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Crystal Basin Cellars

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Like a good number of California wineries Crystal Basin Cellars has its roots in amateur cooperative winemaking. Beginning under the house in 1981, Cyrstal Basin Cellars created a long string of vintages that captured fun times with friends. Steadily growing from 3 barrels to 25, Cyrstal Basin Cellars outgrew its space and was formed as a commercial winemaking operation in 2000. Since then, Crystal Basin Cellars has produced more than 10,000 cases of wine that have been eagerly devoured by their fans and the winemakers. Each vintage has won at least one Gold Medal in major competitions. with that being said may we suggest that you be sure to try the El Dorado Barbera and Cabernet Franc if you are serious about your Reds. 

Hours:

Open every day 11AM - 5PM

Imagery Estate Winery

wine and cheese - Pixabay

They have a beautiful scenic panoramic view. The staff are very personable, knowledgeable, and always willing to be of help. The outdoor patio is perfect for these summer months. They even have horse shoes!!! Nice selection of some pretty nice wines.

Broc Cellars

red wine pouring a swirling in the wine glass - Pixabay

Broc Cellars is a Berkeley-based winery known for producing refreshing and approachable wines meant for everyday enjoyment. Founded in 2002 by owner and winemaker Chris Brockway, the winery employs native fermentations and uses organically-grown grapes. Broc wines are crafted with the goal of uplifting the spirit without overwhelming the senses.

Chris Brockway’s winemaking journey began with a fascination for California Zinfandel. Drawn from his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska to California by the spicy, brambly fruit style, he discovered that the California wine scene had shifted towards the "bigger is better" trend of the time. Personally, Brockway found this approach excessive, with wines that were high in alcohol and overly robust.

Believing that California wine could offer a different experience, Brockway started with a single barrel in 2002 and has since expanded to over 20 different wine releases each year. Broc Cellars continues to focus on creating fresh, enjoyable California wines. In 2023, the winery's commitment to simple and ethical winemaking expanded with the acquisition of Fox Hill Vineyard.

Dashe Cellars - Alameda

red wine swirling in the glass

In 1996, the husband and wife winemaking team of Michael and Anne Dashe founded Dashe Cellars. Focused on crafting exceptional single-vineyard wines, Dashe Cellars blends the two winemaker’s combined 40-plus years of experience at such noted wineries as Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château La Dominique, Ridge Vineyards, Cloudy Bay, Far Niente, Chappellet, and Schramsberg Wine Cellars. Drawing on this wealth of experience, the Dashes create vineyard-focused wines that capture the complexity and character of top vineyards throughout Sonoma County and beyond. 

Zenaida Cellars

grape cluster - ai generated - Pixabay

It all started back in 1988 when Eric’s parents purchased the land where the winery and vineyard sit today. Eric was still attending Cal Poly earning his BS in Ecology and Systematic Biology at the time but helped his dad by designing and planting the vineyard. After getting the vineyard planted and producing, Eric began to expand his wine knowledge. Biologist as his day job, Eric went back to school, attending UC Davis’s enology extension courses. Eventually, landing his first wine job with Ken Volk at Wild Horse Winery in Templeton and then moving into a position with Kendal-Jackson Winery. Eventually in 1998, Eric made the first official vintage of Zenaida Cellars and has been working on developing the wines ever since.

Shadow Mountain Vineyards

Grape Cluster - Pixabay

Shadow Mountain is an ideal grape-growing location with an elevation of 3,500 feet, and it’s blessed with Pacific Ocean breezes and cool, dry nights. Master vintner Alexander McGeary specializes in award-winning viognier, whites, reds and dessert wines such as merlot, Syrah, cabernet, zinfandel and a muscat cannelli.Shadow Mountain Vineyards is a 3rd generation family estate grape growing & wine making business, which was founded by Agusto & Helen Mase, an Italian couple in 1944. The second generation of the family continued in this family tradition, by planting extensive vineyards in the 1960′s and 70′s.

