When you're heading to or from downtown Ojai on highway 33, there's an irresistible little departure down a country road that leads to Old Creek Ranch Winery. As you pull up to the rustic property, you'll likely see couples and families picnicking on the grounds under the fruit trees, or even...
There's nothing more freeing than heading up Highway 101 to escape the intensity of Los Angeles. As soon as I exited at Kanan Road, leaving the traffic in my dust, I opened my windows to breathe in the sage- and sea-scented air and enjoyed the bucolic setting. After a few miles, I approached...
Imagine a small village complete with galleries, shops, cafés, and even a salon that revolve around a winery; a place where families congregate, pets are welcome, and the coffee shop keeps personalized mugs for locals. What sounds like an oenophile's dream actually exists at Bernardo Winery....
In the idyllic, sage-scented town of Ojai, CA, there is some serious winemaking going on, and wines bearing the Ojai Vineyard label embody all the hard work and heart and soul that go into crafting fine wines. Winemaker Adam Tolmach started the Ojai Vineyard along with his wife Helen in 1983,...
It was July 4th, and I'd already visited some wineries in Paso Robles that were in full swing. Now it was time for Arroyo Robles. But upon settling into the Paso Robles Inn, I discovered that most of downtown Paso shuts down for the 4th, leaving all the action for the estate wineries. Needless...
Some readers may take this as a warning, while it may pique the interest of others, but I want to start by saying that EOS is one of the more commercial wineries in Paso Robles. Owned by the Foley Family Wines, a company that owns about 30 labels, EOS wines can be found in several large,...
As I headed west on Highway 46 in Paso Robles, passing one winery after another, I never considered stopping at Hunt Cellars. In fact, after the multi-million dollar estate I had just visited, I hardly even noticed Hunt's humble appearance. It was my husband who had the instinct to pull up to...
Paso Robles. The name conjures images of rolling hills with rows of grapevines and fields of lavender, as well as a smoky, earthy, flavors created by unique mineral content in the soil. Robert Hall wines eloquently represent all that this region has to offer. Hall, An entrepreneur who became...
Outside of the obvious viticultural regions of California, the state is sprinkled with little wineries in unassuming places. Such is the case with the Antelope Valley Winery in Lancaster. Here, the Donato family produces handcrafted wines from Antelope Valley grapes and are committed to...
When you visit Napa or Sonoma Counties, you can count on tasting some excellent wines. In Los Angeles County you take a greater risk. But Agua Dulce Vineyards is not likely to disappoint, and, in fact, most locals who come here to taste are pleasantly surprised by the quality of wines. Agua...