Syrah

Syrah

Lagier Meredith

red wine splashing in the glass - Pixabay

After following the challenging road up the mountainside we came to this beautiful home overlooking the valley and their fields. While the view from their home porch was breathtaking, and the active hummingbird feeders captivating, the time spent talking to this husband-wife wine making team was fascinating. A visit to this winery not only includes a tasting of their wonderful Syrahs, but also great conversation about wine making, genetics and theories of growing grapes in Napa Valley. A great stop and we will remember this visit each time we open a bottle at home.

Laguna Canyon Winery

people sharing wine at the beach

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event, or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Painting by Agata Zaborowski Women enjoying wine

 

 

 

 

 

Preston Vineyards

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Wine tasting at Preston was a fun experience. The tasting room had a welcoming atmosphere with lots of funny books decorating the bookshelves and samples of their olives and sourdough. There were other groups also present, but we were attended quite quickly. Hidden gem. This is what wine country should feel like...to be continued.

R Vineyards

painting group of women with glasses of wine

The Rosenthal Family has been farming grapes sustainably on the north slope of Mt. St. Helena Mayacamus Mountains since the early 70's. The resulting wines are in the 'must taste' category. Home grown, approachable wines for your enjoyment! 

Wines available at Hardesters Markets 

Wood Family Vineyards

logo wood family vineyards

Welcome to Wood Family Vineyards Livermore Valley Wine Wood Family Vineyards is a family run winery located in the eastern foothills of Livermore Valley. Specializing in limited production handcrafted wines, Michael, Rhonda, Harrison and Parker all have a hand in the winemaking process - along with many friends and family.

Kamen Wines

glass of wine - Pixabay

In 1980, Robert Mark Kamen came to Sonoma to celebrate the sale of his first screen play. While hiking the rugged hillsides of the Southern Mayacamas Mountians, Robert came upon a piece of property with breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay. Remote, rugged, and without roads, water or electricity, the 280 acres had an immediate visceral impact on Robert. A week later the property was his. Inky, robust Cabs, just the way I like them. 2005 or 2006, I was having a hard time determining which one I liked better. Just great - these are wines I could drink regularly. Of course, they cost $100/bottle, and aren't all that common - so my desire to regularly drink the '05 Cab will definitely be squashed by price and availability.

Samsara Winery

corks and a wine glass - Pixabay

Samsara is a Sanskrit word meaning the eternal cycle of life. The world we live in now. One of passion, oneness and harmony. This idea is key to the philosophy of Chad and Mary Melville’s Samsara wines. Chad and Mary produce limited releases of Pinot Noir and Syrah from micro-sites within carefully selected vineyards.

SAMsARA produces limited releases of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache and Chardonnay from carefully selected micro-sites within Sta. Rita Hill’s most distinctive vineyards. The resulting wines are an interpretation of the tenuous balance between the power of natural elements beyond our control and the human desire to reach perfection.

Saintsbury Winery

wine barrels - Pixabay

Pinot Noir, great personalized service, beautiful grounds, and good prices. This is the epitome of Carneros Pinot Noirs and they have several excellent vintages and labels to choose from. We went for an all Pinot tasting and I enjoyed each one tremendously. I have been told their whites are also good, but I will need to review those on a subsequent visit. Reservations are necessary, but not difficult to get. Please go to this place...you will NOT be disappointed!

Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard

picture of Fess Parker

When Fess Parker purchased the 714-acre Foxen Canyon Ranch in 1988, he envisioned a future filled with cattle, a modest vineyard, and perhaps one day, a small winery. His dream was to establish a family business that could be passed down through generations.

Today, Eli Parker and his sister Ashley Parker Snider carry forward their father’s vision, managing the family portfolio with the help of Winery President Tim Snider, Ashley’s husband. Many of Fess’s grandchildren are also actively involved in the family business, ensuring the legacy continues.

Fess Parker, an actor and entrepreneur, captivated audiences with his portrayals of frontiersman Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the 1950s and 60s, earning a devoted following across generations. His down-to-earth charm and hardworking spirit endeared him to many, paving the way for his successful transition from Hollywood to the business world in the early 1970s.

While he continued to star in and produce numerous hits for Disney, Paramount, and Warner Bros., Parker laid the groundwork for his second career in real estate development. With his warm Texas demeanor and a keen eye for opportunity, he purchased the Foxen Canyon ranch and dedicated himself to producing high-quality wines from estate-grown grapes and the finest vineyards in the county.

Fess and his wife, Marcella, enjoyed a 50-year marriage and raised two children in Santa Barbara, where they lived for over 30 years. They were blessed with 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Fess passed away in March 2010, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom, warmth, and friendship.

Visitors to the Fess Parker Winery can still feel his presence, as his spirit lives on through his family and the remarkable wines they produce. For wine lovers exploring California's wineries, Fess Parker Winery offers not just exceptional wines, but a heartfelt connection to a beloved figure and his enduring legacy.

Demetria Estates

Corks and Glass - Pixabay

Demetria Estate produces two separate portfolios of wines including, Burgundian varietals and Rhone-style blends that capture the singularity of the vineyards and the region from which they originated. The Burgundian offerings comprise of varietal honest manifestations of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, farmed sustainably in the Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County. The Rhone blends feature a rich, aromatic array of wines that are well-balanced, and intensely flavorful. The Rhone blends are styled after the famous Chateauneuf du Pape reds and are made from varieties of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache. The white Rhone wines are blends of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc.

Image: Corks and Glass

Pages

Subscribe to Syrah