Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah

Cuvée Wine Cellars

Friendly faces at Cuvée Wine Cellars

Cuvée Wine Cellars - A great little urban winery that began with a passionate home winemaker intent on producing quality wines. After a run of successes in amateur- winemaking contests Paul Rogerville decided to tackle the daunting task of becoming a bonded winery.  Yes, Paul took a great hobby and turned it into a job. The good news is you can tell is that Paul loves what he is doing and when you visit you can tell. The staff is so friendly and we have enjoyed a number of visits with Paul. Often there are delicious appetizers or food and plenty of wine and we haven't had a bad bottle yet. This place is definitely worth a visit. Cuvée Wine Cellars is located on the Central Peninsula, which does not permit them to grow their own grapes. However, this has not proved too much of an obstacle by any means as Paul has partnered with some of the most outstanding vineyards in Northern California. Paul can be seen in a short video presentation made during our visit to the 3rd Annual Mid-Peninsula Summer Wine Walk. ~

Hours:

Fri - 6:00PM-9:00PM
Sat - 1:00PM-5:00PM

 

Aaron Winery

woman enjoying a picnic and some wine - wine artist Agata Zaborowski

Winemaker Aaron Jackson

Hailing from California's beautiful Central Coast, Aaron Jackson's journey into winemaking began with a thought-provoking question: “How can we write a new story for Central Coast wine, and how do we unlock its potential?” With a thirst for answers, Aaron found himself working in coastal Pinot Noir vineyards near his hometown of Cayucos, alongside crafting wines from the celebrated westside of Paso Robles, especially the distinctive Petite Sirah.

While studying wine at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Aaron pooled together his hard-earned pennies from weekend jobs to launch his own label, debuting with the first vintage of Aaron Petite Sirah in 2002. His career blossomed as he collaborated with several acclaimed wineries in Paso Robles and earned a Master’s degree in Oenology from the University of Adelaide in South Australia.

In 2017, Aaron took on the ambitious task of spearheading the creation of the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA (SLO Coast), which proudly gained approval in 2021.

Now, with over 20 years of experience under his belt, Aaron remains committed to pushing boundaries and celebrating his homeland through his wines. Each bottle reflects his authenticity and passion for unearthing the incredible potential of Paso Robles and the stunning San Luis Obispo Coast. For those who love California wines, Aaron Jackson is a winemaker to watch!

Varozza Vineyards

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Varozza Vineyards is owned by Jack and Dianna Varozza. A couple that took over Jack's father's winery. The couple is absolutely amazing and nice. Great down home feel to this tour. Dianne can answer any question, comfortable atmosphere. Free tour you will feel like you need a bottle of wine to take with you.

The Terraces

wine splashing in a wine glass - Pixabay

This little hidden gem is very easy to miss while whizzing past on Silverado Trail. But don't overlook this one. You won't be disappointed. Some of the best zinfandel and very good cabernet sauvignon. It is a great value wine that will hold its own against some higher priced wines. This is a very small winery with limited production and only offers a few wines. You won't find this in too many stores so you will need to make a trip out there of go on-line. 

Pope Valley Winery

glass of red wine - Pixabay

This hidden gem of a winery boasts a no-frills approach to great wine. Their taste is a bit different -- fruity & light merlots, light cabs, amazing port. The true gem here is Petra. She's a great conversationist and has remembered me and my friends every time we come. This one is WAY out of the way, but a completely unique experience in Napa. The basic tasting was free, and the reserve tasting was $15. The wine was pretty good and the bocce court outside was a nice distraction. The place is like a deserted farm with dogs wandering around and unfinished road through the vineyard. It is NOT fancy, but it is often deserted and gives you the feel that you are in your own country vineyard.

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch

pouring wine into a glass - Pixabay

The Bucklin's were all born and raised in San Francisco, but spent virtually every weekend and summer on their Grandmother's ranch in Sonoma. In 1976, their mother Anne, a professional landscape gardener, moved to Sonoma when she married Otto Teller. Otto and Anne lived together on Oak Hill Farm where they raised organic flowers and vegetables. In 1981, the Tellers purchased the venerable Old Hill Ranch Vineyard which is adjacent to the farm. Meanwhile, the four Bucklin siblings set off on separate paths across the country pursuing various careers, spouses, and hobgoblins, only to return to the family farm in Sonoma.

B. R. Cohn Winery

Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – couple enjoying wine together

When we visited they had a vintage car display as well as lots of vendors selling their goods and offering food samples. The tasting room is quite large, and while there were lots of groups there, we did not have to wait too long for the tasting. They also have a separate olive oil and balsamic tasting room. B.R. Cohn is a large winery with retail distribution and they make wines using grapes not only from their local estate, but mostly from all over wine country.

Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery  - Gallery | Agata Art Gallery

Hollys Hill Vineyards

Grape Cluster

El Dorado's wine area is known for having great Zinfandels, Mourvedres and other reds, but at Holly's Hill Winery there's something there for the white wine lover. Holly's Hill Vineyards is a wonderful family owned and operated winery creating Rhone style wines. Their white wines are solid, dry and not overpowering with strong oakey overtones. You can easily eat food with them - especially the Roussanne and Viognier.

Retro Cellars

wineyard at sunset - Pixabay

When Mike and Kara Dunn established Retro Cellars in 2003, their goal was to honor the rich history of both the vineyards and their family's legacy in the Napa Valley wine industry. Mike's family had founded Dunn Vineyards on Howell Mountain in 1978, the same year Kara's family began Pecota Winery in Calistoga. Upon meeting, Mike and Kara discovered that they shared similar experiences growing up in the Napa Valley of the 1970s, a time when the community was comprised of modest farmers.

They chose the name "Retro" to pay tribute to the generational groundwork that had been laid for their venture. This sense of continuity is further reflected in the label artwork, which was created by their then 11-year-old son, Alex. Now 28, Alex is a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, a part-time cellars hand at both Dunn Vineyards and Retro Cellars, and a builder of hiking and biking trails in Napa and Sonoma counties.

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