Located in Rutherford, west of Hwy 29 off Bella Oaks Lane. The tour/tasting appointment here will last about 60-90 minutes, depending on the group dynamic. Standard cave tour and sit-down tasting. You pay for what you get - pricer than other wineries, but the wines are excellent, full-bodied and rich. Family owned and run, committed to the environment. Great tasting experience.
Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre moved to California for love. For Guillaume, it was his passion for winemaking and farming without limits that brought him to Paso Robles. This love led him to one of the most prestigious wineries in Paso Robles,
Meet Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre, two brothers from France whose passion for winemaking is deeply rooted in their heritage. Their journey to California was sparked by love—Guillaume's ardor for winemaking and limitless farming led him to the picturesque Paso Robles, where he initially joined one of the region’s most esteemed wineries, L’Aventure, before launching his own venture, Clos Solène.
Arnaud's tale is equally captivating, reminiscent of a romantic film. His move to California was driven by his love for Chloe, leading the brothers—Les Deux Frères Fabre—to settle in the heart of Paso Robles.
But the story doesn’t end there. The Fabre brothers invite wine lovers to discover the intriguing chapters of their journey for themselves. With a deep respect for their family legacy spanning six generations in the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux regions, their winery, BENOM, beautifully marries the freedom of winemaking in Paso Robles with the exceptional talent inherent in the Fabre lineage.
Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski - people enjoying wine
In 1987, Jim Summers acquired a 28-acre vineyard nestled in Knights Valley, a region located northwest of Calistoga between Mount St. Helena and the Alexander Valley. At the time, the property was predominantly planted with Merlot grapes, established 30 years earlier by Dan Duckhorn, along with some Muscat Canelli. The inaugural vintage of Summers Ranch Reserve Merlot was produced in 1992, yielding 900 cases. Today, the estate also produces Petite Sirah from the Knights Valley vineyard. Known for its warm climate, volcanic soils, and proximity to Napa Valley, Knights Valley has recently garnered increased attention for its Bordeaux varietals.
In 1996, Summers expanded their vineyard holdings by acquiring 25 acres at the intersection of Highway 128 and Tubbs Lane in Napa Valley. This property, now known as Summers Estate Wines, is home to the Villa Andriana Vineyard, named in honor of their daughter. While the estate has been fully revitalized to maximize its potential, the 40-year-old Zinfandel vines are meticulously preserved. The winery and tasting room, surrounded by over 22 acres of Zinfandel, Charbono, and Cabernet Sauvignon vines, strike a perfect balance between pleasure and productivity.
Summers' signature wine is the distinctive Charbono, a varietal believed to be an early Italian adaptation of Charbonneau, a French grape. Some argue it is closely related to the Dolcetto variety, which is commonly grown in northern Italy. The Charbono vine produces large berries that create a deeply colored red wine, known for its rich fruit flavors and low tannin content when subjected to extended skin contact during fermentation.
The Summers Estate, with its scenic vineyard views in Calistoga, California, stands as a testament to the region's rich winemaking heritage.
Rexford Winery handcrafts wines in small lots using grapes from select local vineyards. Their focus on single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, and other premium varieties. Rexford wines accurately reflect the varietal characteristics of the grapes and the unique microclimates and soils of the vineyards from which they come. Visitors are welcome at the winery located on the west side of Santa Cruz. The winery is open for tasting and sales Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and by appointment. NOTE: Rexford Winery is the new name for Hillcrest Terrace Winery. Rexford is a very small-scale operation that offers high quality wines. Sauvignon Blanc ($19), a Pinot Noir from Monterey ($29) and a Cab Sauv from Carmel Valley ($32). All were delicious and well made. We chatted with the winemaker. He teaches astro-physics at UCSC and decided to break into the commercial wine business after making some good homemade batches. He was knowledgeable and friendly.
Dover Canyon Winery is nestled on Vineyard Drive in the Willow Creek appellation of Paso Robles. Owner and winemaker Dan Panico has long believed that the calcareous soil along Vineyard Drive is ideal for cultivating Zinfandel and Rhône varieties. The estate vineyard showcases Organic, Dry-Farmed Zinfandel and Syrah, reflecting the winery's dedication to sustainable practices.
Focusing on small lots of artisanal wines, Dover Canyon often produces vineyard-designated selections that highlight the unique characteristics of each site. With a passion for the heritage grape of Paso Robles, the winery actively seeks out Dry-Farmed, Mountain Grown, and Old Vine Zinfandel from local vineyards, ensuring a commitment to quality and tradition in every bottle.
people enjoying wine - wine artist Agata Zaborowski
This is a very interesting place to taste. They take their wine seriously, it is off the beaten path, and reservations are required. View - absolutely breathtaking! Plan to spend some time taking pictures throughout the vineyard and of the lake. This is one of the best spots to get pictures in Napa.
They specialize in Italian varietals! But they have a number of non-Italian varietals too. And was really surprised at how much I enjoyed their White Cabernet. Yup... you heard right... WHITE CAB. It's light and refreshing.... fruity but not sweet.... on the dry side. It's a lovely rose to sit by the pool and relax with. Get a little bit of Italy while you are enjoying you Temecula Wine Tasting adventures.
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.
Napa Tasting Room has been closed. The Cartlidge and Browne Winery has been purchased by Vintage Wine Estates (VWE) according to VWE President Pat Roney.
Blue Oak Merlot, which is named for the regal blue oak tree in the backyard, is perhaps California's best merlot — Chicago Tribune. We look forward to visting with the folks at Blue Oak, then we can share a little more with our readers.