Grey Wolf Cellars

Painting by Agata Zaborowski

Discover the Heart of Paso Robles: Grey Wolf Cellars

Wine lovers, get ready to embark on a delightful journey to Grey Wolf Cellars, a boutique winery nestled along the iconic Highway 46 corridor in Paso Robles, California. Founded over 20 years ago by Joe Sr. and Shirlene Barton in 1994, Grey Wolf Cellars embodies a dream that blossomed into a thriving family business, dedicated to crafting exceptional wines for generations to come.

As the winery began to take shape, their son, Joe Jr., was right there alongside his parents, balancing his studies at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with the hands-on experience of launching a winery. Tragically, at just 23, Joe Jr. found himself stepping into his father’s shoes after Joe Sr.’s untimely passing in 1998. Rather than falter, he embraced his mission to carry on the family legacy with passion and determination.

Joe Jr. has made it his life’s work to create wines that reflect the unique character of Paso Robles. He sources grapes from dry-farmed vineyards across the Willow Creek, Templeton Gap, and Adelaida District AVAs, honing in on the distinct microclimates that make this region so special. With a keen focus on hand-crafted wines, Joe has curated a dynamic portfolio that includes heritage varietals like Zinfandel, classic Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and a selection of both red and white Rhône varietals. Each vineyard contributes its own unique essence, allowing Joe to create wines that truly represent the spirit of Paso Robles.

Fast forward to today, and the Barton family continues to thrive. Joe and his wife, Jenny, run the winery together, with Shirlene still playing a vital role in daily operations. This family-run establishment has modernized while retaining its heart, adding a charming urban farmhouse tasting room to the property. In 2013, they introduced Barton’s Kitchen, serving up delicious farm-to-table cuisine in a relaxed setting. And in 2022, the family expanded their horizons with the launch of Grain+Vine Craft Distillery, bringing even more flavor to the table.

After two decades of winemaking, Joe Jr. remains as captivated as ever by the joys of vineyard life—whether it’s revving up a tractor, witnessing bud break, or transforming luscious fruit into exquisite wine. At Grey Wolf Cellars, every sip tells a story, and every visit is an invitation to be part of their rich legacy. Cheers to family, passion, and, of course, exceptional wine!

Cante Ao Vinho

grapes

Cante Ao Vinho is Portuguese for "Sing to the wine" since we love to play beautiful music as we make our wine. Cante Ao Vinho is located just outside the city of Wheatland California, near Camp Far West Lake and Beal Air Force Base

Seven Angels Cellars

Seven Angels Cellars, a charming family-owned boutique winery nestled in the heart of Paso Robles, California! This delightful winery kicked off its winemaking journey in 2009 with a small batch of Petite Sirah and has since expanded to produce around 3,000 cases a year. At the helm is Greg Martin, the passionate owner and winemaker, while Pamela Martin expertly manages social media, food pairings, wine clubs, events, and their website. The name “Seven Angels” is a heartfelt tribute to their blended family, which includes seven wonderful children.

Greg’s love for wine began in rural California, where he spent his childhood learning the ins and outs of winemaking from his neighbor, who grew grapes. His passion continued during his time in the US Coast Guard, stationed in the Bay Area, where he had easy access to the fabulous wineries of Sonoma and Napa. Pamela, on the other hand, hails from a family of foodies and wine lovers. With a background in winemaking courses and experience as a home economist on a cooking show, she’s developed an obsession for pairing food and wine to create delightful culinary experiences.

Married in 2008, the couple dove into winemaking the following year. Specializing in Rhône blends and single varietals, Greg is hands-on in every step of the process, from vineyard to bottle, while Pamela brings her expert palate to the blending process.

Seven Angels Cellars has made quite a name for itself, with many of their wines earning impressive ratings in the 90s from Wine Enthusiast, along with numerous gold medals at California and international wine competitions. Recently, their 2024 Orange County Wine Society and Central Coast Wine competition recognized their new whites, awarding gold medals to the 2023 Chardonnay, 2021 Estate Chardonnay, and 2022 Viognier. The accolades continue with a Double Gold for the 2019 Merlot and gold medals for the 2019 Chosen One, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, and Syrah.

The winemaking philosophy at Seven Angels is simple: “less is best.” They focus on minimal manipulation and embrace natural methods, with Greg experimenting with different types of oak in their barrel program. Their wines are designed to be food-friendly and approachable, both in flavor and price.

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