Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

Erna Schein

grape cluster - PIxabay

Les Behrens (aka the Jersey Boy) was born in Perth Amboy, NJ and moved to California with his family as a young boy. Lisa Drinkward was born and raised in southern California but realized that she was a northern California girl when she spent her college years in Humboldt County. Arcata, CA was where Les and Lisa met and were married in 1987. Their mutual love of food and wine led them to create Folie Douce Restaurant in 1991. Lisa explored her creative food side as chef, and Les was able to develop his passion and palate for wine as sommelier and wine buyer. A mutual enthusiasm for wine developed, resulting in the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for their eclectic wine list. This passion and the encouragement from friend and mentor Ed Oliviera prompted Les and Lisa to purchase their first 3 and a half tons of grapes in 1993. Bob and Lily Hitchcock came on board during that first harvest to manage the business and financial machinations of the winery, and Behrens & Hitchcock Winery was officially formed. Les, without any formal training, has been the sole winemaker at Behrens & Hitchcock since its inception, making wine in a style that flows from his great instinct and confident palate. Although Lisa is involved with all aspects of winemaking, during harvest her real focus is on vineyard management and grower relations. After four years of running both the restaurant and winery, Lisa and Les sold Folie Douce in 1997 and moved to Napa Valley to make wine full-time.

In 2005, with the announcement of Bob & Lily’s retirement, Lisa and Les bought out the Hitchcocks' share of their Spring Mountain winery, leading to the formation of Behrens Family Winery. The name Erna Schein on the label is a dedication to Les’ mother, a woman who was near and dear to all who knew her. Her home was a place of hospitality and friendship, a feeling that we try to replicate here at the winery. She was also a fantastic baker, taking after her mother who was a Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef. It is Erna’s original vintage Kitchen Aid pictured on our label. It reminds us that food and wine is our favorite way to create and maintain friendships.

Wiens Cellars

cluster wine- ai generated

They began with a vision—to craft high-quality, hand-crafted Southern California wines that would tell a unique story from vine to glass. Planting their first vineyard by hand in 1996 not only marked the inception of Wiens Cellars but also deepened their connection to viticulture and winemaking. The initial five varieties established the foundation for what would eventually grow into a diverse portfolio of over thirty, and a modest 14-acre vineyard expanded into a sprawling 70+ acres of hand-cultivated Southern California vines.

Amid this growth, a unique extended family emerged from the business. The legacy of Wiens Cellars stands as a testament to the power of shared dreams, unwavering commitment, resilience, and perseverance. This foundational chapter, crafted through the efforts of many hands and a continuous, collective endeavor, laid the groundwork for the legacy they uphold today—an enduring commitment to family, quality, and integrity.

La Seremissima

Grape Cluster - Pixabay

Established in 1998, La Seremissima vineyards cover a gentle slope facing the Pacific Coast Trail in San Diego North County. The vineyard and winery's name, La Serenissima, pays homage to the most Serene Republic of Venice, for centuries the cultural center of the Mediterranean, where the tradition of wine making flourished, giving civilization the precious gift of wine. Annual production is limited to 1000 cases.

Milliaire Winery

Milliaire Winery, a small family-owned establishment, was founded by Liz and Steve Millier in 1983 in the cellar of their former home in Murphys, CA. By 1990, the winery had relocated to an old Flying A gas station on Main Street in Murphys. Every part of the building was put to use for daily operations: barrels stacked in the repair bays, wine tanks in the backyard, bottling done in the front yard, and a tasting room set up in the office. Locals joked about the contents of "those tanks," and a friend humorously named it the "Roadside Chateau." Driven by their passion for crafting premium wines from the Sierra Foothills, Milliaire Winery has since expanded to occupy an over 8,000-square-foot facility with a dedicated barrel room and modern crush pad. Despite this growth, the Milliaire tasting room remains in the beloved "Roadside Chateau" at 276 Main Street.

The Winemaker
Winemaker Steve Millier began his winemaking journey in 1975 at David Bruce Winery in Santa Cruz after earning his enology degree with an emphasis in viticulture from Fresno State. With over 40 harvests under his belt, Steve possesses a deep understanding of both the science and art of winemaking and grape growing. Part alchemist, part artist, and part farmer, Steve continues to explore, learn, and most importantly, have fun in the winery. His life's work results in great bottles of wine that everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy.

Milliaire Winery, a small family-owned establishment, was founded by Liz and Steve Millier in 1983 in the cellar of their former home in Murphys, CA. By 1990, the winery had relocated to an old Flying A gas station on Main Street in Murphys. Every part of the building was put to use for daily operations: barrels stacked in the repair bays, wine tanks in the backyard, bottling done in the front yard, and a tasting room set up in the office. Locals joked about the contents of "those tanks," and a friend humorously named it the "Roadside Chateau." Driven by their passion for crafting premium wines from the Sierra Foothills, Milliaire Winery has since expanded to occupy an over 8,000-square-foot facility with a dedicated barrel room and modern crush pad. Despite this growth, the Milliaire tasting room remains in the beloved "Roadside Chateau" at 276 Main Street.

