Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Miner Family Vineyards

glass of red wine - Pixabay

Location: A delightful tasting facility perched on the hillside that feels spacious and has a great view. Service: Knowledgeable and friendly staff, although this is hit and miss. The first gentleman who poured for us was very helpful, but then a brusque lady came along and stole our spit bucket that we were using and gave it to the couple she was attending. Wines: We had a $25 flight of 5 wines that came with the flexibility to pick any combination of the wines they were pouring. Miner does not produce estate wines and their grapes are sourced from third party vineyards. It was fun to compare the difference between the two styles of Chardonnay, one of which (2008 Chardonnay, "Wild Yeast") received more oak aging & malolactic fermentation % than the other (2010 Chardonnay, "Napa Valley").

Amista Vineyards

grape cluster

An artisan, family owned winery showcasing the fabulous fruit and friendly spirit of Dry Creek Valley. Located near the charming village of Healdsburg. Pulled in on a whim while visiting wine country for the day. Not only was it a beautiful winery/vineyard, but we practically had the place to ourselves. Patrick was very friendly and knowledgable about all the wines.

Domenico Wines

Domenico wines on a barrel

Dominick and Gloria Chirichillo’s choice of name for their winery is a reflection of their commitment to their Italian heritage and the tradition of family winemaking. In 1955 in New York, Dominick who is called Domenico in Italian was introduced to these traditions by his Nonno (grandfather), Domenico Giovinazzo. In the basement of their home was a wine press that Nonno showed Dominick; passing down from one generation to another the love of handcrafting wine. Affordable, delicious Santa Cruz Mountain wines, great tasting room, wonderful owners/winemakers. It has been inspiring in seeing Domenico Wines expand and grow. Kudos, and wishing the team the very best on their latest wines and their new tasting room location in San Carlos. Domenico Wines was included in a brief video presentation of wineries that are part of the 3rd Annual Mid Peninsula Summer Wine Trail. You can get a peek HERE We are looking forward to getting an interview (video) with Dominick Chirichillo in the near future.~

Hours:

Mon-Tue   Closed
Wed     12:00pm to 8:00pm
Thu      12:00pm to 8:00pm
Fri         12:00pm to 8:00pm
Sat        12:00pm to 8:00pm
Sun       12:00pm to 6:00pm

De Loach Vineyards

wine corks and wine glass - Pixabay

The wines were good, the grounds are beautiful and there are patio tables out front for pairings- you can get a cheese platter or pizza to go with your wine tasting. The pizzas are baked in an outdoor pizza oven.

Pelican Ranch

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Pelican Ranch Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery specializing in Rhone and Burgundy style wines from the best vineyards in California. Established in 1997, the winery is located a short distance from Monterey Bay which provides the constant, cool, coastal influence that allows for controlled, slow fermentation. The result is rich, full-flavored, complex wines.

Melville Vineyards and Winery

wine pouring into a wine glass - Pixabay

Impressed by the well manicured grounds, Ron Melville and of course, the wines were very nice. Their syrah had a nice finish and the two pinot noirs tasted said a lot about their expertise in growing grapes. Very impressed with the attention to detail and their very personable service. Could have sat all day there enjoying a glass of wine with the view of the vineyards.

 

Kendric Vineyards

cluster of grapes - ai generated - Pixabay

Kendric Johnson was my Dad and is the person for whom this enterprise was named. He died in 2001 just as we were getting started. Naming the company after him is meant to both honor his memory and to impose his high personal standards upon the undertaking.

Qupe Wine Cellars

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

In contrast to the Old World, Qupé focuses on cool climate expressions of Rhône varietals due to a distinctive geographical feature that sets them apart from most other regions of California, as all vineyards are all located in East-West valleys (vs North-South) which function as open windows to the cool Pacific Ocean. The benefit to the vineyards of being along the coast and running East-West is that the cold, moist air gets pulled in and creates a layer of morning cloud cover over the vines which reduces temperatures and sun exposure on the grapes. This is why cool climate varieties excel in the coastal regions of the Central Coast and allows Qupé to focus on cool climate expressions of Rhone varietals.

Fog Crest Vineyard

wine barrel - Pixabay

Following a lifelong fascination for food and wine, James and Rosalind Manoogian established Fog Crest Vineyard in 1998 in the Russian River Valley area of Sonoma County, California. As a restaurateur in San Francisco, James had had close proximity to the great wine-growing regions surrounding the city, and it allowed he and his wife to become knowledgeable about wine, how it accompanied fine dining, and where each varietal excelled locally. Today, Fog Crest Vineyard produces less than 2,500 cases annually of limited production, vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that show off the classic terrior of this small Russian River Valley vineyard.

McGrail Vineyards

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

A nice find as we were wine tasting in Livermore last weekend. As you drive into the parking lot, you immediately forget about everything since the grounds are so gorgeous. There's even an outside patio where you can enjoy your wine and a packed lunch you may have brought with you. The tasting room is HUGE! The staff was super friendly and helpful, especially since we'd never been to McGrail before though I have enjoyed their Cabernet Sauvginon before this visit.

McGrail Vineyards proudly sits high on the rolling hills of the Livermore Valley and offers wine tasting daily! Visit McGrail Vineyards for several wine tasting experiences or to enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the exceptional views.


Open daily from 11:00AM – 5:00PM, last reservation at 3:30PM. Reservations are available for groups up to 6 people. For parties over 6, please call the winery [925-215-0717].

Pages

Subscribe to Chardonnay