Merlot

Merlot

Matanzas Creek Winery

wine corks and wine glass - Pixabay

Everything we tasted was so good.The staff at the winery are more than willing to talk with you about the history of the wine and the grounds. It is THE place to go for lavender lovers - especially in the Summer when they have their lavender festival.

Six Hands Winery

grape cluster - Pixabay

Six Hands is a boutique family winery nestled in the Sacramento River Delta, where warm summer days and cool evening breezes create optimal conditions for grape cultivation. Six Hands wines will be represented at special events, celebrations and ordinary Tuesday night dinners, motivates us to produce handcrafted wines of the highest caliber at value-oriented prices.

One Maple Winery

One Maple Vineyards wine label

One Maple, established in 1998, was originally a mere dream and hobby for Ernie and Kristel Bell, evolving into a full-time family affair with the opening of Trinity County's newest winery and tasting room in July, 2006.

Brander Vineyard

winery's bottle of wine

The winery building referred by the staff as "The Barn" was the original structure at Bander. At "The Barn" Fred Bander personally hosted wine tastings inside on a rustic picnic table. This winery today is located on the estate just yards from the nearest vines. This means grapes can almost be immediately processed ater they are harvest, which has a tremendously beneficial impact on the wines produced. Frederic "Fred" Brander, owner and winemaker, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He moved with his family and settled in Santa Barbara, California. Fred started his career in the wine business by working for a local wine merchant, and later went to work in the wholesale business. While attending college, he started his own wine import company, focusing on wines from France and Argentina. Wishing to make his own wines, and with a fondness for Santa Barbara, Fred and his family established The Brander Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1975. The initial planting was mainly Bordeaux grape varietals and in 1977, the first Sauvignon Blanc grapes were taken to a neighboring winery where Fred Brander produced a wine so distinctive it captured Santa Barbara County's first gold medal for a wine at a major wine competition (1978 Los Angeles County Fair).

Berghold Winery & Vineyards

grapes

Victorian winery owners, Joe and Kay Berghold, are collectors at heart. For nearly two decades, the couple purchased and stored antiques from the American Victorian period (1860 – 1900) with a goal in mind – to build an architecturally unique winery and tasting room representative of the era of the pieces in their collection – and the same era of beginning of Lodi wine history.

Ancient Peaks Winery

Painting by Agata Zaborowski

Ancient Peaks Winery Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here, the vines unfold along a rare array of soils amid one of the region’s coolest growing environments. The resulting wines express an unmistakable sense of place, with balanced structure and flavors that are native to Margarita Vineyard.

Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski

Jessie's Grove Winery

picture of winery's Westwind Zinfandel

Jessie’s Grove Winery in Lodi specializes in crafting small-batch, artisanal wines that showcase the vibrant flavors of the region’s renowned grape varietals, such as Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane. Visitors can explore the newly renovated tasting room, the historic barn, or enjoy a glass at the outdoor pouring stations, each offering a unique and personalized wine-tasting experience for every occasion.

With a commitment to sustainable farming, Jessie’s Grove ensures that each grape is carefully nurtured, resulting in wines that capture the true essence of Lodi. Guests can enjoy guided tours of the vineyards, exclusive barrel tastings at the historic estate, or peaceful picnics amidst the tranquil beauty of the Lodi countryside.

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.

Napa Wine Company

glass of red wine - Pixabay

Great place to taste a lot of boutique wines. Friendly knowledgable staff. Great spot to taste a broad variety of wines from a number of wineries and winemakers! It's a custom crush facility, so a whole array of wines are represented and the tasting menu changes regularly. Pahlmeyer, Blackbird, Ghost Block and more are poured here. It's rather like Ma(i)sonry in Yountville, but without the art. Michael Pozzan's wines are always tasty and very affordable. Rob Lawson's Pavi wines and Fisticuffs also offer high quality at a very reasonable price. Definitely worth a stop to get some variety.

Pages

Subscribe to Merlot