Tablas Creek bottles are widely distributed and easy to find in wine stores, I don't always visit their tasting room. Not only can I often find better deals at wine shops, but I have a fairly good idea what wines of theirs I prefer so a tasting isn't extremely helpful. But, I can't resist and it helps that they increased the size of the tasting menu. It also helps that they will pour and sell wines not on the typical tasting run-down and not typically found in stores.

Bodega del Sur is the culmination of a dream of Evelyn and Victor Reyes-Umana. Victor began his love affair with wine in his native El Salvador. Moving to California and later in life, traveling around the world, solidified his appreciation for wines and increased his curiosity for the various wine styles of the different regions of the world.While visiting some friends in Chile in 1993, Victor and Evelyn had the great opportunity to visit many of the small, family owned wineries, and it was then that Victor uttered the fateful words, "This is what I would like to do when I retire".

The drive is a little bit out of the way, but worth it for 3 reasons. The View, The Wine, and the Staff. The view of the valley is spectacular and i highly suggest buying a bottle of your favorite, bring a picnic and sit outside at one of their tables to each lunch and enjoy the view and the wine.

Craftmanship and Quality are the philosophy behind the winemaking at Beckman Vineyards. A small estate winery founded on the belief that the making of superior wines requires hands on craftmanship.