Jason Bushong grew up in Southern California in the 80s, doing what most kids were into—collecting vinyl, jamming to Duran Duran, and exploring his passions. Over time, one passion stood out: wine.
With over 20 years in the winemaking industry, Jason’s love for the craft led him to open his own tasting room, Bushong Vintage Company, in November 2017. It’s here that he shares his unique vision and experience with wine enthusiasts.
Melani, Owner & Winemaker
Melani’s love of wine started when she was a Navy nurse stationed in Naples, Italy, in 2009. While living in Italy, she traveled throughout Europe and gathered wines along the way, creating an impressive collection. She fell in love with the way wine brought people together. Over the next 10 years, she hosted wine gatherings, taught and took classes, and took an informal but fun approach to learning about wine.
In 2017, Melani began volunteering at the Tackitt Family Vineyards for a Warrior Helping Warriors fundraiser, where she fell further in love with the winemaking process, the people, and Paso Robles. She offered to assist the Tackitts at their events and started to learn more about the intricacies of winemaking and viticulture under the tutelage of Leon Tackitt- this is where she realized her dream of owning a winery. Melani knows the importance of the translation of the Bon Niche name- “a good place.” Through the years, she has come to realize that life is about enjoying the people, the place, and the moment. Wine has brought many people, places, and special moments to life for Melani, and her dream is to create a very good place with great wine.
Brecon Estate is a Boutique Estate winery nestled in the rolling westside hills outside of Paso Robles, California. With an international award-winning winemaker that strives to produce exquisite and inviting wines for you and us to enjoy.
"Open Daily 11-5, reservations available, walk-ins welcome,"
Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery is a boutique winery known for its handcrafted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Established in 1988 by the Beko family, the winery is situated in Santa Maria Valley, on the northern edge of the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail within Santa Barbara County's wine country. Visitors are welcome to explore the 78-acre estate and sample the distinctively different, age-worthy wines produced there.
The key to crafting these unique, age-worthy wines lies in both the vineyard and the wine caves. The fruit is hand-harvested when it reaches slight tropical flavors, typically around 24 brix. The naturally high acidity of the fruit allows lees to remain in contact with the wine until bottling, enhancing flavor extraction while maintaining a balanced interplay between fruit, oak, and acidity.
The combination of the fruit's inherent high acidity and the controlled conditions of the wine caves results in wines with exceptional longevity. These wines evolve gradually over many years and achieve near perfection when aged between 8 to 12 years.
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
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.
Wine lovers, get ready to dive into the captivating story of L'Aventure, where Stephan Asseo’s passion and innovative spirit have brought world-class wines to life in the stunning Paso Robles, California.
How It All Began
Stephan's journey began at L'Ecole Oenologique de Macon in Burgundy, France, and in 1982, he established Domaine de Courteillac in Bordeaux. Over the next 15 years, he cultivated his skills as an artisan winemaker, earning a reputation as a maverick vigneron. Yet, constrained by AOC regulations, he longed for the freedom to innovate and explore new possibilities.
The Adventure Begins
In 1998, seeking to expand his horizons, Stephan and his family set off on an adventurous quest to find the perfect location for their winemaking dreams. They traveled through renowned wine regions across the globe—from South Africa to Lebanon, Argentina to Napa—until they stumbled upon the unique terroir of west side Paso Robles. It was here that L'Aventure was born, igniting a new chapter in their winemaking journey.
Stephan's philosophy is centered on crafting wines that truly embody the essence of Paso Robles. Each cuvée is a carefully crafted blend of the estate's premium varieties, enhancing the wines’ authenticity, complexity, and balance.
Celebrating Milestones
In July 2023, L'Aventure proudly celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a journey filled with remarkable achievements. The winery became 100% estate-produced, unveiled a stunning new tasting room and caves, partnered with the Thiénot family, acquired a new vineyard, and embarked on exciting collaborative wine projects. As they continue to innovate and evolve, their commitment to quality remains steadfast, honoring the roots that inspired their adventure.
Join L'Aventure for a tasting experience that embodies the spirit of innovation and passion for wine. Cheers to the journey ahead!
Broman Cellars was established with a singular goal: to craft world-class wines that are enjoyed both upon release and for years to come. The vision for the winery is the result of a collaborative family effort involving winemaker Bob Broman, Deborah Broman, and Lisa Broman Augustine.
As a family-owned and operated winery since 1994, Broman Cellars is dedicated to handcrafting superior-quality wines through meticulous attention to detail in both the vineyards and the winery. Their portfolio includes a Cabernet Sauvignon from their estate vineyard on Deer Park Road, a crisp and clean Sauvignon Blanc sourced from valley floor vineyards, and a Proprietary Red Wine that highlights their favorite blend of the vintage. In exceptional years, they also produce a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, selecting barrels that exhibit unique and extraordinary character.
Kukkula is a boutique winery on the west side of Paso Robles, focusing entirely on estate wines from dry-farmed and organically grown vines. The winery produces wines with a Rhone-centric bias. In addition to the vineyard, Kukkula farms French varietal olives and creates a Provençal field blend from their crop.
Kukkula, a vineyard, farm, and winery located on the west side of Paso Robles, CA, was established in 2004. Originally a walnut orchard, the property now includes nearly fifty acres of grapes, eight acres of olives, and thirty-two acres of walnuts. The winery crafts blended wines with a Rhone-centric bias, with all wines produced from organically and dry-farmed grapes, relying solely on rainwater.
Winemaker Micole Moore embarked on an epic quest to unveil the wonders of Ramona Ranch Winery, where eco-friendly farming harmonizes with picturesque vineyards, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and the embrace of Mother Nature. Visitors can immerse themselves in the handcrafted wines, lovingly made to satisfy both wine connoisseurs and nature enthusiasts alike at San Diego’s only Certified Sustainable Vineyard & Winery.
The wines are produced from estate and local Ramona vineyards, each personally selected for their high-quality grapes, reflecting the meticulous hands-on attention of the growers. Each glass of their award-winning wines—frequent Gold Medal winners including Estate Tannat, Estate Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and others—captures the care and commitment to the land. These wines have been recognized in prestigious competitions such as the Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition, Toast of the Coast, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Sonoma Grand Harvest Wine Competition.
The winery invites visitors to follow their journey in this emerging wine region, believing that guests will come to know and love the little valley of Ramona, which they proudly call home, along with the friends they consider family.
Ramona Ranch Winery is open Thursdays and Mondays from 1 to 5 PM, and from 11 AM to 6 PM Friday through Sunday for outdoor wine tasting, available by the bottle and by the glass. For those in a hurry, a quick stop for a bottle to go or an online order is also an option.
