Malbec

Malbec

Murrieta's Well Winery

grape cluster - Pixabay

Although the original settler may have been Joaquin Murrieta, the bandit who favored the water at the property’s artesian well, it was a French native whom recognized the land’s potential for amazing wine quality. Louis Mel bought the 92-acre property in 1883 and built a winery into the hillside adjacent to the well. The old stone winery building is a gorgeous example of early California architecture. Local timber and rustic concrete made from gravel gathered from the nearby Arroyo Mocho Creek were used in the construction.

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

Carruth Cellars

wine cellar

Carruth Cellars offers four unique venues for your next event! Looking for a large space? Our Solana Beach winery or our Wine Garden could be the perfect fit! Looking for something more intimate? Check out our Carlsbad tasting room and our original Cellar on Cedros! Private events are best suited for groups greater than 20 people and less than 200 people.

Bon Niche Cellars

Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski

Melani, Owner & Winemaker
Melani’s love of wine started when she was a Navy nurse stationed in Naples, Italy, in 2009.  While living in Italy, she traveled throughout Europe and gathered wines along the way, creating an impressive collection. She fell in love with the way wine brought people together. Over the next 10 years, she hosted wine gatherings, taught and took classes, and took an informal but fun approach to learning about wine.

In 2017, Melani began volunteering at the Tackitt Family Vineyards for a Warrior Helping Warriors fundraiser, where she fell further in love with the winemaking process, the people, and Paso Robles.  She offered to assist the Tackitts at their events and started to learn more about the intricacies of winemaking and viticulture under the tutelage of Leon Tackitt- this is where she realized her dream of owning a winery.  Melani knows the importance of the translation of the Bon Niche name- “a good place.”  Through the years, she has come to realize that life is about enjoying the people, the place, and the moment.  Wine has brought many people, places, and special moments to life for Melani, and her dream is to create a very good place with great wine.

Frog's Tooth Vineyard

wine glass at picnic table

Frog's Tooth Vineyard

Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a valley known more for cattle ranching than vineyards that the story begins. It was the Winter of 1999 when Frog's Tooth Vineyards began its life as a tadpole with the purchase of 67 acres of land in the Salt Springs Valley of Calaveras County. It slowly grew through infancy until the Spring of 2003 when it began its transition to adolescence with the planting of approximately 10 acres of premium wine grapes.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Peirano Estate Vineyards

winery's logo

In 1992, Peirano Estate Vineyards began bottling and selling wine using their estate grown grapes. Until this point, Lance Randolph, fourth generation Peirano, produced wine simply for his enjoyment and that of his close family and friends. The rest of the grapes were sold to winemakers across the country. It was well-known amongst Lance’s family and friends that he had a knack for making well-balanced, elegant wines but was not interested in selling it to the masses. At their insistence, Lance began bottling and selling his wine to wine enthusiasts throughout the United States.

Amphora Wines

wine swirling in the glass - pixabay

The Dry Creek wineries produce a wider variety of wines and styles of wines than the traditional PN and Zin crowd along the Russian River. The Amphor tasting room location is in the same parking lot as 10 other wineries tasting rooms - right off Dry Creek Road. Stop at this location and you will be able to taste wines from Amphora, Collier Falls, Dashe, Forth, Philip Staley, Peterson, Lago di Merlo, Kokomo, Mietz and Papapietro.

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.

Romeo Vineyard and Cellars

Sign for the tasting room at Romeo Vineyards

In downtown Calistoga this tasting room was very charming and inviting. The manager and tasting guide, Brandon, were very helpful and welcoming, we really felt at home. Great ambiance, exquisite Sempre Vive wines, cheese and charcuterie. Romeo Vineyards produces elegant awines from vines forty-two years old which reside south of a nine acre reservoir in Calistoga, California. The vineyard lies sandwiched between two forested knolls, leading to the geographical conditions that create hot days and cool nights and an extremely long hang time in our Calistoga vineyard. This allows their grapes to develop full flavors, deep color and intense complexity.

Clavo Cellars

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

If you appreciate handcrafted Californian wines made in an honest 'Old World' style, welcome to Clavo Cellars. It's great to have you with us.Clavo Cellars is the winemaking project of respected Central Coast viticulturist Neil Roberts. A pioneer of regenerative vineyard farming, Neil's wines exemplify boutique production. Crafted with an expert light touch from premium grapes, Clavo Cellars wines are perfect expressions of the vineyard and terroir that nurtured them.

Whether you enjoy Clavo Cellars wines at home, in a restaurant, or in the Templeton tasting room, you will taste the time, care, and attention that goes into each bottle. The grapes are sourced from vineyards known and managed by Neil, and picked only when they are ready. This ensures that Clavo Cellars wines tell a story not just of their place, but of their time as well.

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