5 Wineries That Offer An Amazing Tasting Experience

From sipping wines to eating exceptional dishes, these wineries need to be tasted.
BY TOURING & TASTING

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

What to Buy:
'12 Flume Crossing Sauvignon Blanc - $14
Citrus, melon, tropical fruit, acacia wood

'12 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir - $17
Cherry preserves, violets, crème brûlée

'11 Highlands Bench Chardonnay - $25
Guava, pineapple, passion fruit, vanilla, hazelnut, butterscotch

40th Anniversary Red Blend - $40
Roasted hazelnut, savory blackberry Cabernet/Petite Sirah blend

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 10-5

Last year, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines celebrated 40 years of winemaking, and a four-decade legacy of pioneering winegrowing on California's Central Coast. Since its founding in 1974 by wine industry visionary Jerry L J. Lohr, it has established itself as one of North America’s most successful family wineries. The J. Lohr San Jose Wine Center is adjacent to the San Jose winery, where white wines are produced and many J. Lohr wines are bottled. The facility is also home to the J.Lohr Vineyard Room, a private event space with a viewing window into the winery used for special gatherings, meetings, private tastings, and wine-paired dinners, as well as informative wine education symposiums and food pairing seminars.
www.jlohr.com

White Oak Vineyards and Winery

What to Buy:
'12 Russian River Chardonnay - $24
Honeysuckle, brioche, stone fruit, golden apple, honey dew melon

'12 Russian River Pinot Noir - $35
Cranberry, raspberry, spice, earthy tones

'12 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - $35
Blackberry, fig, plum, vanilla, pomegranate

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 10-5

This year marks the 35th anniversary of White Oak Vineyards & Winery. Founded in 1981 by the unassuming innovator Bill Myers, the winery has built a solid reputation for great wines suited to a range of tastes—from graceful, elegant whites, to rich and complex reds. Bill, who had been pouring his wines out of a modest tasting room adjacent to the old Clos du Bois Winery, formed a unique alliance with Don Groth and Burdell Properties, who brought more than 750 acres of prime vineyards spanning from the Napa Valley to Sonoma County’s Alexander and Russian River Valleys. Together, they obtained a prime Alexander Valley location for the winery and tasting room, and Bill went straight to work. As a former contractor, he built a beautiful Mediterranean-style winery based on his original vision. In fact, his wine label proceeded the actual building, which took nearly five years to complete. Wine club members are invited to attend White Oak’s annual Crab Fête and Harvest Dinner, periodic barrel tastings, and other exclusive winery gatherings.
www.whiteoakwinery.com

LangeTwins Family Winery

What to Buy:
'11 Midnight Reserve - $30
Dark berry, cherry compote, hint of spice, dark blackberry

'13 Estate Sauvignon Blanc - $15
Lush melon, pineapple, tropical fruit, Meyer lemon

'11 Caricature Red Blend - $15
Plum, blackberries, dark cherries, spice

Tasting Room Hours: Open Thu-Sun 11-4

Winegrape growing is nothing new to LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards. As part of a generational farm family dating back to the 1870s, twin brothers Randall and Brad Lange grew up with the family passion for farming. With determination, they have made their ranch a benchmark vineyard property within the Lodi appellation. After focusing on growing winegrapes for nearly a century, the family entered the winemaking business seven years ago. Lange Twins Winery showcases the family’s passion for growing winegrapes by crafting approachable wines from its estate vineyards under the leadership of Winemaker David Akiyoshi. Dan, a 25-year veteran of Robert Mondavi Winery, believes in true varietal expression and the relationship wine shares with food. This philosophy, combined with colleague Winemaker Karen Birmingham's focus on crafting welcoming wines with varietal complexity, has built an impressive portfolio of estate, reserve, and single barrel (limited-release) wines.
www.langetwins.com

Cairdean Estate

What to Buy:
'11 Acquaintance Vineyard Cabernet Franc - $84
Cherries, blackberries, cassis, hints of tobacco, pepper, violet, touch of spice

'12 Napa Valley Haley Margaret White Wine - $38
Stone fruit, peach, apricot, hint of lime, grapefruit, slight floral note

'11 Atlas Peak Syrah - $64
Black cherry, dark berry, oak spice, hint of smoke, earth

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 11–8

Cairdean Estate is a place where guests can stop by whenever they like. Butterscots Bakery, Deli, and Culinary Market opens at 7 a.m. each morning. It’s a bright and friendly place to drop in for an espresso and breakfast baked goodie, and return for a fresh salad, soup, or sandwich made with house-made bread at lunch. Guests are invited to taste a flight of wines, enjoy lunch on the patio, and then return in the evening for a very special dinner. The Farmer & The Fox Restaurant has been a Napa Valley favorite since the day it opened. It offers a modern take on the traditional British gastropub with a beautiful décor highlighted with lush leather booths and a central communal table. Dishes like fried quail and barley stew, duck wings, lamb tartare, and rabbit Wellington—plus popovers baked on the half-hour—win rave reviews and many repeat visits. The Farmer & The Fox received a 2015 Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand Award, which honors outstanding restaurants serving two courses and a glass of wine for under 40 dollars.
www.cairdeanestate.com

Robert Mondavi Winery

What to Buy:
'12 Fumé Blanc Reserve - $50
Lemon citrus, white floral, herb

'12 Pinot Noir Reserve - $65
Dark fruit, warm spices

'11 Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon - $55
Dark concentrated fruit, sage, bay leaf, black pepper

'11 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - $145
Black cherry, blackberry, cassis, dried herbs

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 10–5

With the growing popularity of wine tourism, the winery recognizes that many guests are seeking unique opportunities for wine education and enjoyment. No longer content to rush from winery to winery simply tasting wines, today’s visitors are looking for authentic experiences, a slower pace, and a chance to connect with friends and family during their visits. The Harvest of Joy Tour and Lunch treats guests to a tour of the winery and a three-course lunch paired with wines. The Twilight Tour takes visitors on a 90-minute sunset tour of the To Kalon Cellar and barrel aging rooms, followed by a tasting of Reserve and Spotlight wines with artisanal cheeses. Today, the winery’s Vineyard Room is an exquisite cultural center, with visual arts exhibits, concerts, book signings, and culinary pairings on the calendar. Social and corporate fine dining events are often hosted in the Vineyard Room. Menus created by the winery’s house chef are inspired by the Napa Valley’s freshest seasonal ingredients and, of course, Robert Mondavi wines.
www.robertmondaviwinery.com