It’s summertime and for the most part – 100 degree day excluded – it is the perfect time to enjoy wine tasting in the Livermore Valley!
The problem is that there are 50 wineries in the area now, and with three, maybe four wineries is all you can get to, how do you decide which ones to visit?
It’s easy to say, well, the ones with the best wine! Realistically it must be more than just the wine – it has to be about the experience.
Everyone’s pallets are different, so who is to say where the best wine is made. I am all about the vibes you get from the wineries, as well as the quality of the wine.
Be sure that 15 years ago if someone asked by about the Livermore wine region that perhaps they should have gone somewhere else.
But in the last 15 years, I highly recommend the Livermore Valley, especially with the skyrocketing cost of wine tasting in the Napa Valley.
It is very easy for a group of four to go over $2,000 for a day of tasting in Napa. Don’t get me wrong – I love the Napa wines but don’t need a tasting to find the wines. I just go to the store and buy what I want from Napa.
In addition, in so many cases it has almost become an assembly-line system in Napa. When I first started tasting in Napa it was far more affordable, and if you bought a bottle, at least half the tasting fee was waived. Usually, the glasses you tasted in almost always went home.
Not anymore.
It is commonplace for tasting to be at least $50 a person, which covers just the tastings and little else, if anything.
But not Livermore. It’s affordable and it’s fun. There are plenty of spots with chill vibes and enjoyable wines.
The following are some of our favorite spots to visit, combining the quality of the wines with the quality of the experience. This is not a ranking of wines but just places my wife and I enjoy visiting.
Please use this as a recommendation when looking for winery to visit. There are several wineries in the Livermore Valley not on this list that are fun as well, this is just our favorites!
1) McGrail Vineyards (www.mcgrailvineyards.com Located off Greenville Rd. in eastern Livermore, McGrail has got it all. Great wine, awesome views, and an awesome vibe. There is a covered patio area with a great view of the local wine area. The lawn area is an awesome spot for relaxing, listening to live music, and drinking some stellar wine. The lone drawback for the lawn area is there is no shade, so the hotter days means seek inside tasting. Favorite wine: 2020 Clone 30 Cab.
2) BoaVentura Vineyards (www.boaventuravineyard.com) : Located off Tesla Road, this has long been one of our favorite places to pack a picnic basket, and head out there. We know the wines we like so we don’t taste but buy a couple of bottles and enjoy the outside tasting area. Open on weekends, you mix in tasting in what amounts to someone’s backyard, listening to music, and taking in great views of the rolling hills in the area. Real chill vibe and a hidden gem. Favorite wine: Blue Label Cab.
3) Rubino Estates Winery (www.rubinoestateswinery.com): In full disclosure, this is the one Livermore Valley winery where we are members as it is about a mile from our house and the staff is awesome. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., it is our go to place to get off work on Friday and head over. A beautiful, huge brick building houses the ornate tasting room, but there is also a courtyard and a covered patio area outside for tasting. The staff is like family, and some have been there for years, which speaks volumes about the vibe. Reservations are required for Saturday and Sunday, but they are not needed Monday-Friday. There is a bocce ball court, and if you get a chance, take the Duck Boat tour into the vineyard. Favorite wine: Landmark Founders Blend.
4) 3 Steves Winery (www.3steveswinery.com): This is like the frat-party vibe of the Livermore Valley wineries and that’s not a bad thing. Just fun, fun, and fun. A very upbeat winery located past McGrail on Greenview Rd., giving you two closely located tasting options. There are a lot of tasting options so be ready when you get there. I would recommend this as perhaps the last place you taste. Walk-ins are welcome as they are open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Groups of eight or more require a reservation. Favorite wine: Duel Red Blend.
5) Murrieta’s Well (www.murrietaswell.com): As part of the Wente family, Murrieta’s Well brings the “A” game when it comes to tasting. One of the original wineries in California, they have been growing grapes since the 1800’s. You have tasting options such as in the tasting room, the patio, or even a private event in the barrel room. It’s elegant but a relaxed vibe you get. Very cool tasting environment! Favorite wine: If you know, you know!
Look for some upcoming stories on more Livermore Valley wineries!
By Dennis Miller