This winery is pleasant and makes you feel like you are at home. Decor was very casual and warm. Staff was generous with their pouring. We had some reds and sweet wines. The sweet wine with plum and chocolate notes was one of the best. Their sherry was also very good. We even had some homemade lemon marmalade with crackers.
Benessere Vineyards is a small, family-owned boutique winery specializing in Italian varietals, nestled in the heart of Napa Valley. The region's soil is exceptionally well-suited for cultivating these types of grapes. The name "Benessere," an Italian word meaning "well-being" or "living the good life," reflects the vineyard's dedication to producing Italian varietals and its commitment to providing warm, welcoming hospitality.
The property was acquired in 1994 by John and Ellen Benish, who immediately began the restoration of the winery and residence, as well as replanting the vineyards. By 1995, they had produced their first vintage of Sangiovese, realizing their dream. Since that inaugural vintage, Benessere Vineyards has expanded its portfolio to include other sought-after Italian varietals such as Pinot Grigio, Moscato di Canelli, Sagrantino, and Aglianico.
In addition to these varietals, Benessere Vineyards also produces a "Super Tuscan" style blend called Phenomenon, as well as two distinctive Zinfandels. One Zinfandel is sourced from the ‘Black Glass Vineyard,’ while the other comes from the ‘Collins Holystone Vineyard’ adjacent to the estate.
The Perrucci family is dedicated to crafting wines of exceptional quality that offer both value and enjoyment. They employ advanced agricultural techniques in their vineyards and exclusively use grapes of the highest caliber. Involved at every stage, from vineyard management to bottling, the family's hands-on approach ensures meticulous care throughout the winemaking process. Their commitment to producing outstanding wines has garnered numerous awards and accolades for their recent vintages.
Perrucci Family Vineyard operates as a genuine boutique winery, deliberately limiting annual production to uphold the utmost quality and customer experience.
Bodega del Sur is the culmination of a dream of Evelyn and Victor Reyes-Umana. Victor began his love affair with wine in his native El Salvador. Moving to California and later in life, traveling around the world, solidified his appreciation for wines and increased his curiosity for the various wine styles of the different regions of the world. While visiting some friends in Chile in 1993, Victor and Evelyn had the great opportunity to visit many of the small, family-owned wineries, and it was then that Victor uttered the fateful words, "This is what I would like to do when I retire".
Image - Randy Caparoso
Dobra Zemlja means "Good Earth" in Croatian. The winery was founded in 1997 and is situated in Amador County's historic Shenandoah Valley just off Hwy 49 and Hwy 16. The winery and tasting room are housed in a restored late-19th century facility with wine cave. The cave provides a perfect environment for storing wine barrels and tasting our wines. Visitors are always welcome to enjoy a picnic lunch, sip a bit of wine, or just sit and listen to the birds in our lovely, shaded picnic area. Dobra Zemlja specializes in Zinfandel, Syrah, Sangiovese, Barbera and Viognier.
Story Winery
Since its founding in 1973, Story Winery has been dedicated to producing small-lot, vineyard-designate wines that authentically express the land from which they originate. Primarily utilizing estate-grown grapes, the winery strives to create wines that not only represent their terroir but also cellar well while being enjoyable in their youth.
The winery’s tasting room and picnic grounds are open daily, offering visitors a chance to experience great wine, find the perfect picnic spot, or simply enjoy a peaceful moment in nature. Guests are invited to discover the renowned estate vineyards, which include 130-year-old Zinfandel and Mission vines, as well as award-winning Italian and Georgian varietals. The friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide visitors through various tasting options while sharing stories about the wines, vineyards, and the events that have shaped the winery’s 120-year history.
The Team
Winemaking
Rob Campbell & Thomas Allan
Winemaker Rob Campbell, a fourth-generation San Franciscan, grew up in San Francisco and nearby Daly City. He ventured just 30 miles away to attend San Jose State University, where he studied Jazz. Rob earned a BA in Jazz Studies and a master’s degree in saxophone performance. Realizing that a musician’s income would struggle to sustain him in San Francisco, he leveraged his computer skills while completing his studies. Rob worked at Hewlett-Packard, Apple, and later at Digidesign (now part of Avid Technologies) during the early 1990s. Over a decade, he climbed the ranks to become Hardware Product Manager of digital audio workstations. He then transitioned into a consulting role for Avid’s worldwide training organization as an author, lecturer, and Master Trainer. After extensive global travel, Rob chose to settle back in San Francisco to manage One Union Recording, a premier post-production audio facility. It was during this period that he took over management and operations at Story Winery.
