Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Sterling Vineyards

small bites and wine tasting - Pixabay

The brilliant white stucco stands out dramatically against the rugged Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges that flank each side of Napa Valley. Mount Saint Helena makes a lovely distant backdrop. The tour is self guided so it's at your own pace and the gondola ride is unique for the area. It's also one of only wineries that's on a hill in the middle of Napa Valley so the views are to die for. My only suggestion would be (if you enjoy wine clubs) to join the wine club before you go. You can get on the gondola for free for up to 4 people and the tour is included as well. That pays for one of your months of wine right there. Then, you get access to the VIP tasting room which is fantastic.

Mayo Family Winery

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Mayo Family Winery produces small lots of single-vineyard wines under the premise that the world's most interesting and highest quality wines must come from a single-vineyard source that can be expressed in the wines' aroma, taste and texture. Founded in 1993, the winery has two winemaking facilities in Glen Ellen, California, each fitted and equipped to produce particular types of wines. Mayo Family wines are only sold online or in their tasting room attached to the winery in the town of Glen Ellen and their two other tasting rooms in Sonoma Valley.

Beringer Vineyards

corks and a wine glass - Pixabay

Beringer Vineyards is a large winery in St. Helena, California. Founded in 1875, Beringer Vineyards is "the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley", and is a California Historical Landmark. There reserve Cab is one of my favorites. The tour is informative and interesting so if its your first time I recommend it. But for regular visitors to Napa then the tastings and select wines are what you'd come here for.

Broken Earth Winery

Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski - People enjoying wine

The story of Broken Earth begins at Continental Vineyards. A 2500-acre parcel of land quietly harboring stories of hard-working caballeros, cattle barons, and grape growers whose dedication and vision shaped this place.

Originally named Rancho Tierra Rejada “Land of worked earth”, it is the determination of those who preceded us, and our care for this land that makes our wines unique. Our wines are bold representations of the place where they were born. Crafted with minimal intervention to reflect the soil, fruit, and character of this place.

Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski - People enjoying wine

Gold Hill Vineyard & Brewery

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

Gold Hill Vineyard was founded in 1980 by Hank Battjes. Hank worked for 27 years as an electrical engineer at GTE. During those years, Hank increased his knowledge of home wine making, applying it to his hobby and passion. Pursuing his dream he searched for suitable land and when a friend, Bruce, suggested 5 acres of vineyard on an 80 acre parcel near Coloma, California, he bought it.

Buehler Vineyards

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Buehler Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery located in the mountains east of St. Helena in Napa Valley. Situated north of Pritchard Hill and Conn Valley, near the base of Howell Mountain, this hillside vineyards are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, with smaller blocks of old-vine Zinfandel. Not the easiest winery to get to through the twisting Howell Mountain Road, but definitely worth your drive to enjoy the wonderful hospitality at this place. Their estate Cabernet is especially complex and very pleasing to the taste buds. If your looking for some new wines to try or just looking for an amazing experience... Go here!

McIntyre Tasting Studio

red wine swirling in the glass - Pixabay

Originally planted in 1973, the 80-acre McIntyre Estate Vineyard (with 60 acres planted) is home to some of the oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Another estate property, the 81-acre Kimberly Vineyard in Arroyo Seco, complements the winery’s holdings. Proprietor Steve McIntyre, a highly knowledgeable viticulturist, also owns and operates Monterey Pacific, overseeing 16,000 acres of vineyards in Monterey County. The McIntyre Estate Vineyard was one of the first in the Santa Lucia Highlands to earn SIP (Sustainability In Practice) Certification.

The Santa Lucia Highlands AVA has quickly risen to prominence, with 6,000 acres of vines—primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah—thriving on the terraces below the Santa Lucia mountain range. The region benefits from a unique climate shaped by daily morning fog and strong winds channeled through the Salinas Valley from Monterey Bay. This combination gives the Santa Lucia Highlands one of California's longest and coolest growing seasons.

Had an excellent time here. The gentlemen doing the tasting was very personable and informative, I highly recommend.

Brutocao Cellars & Vineyard

Swirling wine in the glass - Pixabay - Saman Teher

Family Vineyard Heritage is a tale of two families who combined their passion and expertise to establish one of Mendocino County’s most notable wineries. In 1910, the Brutocao family brought with them a love for wine when they emigrated from Treviso, Italy (a small town near Venice). Len Brutocao met Martha Bliss while attending the University of California, Berkeley. Martha’s father, Irv, had been farming in Mendocino since 1943. After Len and Martha married, the families joined forces and continued to sell their grapes to well-known Sonoma and Napa wineries for many years before starting to make their own wine in 1980. They selected the Lion of St. Mark as their symbol of family tradition and quality. The heart of that quality is in their land: over 400 acres of vineyards in Hopland and 12.5 acres of Pinot Noir in  Anderson Valley.

Tasting: 10am – 5pm
Open: Wednesday-Sunday
Reservations appreciated but not necessary.

Volcan Mountain Winery

winery's tasting room sign

Volcan Mountain Winery is nestled at the base of the picturesque Volcan Mountain. Our tasting room, winery, vineyard and orchard area only a mere 2 mile scenic drive from the historic town center of Julian, which began it’s roots in the 1870’s gold rush. Get away from the hectic rush of city life…discover the charms of Julian.

Barsetti Vineyards

grapes

Janis and Richard own 120 acres of zinfandel in the Lodi Appellation east of Galt, CA. Janis’ grandfather Barsetti came to America from the southern party of Switzerland in 1903. Her grandfather settled in the Galt area in 1911. Janis’ father and grandparents bought the property where the vineyard exists today, in 1941. Up until 1995, when the vineyard was planted, the land supported a dairy, beef cattle and crop operation. The birth of Barsetti Vineyards as a wine label began in 2001.

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