The Winemaker
Steve Millier began his winemaking journey in 1975 at David Bruce Winery in Santa Cruz after earning his enology degree with an emphasis in viticulture from Fresno State. With over 40 harvests under his belt, Steve possesses a deep understanding of both the science and art of winemaking and grape growing. Part alchemist, part artist, and part farmer, Steve continues to explore, learn, and most importantly, have fun in the winery. His life's work results in great bottles of wine that everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

Helena View

red wine pouring into a glass

Helena View Johnston Vineyards is located on Highway 128 just five minutes north of Calistoga in the eye of Mt. St. Helena in a fertile area noted for producing exceptional red wines. Helena View specializes in bordeaux style reds, namely Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The winery is open for special events and tours by prior arrangement during the week and by appointment Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm. Picnic facilities are available and include a covered redwood gazebo and a tree shaded deck overlooking vineyards.

Dalla Valle Vineyards

wine and cheese - Pixaba

In 1983, Gustav and Naoko Dalla Valle began planting vines on the hillside east of Oakville, overlooking Napa Valley. Their vineyards produce excellent quality grapes, resulting wines of great intensity, complexity and balance. Gustav passed away in 1995 and Naoko Dalla Valle continues the legacy of Dalla Valle wines. Dalla Valle Vineyards produces two wines; Maya- Proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Dalla Valle Vineyards wines are on a waiting list.

Kokomo Winery

wine cellar

"Bodies in the sand, tropical drink melting in your hand We'll be falling in love to the rhythm of a steel drum band Down in Kokomo... That's where you want to go to get away from it all, down in Kokomo" Actually, this winery doesn't have anything to do with The Beach Boys and their song, but this winery. definitely does have good wines. Actually, Kokomo pays homage to the winemaker's (Erik Miller) origins, Kokomo, Indiana. Kokomo Winery consistently win awards for their wines, most notably their rose.

Costa De Oro Winery

Winery sign

Costa de Oro Winery's mission is to craft the finest wines from the Central Coast by blending the artistry of Old-World winemaking with New-World grape growing practices.

In 1989, Ron Burk and Bob Espinola, owners of Gold Coast Farms, planted the Gold Coast Vineyard. This 30-acre vineyard, featuring Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, is situated on a stunning bluff at Fuglar's Point in the esteemed Santa Maria Valley AVA of Santa Barbara County.

The vineyard began yielding fruit in the early 1990s, with grapes sold to local wineries including Au Bon Climat, Foxen, Lane Tanner, and The Hitching Post. During this period, Gary Burk, Ron Burk's son, formed a friendship with Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat. In 1994, Clendenen offered Gary a harvest position at the renowned Au Bon Climat/Qupé Winery, where Gary eventually accepted a full-time role and remained until 2002.

While at Au Bon Climat/Qupé in 1994, Gary produced the first Costa de Oro wines—one barrel each of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Costa de Oro continued to expand each year, reaching 2,500 cases by 2002, when Gary chose to dedicate himself entirely to the winery. Today, Costa de Oro produces 6,500 cases annually and also creates special private labels for clients such as James Beard Award Winner Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s Restaurants, the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach, and CF Pinot Noir for Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya of the Sansei Restaurant Group.

The Costa de Oro Tasting Room opened in 2006 at the original location of the Gold Coast Farms' strawberry stand off the 101 Freeway in Santa Maria. Gary and his wife, Teresa Gasca-Burk, manage the tasting room, where visitors can enjoy local live music on weekends. Occasionally, they can even be seen performing with the bands. Guests are invited to savor wine, music, and the relaxed ambiance at Costa de Oro.

Twisted Roots Vineyard

wine tasting with small bites

The name "Twisted Roots" originates from the deep and gnarled roots of Lodi old vine Zinfandel found in Julie Ruiz’s childhood vineyard, where the vines date back to the early 1900s. One day, while excavating vines, Julie's beloved uncle remarked, “Those roots are really twisted; that would be a great name for a winery.” This moment became a cherished memory for both Julie and her husband, Josh, marking the true birth of the winery.

Both Josh and Julie share a profound love for agriculture, community, and friendship. Josh's mission has been to cultivate a sense of community around wine, a beverage that was not common in his own upbringing. As an entrepreneur, he was determined to create a winery rooted in the legacy of Lodi Vineyards and to share those wines with his new home in Carmel Valley.

By fortunate circumstances, he partnered with several close friends to develop a dynamic winery and hospitality experience, offering a diverse selection of wines not typically found in the area, including Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Hard Cider. Each wine is produced in small batches, carefully sourced from unique sites to ensure quality and meticulous attention to detail. Visitors are invited to explore the charming, newly renovated tasting room, the perfect setting for enjoying life’s most important treasures—connection with others.

Stony Hill Vineyard

wine tasting and small bites - Pixabay

This small, out-of-the-way winery, owned and run by a husband-and-wife team, specializes in (of all things!) white wines in Napa Valley, and they do a great job of it. There is a distinct nostalgic charm to Stony Hill. From the wonderful tour and tasting offered by Willinda, to the lovely, intimate setting and the purity of the wines, this winery offers an experience that cannot be found in most Napa Valley wineries. It is a reminder of the old days when tradition, culture, family and commitment meant more than chasing wine rating scores or optimizing profits.

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