Tour California's Original Wine CountryAward-winning quality permeates those who come to experience the vast variety of friendly wineries of the Livermore Valley. The quiet and unrushed community of winemakers and growers who often double as tasting room hosts offers the same friendly hospitality that visitors experienced over a century ago. Each link will give you information on events, dining and wine tasting hours. Enjoy visiting these wineries that are just a short distance away with atmosphere and views that will take your breathe away. |
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The winery site is located in Palomares Canyon. This area was originally a summer hunting grounds for the Ohlone Indians (Miwoks) and later became the Cook Ranch. Palomares Canyon supported both cattle and sheep grazing. In the 1940s and 50s, Royal Ann cherries were grown commercially in the canyon.
George, Caroline, and their two sons, Damian and Rick, found the property in 1977, and fell in love with the beauty of the countryside--rolling hills, streams, and wooded slopes--all within a few miles of major San Francisco Bay cities.
33853 Palomares Road
Castro Valley, CA 94552
510/582-9900 (tel)
510/733-6274 (fax) -
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If they could speak, the rocks of Concannon Vineyard would tell a tale rich in history. They would tell of a fiercely determined Irishman who planted the first vines in this rocky soil in 1883, establishing one of California's oldest wineries. They would tell how struggle builds character, in people and in wine-and how Concannon's austere vineyards produced the country's first Petite Sirah from the 1961 vintage.
These pioneering accomplishments, and the creation of the widely adopted Cabernet Sauvignon Clones 7 and 8, secured Concannon Vineyard's prominent place in the annals of California viticulture. Today, Concannon Vineyard is a historical landmark, a producer of award-winning wines and a center of learning and enjoyment for wine lovers throughout the Bay Area.
4590 Tesla Road
Livermore, CA 94550
Phone: (800) 258-9866 / (925) 456-2505
Fax: (925) 456-2511
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Darcie Kent Vineyards is nestled in the Crane Ridge foothills on the eastern edge of Livermore Valley where well drained gravely soils, cool nights and persistent San Francisco breezes nurture the grapes. Darcie Kent Merlot is a beautiful wine with aromas of tobacco, and spice backed by soft berry fruit. In the mouth, the new French oak aging becomes more apparent with roasted chocolate and vanilla character. Currently they produce 150 cases.
Livermore, CA 94550
Phone: (925) 443-5368 -
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Bent Creek Winery is nestled in the rolling hills of the Livermore Valley. Named after the creek that meanders through the property and surrounded by the vineyards, the winery gives the feeling of being miles away from the clamor of daily life.
Our belief as winegrowers and winemakers is that the vineyard is where wine quality begins. Our goal is to provide finely crafted small lots of complex wine from our grapes and from other quality vineyards. Our wines include Syrah from our vineyard, Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, and Central Coast Petite Syrah and Chardonnay.
We invite you to enjoy our delectable wines and our serene vineyard setting.
Bent Creek Winery is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 - 4:30pm, and Weekdays by appointment. Call (925) 455-6320
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A strong philosophy is the foundation of any worthwhile enterprise. Ours is simple, start with the finest ingredients, apply a meticulous process, never cut corners, blend it with a desire to create only the best and be rewarded with a wine that can be proudly served to anyone, anywhere.
4948 Tesla Road
Livermore, CA 94550
Call: 925.371.8156
Fax: 925.449.0646 -
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Big White House Was established in 1998 and recently reopened at out location on Tesla adjacent to the new Tesla Vintners tasting room. Our wines are handcrafted in very small lots, often less than 100 cases.
We customize our winemaking practices to maximize varietal character, balance and finesse. We choose vineyards that give distinctive individual character to our favorite varietals and match our winemaking to accentuate the qualities of the particular vineyard's soil and microclimate.
We gently press in a small press to avoid harsh tannins. To retain the host of natural flavors of our wines, fining and filtration are only occasionally practiced at BIG WHITE HOUSE . The result of this small scale, individual treatment is hand crafted wine of rare quality. Come to Tesla Vintners to taste Wednesday through Sunday, or make a weekend appointment to visit at the winery.
