The wines are delicious, the employees are knowledgable and friendly.The view is magnificent perfect for enjoying a few glasses of wine during a sunset. The cellar carved into the mountain reminds me of something out of Lord of the Rings.
When Davis Bynum created Barefoot Bynum Burgundy—the first ever Barefoot wine—in his garage in Albany, California.
We changed our name to Barefoot Cellars, created the famous footprint label and quickly captured the hearts of our fans.
We struck gold. Jennifer Wall, winemaker extraordinaire, joined our team and sprinkled her magic dust on our line of fun, delicious wines.
After three years of traveling to various wine regions of the world, Charles B. Mitchell has returned the vineyards to operate with the highest standards possible. With estate grown fruit this winery strives for the highest quality from vineyard to bottle. Image courtesy of Randy Caparoso
Bella Luna Estate Winery, founded in 1998 by lifelong friends Kevin Healey and Sherman Smoot, has a charming story that traces back to their childhood on the Central Coast of California. The duo first bonded while playing t-ball and later became the quarterback and center of their high school football team in Atascadero. After serving their country in the Vietnam War, their paths diverged, but fate brought them back together years later.
The idea for Bella Luna Winery sprouted during a nostalgic night of reminiscing about their shared past. When morning came, the dream of starting a winery still felt enticing, and at the youthful age of 50, they planted dry-farmed Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Ruby Cabernet grapes on their estate.
Both friends are proud fathers. Sherman has a daughter, Carly, and a son, Jimmy. Interestingly, Carly was the only 8-year-old who didn’t dream of having a pony, so Sherman decided to name the vineyard after her. Kevin’s daughter, Nichole, had her own unique experiences in the family business. Often grounded during her high school years, she was assigned to work with her dad in the vineyard or winery as a form of punishment. However, what started as a chore turned into a passion; Nichole loved the vineyard life and eventually pursued a degree in Enology and Viticulture at Fresno State.
After completing her studies, Nichole took her talents to Australia, where a three-month internship in Margaret River turned into a remarkable 7.5-year adventure. There, she fell in love with both the local wine scene and Lukas, a fellow wine industry professional.
For visitors exploring California’s wineries, Bella Luna Estate Winery offers a delightful glimpse into the intertwined lives of friendship, family, and winemaking. Each bottle reflects the dedication and passion of its founders, making it a must-visit destination for anyone eager to savor exceptional wines and enjoy the warm camaraderie that defines this unique winery.
With Saxon Brown, owner/winemaker Jeff Gaffner has parlayed his longstanding grower relationships, developed as a consulting winemaker, into a line of small, site-driven bottlings that celebrate his favorite vineyard sites.
Jeff began his career at Chateau St. Jean, under the tutelage of renowned vintner Richard Arrowood, who Jeff credits with teaching him the importance of being as passionate about growing the grapes as making the wine. While at Chateau St. Jean, Jeff was part of the winemaking team responsible for the winery’s celebrated 1996 Cinq Cepages, which was named Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine.
In the years since, Jeff has become one of the most sought after winemakers for artisan labels, having gained critical acclaim and a loyal following for his site-specific focus and restrained winemaking style. The Wall Street Journal has said that they “love his vineyard voice”, while the Wine Spectator has lauded his winemaking as “deft”.
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
Benessere Vineyards is a small, family-owned boutique winery specializing in Italian varietals, nestled in the heart of Napa Valley. The region's soil is exceptionally well-suited for cultivating these types of grapes. The name "Benessere," an Italian word meaning "well-being" or "living the good life," reflects the vineyard's dedication to producing Italian varietals and its commitment to providing warm, welcoming hospitality.
The property was acquired in 1994 by John and Ellen Benish, who immediately began the restoration of the winery and residence, as well as replanting the vineyards. By 1995, they had produced their first vintage of Sangiovese, realizing their dream. Since that inaugural vintage, Benessere Vineyards has expanded its portfolio to include other sought-after Italian varietals such as Pinot Grigio, Moscato di Canelli, Sagrantino, and Aglianico.
In addition to these varietals, Benessere Vineyards also produces a "Super Tuscan" style blend called Phenomenon, as well as two distinctive Zinfandels. One Zinfandel is sourced from the ‘Black Glass Vineyard,’ while the other comes from the ‘Collins Holystone Vineyard’ adjacent to the estate.
A life-long interest in fine food and artisan craft led, Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis to the wine industry. With graduate work in soil sciences and his first experience as a cellar-hand for Rivendell Winery, a small winery in New Paltz, NY, he quickly learned the trade and excelled to Winemaker. In order to pursue this newfound passion, his move to Sonoma County, CA left him in the perfect place to master winemaking and focus on Pinot Noir.
A wonderful little urban winery in San Carlos, CA. It was so nice to be able to speak with the owner Vikki Vinther and her associates while visiting wineries in the area (short video). A good variety of flavorful and enjoyable wines awaits you. Flying Suitcase Wines is a small, family-run winery owned and managed by Vikki and Anders Vinther producing around 1000 cases per year. The winery name is a nod to winemaker Anders’ Danish heritage and is inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of the same name. Flying Suitcase Wines produces a range of varietals specializing in Syrah. This urban winery houses a unique tasting room with a homely vibe. Family-friendly too! There is a kids’ play area so you can bring the little ones. Please tell Vikki "hello" for us at CaCorks when you stop by.
Hours:
Mon-Thurs Closed
Fri 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Sat 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Sun 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Wine and horses, it just doesn't get any better! One feels immediately at home with the owners; Jim & Susan who have made Rust Ridge a World Class Winery, Bed and Breakfast hosting travelers from around the world, and they manage to raise & train first rate Thoroughbreds as well!
The grapevines were planted in the mid-1970s with a variety of varietals, including Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. The winery was established by Susan’s brothers in 1985 and is situated in a renovated cattle barn. Winemaker Susan Meyer and her husband, Jim Fresquez, assumed control of the operation in 1990.
For over 21 years, the legendary winemaker Kent Rosenblum collaborated with Susan to craft the estate-bottled wines produced by RustRidge. The vineyard practices organic cultivation and dry farming. Susan uses the estate's grapes to produce RustRidge’s range of award-winning wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel.
The distinctive microclimate of the Chiles Valley, located about 1,000 feet above the Napa Valley floor, plays a crucial role in the character of RustRidge wines. The daytime climate in this region is comparable to that of the Oakville and Rutherford areas; however, nighttime temperatures are several degrees cooler. This cooler nighttime temperature and higher elevation delay bud-break, which occurs two to three weeks later than in the rest of Napa Valley. Consequently, the grapes are harvested later than those from most other Napa Valley vineyards, contributing to the unique flavor and quality of the wines. The red wines are characterized by notes of black cherry, raspberry, and spice, while the white wines exhibit distinct flavors and aromas of green apple, ripe pear, pineapple, and citrus.
