Merlot

Merlot

Cardella Winery

bottle Cardella's Ruby Cabernet

The vineyards at Cardella Ranch were first panted in the 1970's and have been sold to premier California wineries ever since. Nathan Cardella, 4th generation, after graduating from the Enology and viticulture program at Fresno State in 204, founded Cardella Winery with his father Rod. Nathan and Rod believed premium artisan wines were lacking n the San Joaquin Valley and felt that the Cardella family could help fill this niche. Today the winery producs numerous award-winning varieties and has earned a reputation for being a cut above.

LJ Crafted Wines

winery's logo

The Jooste family, consisting of Lowell, Anne, and their four children, relocated from Cape Town, South Africa, to the scenic shores of La Jolla in 2012. Drawing from their experience managing the family-owned Klein Constantia and Anwilka vineyards—ventures they shared with two renowned French winemakers—they began crafting the vision for their new business.

Lowell, a fourth-generation member of a family devoted to the wine industry, cultivated deep ties in the international wine scene during his 20+ year career in South Africa. Launching a wine business in Southern California required both a pioneering mindset and entrepreneurial innovation to stand out in the emerging urban winery landscape. Their commitment to creativity and reducing environmental impact became key elements of their distinctive approach.

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.

Flipflop Wines

cluster of grapes

Winemaker James Foster’s love for the land began as a child growing up on the family farm, the historic Roseland Plantation in Eufaula, Alabama. As a teenager, his love for the land spread to the vine: spending many summers as a “cellar rat” in various wineries, James had a full vineyard-to-bottle view of winemaking. Inspired to learn more, he studied Enology at Fresno State University, then honed his winemaking skills over the last 13 years at The Wine Group. Along the way, he has partnered with grower-winemakers from around the globe on a portfolio of varietally and regionally expressive, exceptional wines at all price points. Since 2009, James has worked with a team of winemakers on crafting flipflop wines. By collaborating closely with partner winemakers at the source, he is able to stay true to each wine’s varietal character.

Read our guide to Livermore Wines and Wineries

Elizabeth Spencer Wines

bottles, glasses of wine and grapes - Pixabay

The best part about the tasting room is the staff. I enjoyed someone taking the time to talk to me about what I was drinking. Also, there is an adorable outside patio where you can sit and sip your wine. Plenty of buttery breadsticks and fresh water refreshed our palates between sips. Such an experience helped us to trust our own responses to the wine. Bryanna allowed us to explore the wines without overloading us with facts about the grapes or winemaking process. She responded to our questions with sensitivity and no hint of arrogance. All of us came away from the experience with a heightened awareness of the care with which Elizabeth Spencer wines are sourced and crafted. The reds we tasted were distinctively delicious, each proudly representing its appellation and the winemaker's skill.

Four Gates

purple grapes - Pixabay

Four Gates Winery: A Unique Kosher Wine Experience

Thirty-three years ago, a dedicated winemaker embarked on a journey to plant a small vineyard with the intention of crafting wine for Shabbos and Yom Tov. Having made his own kiddush wine for years, he recognized the promise of the vineyard site, located in the renowned Santa Cruz Mountains wine-growing region of California. Though small, this area has a long-standing reputation for producing quality wines. Nestled on a south-facing slope and surrounded by majestic oak and redwood forests, the vineyard overlooks a stunning valley that stretches down to the Pacific Ocean. Interestingly, the land had been planted with wine grapes in the 1880s, but the original vines were removed during Prohibition.

Four Gates is likely the smallest kosher winery in the country, with just 3.5 acres dedicated to growing Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. The vineyard's grapes are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), and the vines are not irrigated, leading to small yields that are concentrated in flavor. Additionally, the wine is estate bottled, ensuring that one individual oversees the entire process, from grape cultivation to wine production.

The winery operates as a one-man show, evoking the charm of an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse, where all equipment and barrels await their turn, much like students of varying ages. This personal approach allows for meticulous attention to detail, resulting in wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the Santa Cruz Mountain environment.

The wines themselves benefit from this small-scale production. The Chardonnay is a full-bodied white wine aged in American oak barrels, making it an excellent pairing for flavorful dishes such as roast chicken, baked salmon, or Orah's spicy baked tofu. Meanwhile, the Merlot offers a substantial red wine experience, perfect for complementing holiday brisket or a savory roast.

Four Gates Winery invites wine enthusiasts to explore its artisanal offerings and experience the dedication behind each bottle.

Ironstone Vineyards

Wine at picnic table - Pixabay

Ironstone Vineyards

In the heart of California’s scenic Gold Rush Country, Ironstone Vineyards will surprise and delight you with a winery that places as much emphasis on the natural beauty and history of their surroundings, as they do on the quality of their wines.

Altipiano Vineyard & Winery

vineyard at sunset - Pixabay

Altipiano is a boutique vineyard and winery surrounding Peter and Denise Clarke’s grand Tuscan villa with tasting room, barrel room and crush facility. Lush patios and gardens with vineyard and skyline views. Located above San Pasqual Valleys San Diego Zoo Safari Park five miles east of Rancho Bernardo at Interstate 15.

Hawley Wine

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

The staff here was not your typical in-your-face, super-upseller, super high energy and friendly type of pourer-- but she was very helpful, sweet and laid back which was kind of nice for a change. The room itself is worth the stop! All the hand carved wood--surrounding the barrel-made bar in the middle of the room, the tasting bar, and the walls is beautiful. The wood gives this place a super relaxing, comfortable cozy wine tasting environment.

Amizetta Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Amizetta Vineyards is one of the most beautiful spots in all of Napa. Located on Howell Mountain in St. Helena, this is unlike any winery in the area. With its terraced vineyards growing on huge rolling hills, this is a hidden gem. This wine is serious, and the mountainous terrain really imparts great characteristics to their juice. With a view of Napa Valley below and Lake Hennessy, you couldn't ask for more.Amizetta is off the beaten path, but worth the effort. The Clark family was very hospitable and clearly proud of their vineyard. The wine is very good; the tour, very interesting; the scenery, beautiful. Make an appointment and see this small production winery. From expert to amateur wine-taster, you will learn something.

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