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Deaver Vineyards

pouring some red wine - pixabay

Ken Deaver, with his signature denims and cowboy hat, bends his broad shoulders to uncork a bottle of Zinfandel, a task that reveals his deep knowledge of both wine and grapes.

A tour across Deaver's 300 acres offers a glimpse of history, with 140-year-old Zinfandel vines and eight acres of Mission vines, originally brought from Mexico by Jesuits and Franciscans. These Mission vines were planted around 1854 by Ken Deaver's great-grandfather, John Davis, and a decade later, Ken’s grandfather planted the now-famous Zinfandel vines.

For years, Deaver's "old vine" grapes were sold primarily to home winemakers. The first vintage of Deaver Vineyards Zinfandel was bottled under the "Lakeshore" label in 1985.

Today, Deaver Vineyards is celebrated worldwide for its velvety Zinfandels. The Tuscan-like climate of Amador County also provides ideal conditions for producing exceptional Sangiovese, Barbera, and rich Ports.

With over four generations of Deavers cultivating grapes in Amador County, Deaver Vineyards boasts a deep heritage. Known for its velvety Zinfandel and some of the oldest vines in the region, their wines are widely regarded as true classics.

Fellom Ranch Vineyards

pouring wine - Pixabay

Fellom Ranch was founded in 1928 by Senator Roy Fellom. The land was already planted with vines, but prohibition was in effect at the time. According to reports the vines were tended by local families who harvested the grapes for their own use as payment. The 12 acre vineyard was eventually largely replanted and in 1987 the winery became bonded to sell wines.

The Singing Winemaker

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

The Singing Winemaker is just one of the wineries at Tesla Vintners, Livermore’s First Community tasting Room and Event Facility. Steve Powell, owner, winemaker, and yes, The Singing Winemaker, can be found singing on any given Saturday or Sunday afternoon as guests taste wines from the Singing Winemaker and other wineries at Tesla Vintners in the 120+ year old farmhouse that is now a beautiful tasting room.

Read our guide to Livermore Wines and Wineries

Agua Dulce Vineyards

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - People enjoying wine

Agua Dulce Winery is a 90 acre, fully operational winery and vineyard, featuring daily wine tasting and tours and wines. You will find Agua Dulce Vineyards just 45 minutes north of downtown Los Angeles and this winery has earned the honor of being Los Angeles County’s leading fine wine grower and producer. *

Hours:

Daily 10am - 5:30pm

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - People enjoying wine

Villa Toscano

Harvesting grapes

Beautiful grounds, it does seem like what an American would envision Italy to be like garden speakers playing American-Italian music abound, fountains, and lots of terra cotta planters. This winery was lovely! They have a great patio filled with flowers and a fountain. They also served lunch. The grilled chicken breast sandwich was really tasty, the same with their pizzas. It's definitely a winery to check out if you are in the area.

Image courtesy Randy Caparoso

Mount Palomar Winery

people sharing wine

Mount Palomar Winery, located in the Temecula Valley wine appellation, is a fine wine estate dedicated to making wines of distinctive taste and high quality. Located among rolling hills and mesa lands at 1400 feet elevation, Mount Palomar is a working wine estate with 45 acres of producing vineyards overlooked by the Palomar Mountain range. John H. Poole established the original Mount Palomar vineyards, and was Mount Palomar Winery's first winemaker in 1975. He created a place where people could immerse themselves in the world of fine wine in a pleasant and relaxed Wine Country atmosphere. Today, Mount Palomar’s winemaker James Rutherford is a Northern California transplant who received his degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. He gained most of his experience on the Central Coast in both the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo wine regions.

I sat on the Patio listening to some awesome music. Three very nice ladies were sketching while the music played! I had the best lunch, Chicken, Artichoke- sun dried tomatoes-feta cheese and roasted garlic flatbread! Glass of Dry Riesling! Delicious! The perfect outdoor day! If you have never been there, I suggest you go and relax on the patio for some great food and delicious wine tasting!

Random Ridge

red wine pouring into a wine glass - Pixabay

Random Ridge is a panoramic 42-acre ranch situated on the southernmost ridge of the Mayacamas Mountains, within Napa’s Mount Veeder appellation.

In the summer of 1979, Bill and Susan Hawley, both 27 years old with a one-year-old son named Emile, acquired this rugged and untamed property. The site was heavily forested and located at the end of a challenging dirt fire road that marked the boundary between Napa and Sonoma Counties.

Bill Hawley named the property Random Ridge on a poetic impulse, believing the name perfectly suited the land’s character. The terrain is steep and rugged, positioned on a 2,200-foot ridge at the edge of Mount Veeder. This area, an ancient uplifted seabed, features rock-strewn decomposed volcanic soils. The northern and eastern views offer vistas of pine-covered mountains with no visible homes, while the southern view provides a breathtaking panorama of the San Francisco Bay, Mount Tamalpais in Marin, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Occasionally, the sunset reveals a glimpse of the ocean, 30 miles to the west, through a gap in the coastal foothills.

Thomas Fogarty Winery

Cluster of gapes - ai generated - Pixabay

Thomas Fogarty Winery was founded in 1978 by inventor Dr. Thomas Fogarty and winemaker Michael Martella. Dr Fogarty’s penchant for innovative thought and Martella’s viticulture instincts allowed them to lead the development of the cool Skyline Ridge area; true pioneers in one of California’s premiere Pinot Noir and Chardonnay regions.

Provenance Vineyards

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Classic Family Roots with Italian Style
Provenance Vineyards began in 1999 and quickly earned a stellar reputation as the Napa Valley Cabernet house. Over the years, Provenance expanded into also producing tasting-room only regional exclusives and single-vineyard wine for other red, Bordeaux-style blends and white wine. Its founding family had the vision to produce fine wines that were true works of art of unique “provenance” or authentic origin.

Over the years, the brand has passed through the hands of two corporate owners. And in November 2021, the Allen Lombardi family acquired Provenance Vineyards. Attracted to its rich history, timeless style and strong growth potential, the Lombardis are committed to building the next chapter of the brand – increasing domestic distribution (and expanding globally) in fine wine shops and restaurants. The goal is make Provenance Vineyards wine more accessible to Napa wine lovers throughout the world.

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