Before founding Grey Fox Vineyards in 1996, the Arrigoni and Cecchi families spent much of their free time pursuing their passion for flying small planes. It was on these getaways that conversations turned to dreams of planting a vineyard and building a winery. Bruce's family had a tradition of making wine at home and Gary had a good chemistry background. A seed was planted and it began to take hold.
On the sun-soaked, vine-dappled slopes of Napa Valley, overlooking the town of St. Helena, a family took a chance. Driven by an unshakable desire to create something truly their own and to leave a lasting impression, they embarked on a journey to craft a signature wine worthy of their name. It was 1993, and the world of wine shimmered with possibility.
Winemaking is a blend of mystery and mischief, and with this alchemy, they produced not just one but two proprietary blends. The first was Bacio Divino—a “divine kiss” composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced by Sangiovese and, occasionally, other varietals. In 1999, its vivacious younger sibling, Pazzo, made its debut—an exuberant Sangiovese-centric blend enriched by Merlot, Syrah, and a touch of estate Cabernet.
Ever curious, they expanded their vision, venturing into single-varietal wines. This evolution led to the creation of their namesake wines: Janzen (2004), Vagabond (2004), and Lucie (2009).
Now, twenty vintages into their small, family-run venture, they take great pride in each bottle. Every accolade humbles them, yet the drive to single out, blend, taste, and create remains unwavering. Through hard work and dedication, many dreams have been realized. They invite others to discover a favorite among their offerings, with the hope that the enjoyment of each will come effortlessly.
Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery
Négociant Urban Winery is located in the heart of North Park’s Boulevard District at the intersection of Texas Street and El Cajon Boulevard. Négociant joins the rapid influx of businesses and residential developments bursting into the “Boulevard” neighborhood. This revitalization is anchored by improvements to the nearby Lafayette Hotel as well as multiple new major condo developments including one directly south of the winery! The neighborhood is becoming a walking community to fit the life styles of those living in the area. Art festivals, boutique shops, coffee shops, street fairs, and area activities lend to strolling and dropping into Négociant for a pleasant afternoon of wine tasting.
Saint Helena Road Winery is a tiny winery on the west side of Spring Mountain. 20 acres are planted of the 5 Bordeaux varietals. Saint Helena has 3 brands: Roy J. Maier Cabernet Sauvignon, Maier Family Meritage, and Maier Family Cenote. They are all Bordeaux blends. Saint Helena Roads Winery grows all varietals on our estate property and do not buy or sell any fruit.
John Schwaesdall, A San Diego native, started making wine from some of the old vineyards in Ramona that were planted in 1950′s. He since has planted 4 1/2 acres of various red and white wine grapes. The vineyard lies among gigantic granite boulders that are found predominately in the Ramona/Mt. Woodson area of San Diego. These boulders are true natural wonders. One great granite boulder on the property weighs 80 tons and looks just like a cat. Another looks like Moby Dick. John won’t hesitate to show visitors the fantastic natural sculptures on his 6 acres of property.
With attention to detail in all aspects of the winemaking process Locatelli Vineyards work at extracting the distinct bold flavors of each grape varietal by creating complex, well-balanced, memorable wine.
Much of the beauty of Retzlaff Vineyards lies in its commitment to organic practices. As a pioneer in organic grape growing, Retzlaff stands out as the only California Certified Organic vineyard in the greater San Francisco Bay region, making it a must-visit for wine lovers.
The vineyard’s dedication to organic methods, along with meticulous canopy management and vineyard health, results in wines of exceptional quality. Visitors can savor the authenticity and complexity of wines crafted from grapes that are free from chemical residues.
The clean, bright, and evenly ripened fruit translates into fresh, delightful wines that showcase the true nature of each grape varietal. The winemaker often likens their approach to savoring an organic, sun-kissed peach plucked directly from the tree, striving to ensure that each berry in the vineyard embodies that perfect peach experience. For California wine enthusiasts, a visit to Retzlaff Vineyards promises not only exquisite wines but also a deep appreciation for the beauty of organic viticulture.
Image - Saman Teher - Pixabay
Ridge wines begin with respect for the natural process that transforms fresh grapes into wine, and for the 19th century model of guiding that process. A great vineyard that produce high-quality grapes of distinct, individual character, this approach is not only environmentally and socially responsible, it’s also the best way to consistently make fine wine.
The Parrish family has deep roots in the Paso Robles area. Earl Henderson is David Parrish’s grandfather and was one of the first people to plant in Atascadero during Prohibition. In fact, he had P.O. Box 1. Today, his home is the site of the Atascadero Historical Museum.
In the 1920s, Henderson planted 540 acres and managed approximately 740 acres of wine grapes including Alicante, Charbon, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel. The Zinfandel cuttings were purchased from the famed Paderewski Ranch.
Henderson grew grapes through the beginning of Prohibition and then got into the golf course business.
Inspired by his grandfather's stories, David Parrish set out to test his own green thumb. After graduating from U.C. Davis in 1974, he pursued his passion for grape growing by establishing A&P Ag Structures, a vineyard trellising company. His expertise caught the attention of Napa Valley's Robert Mondavi, leading to collaborations on trellising installations for Mondavi's vineyards and other renowned wineries like Beringer.
Nearly two decades later, Parrish returned to California's Central Coast, aiming to carry on his grandfather's legacy of grape growing. In 2004, he produced the first vintage under the Parrish Family label, now managing 70 acres in Paso Robles.
In 2018, marking another milestone, the Parrish family opened a wine and food destination on Adelaida Road. The tasting room offers vineyard walks, winery tours, food and wine pairings, tastings, bottle services, event spaces, and conference facilities. Indoors and outdoors, guests can explore their palate preferences, relax with wine, and find inspiration. The property even features a putting green with complimentary putters and golf balls for those looking to unwind.
Wine Tasting Experience:
Open Daily 11am-5pm (last reservation at 4:15pm)
Reservations for Visiting - They try to accommodate walk-ins when we can, but cannot guarantee.
With the 2001 harvest Paul launched his Sequum brand and released his first vintage of Napa Valley Zinfandel from his 2 acre Kidd Ranch vineyard in St. Helena. In 2002, he added a Cabernet Sauvignon from four specially selected Napa vineyard soils and named it Four Soil Melange. In 2003, the first release of the most recent addition to the Sequum portfolio, a Sonoma Dry Creek Zinfandel called Riverwash, was announced. He plans to add a vineyard designated Kidd Ranch Syrah and Kidd Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon with the 2006 vintage. Paul continues to consult for vineyards up and down the west coast and enjoys fine tuning the production of his Sequum wines.
