Whitehall makes some great wine! We were surprised by the mostly empty parking lot and even considered turning away before entering. Did an empty parking lot mean bad wine? Everything we sampled, from white to red was great. Easy drinking and definitely well priced. Come summer time it can be very busy at times. Well worth a visit.
Bokisch Ranches has been in the business of developing vineyards and selling grapes to other wineries throughout California since 1996. Bokish management company farms 1,000 acres of winegrapes within the Lodi Appellation. Bokisch Ranches grow several white varieties including Albarino, Pinot Grigio, Verdelho, Johannesburg Riesling, Viognier and Chardonnay. Our red grape varieties include Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Graciano, Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon and customizes their farming to match theirr buyers needs. Bokisch Ranches partners with small and large wineries located in many wine regions throughout California including Napa, Sonoma, Marin, Amador, Santa Cruz and, of course, Lodi!
On a trip to Paso Robles years ago, Douglas Ayres was awed by the beauty of the land, the warmth of the people and the promising wine region. While later traveling through some of the most celebrated wine and cultural areas of the world, the memory of Paso Robles inspired him to return with a vision of owning vineyards, making world-class wine and developing a destination driven wine country resort.
Mac got into food and wine during his early twenties via his friends and coworkers at Trader Joe's in Southern California. He soon began taking trips up to the Central Coast to just to taste, but quickly found himself volunteering his time on his days off to help out at a number of wineries. After learning the process for a few years and spending more and more time on the Central Coast, Mac was ready to start making wine for himself.
Jason Bushong grew up in the 80's in Southern California doing what most kids were doing: collecting vinyl, listening to Duran Duran, and discovering his passions.
A passion for all things wine eventually developed into a career of winemaking which spans over 20 years. Jason opened his own tasting room in November 2017: Bushong Vintage Company.
Christopher the wine maker was very welcoming. We made our appointment last minute but he accommodated our schedule. He was super laid back and very knowledgeable, and he made us feel comfortable. I recommend this tour to anyone looking for a nice secluded vineyard with a lot of history and a casual setting.
Two thumbs way up for this great "mom & pop" winery! On a recent trip to the Napa Vallery we enjoyed this place. It was also the only place we purchased wine at. The grounds, super vintage feeling and all the music related decor inside is a nice touch as well.
This little hidden gem is very easy to miss while whizzing past on Silverado Trail. But don't overlook this one. You won't be disappointed. Some of the best zinfandel and very good cabernet sauvignon. It is a great value wine that will hold its own against some higher priced wines. This is a very small winery with limited production and only offers a few wines. You won't find this in too many stores so you will need to make a trip out there of go on-line. If you call in advance you can get a quick tour around the winery via golf-cart.
The Hess Collection was founded by Swiss entrepreneur Donald Hess, who first purchased vineyards on Mount Veeder in 1978. The winery is best known for its flagship Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines, and single vineyard designates from our estate vineyards in Napa Valley. A leader in sustainable and organic practices, The Hess Collection adheres to founder Donald Hess’ philosophy: “Nurture the land; return what you take.”
We made an unplanned stop here and were greeted by Aaron. We had a tasting of the estate wines and they were all excellent. We learned a lot about the grounds, the wine itself and the process. We also got to tag along for an impromptu tour of the grounds and the cave when someone stopped by to see the space for an event. We got to taste maybe 3 or 4 other wines that weren't even on the tasting menu. All in all, a very nice experience.
