The young man who hosted our tasting was knowledgeable yet casual and easy to talk to - right up our alley. Really appreciated the time he took to do "compare & contrast" tastings! Definitely stop in here for a tasting - whether you linger or quickly move on to the wineries, you'll get a nice intro to wines in the region.
Mt. Vernon Vineyard and Winery is a small, family-owned and operated winery nestled in the grassy foothills of Auburn, California. The Taylor family transforms Sierra Foothills grapes into outstanding, lush aromatic wines, featuring riveting fruit flavors that are fit for a president.
The winery provides a majestic view and a relaxing atmosphere. Regarded as the largest winery in Placer County since Prohibition, Mt. Vernon offers an exceptional selection of wines and unique blends that are sure to captivate the taste buds.
Established in 1996, Mt. Vernon is pioneering the production of various foothill grapes, including Old Vine Zinfandel, Syrah Port, Barbera, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gold Country Nectar, and a Sur-lie aged barrel-fermented Chardonnay that is joining the Mt. Vernon collection.
Photo courtesy of photographer Randy Caparoso
How many tasting rooms do you know of where the owner / vintner is there pouring? It's an added bonus that lets you know he's not only interested in his passion, but interested in your enjoyment of his wines as well. Winemaker John Smith is not only very happy to pour for you, but is just as willing to tell his wine's story to a seasoned oenophile or neophyte alike.
Delicious wine and sparkling views of Napa. I know there are tons of quality wineries around that have similar offerings, but Rombauer is definitely one worth visiting. Gorgeous garden space with some cute little trails to walk along while you enjoy your wine and soak up the Napa Valley air. I prefer to go in Fall or early Spring or during the week. The servers or more relaxed and they seem to have a better time introducing you to their wines and letting you know more of the wine history. You get to sample 5 of their wines including their AMAZING chardonnay and Fiddletown Zin. These are the bottles we always end up with and they are usually priced pretty similar to what you would find in a big store (BevMo, Total Wine, etc.). Most of their pricier zins like the Fiddletown aren't sold in stores however. They give you the wine glasses as part of the tasting as well.
Tasting Room
Note that the Manzoni Cellars tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea has moved. The tasting room is now located in Hampton Court on 7th Ave between San Carlos and Dolores. Enjoy the spacious Courtyard. The new tasting room is spacious and inviting. You can always visit the tasting room in the vineyard on weekends. Located on the beautiful River Road Wine Trail in the Salinas Valley with wonderful views of the Santa Lucia Highlands.
Hours:
CARMEL:
#4 Hampton Court on 7th Ave, between San Carlos & Dolores St.
Daily 12pm - 6pm.
(831) 620-6541
OPEN NEW YEARS EVE & NEW YEARS DAY
We will then be closed all Tues & Wed in January & February.
RIVER RD:
30981 River Rd, Soledad CA 93960
Saturday & Sunday 11am - 5pm
(831) 675-3398
We will be closed for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Vineyard.
Local Restaurants:
Mission Bistro: Mission St. 2 SW of Ocean Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Ca. 93921 (831) 574-8344
Enzo Carmel: San Carlos St, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Ca. 93921 (831) 624-6545
Luigis: 346 Alta St, Gonzales, Ca. 93926 (831) 675-7800 / Open Mon-Fri Lunch & Dinner, Sat-Sun Dinner
4th St. Tap House: 25 4th St, Gonzales, Ca. 93926 (831) 675-5095 / Open Sun 12-8pm, M-T 3-9PM, TH-SA 3-11pm, Closed Wed.
The vineyards of Lucas & Lewellen are located in the three principal wine grape growing regions of Santa Barbara County: the Santa Maria Valley, the Los Alamos Valley, and the Santa Ynez Valley. These valleys all run west from the coastal mountains to the Pacific Ocean, allowing warm days and cool nights to produce a long, gentle growing season.
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.
Rios-Lovell has grown into much more than an award-winning winery— it has become a Livermore Valley destination. Our picturesque grounds feature an event center, concert center, tasting room, picnic grounds, gazebo and gift area surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens and an outdoor Tuscan style village. Rios-Lovell Winery’s unique charm makes it the ideal place for everything from tantalizing your palette to hosting your special event.
Jim and Debbie Van Haun founded Cedar View Winery in 1999 with an emphasis on producing rare, eclectic, hard-to-find varietals. The winery's estate “flagship” grape, Alicante Bouschet, is made as a very popular award-winning red wine as well as a very rare Rosé and Port style wine.
There is simply no better place to sit back and relax than on the Solis Winery back porch, sipping a glass of wine and enjoying the scenic views of vineyards nestled against the Gabilan mountain range.
All Solis Winery wines are grown and produced at the Vanni Estate Vineyard in Gilroy in the heart of the Santa Clara Valley, California’s oldest continuous wine-growing region. From planting the vines and harvesting the grapes to producing and bottling the wines, everything is done on-site. Nothing ever leaves the property—until bottles go home with happy customers!
The original winery was founded in 1917 by Italian immigrant Alfonso Bertero on rich, fertile land that was once part of the Rancho de Solis Mexican land grant. David and Valerie Vanni purchased the winery in 1989 and renamed it Solis Winery. The Vanni’s had a passion for creating extraordinary wines in a friendly, down-to-earth environment. The passion was passed on to their son Michael, his wife Julie as well as their daughter Frankie who are now working together to continue the family tradition of excellence.
