The tasting room host was very sweet and hospitable. All of the wines were good and VERY reasonably priced, but the one wine that stood out the most to me was the late harvest sauvignon blanc. Late harvest sauv blanc is not an easy wine to come by, giving Rued brownie points in my book! It's a lusciously sweet wine that's reminiscent of ripe yellow peaches and honey.
Bell is an incredible winery in Yountville. If you can, book a private tour and tasting where you'll get the full story behind the single clone Cabernets and their winemaker Antony. If you're lucky, Maggie will do your tour. Brace yourself for the Clone 6!
Amici Cellars is a Napa Valley winery creating premium quality wine, and we welcome guests to our tasting room in Calistoga by appointment. At Amici we focus on quality, not quantity. Because we insist on keeping our production small, we can carefully control the process of creating each wine, crafting what we like to consider a small work of art in each bottle.
It all began at the dinner table. Charlie Wagner Sr., who co-founded Caymus Vineyards in 1972 with his wife, Lorna, and their son, Chuck, would experiment with blending wines to find the ideal pairing for his meals. At that time, blending wines was unconventional, making his experiments quite revolutionary.
In 1989, this experimentation led to the creation of Conundrum White, which quickly gained popularity with its enigmatic tropical notes and remarkable versatility. Conundrum Red, which is both serious and approachable, was introduced in 2011. Today, it is Charlie’s grandson, Charlie Wagner II, who continues to maintain the original essence of Conundrum.
Plateau Vineyards planted its first grapevines in 1993 on a beautiful property high above the local valleys on Santa Rosa Plateau. The vineyard is blessed with warm sunny days and cool nights, all making for Plateau to grow some of the finest winegrapes in California. Come taste their small batch premium estate bottles.
Another stop on the DePortola Wine Trail. I wish I had the opportunity to walk around the grounds here and check them out, but time was pressing and we had more wineries to get to. Outside there is a very large patio with a wonderful view. There was a pizza booth to purchase a snack and a live band playing. I hope to stop by again next trip to the area. A really nice, friendly atmosphere to relax. Growing classic warm weather Mediterranean varieties of grapes which include Mourvedre, Viognier, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Zinfandel and Sangiovese Brunello are keystone wines at this picturesque winery. Also included are some unique wine varietals such as Tempranillo, Primativo and our a Pinotage. I hope to meet the winemaker Stephen Andrews next time I am in Temecula Wine Country. Painting by Agata Zaborowski
Back Road Vines is located in beautiful Suisun Valley, California. Hand picked grapes, trivia night, thirsty Thursday, wine and s'mores on Friday and more... this winery has a very active calendar of events and is well worth looking into for those who love activities surrounded by wine tasting (or vice versa). They even have a Bocce ball court on the premises!
They pride themselves in following the "old school" art of winemaking and use small vessel fermenting along with stainless and French Oak barrel aging. These wines have structure and balance. As of this writing there is a $20 Tasting Fee, which includes a crystal logo BRV Glass and five samplings of their latest release.
They are open daily from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm -
What makes Lodi wine so unique is that it is actually grown and made in seven different AVA’s; each one boasting its own distinct character, soil conditions and micro-climate. In fact, conditions here make it possible to grow more kinds of varietals from around the world than anywhere else in California. Anywhere else, period. The results of which you’ll discover as you navigate your way around these parts. Enjoy.
In 1987, Jim Summers acquired a 28-acre vineyard nestled in Knights Valley, a region located northwest of Calistoga between Mount St. Helena and the Alexander Valley. At the time, the property was predominantly planted with Merlot grapes, established 30 years earlier by Dan Duckhorn, along with some Muscat Canelli. The inaugural vintage of Summers Ranch Reserve Merlot was produced in 1992, yielding 900 cases. Today, the estate also produces Petite Sirah from the Knights Valley vineyard. Known for its warm climate, volcanic soils, and proximity to Napa Valley, Knights Valley has recently garnered increased attention for its Bordeaux varietals.
In 1996, Summers expanded their vineyard holdings by acquiring 25 acres at the intersection of Highway 128 and Tubbs Lane in Napa Valley. This property, now known as Summers Estate Wines, is home to the Villa Andriana Vineyard, named in honor of their daughter. While the estate has been fully revitalized to maximize its potential, the 40-year-old Zinfandel vines are meticulously preserved. The winery and tasting room, surrounded by over 22 acres of Zinfandel, Charbono, and Cabernet Sauvignon vines, strike a perfect balance between pleasure and productivity.
Summers' signature wine is the distinctive Charbono, a varietal believed to be an early Italian adaptation of Charbonneau, a French grape. Some argue it is closely related to the Dolcetto variety, which is commonly grown in northern Italy. The Charbono vine produces large berries that create a deeply colored red wine, known for its rich fruit flavors and low tannin content when subjected to extended skin contact during fermentation.
The Summers Estate, with its scenic vineyard views in Calistoga, California, stands as a testament to the region's rich winemaking heritage.
The Fresno State Winery produces a wide variety of wines from the most popular and well-known of wines such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to up-and-coming varieties like Syrah to lesser-known wines that are made in small batches. The complete line of Fresno State wines is available at this web site and the Farm Market at the southeast corner of Barstow and Chestnut. At the Fresno State Winery we strive to engage our students in all aspects of the winemaking profession.