Tasting at Tesla Vintners, 5143 Tesla Road, Livermore
or by appointment at the winery.
Call (925) 449-1976
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Cedar Mountain Winery combines the creative interests of Linda and Earl Ault – wine, food, and art. Earl is an accomplished sculptor, watercolorist, and large format photographer. Linda is a recognized amateur gourmet chef. Together they manage the farming activities and operate the winery.
Earl is the winemaker. The Aults believe that quality wines begin with the grapes in the vineyard. They specialize primarily in Livermore grown and produced wine whose full potential is realized with fine oak cooperage.
Cedar Mountain produces 4,000 cases annually of Estate Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Duet, and Zinfandel as well as nationally recognized Port wines.
Cedar Mountain Winery is open
Monday - Friday 11am - 3pm
Weekends from 12–4pm.
Telephone: 925/373-6636
7000 Tesla Road, Livermore CA. 94550
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Established in 2002 by Ron and Nancy Tenuta, the winery is nestled in the beautiful grape-covered hills of the South Livermore Valley. THe facility has been carefully designed to resemble the Tuscan villas of Italy, which when set against the backdrop of Mt. Diablo and the hills of the surrounding valley produces a truly magnificent effect. They believe their limited production and use of grapes grown exclusively in the Livermore Valley produces truly extraordinary wines.
633 Kalthoff Commons
Livermore, CA 94550
925-960-1006
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Rios-Lovell is a small, friendly winery located in the heart of Livermore Valley. Visitors experience a serene and beautiful vista that provides a peaceful retreat from the daily rush. Set on a hill, visitors can enjoy the enchanting view of rolling hills and acres of vineyards.
6500 Tesla Road
Livermore, California 94550
TEL 925-443-0434
FAX 925-443-0388 -
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Murrieta's Well is a small wine estate in the Livermore Valley with a rich history that reaches back to the Gold Rush era of California. In 1990, Philip Wente, in a joint effort with winemaker Sergio Traverso, brought the historic winery back to life with the objective of producing 'old world' style field blends from the unique combination of original plantings that thrived in the gravelly soils of the estate. They named it for the artesian well where the legendary Joaquin Murrieta and his band of desperados watered their horses.
Like most classic wine estates around the world, the Murrieta's Well Estate Vineyard is small, just 92 acres.
A favorable variety of predominantly undulating terrain and gravelly soil types shape the character of the estate's wines. Murrieta's Well produces handcrafted blends, including Meritage, Zarzuela and Zinfandel.
3005 Mines Road
Livermore, CA 94550
tel (925) 456-2390
fax (925) 456-2391
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Eclectic, warm and friendly, Little Valley is located in the quaint and historic tasting room at Tesla Vintners, a family of hand crafted wines. Little Valley Vineyard & Winery owners Sandi Bohner and Bill Webster present extraordinary wines hand-crafted from small family vineyards. Cellared in limited lots for quality, their wines extol the intense flavors of the California viticulture. Sandi and Bill invite you to 'hop' on by the home of their White Rabbit varietals, including their Tempranillo - 'A taste of Spain grown in Californa'.
5143 Tesla Road
Livermore, CA 94550
Call (925)-862-9006 -
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Elliston is a quaint boutique winery with a long grape growing history. Vines were planted on this estate in 1890 by original owner Henry Hiram Ellis. The historic estate has been under renovation since its purchase in 1969. The vines were replanted in October 1983 completing the renovations.
Today Elliston’s guests enjoy wine tasting, Winetaster dinners held in the historic mansion, weddings and other special events in the Terrace Room.
463 Kilkare Road
Sunol,California 94586
(925) 862-2377 -
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Nestled among the Livermore vineyards and olive trees, flourishes a new distinctively different winery. Here in the casual setting at Eckert Estate Winery, you can relax and taste exceptional wines, sample olive oil made from the surrounding trees, tour the olive mill, or just unwind under the canopies.
