Riesling

Riesling

La Nebbia Winery

Fun, unassuming tasting room. The service was really friendly and I got the impression that the "$10 for 5" tasting is rarely a sticking point. Meaning, they poured my group additional samples and even asked me which one I wanted to try one last time as I was paying. Never with the feeling I was being pressured to buy anything, far from it. Ample picnic area in the back. BYO whatever and enjoy the scenery and play a game of bocce ball in one of their 2 courts. This is a perfect stop on your way to the beach or when heading back home.

Casa Neustra Winery

Two thumbs way up for this great "mom & pop" winery! On a recent trip to the Napa Vallery we enjoyed this place. It was also the only place we purchased wine at. The grounds, super vintage feeling and all the music related decor inside is a nice touch as well.

Briar Rose Winery

Unlike most wineries where you pick and choose the wines you want to taste, this winery goes down its wine tasting menu for your 6 tastes. The girl at the wine bar was friendly and seemed very knowledgeable about wines in general. She was very generous with the pours.

Chateau Montelena Winery

Chateau Montelena is a Napa Valley winery most famous for winning the white wine section of the historic "Judgement of Paris" wine competition. I had high expectations coming into this experience after the depth of history. From the time you walk up to Chateau Montelena, the grounds are extremely well kept and there's a feeling of serenity.

We decided to opt for the Library Tasting, which I'd highly recommend. We sampled the estate wine, which exudes a much more complex taste than the standard Chateau line of wine. After sampling several vintages ranging from 2005 to 2011, I was completely sold on the hype. It probably also helped that Sean was extremely accommodating and his passion for wine as well as working at Chateau Montelena is apparent. If you book this tasting, be sure to ask for Sean. Did you see "Bottle Shock"?

Westbrook Wine Farm

Westbrook Wine Farm the vineyard and winery are located on a mountainous forty acre site at an elevation of 1440 feet in the central Sierra Nevada range of eastern Madera County, California. Close to the hamlet of O'Neals and not far from Bass Lake, the town of Oakhurst and the Southern entrance to Yosemite National Park.

Fetzer Vineyards

Fetzer Vineyards was founded in 1968 in beautiful Mendocino County by Barney and Kathleen Fetzer. One of the first California wineries to branch out into serious Chardonnay production, Fetzer remains committed to sustainability and environmentally conscious wine production. Dennis Martin oversees all wine-making at Fetzer and is assisted by Charlie Gilmore and Michael Chupp, who are in charge of white wine making and red wine making respectively.

Lazy Creek Vineyard

Named for the meandering creek that runs through the 95-acre ranch, Lazy Creek Vineyards is located a few miles west of Philo in Anderson Valley. A pleasant detour off Highway 128, LCV's narrow, dirt road overgrown with rambling bushes and ferns, towering redwoods and oak trees, opens onto a countryside setting complete with rustic barn, cottages with its menagerie of animals, gardens, fruit trees and of course, vineyards. In keeping with LCV’s quaint surroundings, a new tasting room will preserve its charm and simplicity with stunning views of Lazy Creek's vineyards.
Construction will be on-going throughout the summer of 2012. Be sure to check back with us for updates.

Zanger Vineyards

Zanger Vineyards makes a number of other wines, many of them quite unconventional. They are the only winery in California that I know of that makes Mead. This is a medieval drink made out of fermented honey. Zanger also makes a number of wines made out of different fruits. Additionally, they make chocolate, candy, and dried fruits.

Baron Herzog Wine Cellars

The Herzog family has been making wine for a long time. They trace their winemaking origins back to Philip Herzog, who made wine in Slovakia for the Austro-Hungarian court more than a century ago. Philip’s wines were so appreciated by Emperor Franz-Josef, that the emperor made Philip a baron. The Baron Herzog wines—a line of premium yet moderately priced California varietals—are named to commemorate the honor.

Martin Ranch Winery

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.

Pages

Subscribe to Riesling