Chardonnay

Chardonnay

Alfaro Family Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Alfaro Family Vineyards is everything a local Santa Cruz Mountains winery needs to be. The owner is incredibly passionate about his work and drove us over his lovingly cared for property in his pick-up truck. It was an adventure to remember! Fun fact: he is so passionate about the local environment that he re-fenced his property so that the deer can go through it, without being able to access his vineyards. I had a great time touring the vineyard and an even better time tasting the wine. There was a wide variety of wines available for the tasting, and all of them were both tasty and very reasonably priced. Everyone we met here was a great conversationalist and really made me feel comfortable and relaxed. I wish I lived closer so that I could come to taste wines every Saturday for their open tastings! Open Saturdays from noon to 5:00 pm year-round; Sundays June 16 - September 1. Enjoy a flight of 7 or more wines.

Roche Winery

grape cluster - pixabay

Roche is a great spot for a glass of wine or a tasting in Sonoma. I've brought nearly every visitor/friend I've had, here, because of its proximity to the square and its fantastic outdoor tasting bar. Very quaint and dainty! For $5.00 you can taste all the wines. You can sit outside, and for the brisk afternoons they have fire pits at the tables. The estate chardonay was crisp and slightly sweet. The cab was nice. The Syrah was robust and peppery. Late harvest chardonay close to amazing.

Peachy Canyon Winery

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

The Peachy Canyon "Old Schoolhouse" tasting room, situated in the heart of Paso Robles' wine country along Highway 46 West, is a landmark attraction. The historic Old Bethel Schoolhouse, dating back to 1886, is a must-visit destination. Guests can enjoy tasting the world-famous Estate Zinfandels, along with over 15 other handcrafted small-batch Rhone and Bordeaux varietals that are exclusive to this location.

The last available guided-tasting session is at 4:00 PM, with a by-the-glass option offered until 4:30 PM.

Please note that while reservations are recommended, they are not required. Walk-ins are welcome as long as a team member is available. There is also a new dog policy: while dogs are beloved, they are not allowed inside the tasting room. Well-behaved and properly socialized dogs on a leash are permitted in the designated "dog area" with their owners. However, dogs that bark, growl, or are off-leash will be asked to leave. Tasting service in the dog area is limited to flight service, or one person from the group can come inside to receive the next wine pour.

Perry Creek Winery

people sharing wine

The winery’s 40 acres of prime vineyards are located in the Fair Play Appellation which has an average elevation of 2500 feet and a soil composition of decomposed granite. The grape growing sites in this vineyard were chosen to bring out the best quality in each varietal and all of the vines are pruned by hand.Perry Creek’s diverse winemaking team of Garrett Buckland, Stefan Tscheppe and Scott Johnson combine experience from Napa, Austria and the Sierra Foothills. They share a vineyard driven approach, developing a personality and character for each wine they produce.

Jordan Estate Winery

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

The wines speak for themselves... The grounds, ambiance and staff are first class! Jordan only makes chardonnay, very French....not oaky or buttery like most California chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both are quite good. They have also started pressing their own olive oil.

McIlroy Cellars

grape cluster - Pixabay

Located in Sonoma County, California, one of the world's premier wine producing areas, McIlroy Wines is a small, family based winery that creates outstanding wines. Only a small number of cases are produced each year.

Oak Mountain Winery

Painting by Agata Zaborowski women enjoying wine

Another stop on the DePortola Wine Trail. I wish I had the opportunity to walk around the grounds here and check them out, but time was pressing and we had more wineries to get to. Outside there is a very large patio with a wonderful view. There was a pizza booth to purchase a snack and a live band playing. I hope to stop by again next trip to the area. A really nice, friendly atmosphere to relax. Growing classic warm weather Mediterranean varieties of grapes which include Mourvedre, Viognier, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel and Sangiovese Brunello are keystone wines at this picturesque winery. Also included are some unique wine varietals such as Tempranillo, Primativo and our a Pinotage. I hope to meet the winemaker Stephen Andrews next time I am in Temecula Wine Country. Painting by Agata Zaborowski

Tor Kenward Family Wines

grape cluster - Pixabay

Tor Kenward Family Wines is a small family owned winery that specializes in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay. Tor Kenward, a Napa Valley vintner for over three decades, is champion of single vineyard wines. "After making wines here for over thirty years I believe the vineyard is the real winemaker. My job is to nurture and stay out of the way of greatness," observes Tor.

Markham Vineyards

red wine splashing in the glass - Pixabay

I came here on Sunday at 11am and it was empty! I was so glad we could get personal service. Ryan was friendly and knowledgable. I love the merlot but after the estate tasting, I fell in love with the Altruist as well. As mentioned by others, the exterior of the building is beautiful but the interior looks like a highway rest stop. While sipping our last wine, we were able to browse the gallery containing rock and roll photos which used grace the cover of Rolling Stone. Like other Napa wineries it can get busy in peak season.

Pages

Subscribe to Chardonnay