We were given the opportunity to check this place out through the wine tour we scheduled. Their operation is also one of the most intimate experiences you will have in terms of a winery visit. You literally taste their wine on some super comfy patio furniture in the middle of a field/clearing right next to their vineyard! The owner, Donny, is very knowledgable and guides you through his wines.
Love private tours? Perfect for both families and friends. It comes with both a walk tour and a formal sit-down tasting paired with complementary cheese and chocolates. Can a girl ask for more? I'm in particular a fan of their Cabernet Sauvignon - very bold without being overtly tannin-ridden and their Violetta dessert wine - seriously off the charts!
Meet Niels and Bimmer Udsen, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind Castoro Cellars, a fun and inviting winery that has been making waves in Paso Robles since 1983. Their journey began with a simple dream: to create world-class wines from the beautiful grapes of the Paso Robles appellation.
Niels, a Ventura native, first dipped his toes into the wine business while studying Agribusiness at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. His passion for winemaking, combined with Bimmer’s unwavering support, led them to establish their very own winery in the heart of this thriving wine region.
But the path to success wasn’t conventional. The Udsens embraced what they fondly call the “backwards approach”: they started by making and selling wine, then acquired their own equipment, and finally built their winery and tasting room. Talk about an adventure!
You can visit Castoro’s charming tasting room in Templeton, right off scenic Highway 46 West, while their winemaking facility is located in San Miguel on the East Side of Paso Robles—both opened their doors in 1990. With the mentorship of Tom Myers, Castoro Cellars’ talented winemaker, the Udsen family has transformed from crafting a few barrels for friends and family into a thriving business.
Today, Castoro boasts over 1,400 acres of estate vineyards, all certified organic and SIP certified. Niels and Bimmer have built a brand that reflects their values, focusing on approachability and environmental consciousness. Niels' father, a Danish immigrant and successful businessman, instilled in him a deep appreciation for agriculture and entrepreneurship, which shaped their winery’s foundation.
Niels discovered his love for the wine industry during a senior marketing project for a local winery at Cal Poly. After marrying Bimmer in 1981, he honed his winemaking skills in the cellar of Estrella River Winery, learning every aspect of the craft for five years under the guidance of Tom Myers.
In 1983, armed with experience and a sense of humor, Niels and Bimmer launched Castoro Cellars, named after the Italian word for “beaver” (Niels’ long-time nickname). Their motto, “Dam Fine Wine,” perfectly captures their playful spirit!
Castoro Cellars isn’t just about great wine; it’s about family values, too. Their welcoming tasting room is family-friendly, even offering alcohol-free Zinfandel grape juice for the little ones. Plus, the Udsens prioritize a work environment that understands the importance of family flexibility for their employees. So, whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or just starting your journey, Castoro Cellars promises a delightful experience filled with laughter, warmth, and, of course, exceptional wine!
The Lucas Winery was established in 1978 because we believed we had the soil, climate, and vineyards to produce great wines. Our philosophy is simple - We believe wines should be crafted to reflect the place they are from. Crafting organically farmed*, hand harvested, unblended pure varietal wines.
Image - Cabernet Sauvignon clusters - photographer Randy Caparoso
Let's begin with what everyone goes to Healdsburg/Sebastopol for: the pinots. Dutton-Goldfield had four or five pinots when we tasted there, and they were all unique and delicious. They varied from the lighter, fruit-forward classic pinots to the richer, almost-cab pinots. All of them were good, but I particularly liked the Devil's Gulch, which was on the richer side of the spectrum.
Valley Oak Winery derives its name from a majestic oak tree that has stood since 1967 in the front yard of the Ubick farmstead in Clovis. This volunteer tree continues to flourish on Ashlan Avenue, directly across from Clovis East High School. The Valley Oak logo represents the Ubick family’s legacy, local heritage, and enduring farming traditions.
The Ubick family has been cultivating grapes in Fresno County for over a century. Their first farm, established in 1916, is now part of the Fresno State farm school. Over the years, the family has expanded their agricultural pursuits, growing wine grapes, raisins, peaches, garlic, watermelons, pumpkins, onions, olives, oat hay, and raising cattle in Clovis, Conejo, Oleander, Caruthers, Fresno, Selma, Lone Star, and Sanger.
Building on their tradition of home winemaking, the Ubick family founded Ubick Vineyards in Clovis and released their first commercial vintage in 2008. They quickly gained recognition for producing small lots of exceptional and distinctive red wines. In 2017, the family established Valley Oak Winery LLC to produce and market wines under the Ubick Vineyards and other house labels.
Valley Oak Winery and its tasting room opened in 2017 at the new site of the Ubick Vineyards near Sanger, CA. The vineyard, established in 2014, features eight red wine varietals. By growing their own grapes, the Ubick family can oversee every aspect of winegrowing and production, striving to create wines that are fruit-forward and rich in unique aromas and flavors reflective of the vineyard and the vintage year.
Deux Amis {duh zah me}, French for "two friends," was a partnership between two close companions, Phyllis Zouzounis and Jim Penpraze. Throughout their time in the wine industry, the duo spent countless late nights unwinding over a glass of Zinfandel following busy days on the crush pad. These shared moments led the two friends to envision establishing their winery, a dream that ultimately materialized with the 1987 harvest. That year, Deux Amis yielded one hundred cases of Zinfandel sourced from a single vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley.
After 26 years of fruitful collaboration, the partnership evolved as Jim entered retirement and Phyllis continued to nurture their shared vision. Phyllis carried on the tradition of crafting exceptional wines, relying on the same vineyards, and maintaining strong bonds with growers through handshakes and long-term commitments. She wholeheartedly embraced the belief that great wines are born in the vineyard, ensuring that the Deux Amis legacy persevered through Zouzounis Wines.
The tasting room is at the end of the main road in Calistoga, you cant miss it. Its a smaller place with three bars for tasting, all in the same room. Their dog would greet you when you walked in which was kind of nice. I really liked this place because it was smaller, they took their time with your and would answer any questions you had. The other wines were very good too but it was our first winery on the trip so we just picked up the one bottle. We spent about 45 minutes there and will definitely stop back in next time in Calistoga.
Founded more than 125 years ago, Wente Vineyards is the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery. Today, the winery maintains its leadership role in California winegrowing under ownership and management by the Fourth and Fifth Generations of the Wente family. Blending traditional and innovative winemaking practices, the winery draws from approximately 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed Estate vineyards to create an outstanding portfolio of fine wines. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf.
Cayucos Cellars is the quintessential small family winery, owned and operated solely by a family of five, without any employees or outside help. Each family member can often be found in the tasting room, pouring wine, interacting with visitors from near and far, and enjoying a good chat.
All wines produced by Cayucos Cellars are fermented using only the natural abilities of wild yeast and are aged for three to six years in neutral oak barrels before bottling. With an annual production of between five hundred and eight hundred cases of premium wine, the family ensures incredible attention to detail in every bottle. The winery itself is located in an old dairy barn in the coastal hills above Cayucos, nestled on a working ranch. To ensure visitors' safety, the tasting room is conveniently located in town, away from the potential hazards of ranch machinery.
