Roussanne

Roussanne

Jessie's Grove Winery

picture of winery's Westwind Zinfandel

Jessie’s Grove Winery in Lodi specializes in crafting small-batch, artisanal wines that showcase the vibrant flavors of the region’s renowned grape varietals, such as Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Carignane. Visitors can explore the newly renovated tasting room, the historic barn, or enjoy a glass at the outdoor pouring stations, each offering a unique and personalized wine-tasting experience for every occasion.

With a commitment to sustainable farming, Jessie’s Grove ensures that each grape is carefully nurtured, resulting in wines that capture the true essence of Lodi. Guests can enjoy guided tours of the vineyards, exclusive barrel tastings at the historic estate, or peaceful picnics amidst the tranquil beauty of the Lodi countryside.

Woffard Acres Vineyard

Cabernet Sauvignon grape clusters

This was homiest and friendliest of the 3 wineries we visited. The view off the hill cannot be beat. It is gorgeous. It was neat to see the vines with fruit hanging off of them. Some of it had been picked and was waiting for pick-up, which happened quite often as the owner whizzed by on his ATV. We could see people in the back taking the grapes he had just delivered and running them through a press.

Come for the Wine. Stay for the View.

Guests are invited to savor award-winning, small-batch wines while enjoying breathtaking canyon views. With a production of only 1,500 cases each year, these wines are exclusively sold through the Sales Room. Reservations are recommended, and required on weekends in October. Walk-in guests will be seated as space allows. For reservation information, guests are encouraged to reach out.

Dogs are welcome on a supervised leash, and children may visit with parental supervision. Limos are not permitted without prior approval, especially during events and on weekends in September and October. Photographers are welcome during business hours.

Photo courtesy of Photographer Randy Caparoso

Chesebro Wines and Art

vineyard at sunset - Pixabay

I love this tasting room. There is lots of space in the place and art to amuse you in between the tasting. The wines are fantastic and even though they are not widely advertised, they are a good buy. The service is great and they enjoy spending time talking to you about the wine. Definitely check this place out if you are in Carmel Valley. I really enjoyed the red blend from Arroyo Seco.

Winemaker Mark Chesebro

Mark took a crush job at Bernardus Winery under Don Blackburn in the fall of 1994, and ended up staying until the spring of 2005. First working in the cellar, then as Enologist, he eventually became Winemaker in January of 1999. He basically held every production job available at this 50,000 case winery. Mark notes that this was truly his real winemaking education. It taught him not only about winemaking, but also about the extreme importance and impact of farming. He candidly observes that wine is very easy to botch up in the winery, but it can never be better than the raw materials. Respect for this concept became the guiding force in his approach to the production of fine wine.

Since Spring of 2021 Mark has had the pleasure of working with his son Will as co-winemaker . Will grew up with winemaking at Bernardus and at Chesebro Wines. He has worked harvest jobs at Hobo Wines and Thomas Fogarty. He also ran the laboratory at  J Lohr Winery's white wine facility.

Together they are currently launching their Cedar Lane Vineyard label featuring wines from the estate vineyard of that name in the Arroyo Seco AVA. These wines were previously bottled under the Chesebro label but they wanted to highlight the source vineyard and have the Chesebro label focus on wines from the Carmel Valley AVA.

Hagafen Cellars

two friends and wine by Artist Agata Zaborowski

Nice, quaint winery. Has outdoor tables/seating and even cornhole (bean bag toss) game if you wanted to play. And a cute little picnic table for the kids. Our wine guide was friendly and super helpful. Mom enjoyed this spot because it had a nice selection of sweeter wines, e.g. Riesling. Very laid back environment. Bought some sandwiches from the deli just down the street recommended by Hagafen and ate at Hagafen outdoors while enjoying some Riesling. Art work by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski -Agata a Art Gallery 

