Today at Malibu Family Wines the vineyards consist of approximately 60,000 vines on 65 acres, with expansion plans to reach 100,000 vines. With the high altitude and separation from the coast, along with an ideal blend of weather conditions and rich, rocky soil, it's the perfect environment for growing premium wine grapes.
This is a Famly business run by four Brothers, all native residents of Napa, and all grew up making wine in their garage as kids.... Needless to say they produce some outstanding wine! The brothers take turns conducting private tours at a cave winery in the southeastern hills of the Napa Valley. It's a great tour and a REAL Napa Winemaking experience.
As one of the first wineries in the Santa Maria Valley, we’ve got some serious cred behind us. In fact, the part of our estate that was originally called the Tepusquet Vineyard was one of the first vineyards planted in the region, back in 1971. More than just a beautiful place for growing grapes, it brought attention to the Santa Maria Valley and inspired others to realize the potential of this unique winegrowing region.
In 1986, our founders Barbara Banke and Jess Jackson bought that vineyard and established Cambria. After 34 years of cultivating grapes and people, there’s a lotta love and pride here at our estate.
Founded in 1905 and deeply rooted in Napa Valley, Ballentine Vineyards is more than a winery; it’s a celebration of a century-old heritage. As a multigenerational, family-owned and operated winery, we pride ourselves on being an enduring symbol of quality, sustainability, and authenticity in Napa Valley.
The son of Van and Betty Ballentine, Frank Ballentine has seamlessly blended his passion for wine with business acumen, crafting his own major at UC Davis, crowning his academic achievements with an MBA at Fresno State, and continually augments his expertise through executive management programs at Stanford and Harvard. After college, Frank was a winemaker in the San Joaquin Valley and Fresno. Transitioning from winemaking to food manufacturing and distribution, Frank held senior roles at Odwalla during its meteoric growth and currently serves as the President and CEO of GreenLeaf for 25 years, a prominent purveyor of high-quality produce and specialty products. In all of these pursuits, Frank has ceaselessly sought best practices to elevate his family business.
In 2012, Frank joined forces with his aging parents to oversee the Ballentine Vineyards. Here, he rekindled his love for the land and the intricate science of vineyard management with his wife Linda and children Ryan and Audrey by his side. Collaborating closely with Winemaker Bruce Devlin, a shared vision emerged.
Established in 1998, La Seremissima vineyards cover a gentle slope facing the Pacific Coast Trail in San Diego North County. The vineyard and winery's name, La Serenissima, pays homage to the most Serene Republic of Venice, for centuries the cultural center of the Mediterranean, where the tradition of wine making flourished, giving civilization the precious gift of wine. Annual production is limited to 1000 cases.
*Tiny* building with beautiful scenery, Teldeschi let us venture into the back room to see all the Oak barrels with the sweet alcoholic juices we were imbibing. There's something to be said about a winery just being a place for wine.
Located in Plymouth, CA, Shenandoah Vineyards was founded in 1977 by Shirley and Leon Sobon. The couple relocated from Los Altos, California, where Leon had a successful career as a Senior Scientist at the Lockheed Research Lab. Leon’s passion for home winemaking inspired him to leave Lockheed and embark on a new journey as a winemaker.
The selection of the winery site in the Shenandoah Valley of Amador County was a well-researched decision. The Sobon family, including their six children, moved to the historic Steiner Ranch outside Plymouth, where they planted a vineyard and transformed the old stone garage into the winery. In 1989, they expanded their operations by acquiring the D'Agostini winery, leading to the formation of Sobon Estate.
Over the years, Leon has earned numerous national and international awards for the wines produced at Sobon Estate and Shenandoah Vineyards. Both family labels are distributed nationally and internationally, including in Canada, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. Leon is recognized as a leader in the wine industry, having served on various industry boards and committees, and he is frequently invited as a judge for prestigious wine-tasting competitions.
Today, winemaking and business operations remain a family affair. Shirley manages finance and the gallery, while Leon continues to impart his extensive winemaking knowledge into every vintage. Their sons, Paul and Robert, along with son-in-law Tom Quinn, uphold the family tradition that began decades ago, ensuring that Shenandoah Vineyards continues to thrive.
Longtime Placer County residents, the Mendez Family, broke ground on their Auburn vineyard in 1999, with no illusions of simplicity. When Viña Castellano was started the family knew it was going to be a labor of love, with a strong emphasis on “labor”. Teena Wilkins, who co-owns and manages the vineyard and winery, is the youngest of Gabe and Carolyn Mendez’s four children. She and her father, along with her husband Craig and their vineyard & winery foreman, Victor Brambila, oversee the weekly work at the winery, but the entire family contribute to the winery in some form or fashion.
BK Cellars is a unique urban winery in Escondido. Here you can enjoy aiir conditioned, crystal chandelier tasing lounge. Enjoy the wide selection and flights of 5 or 6 of their wines. Feel free to bring along a few snacks to enjoyr with your tasting.
V. Sattui embodies the essence of the American Dream. Vittorio Sattui, who emigrated from Genoa, Italy, in 1882, established a winery in San Francisco three years later. The Sattui family successfully ran the business for 35 years until Prohibition forced them to close their doors.
In 1976, Vittorio's great-grandson, Dario Sattui, revived the family legacy in Napa Valley, aiming to create a "Napa D'Italia," where visitors could savor a slice of the good life. It became the 46th winery to open in Napa Valley since Prohibition, now known for its rustic Italianate architecture, hidden gardens, expansive picnic grounds, beautiful vineyards, a stone winery and tower, barrel room, museum, artisan deli & marketplace, salumeria, gelateria, and various event spaces.
V. Sattui was among the first Napa Valley wineries to offer wine experiences, beginning with a few picnic tables where guests could relax and enjoy themselves. This early display of hospitality sparked a movement, reflecting the winery's belief that wine is best enjoyed when shared with friends and family.
What sets V. Sattui apart is that nearly every aspect of its business is handled onsite—from grape growing, crushing, winemaking, bottling, and cellaring to fulfilling orders and preparing a variety of house-made delicacies in the extensive kitchens. The wines are sold exclusively to customers through the website and the winery.
Over 140 years after Vittorio Sattui first arrived in America, V. Sattui remains a significant part of the Napa Valley community, where generations of families return time and time again, and lifelong friendships are forged. As stewards of the environment, the winery is committed to leading the next generation, holding firm to the belief that the best is yet to come.
