Roussanne

Roussanne

Rosenblum Cellars

wine and cheese - ai generated - Pixabay

Rosenblum is famous for being all about Zinfandel – Old Vine Zin, High Altitude Zin, Single Vineyard Zin, BIG Attitude Zin. At Rosenblum, they make over 20 different types. Rosenblum Cellars has some of the highest rated, most-awarded Zins from California’s most highly regarded vineyards. Not just Napa and Sonoma, but all over the state. While a founding member of the Zinfandel Advocates & Producers group (ZAP!), Rosenblum does make other amazing wines, including Rhône-style red wines like Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, as well as Rhône-style white wines and dessert wines.

Qupe Wine Cellars

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

In contrast to the Old World, Qupé focuses on cool climate expressions of Rhône varietals due to a distinctive geographical feature that sets them apart from most other regions of California, as all vineyards are all located in East-West valleys (vs North-South) which function as open windows to the cool Pacific Ocean. The benefit to the vineyards of being along the coast and running East-West is that the cold, moist air gets pulled in and creates a layer of morning cloud cover over the vines which reduces temperatures and sun exposure on the grapes. This is why cool climate varieties excel in the coastal regions of the Central Coast and allows Qupé to focus on cool climate expressions of Rhone varietals.

Saracina Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Saracina wine production focuses on Sauvignon Blanc, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Roussanne, Syrah, and Zinfandel grapes for their historical significance in Mendocino County and for the tremendous potential they have to produce world-class wines. By sourcing from the extreme meso-climates and soil types in Mendocino County -- from the foggy coastal zones of Anderson Valley to the mountaintop high above the Ukiah Valley, down to the day-time warmth of the inland valleys -- Saracina Vineyards is able to create more stylish and inherently interesting wines.

Casque Wines

pouring a glass of red wine - Pixabay

Casque Wines, an urban winery, is just 5 minutes off of I-80 at the Horseshoe Bar exit in Loomis. A tasting room during the day and wine bar at night on the patio. Casque invites you to listen to some great music every Saturday from 6-9 pm.

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

Le Casque Wines

cluster of grapes

We strolled in to find a huge courtyard area with lounge chairs surrounding a fire pit and a bar for tasting. We were welcomed by the owners (a husband and wife) and their daughter, who was doing the pouring. We tried a few of their wines, all of which were impressive but I instantly fell in love with the cab franc. The owner then took us on a tour of the facilities, explained their wine-making process, and gave us a taste of some young wines. We also had a chance to chat with the wine maker and and thank him for making such delicious wines.

Willow Creek Wine Co.

pruning vines in the vineyard

Willow Creek Wine Co. is a boutique winery located on the west side of Paso Robles, owned and operated by Natalie and Brian Brown. The winery specializes in old-vine Chenin Blanc, estate Syrah, and Rhône-style blends.

The vision for Willow Creek Wine Co. began in 2016 when the Brown family purchased a small ten-acre parcel on Vineyard Drive in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. Upon moving to the property, Brian and Natalie Brown embarked on the task of rehabilitating the land, which had been overrun with underbrush and weeds. As professional winemakers, their dream was to cultivate their own piece of land and establish a winery to house their various brands. At the time, they were already producing their own projects—Emerson Brown and Rococo—and began creating wines together under the brand that would eventually become Willow Creek Wine Co. In 2019, they harvested their first crop from the property, which contributed to the development of their wine label, In Medias Res.

In 2020, they opened the doors to the estate’s brand-new production facility and tasting room, now showcasing all four of their brands for visitors to enjoy.

Dakaro Cellars

Had a great time visiting with David at his Whitmore winery. The focus at Dakaro Cellars is on Rhone and Bordeaux Varietals, Italian and Spanish Varietals: Syrah, Viognier, Tempranillo, Pinot Grigio. David Roth when asked how he got into winemaking to the point of producing for others to enjoy his reply was; "Well, I took a hobby that I really enjoyed and ruined it by making it into a job." I have do disagree with David as his love for wine and the experience of sharing his wines with others speaks just a little louder. Dakaro produces some nice wines and produces a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourverde and Counoise that is very impressive. If you can get your hands on a bottle take your time and experience the wine change and evolve as you enjoy it. Nice, layers that seem to unfold so nicely if you don't rush through the wine. What a wonderful gem from Shasta Cascade area. Dakaro Cellars is a little of the beaten path, but worth the drive if you are near Redding. We are pleased to have the folks at Dakaro Cellars as one of our winery friends and listed in our California Winery Directory.*

Hours:

Mon-Fri   Closed
Sat-     12:00pm to 5:00pm
Sun-    12:00pm to 5:00pm

 

Pelican Ranch

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Pelican Ranch Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery specializing in Rhone and Burgundy style wines from the best vineyards in California. Established in 1997, the winery is located a short distance from Monterey Bay which provides the constant, cool, coastal influence that allows for controlled, slow fermentation. The result is rich, full-flavored, complex wines.

Robert Hall Winery

vineyard at sundown

We had a very nice host that was pouring us all sorts of wine. She truely made us feel special because her mission was to find us a wine to like. It is a nice big tasting room with the big square bar, beautiful water fountain out front and some tables outside to enjoy the view. I never gave this place a fair chance because I have tried there wine at the grocery store and wasn't pleased. Well now that I have tried all there wines it is very good especially the reds! So give this place a fighting chance and it will not disappoint you.

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