Treasure Island Wines

Glass of white wine at Treasure Island Wines

What I can say, I love visiting this winery. First of all, you get the fantastic views of San Francisco and the East Bay from Treasure Island. Some really great wines The building is a cool space that the Winery uses for tastings, storage, and production of a few other smaller winemakers too. The folks at Treasure Island Wines are extremely knowledgeable. We had an opportunity to sit down with Jim Mirowski and do a little video interview with him. You can take a peek at what your visit to Treasure Island Wines will be like by clicking HERE. Prices are right for most budgets and this is a fun and unique space to visit with friends! Open on the weekends and for special events.~

Hours:

Mon-Fri     Closed
Sat        1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Sun       1:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Cinquain Cellars

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

2006 marks the first vintage of Cinquain Cellars, one of the newest wineries in the Paso Robles appellation.  Cinquain Cellars is focused on estate grown reds, including Bordeaux, Rhône, and Port varieties, as well as, sourcing fruit from select vineyards for white varieties.  It is run by David and Beth Nagengast, with David tending to the vineyard and winemaking while Beth manages the sales and marketing.

Big Basin Vineyards

pouring a glass of wine - Pixabay

Big Basin Vineyards was founded in 1998 on an historic site in the Santa Cruz Mountains next to Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The old ranch property was first settled in the late 1800s. Wine grape cultivation had been started by French immigrants by the early 1900s and continued until 1965 when the property was sold by Justin Lacau, who had named the property "Frenchy's Ranch", to a timber company. By the 1990s, all that remained of the vineyards were redwood stakes and scattered vines hidden by brush and poison oak bushes. The mission has been to restore this historic vineyard site using modern, organic viticultural methods. The winery building was completed in December 2003 on the same site as the original 1890s house/winery structure which burned down in the 1970s. It is a 'Monitor'-style barn with a timber frame construction built using redwood selectively harvested from the estate.

Bien Nacido Vineyards

Bien Nacido Vineyards Image

The Miller Family planted Bien Nacido Vineyards in 1970's. Togther with Winemaker Trey Fletcher this winery produces approx. 2,000 cases of wine a year. Wines produced are Chardonnay, Grenache, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vioner, Nebbiolo.

Sierra Vista Winery

clusters of grapes

Sierra Vista: An El Dorado Original Since 1974

In 2024, Sierra Vista Wines proudly celebrates 50 years as one of the first and original wineries in the Sierra Foothills. This medium-sized boutique winery and vineyard is nestled in the picturesque landscape of El Dorado County, CA. Sierra Vista Winery seamlessly integrates the artistry of winemaking with the natural beauty of its 50-year-old legacy vineyard.

Each vintage begins with meticulous vineyard management, where skilled viticulturists tend to the vines, ensuring optimal grape ripening and quality. Harvesting is executed with precision, as grapes are hand-selected at their peak of maturity to capture the essence of the terroir.

Upon harvest, the grapes are immediately processed by a team of experienced and passionate winemakers and barrel hands. The winemaking process—encompassing crushing, fermenting, aging, and blending—focuses on preserving the unique characteristics of each varietal.

Sierra Vista Winery embraces sustainable and eco-friendly practices throughout its operations, reflecting a commitment to environmental stewardship. The winery features a welcoming tasting room where guests can savor a diverse range of wines grown, produced, and bottled on-site.

Knowledgeable Tasting Room staff members provide insights into the winemaking journey and guide visitors through curated tastings, creating memorable and educational experiences.

In addition, Sierra Vista actively hosts on-site wine events, live music, and food pairings, showcasing its exceptional products and engaging with the broader wine community. With a steadfast commitment to excellence, sustainability, and a passion for the art of winemaking, Sierra Vista aims to stand as a beacon of quality in fine wines.

photo courtesy photographer Randy Caparoso

Renaissance Vineyard & Winery

women enjoying wine

During the Gold Rush, the wine region of Yuba became famous throughout the United States. Fortune Magazine recognized this fact in its 1933 issue describing the wine regions of the U.S. A group of French settlers, who founded nearby Frenchtown, were making Cognac-style brandy during this period. Marysville, thirty miles from Renaissance, boasted the largest winery in the state. A man named L.B. Clark had planted 50,000 vines on his 600-acre Rancho Virginia at Collins Lake, only 5 miles from Renaissance.

Special thanks Painting by Agata Zaborowski

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