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Bent Creek Winery

grape cluster - pixabay

For those who cherish California wines and the experience of visiting its picturesque wineries, the story of Bent Creek Winery is truly inspiring. In 1981, Tom Heineman and his wife, Pat, fulfilled their dream of land ownership by purchasing 12 acres in Livermore, CA, with the intention of cultivating grapes for local wineries. Their journey began with viticulture classes at UC Davis, leading to the establishment of Bent Creek Vineyard.

After several years of selling their grapes to Livermore wineries, Tom and Pat teamed up with friends Rich and Carol Howell to take their passion a step further. The two couples delved into enology at UC Davis, turning their vision into reality by opening Bent Creek Winery in 2002. Their commitment to quality quickly paid off, as they began producing award-winning wines.

At Bent Creek, the owners are hands-on in every aspect of wine production—from nurturing the vines and processing the grapes to welcoming guests in the tasting room. Currently, eight to nine of the original 12 acres are in production, featuring 6,000 thriving vines. The winery proudly produces around 3,500 cases of exceptional wine each year, inviting wine lovers to savor the fruits of their labor.

Wiens Family Cellars

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - woman enjoying wine at beach

The wines at Wiens Family Cellars were very good. Not too crowded inside. Good vibe inside. We had a lot of first timers in my group so they were a little unsure of what to do but the staff there were very friendly and eager to answer any questions. The hostess I dealt with was very friendly and had good recommendations. I have to say their "Perspective" blend was a very good red that I enjoyed. I also really like their Cab selection. From what I understand their big reds are in the premier tasting room....that will be my next stop when I return to Temecula Wine and wine country.

Tom Eddy

wine cprks and glass - Pixabay

The first vintage of Tom Eddy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was 1991, but Tom’s experience in the wine industry goes back farther than that. He earned the U.C. Davis degree in 1974, did his requisite stint in a few big wineries, then settled into the North Coast as general manager and winemaker at Souverain Winery in Geyserville. The accolades for his wines started to follow, for everything from North Coast French Colombard to Sonoma County Zinfandel.

Bremer Family Winery

wine and cheese - Pixabay

We also had a fantastic little table across the creek in the trees and each wine was explained to us. We really loved our experience and the wine is fantastic. I think this is a great little gem. The level of service, the little snack plate, the wine was amazing and it isn't sold in stores, so you have to know this place. All the reds were great overall, they seem to put a lot of care and time into their wines.

Mahogany Mountain Vineyards & Winery

winery's logo - Mahogany

Mahogany Mountain Vineyard and Winery is a small, family-owned and operated winery specializing in limited production of handcrafted fine wines from our estate-grown Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Zinfandel. Our vineyards are located on 43 acres in a picturesque and sunny high valley (1,500 ft. elevation) in Ramona, California surrounded by mountains. The microclimate is perfect for growing red wine grapes and dry-farming: hot long summer days and cool nights produce beautifully ripe fruits with deep intense flavors.

Christopher Creek Winery

Grape Cluster - Pixabay

The variety & quality of the wines were great. The owners were also very friendly & accomodating to our dogs, allowed them in the tasting room and even shut the door so they could run free. It was a gorgeous day and when another group decided to taste outside on the deck, we decided to finish ours there as well, a really nice outdoor space with great views.

Ecluse Wines

painting of people enjoying wine outside - wine artist Agata Zamobowski

Écluse Wines and Lock Vineyard, created by Steve and Pam Lock, is a small, family-owned boutique winery producing estate wines from their Lock Vineyard. In 1997, they purchased 30 acres of gently rolling hillside terrain on the highly sought-after Westside of Paso Robles. The Locks are dedicated to producing limited-production, handcrafted, award-winning wines.

From the start, their philosophy has been that great fruit makes great wine. Owning their own winery onsite allows them the added benefit of picking and crushing small lots throughout the vineyard when the fruit has reached its peak flavors. This control from vineyard to bottle ensures that Écluse wines remain truly remarkable.

A frequently asked question is the origin of the name Écluse. Écluse is the French word for the locks on the canals that gently carve their way through the French countryside. Having enjoyed several beautiful barge trips in France, and with their last name being Lock, the name Écluse for their wines was a natural choice. Their label depicts an “écluse” from a photo taken while traveling down the canals through an actual lock in France.

Duchamp Estate Winery

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

Everything we do at Dutcher Crossing begins with the concept of family. Whether you are the oldest or newest member of the winery, everyone’s contribution is needed and integral to our success. From the vineyards to the tasting room, even though we all have walked different paths on our journey to Dutcher Crossing, we’ve settled into family life together.

Our belief is simple—to be a well-balanced, three-legged stool. Leg one is make the best wine we can staying true to the vineyard, vintage, and varietal. The second leg is the beautiful sense of place within our vineyards and winery. Finally, our third leg is hospitality. Whether you are a long-time visitor or new to the property, we want to welcome and treat everyone as we would our own mothers. With the balance of all three legs, we create an experience like none other in Sonoma County.

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