The Cabernets were the standout, but don't miss the surprising Sauvignon Blanc. If any bottles of the 2005 Cabernet remain, it's an absolute must. The winery is off the beaten path, but well worth the trip; beautiful setting with gorgeous views from the vineyard. The wine tasting room is really elegant and is housed in their cave.
Pursuing a profound love of world-class wines throughout their personal and professional lives, father and daughter Lloyd Messer and Dana Brown developed a real thirst for cultivating something of their own. Truly distinctive terroir-driven wines can be elusive, but this remote plateau in Paso Robles—this place—certainly had a voice like no other. Planting their family vineyard here, atop 442 acres of solid calcareous rock, it has been a labor of love to cultivate fruit on this challenging land, but the reward is immediately apparent when savoring the award-winning results.
Lloyd passed on in 2006, but Dana continues to advance their vision as Calcareous consistently produces a collection of world-class Rhône and Bordeaux wines that speak with an undeniable sense of place.
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.
Napa Tasting Room has been closed. The Cartlidge and Browne Winery has been purchased by Vintage Wine Estates (VWE) according to VWE President Pat Roney.
The Hess Collection was founded by Swiss entrepreneur Donald Hess, who first purchased vineyards on Mount Veeder in 1978. The winery is best known for its flagship Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines, and single vineyard designates from our estate vineyards in Napa Valley. A leader in sustainable and organic practices, The Hess Collection adheres to founder Donald Hess’ philosophy: “Nurture the land; return what you take.”
Thirty-three years ago, a dedicated winemaker embarked on a journey to plant a small vineyard with the intention of crafting wine for Shabbos and Yom Tov. Having made his own kiddush wine for years, he recognized the promise of the vineyard site, located in the renowned Santa Cruz Mountains wine-growing region of California. Though small, this area has a long-standing reputation for producing quality wines. Nestled on a south-facing slope and surrounded by majestic oak and redwood forests, the vineyard overlooks a stunning valley that stretches down to the Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, the land had been planted with wine grapes in the 1880s, but the original vines were removed during Prohibition.
Four Gates is likely the smallest kosher winery in the country, with just 3.5 acres dedicated to growing Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. The vineyard's grapes are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), and the vines are not irrigated, leading to small yields that are concentrated in flavor. Additionally, the wine is estate bottled, ensuring that one individual oversees the entire process, from grape cultivation to wine production.
The winery operates as a one-man show, evoking the charm of an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse, where all equipment and barrels await their turn, much like students of varying ages. This personal approach allows for meticulous attention to detail, resulting in wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the Santa Cruz Mountain environment.
The wines themselves benefit from this small-scale production. The Chardonnay is a full-bodied white wine aged in American oak barrels, making it an excellent pairing for flavorful dishes such as roast chicken, baked salmon, or Orah's spicy baked tofu. Meanwhile, the Merlot offers a substantial red wine experience, perfect for complementing holiday brisket or a savory roast.
Four Gates Winery invites wine enthusiasts to explore its artisanal offerings and experience the dedication behind each bottle.
Ursa Vineyards is a collaborative effort between the husband and wife team - Greg Stokes and Deborah Elissagaray. Greg has 25 years of experience with vineyards and winemaking, and Deborah has 18 years in winemaking. Both were part of the winemaking team at David Bruce for years. This small foothill winery produces no more than 2500 cases annually, allowing exceptional attention to be paid in both the vineyard and the cellar. All fruit is fermented in small fermenters and worked by hand. A minimal amount of handling ensures the preservation of the fruit character of the varietal being made. Ursa Vineyard's focus is petite sirah from various vineyards in California, but they also produce merlot, syrah and a unique varietal from the Pyrenees, Tannat.
“As we focus on evolving SIMI into a leading premium consumer lifestyle brand, we have made the decision to cease hospitality operations at SIMI Winery early next year,” wrote Alex Wagner, Constellation's vice president of communications in the wine division.
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.
Windsor Oaks estate is open to the public only eighteen days a year. They do offer limited VIP tasting and tours.In an wine tasting event that sadly has become increasingly all about tour buses, limos, bridal parties and frat boys guzzling Coors Light in the parking lots, many wineries struggled to find the right balance of paying attention to those that were there to focus on the art of winemaking, and those that were there to party. The folks at Windsor Oaks rose above and created a memory for all in attendance. Special thanks goes to winemaker Julie Hagler Lumgair, who climbed atop a second tier barrel, and from above, shared a taste of yet another wine "off the list"...her passion, expertise, warmth, and generosity.
