting of new vineyard sections, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier.

Today, Boccali Vineyards spans approximately 5 acres and produces between 1,500 and 2,500 cases of wine, depending on the whims of the growing season. For wine enthusiasts visiting the Ojai Valley, Boccali's Winery offers a delightful experience steeped in family tradition, local flavors, and the passion of two dedicated winemakers.

Read our guide to Ojai wineries                                                                                                                                                                       

Arbuckle Ridge

Painting by Agata Zaborowski

Arbuckle Ridge Winery, located in Paso Robles, CA, is renowned for producing exceptional wines that embody the rich terroir of the region. Specializing in small-batch, handcrafted varietals, the winery focuses on creating bold reds and crisp whites that showcase the diverse climate and soil of Paso Robles. Guests can enjoy personalized tastings in a scenic vineyard setting, offering a true taste of Central Coast winemaking at its finest.

Witch Creek Winery

cluster of grapes - ai generated - Pixabay

Tasting Room and award-winning Witch Creek Winery is located in Carlsbad, CA directly on the historic Highway 101 just a block from the beach and the Coaster. Founded in 1993, this boutique winery focuses on quality over quantity, by producing small-lot,handcrafted wines using traditional winemaking techniques. The result is full-bodied well balanced wines rich in flavor that have earned many medals over the years at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and Orange County Wine Competition. Witch Creek prides itself on being a source of some of the more unique and harder to find domestically produced varietals,such as Nebbiolo, Teroldego and Montepulciano.

Laguna Canyon Winery

people sharing wine at the beach

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event, or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Painting by Agata Zaborowski Women enjoying wine

 

 

 

 

 

Kenneth Volk Vineyards

Grape cluster - art - Pixabay

Ken Volk has been making Santa Barbara and Central Coast wines for more than a quarter century. Perhaps best known as the founder of Wild Horse Winery, Ken has earned a reputation for crafting world-class wines, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley.

Tablas Creek

glasses of white wine - Pixabay

Robert Haas was a prominent figure in the American wine industry for over fifty years. Starting in the 1950s as a buyer for his family's New York retailer, M. Lehman, Haas traveled through the cellars of France, building a formidable reputation as a wine taster and forming lasting relationships with top wine producers.

In the mid-1960s, Haas ventured out on his own to import fine estate wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire, Alsace, and the Rhône Valley. It was during this time that he met the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and persuaded patriarch Jacques Perrin to appoint him as the exclusive American importer for the estate. Through his importing business, Vineyard Brands, Haas collaborated closely with Jacques' sons, Jean-Pierre and François Perrin, helping establish Beaucastel as a leading estate in the international wine community.

As Haas and the Perrins traveled across the United States for two decades to promote their French wines, they became close friends and came to believe that Rhône grape varieties, which thrived in the sunny south of France, would also flourish in California's Mediterranean climate. In 1985, the families began searching for suitable property.

Robert Haas was honored by the Paso Robles Wine Community as the 2007 Wine Industry Person of the Year and received a lifetime achievement award from the Rhone Rangers in 2014 for his contributions to the American Rhône movement. Haas passed away in March 2018, and his remarkable career was celebrated in publications such as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The New York Times. His son, Jason, who has managed the estate since the mid-2000s, was recognized by his peers as the 2015 Paso Robles Wine Country Wine Industry Person of the Year and the 2017 San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Person of the Year. In 2022, Jason was named a Food & Wine Drinks Innovator of the Year.

The Perrin family has also garnered numerous international accolades, including the prestigious 2018 Meininger Award for Wine Family of the Year. Additionally, Jean-Pierre and François Perrin were named Men of the Year by Decanter Magazine in 2014.

Wiens Family Cellars

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - woman enjoying wine at beach

The wines at Wiens Family Cellars were very good. Not too crowded inside. Good vibe inside. We had a lot of first timers in my group so they were a little unsure of what to do but the staff there were very friendly and eager to answer any questions. The hostess I dealt with was very friendly and had good recommendations. I have to say their "Perspective" blend was a very good red that I enjoyed. I also really like their Cab selection. From what I understand their big reds are in the premier tasting room....that will be my next stop when I return to Temecula Wine and wine country.

Roblar Winery

corks and a wine glass - Pixabay

Roblar Winery wines reflect the diversity of Santa Ynez Valley, with an east-west transverse range that allows the Pacific Ocean a significant influence with near-daily fog and crisp ocean breezes. This cooler climate leads to wines with firm structure, plenty of secondary flavors, and great potential for aging.

Yorkville Cellars

glass of wine

This is the place if you like the wines of Bordeaux, individually and collectively. And when I mean Bordeaux, I mean the varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. They actually had two of the white Bordeaux grapes, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion. CARMENERE!!! With only 50 acres is California, Yorkville Cellars has 2 of them. Its pretty much gone in France and now Its all about Chile. Its an incredible wine with such vibrancy and juicy feel.

Boyd Family Vineyards

grale cluster - Pixabay

The history of Boyd Family Vineyards began in 1998 with the purchase of a property on Big Ranch Road in Napa, driven by a vision to create exceptional wines and memorable experiences. Since then, over 20,000 vines of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon have been planted, tended, nurtured, harvested, crushed, and transformed into fine wine.

Situated in the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley, the vineyard benefits from the area's slightly cooler climate and heavy clay soils, which are ideal for producing ultra-premium Merlot and Syrah. These conditions contribute to the creation of some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wines.

Today, while Boyd Family Vineyards continues to sell over 50% of its grapes to other premium wineries, it also produces limited quantities of ultra-premium wine. These wines are crafted with meticulous attention to the best materials and practices, aiming to reflect a full-bodied style that showcases the finest attributes of the land.

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