Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

Rexford Wines

wine and cheese

Rexford Winery handcrafts wines in small lots using grapes from select local vineyards. Their focus on single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, and other premium varieties. Rexford wines accurately reflect the varietal characteristics of the grapes and the unique microclimates and soils of the vineyards from which they come. Visitors are welcome at the winery located on the west side of Santa Cruz. The winery is open for tasting and sales Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and by appointment. NOTE: Rexford Winery is the new name for Hillcrest Terrace Winery. Rexford is a very small-scale operation that offers high quality wines. Sauvignon Blanc ($19), a Pinot Noir from Monterey ($29) and a Cab Sauv from Carmel Valley ($32). All were delicious and well made. We chatted with the winemaker. He teaches astro-physics at UCSC and decided to break into the commercial wine business after making some good homemade batches. He was knowledgeable and friendly.

Stolo Family Vineyards

red wine splashing in the glass

Don and Charlene Stolo purchased 53 acres of property to call home, located just east of Cambria CA. The coastal property had an existing 9 acre vineyard planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Soon after their purchase, they were faced with the following choice: continue to sell the high in demand coastal grapes to local winemakers, or produce their own wine.n 2004, with the help of their three children and neighbors, Don and Charlene harvested their first vintage from Stolo Family Vineyard. They bottled 176 cases and officially became part of the wine industry.

Eden Rift Vineyards

Grape Crossing sing

Eden Rift Vineyards is among the oldest, continually producing estate vineyards in California and has been under vine since 1849. Eden Rift Vineyards is located in a remote, pacific refuge located in the Gavilan Mountain Range, just outside of the town of Hollister, CA. The Eden Rift Vineyard estate rests on the San Andreas Fault and is part of the Cienega Valley AVA. Located only 20-miles from the Pacific Ocean results in an ideal, temperate maritime climate as well as the coveted calcareous soils requisite in the cultivation of vivid, energetic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. An historic, head-trained block of Zinfandel, planted in 1906, still thrives outside the estate’s main residence. Wine tasting is $15.00 per person. Be sure to tell Christian hello for us if he is pouring during your visit to Eden Rift Vineyards.   

Hours:

Open Daily: 11:00am - 4:00pm
Reservations are not required, but always appreciated.

Holdredge Wines

glass of wine - Pixabay

If you're interested in the workings of a true family run winery, please do yourself a favor and visit.John and Carri produce some great wines at great prices and always provide some fun at the tasting room. With an emphasis on Pinot they still produce two zins, two syrahs, and couple of deserts.

Cakebread Cellars

glasses of white wine - Pixabay

Cakebread Cellars' story begins with a piece of land, a family passionate about wine, and a community of friends and partners who helped bring the winery to life. Since its founding in 1973, Cakebread Cellars has aimed to create quality wines that pair beautifully with good food and good company. The wines reflect the personalities of their estate vineyards as well as the spirit of the entire team. They take pride in sharing these wines—from their family to yours.

Autheur Wines

pouring red wine into a glass - Pixabay

The Auteur wines have been highly touted in the wine press and are sold by allocations through a mailing list. The owner/winemaker is Kenneth Juhasz who is also the winemaker for The Donum Estate and the Robert Stemmler label, and a consultant for other wineries

Trinitas Cellars

barrel room - Pixabay

The cave's ambiance is really neat... it's fun to explore the vineyard above the cave before or after your tasting and see where some of the grapes are grown and if you're an adventurous type, it's fun to take pictures by the giant Grape crusher statue on top of the vineyard. This is truly Napa's hidden gem! It's located at the Meritage Resort at the south end of Napa, and the tasting room is in a cave UNDER THE GRAPES. It's such a unique place to visit in Napa. The wines are excellent. The Mysterium is one of my favorite reds, and I love the Sauvingnon Blanc. The chardonnay is also very nice. The service in the wine cave is impeccable, and the employees are really knowledgable about the wine. They will also stay and have a friendly conversation with you if it's not too busy.

Blue Rock Vineyard

cluster of grapes - pixabay

Just like wine, some of the best things in life do not just change, they evolve: developing gradually into a better, more complex state with time. The same is said of Blue Rock’s commitment to producing vintages true to their European roots. Wines on the estate are crafted with the type of knowledge and modern finesse that only come with experience.

Blue Rock’s technique enhances the uniqueness of each wine`s character while aIso maintaining the soul of its history and the integrity of the land.

The result: vintages that feel like an accessible luxury because they exceed expectation, but for a reasonable price. It’s like getting upgraded to first class when you least expect it.

Blue Rock will produce only small quantities of luxurious red wines that express their sense of place. Blue Rock, therefore, will always make wine from grapes grown exclusively on the 100 acre Estate in Sonoma, Alexander Valley.

Brassfield Estate Winery

woman enjoying wine

Discover the Magic of Brassfield Estate Winery in Beautiful Lake County

Perched high in the High Valley AVA of Lake County, California, Brassfield Estate Vineyards & Winery offers a winemaking experience like no other. At an altitude that only 1% of vineyards worldwide can match, this unique estate breaks free from the traditional norms of valley floor wineries.

At Brassfield, precision and sustainable farming form the foundation of their craft. They produce an impressive selection of 17 varietals, ensuring that from vine to bottle, the wines never leave their expert hands. This commitment extends beyond winemaking; they care deeply for the land they inhabit, the wildlife they coexist with, and the guests who visit.

From the breathtaking estate in Clearlake Oaks to your glass, Brassfield Estate invites you to experience the exceptional wines and stunning surroundings that make every visit unforgettable. Join them today and taste the magic for yourself!

DeRose Vineyards - Hollister

Grape Clusters

DeRose Vineyards has the single best Negrette I have ever had. Pat DeRose not only has one of the coolest moustaches on the planet, but he and Al (his son) are wine purists, not necessarily in the "Wine Spectator" since, they simply love great wines. Al DeRose search for new endeavors took him to central Chile where he produces and imports his Chilean wines. De Rose VIneyards is one of the oldest operated wineries in the US - 1854. At De Rose VIneyards they are not concerned about anything other than wine... nada. The DeRose family doesn't care about wine spectator's points, they don't care about who endorsed what, and I find that not simply amuzing, but delightful! Their style is very much like the old world where the people of the community get together. The winemakers, the farmers, the butcher and the candlestick-maker all living together, drinking together, eating together and enjoying the celebration of life. At DeRose Vineyards it is,"Good friends, good food and good wine.*

Hours:

Hollister Tasting Room
9970 Cienega Road
Hollister, CA
Hours:
Thursday - Friday: 11 AM – 5 PM
Saturday - Sunday: 11 AM – 4 PM

San Martin Tasting Room
255 Fitzgerald Avenue
San Martin, CA
Hours:
Friday: 4 PM – 8 PM

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