Red Wines

Red Wines

Castillo Hillside Shire

entrance to the winery

At the Shire, the aim is to treat visitors to smooth and savory blends designed to captivate even the most discerning palate. Their oak-aged, handcrafted wine is a drinkable gem, born from vineyards blessed by the serene surroundings only nature can provide. The privilege of planting, nurturing, and harvesting the abundant clusters of fruit that adorn the hillside vines is cherished by all involved.

Visitors are invited to experience the offerings of these vines within the comfort of the gardens of the European-styled estate. Each day in the tasting room, magic happens as guests arrive and rediscover their true selves. Relaxation and camaraderie flourish as patrons meet others who appreciate wine, art, conversation, and music. Friendships form as one strolls through the grounds, greeted by a calm and soothing embrace. Sitting near the pond, visitors can take a moment to reflect or meditate.

The Shire takes great pleasure in sharing this enchanting experience with all who visit.

Caddis Wines

Grape Cluster - Pixabay

Although Caddis is new it is quickly becoming one of my favorite wineries in Livermore. The winemaker Chris has had years if experience in the Livermore Valley and it shows in his wines. It's no surprise the Caddis took home a number of Chronicle wine awards, their wines is phenomenal! Caddis is located next to Wood Family and are only open a select amount of days throughout the year. Just a quick update. Caddis Wines now has two locations, in Livermore and Sonoma. 

Caddis Sonoma Plaza
Guests are invited to enjoy a tasting of small lot wines from Sonoma County and the Livermore Valley. Caddis Sonoma Plaza is open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours on occasion. While walk-ins are welcome, reservations are recommended. Parties are limited to a maximum of 8 guests.

Caddis Livermore
Currently, Caddis Livermore is open for public tastings on 7 weekends each year. For more details on tastings and openings throughout the year, visitors should check the Special Events tab. Any questions can be directed to (707) 931-6939.

Read our guide to Livermore Wines and Wineries

 

Grape Cluster - Pixabay

Oso Libre

looking at the moon through a glass of wine

Good wines, friendly owners, fun animals. A field full of alpacas greets you as you enter Oso Libre. The husband and wife owners were absolute gems, but let's face it, unfriendly people simply don't own alpacas. They shared a lot of interesting info about the winery and animals which made for an entertaining conversation. The wines were tasty and the term “wine farm” setting of Oso Libre is a great experience.

Blackbird Vineyards

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

“Every wine in the Blackbird collection is a true expression of the Napa Valley, with each possessing extraordinary structure and finesse. These limited production wines display the complexity extracted from the highest quality fruit and devoted winemaking techniques.”
–Aaron Pott, Winemaker

Whitehall Lane Winery

glasses of wine - Pixabay

Whitehall makes some great wine! We were surprised by the mostly empty parking lot and even considered turning away before entering. Did an empty parking lot mean bad wine? Everything we sampled, from white to red was great. Easy drinking and definitely well priced. Come summer time it can be very busy at times. Well worth a visit.

D'Art Wines

red wine pouring into glass

Helen and Dave Dart started their dream as home winemakers with a passion for great wines. After winning several awards in that category, they decided to make small lot commercial wines to share with like-minded enthusiasts.

What does a Spanish dancer have to do with a winery that has a French name? Absolutely nothing and everything. It was one of the first artworks created by Dave around the same time he and Helen began making wine at home. This piece has served as the winery's logo since their days as garagistes. Their journey began when they took Best of Show at the Sacramento Home Winemakers wine competition with their very first wine, a 2000 Syrah, igniting their passion for winemaking. Although Helen has French heritage, the name Dart is purely English.

Now residing on their Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, where the winery is located, the tasting room is a feast for the eyes. Dave and Helen have adorned the space with Dave's photo art, reflecting their travels around the world. Most days, Helen is present in the tasting room, eager to share her special wine-pairing recipes and insights into winemaking.

Through the tasting room lies the barrel room, where Dave and his daughter, Jessie, handle the winemaking process. They divide their responsibilities, with Jessie managing fermentation and barrel aging while Dave focuses on master blending and bottling.

The d’Art team is their most valuable asset. Visitors are warmly welcomed in the tasting room, where the couple loves getting to know their customers.

Belle Marie Winery

wine corks and a wine glass - Pixabay

Belle Marie Winery and Chateau Dragoo are located on the Escondido Wine and Culinary Campus in North Escondido along Interstate 15. Belle Marie Winery's facility encompasses a 20,000 gallon winery, three tasting rooms, multiple corporate and reception venues, educational facilities, a gourmet garden and a demonstration vineyard with varietals from around the world.

Teachworth Cabs

grape cluster - Pixabay

Walter Teachworth developed his taste for cabernet sauvignon by drinking aged Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Latour. Joan started sharing Walter's fondness for fine cabs when they met in 1976, and by the early 1990's they knew it was time to move to the Napa Valley. After living in St. Helena a few years, they found the perfect spot to build their own home on Diamond Mountain, south of Calistoga.

Chateau Margene

Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski

Chateau Margene, now celebrating its 26th year, is the realization of a dream brought to life by Michael and Margene Mooney. Back in 1997, they envisioned planting a vineyard, crafting a winery, and establishing their home in the beautiful Paso Robles area. By the summer of 1998, the family settled into their property, where they still reside, and kicked off their adventure by planting the estate vineyard that fall.

With annual production ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 cases—thanks to the whims of Mother Nature—Chateau Margene embraces a "quality over quantity" mantra. The estate boasts two charming vineyard blocks: Stella’s Vineyard, named in honor of Margene's mother and their granddaughter, Jon's daughter, showcases two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, planted in 2014. Meanwhile, the front vineyard, Michael's Vineyard, pays tribute to Michael and Margene's older son and grandson, featuring a delightful mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Sangiovese.

Their farming practices are all about being organic and sustainable, with Michael taking the reins on vineyard management and winemaking alongside his son Jon. Meanwhile, Margene steers the day-to-day operations and works her magic as the winemaker for their exquisite Cabernet Franc. Cheers to this vibrant family legacy in the heart of Paso Robles!

Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski

Starr-Ranch Winery

grape cluster

Starr Ranch is a family owned and operated ranch located in the central coast of California specializing in altar, premium wine, group, production. 

Starr Ranch is a family-owned and operated ranch situated on the Central Coast of California, specializing in ultra-premium wine grape production. In addition to wine grapes, the ranch also cultivates walnuts, a variety of fresh fruits, and persimmons.

After an extensive search throughout California, the owners discovered the hills of Adelaida, where they found a ranch with the potential to produce exceptional ultra-premium wine grapes. Like others before them, including Tablas Creek and L'Aventure, they conducted a thorough investigation before choosing Paso Robles as their vineyard home in 2000.

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