The vineyard is quite incredible and impressive. We tasted 9 different wines in their cave which was filled with millions of dollars worth of marble statues. The cave was nice and cool and the aroma of the wines in the barrels hit you as soon as you entered. There was Italian music being pumped into the cave which helped set the mood for the tasting. Afterwards we wandered around their property and enjoyed quite the view from their patio area.
Founded in 1978 by Gary Andrus, Pine Ridge Vineyards is located in the renowned Stags Leap District of Napa Valley, celebrated for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Our mission is to craft some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon in the region.
Currently, Pine Ridge Vineyards boasts estate vineyards across five of Napa Valley’s premier appellations: Stags Leap District, Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, and Carneros. Our dedicated team, from vineyard to cellar, is committed to producing wines that reflect their exceptional origins with distinctive character and depth.
Girard's goal is to highlight the flavors of Napa Valley and its rich, ripe grapes. A small portion of the winery's portfolio also comes from grapes grown in Sonoma's upscale Russian River Valley, where cool weather offers ideal conditions for Chardonnay.
Confessions of a Winemaker Chef - I always considered winemaking to be “cooking”. Through my entire time as a chef, I wanted to work with the flavors, textures, and aromas of grapes from the California coast. Finally I took the plunge and moved to Napa Valley.
When we drove up we were greeted by 2 dogs and Jim the owner. The place is quaint and wine is phenomenal. Jim the owner took his time and explained the wine making process to our group, he even had us taste one of the grapes on the hillside. One of my favorite wines was the wine blend called "Sisters" which is made from the traditional Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec, all estate grown
This place has one of the best views in Temecula, and it an excellent place to enjoy some wine outside. I loved their terrace overlooking the valley. They have a pretty broad selection of wines to choose from and their tasting prices are pretty comparative to what I've experience with other local vineyards. They also have this really neat self-serve area, where you buy a prepaid card, and can select whatever wine you want as a taste, half pour or full pour. Our first card didn't work, but the cashier came out and swapped it for us, and the second one was fine. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience at this beautiful winery. This was my first time out wine tasting and I can honestly say that I found a favorite at Callaway! We visited two others wineries on our trip and Callaway is the most memorable. The service was fantastic and welcoming. Really enjoyed their Summer Jazz concerts.
In this time of multimillion-dollar vineyard estates and celebrity winemaking consultants, when it seems that financial backing has replaced skill as the key to success in enology, it is rare that a simple idea can give birth to wines that stand out for flavor and balance, rather than pedigree alone. Waterstone Winery was formed in 2000 with the simple concept of creating luxury wines at affordable prices. Bringing together previously established relationships with Napa Valley growers and vintners, the winery set out to develop balanced wines of varietal character through intelligent sourcing. Preferring to focus on the wine itself rather than the accumulation of land and facilities, Waterstone owns no vineyards, nor does it own the facility where its wines are made. Dedicated winemaking, strong relationships with top growers and long-term grape contracts are the keys to Waterstone’s quality and success.
Bel Vino Winery is the Temecula home of Fine Wine and Good Times in Southern California in Temecula Wine Country. Surrounded by the beautiful scenery of breath-taking vistas, rolling vine-covered hills and panoramic views of the Temecula valley, Bel Vino is the perfect location for an intimate (indoor or outdoor) wine tasting or an exceptional California vineyard wedding. Beautiful winery, with a great feel to it. There was a live band playing at the little outdoor stage when we pulled up. The tasting bar was inviting, and the host was very friendly and very helpful. The reds were good. The Tatria was extremely good, one of my favorite wines from my whole day of wine tasting. Also make a Pepper Jam, which is amazing. It's a nice balance of sweet and spicy, and they served samples on crackers with cream cheese.
Scott Harvey Winery
Located in the heart of Amador County, Scott Harvey Winery offers a truly unique and personal experience for wine lovers. Unlike the typical tasting rooms found in Napa, visitors who are fortunate enough to meet Scott Harvey himself will be invited to his home, where he and his wife Jana provide a relaxed, conversational wine tasting. Scott, with decades of winemaking expertise, shares his vast knowledge and stories while pouring some of his finest creations. Both Scott and Jana are warm, welcoming hosts, making every visit a memorable one. And, of course, their excellent wines are the highlight of the experience!
