Such a fun winery! The Swanson's were there when we paid a visit and took the time to come over and speak with us on a more personal level asking where we're from, and what we did to make small talk. A very lovely couple that made you feel at home. They also had a very nice gentleman playing music on a very special instrument (I can't remember the name) in the front garden/patio area.
Findleton Estate and Vineyard is a small, family-owned and operated winery that has earned the title of "Best Kept Secret in El Dorado County."
Visitors can enjoy the award-winning wines crafted by winemakers Tom Findleton and Carrie Golden at their charming tasting room at 3500 Carson Road, Camino, CA. With over 18 varietals to choose from, guests can also appreciate a "Fine Art Gallery" experience, as the tasting room features the artwork of Pamela Findleton. Producing approximately 2,500 cases of wine annually, the estate’s vineyard sits at a 3,000-foot elevation in the Sierra Foothills of El Dorado County.
The vineyard enjoys a distinctive microclimate, with Pinot Noir vines flourishing creekside, benefiting from cool mountain air and well-drained, chalky soils. Historically known as "Pneumonia Gulch" by early settlers, the site has proven to be perfect for growing Pinot Noir, resulting in wines reminiscent of the celebrated Pinot Noirs of Burgundy, France.
Homewood Winery is more personal and intimate. If you want a less touristy wine experience then you must visit this place. The owner is a 6'7" gentle giant with a warm personality and welcoming manner.
What a beautiful estate! This was my first time to Francis Ford Coppola and I was in awe! I don't even know where to start, but the grounds are beautiful, the tasting room was fun, the memorabilia was nostalgic, and the cellar was amazing as well!All of the staff was ever so friendly, welcoming and helpful. You wouldn't expect anything short of greatness, when you learn that Mr. Coppola is heavily involved in the operations of the winery and visits periodically to ensure that everything meets his standards.
John Schwaesdall, A San Diego native, started making wine from some of the old vineyards in Ramona that were planted in 1950′s. He since has planted 4 1/2 acres of various red and white wine grapes. The vineyard lies among gigantic granite boulders that are found predominately in the Ramona/Mt. Woodson area of San Diego. These boulders are true natural wonders. One great granite boulder on the property weighs 80 tons and looks just like a cat. Another looks like Moby Dick. John won’t hesitate to show visitors the fantastic natural sculptures on his 6 acres of property.
After 35 years of production there have been many changes at Page Mill, but our focus remains constant..... "Peace through wine, one glass at a time" Page Mill Winery offers more than a dozen wines from local vineyards as well as appellations across the state. The winery is located in the Livermore Valley within minutes of the downtown shopping district
We had a great time here. We stepped in here while waiting for another winery to open. The very first thing we noticed when we opened the door was the intoxicating scent of wine. We were able to take a self-guides tour around and realized the large barrels were right in the open, which was why the facility had that lovely sweet wine smell. Tour was timed perfectly, not too long, but not too short, and we had a super nice tour guide. Wine tasting after the tour was extra fun.
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.
his is the perfect small-scale vineyard with just the right amount of unique character that makes wine tasting so charming and fun. Art, history, and vino. This is a triple threat of a vineyard. The tasting room is very simple but certainly warm and welcoming with lovely artwork on the walls and big french doors opening onto the winery with rows of grapes as far as you can see. The moment you pull in, you face a huge, regal barn and immediately feel welcomed by the beautiful grounds. Rob and Amanda led our tasting and both were very friendly and down to earth. Rob was very generous with his pours, giving a taste of the Cabernet Franc to both of us at the mere mention of the wine - the Cab Franc was a wine on the reserve tasting list, which was not the list we were tasting from.
Longtime friends Todd Williams and Rodney Strong created Toad Hollow Vineyards when they released their first vintage of unoaked chardonnay in 1994. As one of the leaders in unoaked Chardonnay, their consistent style featuring bright, crisp fruit flavors, continues to be a favorite.
