The year was 1996. A young man named Neil Collins embarked on a journey at The Carver vineyard, producing the inaugural vintage of Lone Madrone, named after the solitary tree that stands watch over the vineyard. He was not alone in this venture; from the start, Neil's wife Marci and sister Jackie provided unwavering support and encouragement. Initially, there was no intention of this becoming more than a young winemaker’s hobby, something separate from his day job. However, things did not turn out that way.

Lone Madrone grew, slowly but surely. The philosophy remained consistent: each wine should be unique, with its distinctiveness derived from where the fruit was grown, how it was grown, and who grew it. Over time, they added more vineyards, focusing on the dramatic hills of West Paso Robles. The soil, the climate, the proximity to the great Pacific Ocean and its profound influence, and the people who chose to farm grapes in this beautiful but challenging land—all these factors played a role in their evolutionary choices. They chose to focus on dry-farmed vineyards, believing this method offers “the purest expression” of any given piece of land. This world-class terroir, once a hidden gem, has now gained broader recognition.

Claiborne & Churchill is a small, premium family-owned winery located in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo. Founded in 1983 by Claiborne (Clay) Thompson and Fredericka Churchill Thompson, former University of Michigan teachers, the couple transitioned from academia to the vineyards of California in 1981 to pursue a new life in the wine industry.

With its first crush, Claiborne & Churchill announced its special focus by producing 565 cases of Dry Riesling and Dry Gewürztraminer, inspired by the fruity but dry dinner wines of the French province of Alsace. Today, Claiborne & Churchill produces about 8,000 cases of wine each year, sourcing grapes from vineyards in the cool maritime valleys of California’s Central Coast and its own small estate vineyards.

This winery is fun! They're only open the third weekend of the month. Tucked away down Redwood Retreat Road about 3.5 miles from Watsonville Road, the drive to get here is truly spectacular. They are only open the third weekend of each month and passport weekends. They ask that you sign in and they then give you name tags with your first name on it. The staff was friendly and the owners Therese and Dan were walking around greeting people. Dan and Therese Martin clearly have a passion for making great wine. They have scores of awards for their wine but that's not what they lead with. Their tasting room is welcoming and intimate. The vibe is comfortable and engaging. Martin Ranch produces a variety of wines from Chardonnay to Cab Franc, Sauvignon Blanc to Sangiovese.

These tasty little wines were introduced nationally in 2008 from California’s Central Coast and represented a finely crafted, fruit-forward, indulgent and eminently approachable style of wine. The inaugural release included Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, Adam has used his experience and relationships around the world to add seven international wines to the lineup. http://underdogwinemerchants.com/

Read our guide to Livermore Wines and Wineries