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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

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.

Loxton Cellars

vineyard in fall colors

The property is small and nothing fancy but more likely than not, your wine tasting will be led by the vintner himself, who came to Sonoma with nothing and built this small winery with his own hands. He's a great host who truly understands and loves wine. It's a delightful experience and the wine is priced very reasonably compared to many other wineries in the area.

Rocky Creek Cellars

glass of wine - Pixabay

Drive out on Highway 46 for a bit and you will find tucked away Rocky Creek Cellars. Rocky Creek is a homey little tasting room with the charm of a rustic cabin. The folks that run this place, like most of the wineries and tasting rooms in the area, are a family, so you can tell a certain amount of personal flair and attention has been put into everything right down to the tasty crackers they serve with their flights.

Alma Sol Winery

Painting by Agata Zaborowski woman enjoying wine

Alma Sol WInery is a micro-boutique winery that sources premium fruit from top vineyards sites in California. This micro-boutique winery is family-owned and operated with the mission to craft exceptional Bordeaux wine varietals and special blends. All fruit is hand-picked in small lots that respect the fruit and is just one of the hands-on facets of producing the artisan wines of Alma Sol Winery. Owners John and Lisa wanted to make the best possible Cabernet Sauvignon they could and to set out and prove that California's Central Coast could provide a great Bordeaux. Noteworthy is that their inaugural release of 2009 recieved numerouis accolades, including a 90pts review from Wine Enthusiast. *

Hours:

Sat-      2:00pm to 6:00pm
Sun-     2:00pm to 5:00pm

Fawnridge Winery

cluster of grapes

Stewart and Stephanie Perry are the owners of Fawnridge Winery and Vineyards, where they craft their award-winning wines on-site. Guests are welcome to meet them during their visits!

Stewart and Stephanie, accompanied by their dogs, are passionate wine lovers with thirty years of experience. After spending fifteen years in North Lake Tahoe, they relocated to Auburn in 1989. Together, they raised sheep and tended to their property, which overlooks the Sacramento Valley. Upon discovering that local grape growers were revitalizing the grape and wine industry reminiscent of the historic Placer County Gold Rush era, they decided to establish vineyards on their land. With assistance from friends, they planted Barbera and Syrah grapes in the summer of 2002. Stewart and Stephanie are deeply involved in every aspect of vineyard management and winemaking, committed to making Fawnridge Winery a world-class success.

The Barbera Vineyard
The Barbera vineyard is situated on one of the fertile hillsides of Fawnridge. The north-south orientation of the vines allows for ample sunlight, essential for this Italian grape. Meticulous, hands-on care ensures the vines produce full fruit and spicy characteristics, resulting in a truly premium wine.

The Syrah Vineyard
Syrah, a grape native to France, is cultivated on another hillside of the Fawnridge property. The careful management of this estate vineyard yields a luscious, flavor-filled Syrah in the French tradition, boasting dark color and a smooth finish that is sure to satisfy even the most discerning wine enthusiast.

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.

Lone Buffalo Vineyards

grape cluster

Lone Buffalo Vineyards, launched in 2007 in Auburn, CA is the culmination of owner and winemaker Phil Maddux’s thirty-five year passion for wine making. The buffalo's power and resilience in the face of encroaching civilization symbolizes hope and renewal for humanity and harmony among all people. Here in the Sierra foothills, Lone Buffalo Vineyards symbolizes this same hope and renewal with its contribution to the re-emergence of the wine-making tradition in Placer County.

Image Pixbay

Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards

corks in a wine glass - Pixabay

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.

Summitt Lake Vineyard & Winery

wine splashing in the glass - Pixabay

The views, 1800 era house, warm extended family conducting the tastings, the farm animals welcoming visitors, the fabulous zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon.... sitting in a hammock, with a glass of excellent wine, peacefully taking in the view, serenity, and ambiance of Howell Mountain... what more could you ask for?

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