Michael and Vickie Eckert opened the Tasting room December 2001, as one of Livermore Valley’s newest wineries. Michael takes his craft from vineyard to bottle by producing an eclectic array of hand-crafted wines from Italian and Rhone varietals – many that you don’t customarily find in a tasting room.
The family owned and operated winery produces 2,500 cases annually – so that means the wines are only available through the Tasting Room, their web site, or at select wine shops and local restaurants in the Livermore Valley.
2400 Arroyo Road
Livermore, CA 94550
Telephone (925) 371-8606. -
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Fran and Lanny Replogle, owners of Fenestra Winery, celebrate 28 years of award winning winemaking in the Livermore Valley. With a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, winemaker Lanny Replogle’s aim is to produce flavorful well-balanced wines with a lot of varietal character. “I like the challenge of making each varietal, each year, an individual wine.”
The charming winery site dates back to the 19th century when George True, a German emigrant, constructed the winery building and planted the first vineyards on the property.
83 Vallecitos Road (Formerly CA Hwy 84)
Livermore, CA
(925) 862-2292
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Bob Molinaro, started the winery eight years ago. Molinaro grew up around wine. His father and three uncles, all of Italian ancestry, made wine in the garage, and Molinaro remembers helping them out as a child. The winery is named after Molinaro's grandmother, Rosa Garré.
For most of its existence, the winery has produced about 2,500 cases a year, a typical production level for a small Valley winery. Molinaro said he has no plans to expand production. Almost all of the wine sold through the tasting room, the cafe and at events.
7986 Tesla Road
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 371-8200
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“Wine of character made by characters”, best describes Livermore Valley Cellars (a.k.a LVC). Their winemaking focuses on small lots and unusual varietals (and unusual clones of common varietals) rendered in ways to exploit the full range of character and flavor the grapes possess.
White wines include Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Red wines include Sirah, Petite Sirah, Mouvedre, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. LVC is also the home of Big Ass Zins.
1508 Wetmore Road
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 454-9463 -
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The Livermore Valley, one of California's oldest wine regions, has provided fertile ground for winemaker Mitchell Katz to harvest his dream of hand making affordable quality wines. The seeds of his vision were planted as a young teen, when Mitchell spent summers helping his grandfather, Reginald Lord, make hand crafted wines. Inspired to carry on the family heritage, Mitchell produced a bounty of award winning wines. He prides himself on using only the most pristine Livermore Valley grapes. With help from his wife, Alicia, production has grown to 3000 cases a year. The winery was started in 1998 in memory of Mitchell's grandfather. And named after their first born son Jackson who was born the same year Mitchell's grandfather passed on at age 96. Mitchell has also named one of his creations, a blended wine, after his youngest son, Wesley. Mitchell and Alicia consider their venture to be a living memorial to the man that devoted more than a half century to home winemaking.
1188 Vineyard Ave
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Phone 925-931-0744
Fax 925-931-0673 -
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Palomares Vineyards is located at Westover Vineyards. “Best of California” winner at the California State fair for its famous Tempranillo. Palomares Vineyards was the first winery to introduce Tempranillo to the area. Tempranillo is the famous grape of Spain. Other great wines include locally grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
34329 Palomares Road
Castro Valley, CA 94552
(510) 537-3932
Fax: (510) 538-8772
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In a time of mass production it is a treasure to find a few things that are still made by hand. At Retzlaff, quality is our goal. Yet quality comes not only from our efforts but from the soil - the earth that produces the grapes. Our soil gives the grapes their flavor, the rich berry tones, the soft tannins and the long lingering finish.
Our land produces incredible grapes. Over the years this quality has been consistent. Even though the weather causes some variations from year to year, the basic structure of the wine is evident in each vintage.
All of our wine is estate produced, which means that we only use grapes from our own vineyard. The wine is made and bottled here and it does not leave the property until it is sold.
