When we drove up we were greeted by 2 dogs and Jim the owner. The place is quaint and wine is phenomenal. Jim the owner took his time and explained the wine making process to our group, he even had us taste one of the grapes on the hillside. One of my favorite wines was the wine blend called "Sisters" which is made from the traditional Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec, all estate grown
acuzzi is a unique place for sure. Yes, there are a lot of wineries that combine both vino and olive oil, but I think Jacuzzi "owns it" as good as anyone. They've got a huge facility with a very generous, separate area devoted completely to the olive oil, so you've really got two completely different tasting experiences in one stop. Both the wine and the olive oil tastings are free; another pleasant surprise since even Sonoma county is running low on the complimentary tastings.
THIS WINERY HAS CLOSED
The grounds are beautiful and built to resemble a Tuscan villa and I must say that if you close your eyes while you're out on the patio sipping their Cabernet Sauvignon, you feel like you're miles away from civilization. Greg, the owner was extremely nice and told us that the winery is 100% solar powered and only about 2 yrs old, yet the '07 Cab was drinking deliciously and the '06 Port is worth a return trip by itself!
Karmere is a good gateway winery. It has the 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 females members of the family. Could the the place for a wedding or special occasion, beautifully designed for events. Spent quite awhile there, tasting at the counter and barrel-tasting as well.
Stephan's choice of this learn terroir provides him with the fruit necessary to create wines with balance between alcohol and acidity.
Fun, unassuming tasting room. The service was really friendly and I got the impression that the "$10 for 5" tasting is rarely a sticking point. Meaning, they poured my group additional samples and even asked me which one I wanted to try one last time as I was paying. Never with the feeling I was being pressured to buy anything, far from it. Ample picnic area in the back. BYO whatever and enjoy the scenery and play a game of bocce ball in one of their 2 courts. This is a perfect stop on your way to the beach or when heading back home.
LaRocca Vineyards was born in 1984 when Philip and Judy began farming 110 acres of unkept Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wine grapes, on Doe Mill Ridge in Forest Ranch, California. Philip and Judy transformed the vineyard to a thriving, successful certified organic operation. LaRocca Vineyards is located at 2600 feet elevation on the lower southern slopes of Mount Lassen.
This winery has about 25 options to taste - 6 or so bubbly selections (delicious), 8 Pinot selections (delicious), 6 white selections (delicious) and some other reds (are you noticing a theme here)?
It is a $10 tasting fee for 5 wines but you should probably buy two tastings and at least go through the bubbly and some of the pinots.
The tasting room does get pretty crowded but there are some nice chairs and umbrellas outside where you can picnic.
Laguna Canyon Winery is currently featuring three brands that are available in their two tasting rooms and 15 states throughout the United States. Their main premium brand 'Laguna Canyon', 'Purple Paws' and Wyland Cellars. A portion of all Purple Paws wine sales go the care of homless pets. Marine artist 'Wyland' embellishes the Wyland Cellars brand and a portion of the sales go to the Wyland Foundation which supports clean rivers, oceans, the environment and the protection of sea life. Our founder John Krause has made several visits to Laguna Canyon Winery when he would commute between San Diego and Orange County. Do yourself a favor when visiting Laguna Canyon Winery and be sure to try a few of their red blends. *
Hours:
Mon Closed
Tues 11:00am to 6:00pm
Wed 11:00am to 6:00pm
Thur 11:00am to 6:00pm
Fri 11:00am to 6:00pm
Sat 11:00am to 6:00pm
Sun 11:00am to 6:00pm
The vineyards of Lucas & Lewellen are located in the three principal wine grape growing regions of Santa Barbara County: the Santa Maria Valley, the Los Alamos Valley, and the Santa Ynez Valley. These valleys all run west from the coastal mountains to the Pacific Ocean, allowing warm days and cool nights to produce a long, gentle growing season.