WinemakerThomas Allan, originally from Santa Barbara, has built a diverse career in the restaurant industry, serving as an owner, server, and sommelier. He also worked in high-end retail bottle shops in Santa Barbara before relocating to Amador County in 2000. Thomas was the original Sommelier at Taste Restaurant before moving to Bray Vineyards. In 2016, he established his own label, Fate Wines, which he continues to manage alongside his work at Story Winery, where he joined the winemaking team in 2018.
Image courtesy photographer Randy Caparosos
Miramonte Winery has a nice relaxed vibe during the day, but the night life is what really makes the place special. They stay open till 10pm on Friday and Saturday nights and always have live music. If you want to hang out in wine country on Friday or Saturday night, drink some good wine or sangria, and do a little dancing, this is by far the best place to go in wine country. If you are on the fence about taking the wine tour ....not need to be ..they have a very informative & entertaining wine tour that warrants the time. The bite size hors d' oeuvres at the end of the tour with the wine paring was PERFECT!!! I was expecting bland lil bites...NOT AT ALL!...everyone inquired if they can purchase the pesto & the spicy hummus. he winery is located just 1.25 miles east of Temecula, and a large majority of Wine Country visitors pass through Temecula on the way to Wine Country. This makes Bel Vino the third winery on the right as visitors drive through Wine Country. The winery sits atop one of the highest points in Wine Country and this elevation provides a sweeping 360 degree view of the surrounding valleys, vineyards and mountains, offering the best views in the area. Temecula Wine Country. The winery is located within a two hour drive of the 20+ million people living in Southern California, and this population makes both Wine Country and Bel Vino highly popular tourist destinations.
Fratelli Perata is an appropriate name for this small winery and vineyard run by the brothers Gino and Joe Perata and their families. In Italian, Fratelli Perata means Perata Brothers. Maternal Grandparents. Brothers, Gino and Joe Perata rekindled the winemaking history of their father, grandfather, and great-uncle when they established their winery using grapes grown on their 31-acre vineyard. Sons of Italian immigrants, Gino and Joe learned winemaking at the knees of their father and great-uncle who produced hundreds of gallons of wine for family and friends while living in Camarillo located in Ventura County, California. Gino and Joe were taught from the very beginning about the need for hands-on work to produce top quality wines.
Although Fallbrook is not presently known for its plethora of wineries, a stop at the Fallbrook Winery is well-worth your time, especially if you're in the neighborhood of Temecula. Rather than the usual crowded belly-to-the bar-tastings, this place affords you some privacy, and a chance to revel in the winemaking process. Make a reservation ahead of time, bring a picnic lunch, and also learn the nuances of pruning and planting from proprietor, Ted Gourvitz.
Eberle Winery is a family-owned producer and marketer of premium wines, including offerings from the Eberle Estate, single varieties, and designated vineyards. Since 1979, Eberle wines have highlighted the history and diverse flavors of the Paso Robles Appellation.
Gary Eberle, who grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, attended Penn State University on a football scholarship. After earning a Bachelor of Science in biology, he continued his studies at Louisiana State University (LSU), focusing on cellular genetics. During his time at LSU, Gary developed an appreciation for wine, which led him to shift his academic focus towards winemaking.
Gary began his winemaking career and became known as a “Pioneer” of the Paso Robles Wine Region by helping establish his family's Estrella River Winery & Vineyards. In the late 1970s, he decided to embark on his own venture and acquired nearly 64 acres of land near Estrella River Winery. Soon after, Gary released his first Eberle wine, a 1979 Cabernet Sauvignon, which featured the iconic boar logo. This logo symbolizes the German origin of the name Eberle, meaning “small boar.”
The staff were super friendly and I think the owner was hanging out outside drinking wine with his show dogs running around. Modern vineyard that has literally everything! From Bocce Ball, Cave Tours, Private Tasting, and to holiday themed events, they have it all. The cave tour and flight of wine was complimentary and exquisite. Their Cotes du Robles Blanc white honeysuckle and candied ginger, tingled delightfully as an opening for the palate. Their Red Barbera gold medal with tones of raspberry. Their Reserve estate Cabernet Sauvignon Cassis (black currant), was clean and smooth.