1356 So. Livermore Ave.
Livermore, Ca, USA 94550
Tel 925.447.8941 Fax 925.447.9641 -
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Stony Ridge was established in 1975 at the site of the historic Ruby Hill Winery in the Livermore Valley. In 1985 the winery was purchased by a local Pleasanton Family and a permanent home was established in the heart of the fertile crescent. The family's commitment was to create an harmonic atmosphere of fine wines and good food.
Today Stony Ridge produces a selection of hand crafted wines from grapes grown throughout northern California. With their new line of Italian styled wines, they continue their emphasis to produce friendly wines.
4948 Tesla Road,
Livermore, CA 94550
925-449-0458
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A taste of Italy from California! Known for it's approcahable style, excellent quality and competitive prices, Tamas Estates produces Italian-Stlye varietals including Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Sangiovese as well as familiar California varietals.
The Steven Kent Winery produces premium Cabernet and Chardonnay in small hand-crafted lots. Their goal is to produce world-class wines from the best the Livermore Valley has to offer.
5443 Tesla Road
Livermore
(925) 456-2380
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Thomas Coyne, winemaker and owner of Thomas Coyne Winery has been a resident of Livermore, California, since 1978 and began producing wine under his own label in 1989.
In the summer of 1994, Thomas Coyne Winery reopened the historic Chateau Bellevue Winery closed since 1912. The view from the winery is memorable.
The winery specializes in Merlot and Rhone varietals. The wines are aged in sixty gallon American and French oak cooperage for sixteen to twenty-four months, and bottled without the use of filtration.
51 E. Vallecitos Road
Livermore, CA 94550
Call (925) 373-6541. -
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After learning about winemaking from Charles Krug, C. H. Wente, a first-generation immigrant from Germany, founded his own winery in 1883. Recognizing that the warm days, cool nights and gravelly soils of the Livermore Valley were ideal for growing grapes, he purchased 48 acres and planted vineyards. In 1918, C. H. Wente's sons Ernest and Herman joined the business, with Ernest managing the vineyards and Herman acting as winemaker. The company was later passed on to Ernest's only son Karl, and in 1977, Karl's young son Eric took the helm. The winery is now managed by the fourth generation of the Wente family.
Three distinct soil types differentiate the Wentes' Livermore Valley vineyards: deep sandy loam; lean soil with large amounts of gravel and rock; and soil composed of red clay, rock and gravel. These soils, in combination with the micro-climates of the Livermore Valley, create the varying terroir suitable to producing extraordinary wines. The family's Monterey vineyards are located slightly southwest of Salinas in the Arroyo Seco region. Arroyo Seco is a cooler area with an extended growing season, resulting in wines with concentrated flavors.
The Vineyard Selection wines are fermented in small oak barrels or stainless steel, depending on the flavor profile the family is trying to achieve. Both the Vineyard Selection and Vineyard Reserve wines are aged in French and American oak barrels, to marry the flavors and add further complexity to the wines. Their goal is to create beautifully balanced wines to enjoy on every occasion.
5565 Tesla Road
Livermore, Ca 94550
925-456-2300
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Perched atop Crane Ridge overlooking the beautiful Livermore Valley wine country is where you will discover White Crane Winery. Guests enjoy a wide variety of small lot - limited production ultra premium wines. Some of the award winning wines: Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot - Cabernet Franc - Zinfandel - Pinot Noir- Chardonnay - Sauvignon Blanc - Sparkling Wine - Vintage Portuguese Port & Estate Chardonnay Port.
5405 Greenville Road
Livermore CA, 94550
Tel. (925) 455-8085
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Wood family Vineyards, located on Crane Ridge in the eastern foothills of Livermore Valley, is a dream that became a reality for Michael and Rhonda Wood.
The family run winery specializes in very limited production of handcrafted wines made exclusively with local fruit.
Greenville Road
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 606-7411
