Fetzer Vineyards was founded in 1968 in beautiful Mendocino County by Barney and Kathleen Fetzer. One of the first California wineries to branch out into serious Chardonnay production, Fetzer remains committed to sustainability and environmentally conscious wine production. Dennis Martin oversees all wine-making at Fetzer and is assisted by Charlie Gilmore and Michael Chupp, who are in charge of white wine making and red wine making respectively.
E. & J. Gallo Winery is a family-owned winery with fifteen family members, spanning three generations of the Gallo family, actively working in the business. • Established in 1933 and headquartered in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery remains a privately held and ever-growing company that employs more than 7,000 people worldwide. • E. & J. Gallo Winery offers a broad array of products that total more than 100 brands and include table, sparkling and luxury wines, beverage products, dessert wines and distilled spirits. • With products available in more than 100 countries, E. & J. Gallo Winery is an exporter of California wine, and imports wines from Argentina, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, and Spain. Additionally, Gallo imports spirits from Australia, the Caribbean, Italy, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
St. Amant Winery is a family owned winery located in Lodi, California that prides itself in producing handcrafted wines of superb quality. Founded in 1979 by Tim and Barbara Spencer, St. Amant crafts distinctive wines from Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian varietals in addition to California’s own Zinfandel.
Michael and David Phillips represent the fifth generation of growers in Lodi, and things are changing. With 650 acres of premium wine grapes, there is plenty of room for experimentation and innovation.
The Phillips Family and Lodi have a long history together. They have been farming the soil since the 1860s and cultivating wine grapes since the early 20th century. The founders, brothers Michael and David Phillips, are 5th generation grape growers who raised their families in the vineyard. Now, the 6th generation has joined the team with Mike’s daughter, Melissa. The Phillips Family, more than most, understands the importance of leaving the land better than they found it for future generations. Their family legacy and love of Lodi drive their focus on sustainability.
Everyone working there was extremely friendly and generous with the servings. The tasting room has an open layout with a decent-sized counter and several tables. The tasting room is warm and inviting with a rustic feel. Barrels line the walls and serve as the base of the tables. Ancient Zinfandel - Courtesy Randy Caparoso
The idea for 3 Steves Winery was conceived by three friends who gathered over a glass of wine to discuss starting their own winery. Having previously owned a stake in a small boutique winery, they gained valuable experience in the art, science, and business of the wine industry. Together, they produced a significant amount of wine and received positive feedback from their customers. It soon became clear that they wanted to create their own label from the ground up, leading to the natural choice of naming their new venture 3 Steves Winery.
They obtained their license in early 2010 and spent several years crafting their wines at a custom-crush facility, which served them well. However, the dream of owning their own winery and vineyard remained. In late 2012, they discovered the perfect location, and in July 2013, they opened their doors for the first time at 5700 Greenville Road in Livermore. The site offers stunning 360-degree vistas of the Livermore Valley and is surrounded by remarkable wineries along Greenville Road, making it a must-visit destination for wine tasting.
Their philosophy is to cultivate the best grapes possible from their vineyard while sourcing additional grapes from Livermore and other regions known for specific varietals. They bring these high-quality fruits back to their winery to create their wines. By establishing strong relationships with award-winning vineyards, they are able to access exceptional fruit while continuously refining their winemaking skills as dedicated students of the craft. Their tagline, “3 Friends Striving To Make The Perfect Wine,” reflects their commitment to quality and value in every bottle.
Proud of their wines and the awards they have won, they are determined to remain a fixture in the Livermore wine region for years to come. The local wine community has been incredibly supportive, with fellow winemakers generously sharing their expertise and resources. In such a collaborative environment, the pursuit of quality wine becomes a natural outcome.
Sky Vineyards strives to incorporate sustainable practices into the cultivation of the vines and operation of the winery. Responsible practices include use of permanent cover crops, dry farming, promotion of bird and beneficial insects, and use of organic or low impact pesticides and fertilizers. The resulting intensely flavored fruit is then hand-harvested and fermented in open top one-ton bins. Punch down is performed by hand three times per day. After fermentation, it is pressed in a traditional basket press and aged in French oak barrels.
Located in the heart of California’s Lodi Wine Appellation, the Grady Family Vineyards produces high quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel & Pinot Grigio winegrapes.
Karmere is a good gateway winery. It has light, fruity champagnes almond, raspberry, and regular. They offer a wide range of Zinfandels and other reds here too. The wines are named after the female members of the family. Could the the place for a wedding or special occasion, beautifully designed for events. Spent quite a while there, tasting at the counter and barrel-tasting as well.
“Sonoma County is one of the most fabulous places in the world to live and make wine,” says Gary Sitton, Blackstone's winemaker. “There’s no place like it. The immense diversity—from the coastline to the mountains, valleys and rivers—still leaves me in awe. For me, tapping into this range of growing conditions is fundamental to making beautifully expressive wines.”
