Steve Schafer, along with wife Cindy Schafer, founded San Joaquin Wine Company in 2005 as the fulfillment of a personal passion. Growing up in a family farm business and having the experience of growing 12 varietals of wine grapes along with almonds for over 40 years, Steve wanted to see his grapes go full circle! This sparked the idea to start a winery right here in their backyard in the heart of Madera County!
Castle Rock Winery buys grapes from approximately 40 grape growers, all renowned for their expertise and consistency. In each case, vineyard practices are carried out under the guidance and instruction of Castle Rock Team, all to ensure that quality standards are maintained from start to finish.
Since it first opened its doors in 1994, Castle Rock Winery has earned a stellar reputation for producing top-quality wines that won’t break the bank. This winning combination of excellence and affordability has struck a chord with wine lovers, and the glowing reviews from customers and wine critics alike speak volumes.
Castle Rock sources its grapes from about 40 expert growers, each known for their consistency and dedication to their craft. This allows the winery to maintain high standards across its wide range of wines, ensuring that every bottle delivers on its promise of quality.
Not Open to Public
Distributed via Retail Outlets and stores. Franzia wines are fresh, delicious and made with a heartfelt commitment. Franzia is a wine first created by the hard work of the Franzia family during the first half of the 1900s. Today, our wines are enjoyed by people in countries all over the globe.
After 40 years in the hospitality business, we understand the value of building relationships, sharing a table for special moments over food and wine, and experiencing the beauty and bounty of Santa Barbara Wine Country.
With a concentration on our estate vineyard, we have sought to produce wines that are “a window to a place.” Each one of our wines is different in expression, with its own subtle, yet distinctive character and voice. Each year renews in us an intense drive to understand, react to, and work with the vineyard to allow it to reach its full potential. This process, led by our winemaker, Steve Clifton, is crucial for the execution of successful wines.
Joel Gott was born to make wine. His grandfather was winemaker and president of Inglenook in the 1960s and 1970s while his father, Cary Gott, is the founder of Montevina and continues to consult for wineries such as D.R. Stephens. In addition to Joel's uncanny blending ability, he has privileged access to many of the best and as yet undiscovered fruit sources in the Napa Valley. Joel Gott wines are therefore remarkable values, offering gobs of classic California fruit, good structure and excellent balance. Of course, Joel is also the proud proprietor of Gott's Roadside, Napa Valley's red hot retro-chic "hamburger joint" on Highway 29, and most recently, in San Francisco as well. Robert Parker once proclaimed a meal at Taylor's one of the finest meals of the year in the Wine Advocate! Not open to the public.
They began with a vision—to craft high-quality, hand-crafted Southern California wines that would tell a unique story from vine to glass. Planting their first vineyard by hand in 1996 not only marked the inception of Wiens Cellars but also deepened their connection to viticulture and winemaking. The initial five varieties established the foundation for what would eventually grow into a diverse portfolio of over thirty, and a modest 14-acre vineyard expanded into a sprawling 70+ acres of hand-cultivated Southern California vines.
Amid this growth, a unique extended family emerged from the business. The legacy of Wiens Cellars stands as a testament to the power of shared dreams, unwavering commitment, resilience, and perseverance. This foundational chapter, crafted through the efforts of many hands and a continuous, collective endeavor, laid the groundwork for the legacy they uphold today—an enduring commitment to family, quality, and integrity.
In the heart of the California wine country stands the picturesque Glen Ellen house surrounded by vineyards
first planted in 1883. Both the house and the wines of Glen Ellen have stood the test of time.
Our wines are crafted using methods usually reserved for twice the price in vineyards where the warm
California sun lingers on and gently ripens the grapes to perfection. Glen Ellen wine’s timeless charm
continues to inspire dinner parties and gatherings of friends around the world and is served as
the wine that makes everyone feel welcome.
Founded in 1990, McManis Family Vineyards is owned and managed by Ron and Jamie McManis, fourth generation winegrowers, and is located in the rich agricultural region of the northern California interior. Currently, the family grows a wide selection of grape varieties on 2600 acres of premium vineyard land.
Image - chardonnay grapes - photographer Randy Caparoso
The vision for Toulouse Vineyards is to grow the highest quality grapes using sustainable farming practices and to produce the finest Pinot Noir infused with the fun and passion of winemaking. For Vern and Maxine Boltz, it has been an exciting journey beginning as fruit growers and evolving into producers of award-winning wines. Wines! Nice, varied selection of wines with some simple to more complex flavors.
Emerald Creek Winery is located in Warner Springs on the North slope of Palomar Mountain of San Diego County. The elevation at the winery is at 2,400 ft. from sea level. This area has a unique micro-weather system. The weather at this elevation from April to October is ideal for grape growing. Daytime temperatures are warm and nighttime temperatures are cool. The soil is made from mainly decomposed granite ideal for grapes. At Emerald Creek Winery, we are committed to creating award-winning wines.
