Tag: Wine Wednesday

Categories
Wine Wine Wednesday

The 15 Best Wineries in California

If you’re a wine lover living near or visiting California, you’ll want to visit the best wineries in California. With so many options, it’s hard to know where to start and which are the must-see locations.

Your wine choice will depend on the occasion, but many people pick a bottle with good branding. However, it is best to read the information on the label to understand more about the product. Since numerous brands exist in the industry, it is impossible to pick the right wine if you don’t know what you are looking for. Looking at popularity and customer reviews is one way to find the best wineries, which we’ve done below.

Wineries in California
Source

Best Wineries in California

Hall Wineries

Hall Wineries, located in Napa Valley, manufactures organic products for its customers. The company produces quality wine due to innovation and employing the best practices in the entire winemaking process to distribution. They utilize modern technology with ancient techniques to stay ahead of the game. You can get a special bottle and wine club gifts for someone you care about. They also offer a redeemable card at countrywide winetasting centers.

Daou Vineyards

Daou Vineyards is another prominent winemaker in the USA from Napa Valley, California. They have won several awards over the years for their work. Daou Vineyards preserve traditional techniques in winemaking and produce vintage wine. The environment at the Daou Mountain terroir is serene, with beautiful scenery to make wine-tasting fun. You will find a fantastic wine collection and can try different foods to know your favorite.

Beaulieu Vineyards

The winery is located along St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, California. Beaulieu Vineyards have limited and exclusive wines to try. You’ll appreciate the collection if you like aged wine, as the company has existed for over a hundred years and serves vintage wine. Their products are popular globally, and many people visit the wineries for tasting. Review sites rank it as one of the best in Napa Valley. Don’t forget to make reservations early enough via the Beaulieu Vineyards website.

Beringer Vineyards Wineries in California

Beringer Vineyards prides itself on a unique wine collection among the oldest wineries, still operating after 142 years. You can choose the best flavors in the different types of red and white wines served. The winery has a family-friendly venue where you can have a picnic with loved ones. You can get a tour of the place at an affordable fee to explore the heritage of the winemakers and learn their art. You also get to taste three wines. Beringer Vineyards leverages expertise and experience to offer quality products.

New Port Beach Vineyards and Winery

New Port Beach Vineyards and Winery Meritage blends are award-winning. The facility in California has more than one thousand vines. The winemakers harvest, ferment, and blend the grapes on site. Reservations for wine tasting are for groups.

Lodi Wine and Visitor Center

Wines from Lodi are rich in flavor because of the region’s favorable conditions for growing grapes. The wine collection is extensive, and they have fun events. You can view upcoming events at the Lodi Wine vineyards to book a spot.

Tablas Creek Vineyard Wineries in California

Located in Paso Robles, Tablas Creek Vineyard provides a holistic experience to visitors. Their superb Rhone-Style blends are popular with wine lovers. You can enjoy splendid wines at the facility within the Santa Lucia Mountains. The winery allows visitors twice a day, and you can host private parties at the venue by booking an event space.

Sangiacomo Vineyards Wineries in California

Sangiacomo vineyards in Sonoma County have various types of grapes in their hundreds of acres of land. Although they sold their harvest to other winemakers, they started producing wine in 2016. Since then, they have been introducing new types in the market. Touring Sangiacomo vineyards for winetasting will introduce you to amazing flavors and blends.

Malibu Family Wines

Although the tasting room at Malibu Family Wines is closed, the winemakers in West Hill, California, have a wine and beer garden. You will find great wines for tasting and can join the club for an enhanced experience during your visits.

Rams Gate Winery

Situated in Sonoma, Ram’s Gate Winery offers fresh perspectives and ideas in winemaking. They ensure high-quality wines through their farming and can see the winemaking process by booking a tour. Rams Gate Winery has a collection of elegant wines to explore.

Jordan Winery

Jordan Winery in Alexander Valley has an outdoor setting for wine tasting. Their rich history makes them a leading brand in winemaking. You can tour the winery on foot as you enjoy the scenery. The servings at Jordan Winery will include wine and food.

Miramonte Winery

Although Miramonte Winery sources its grapes from France, Portugal, and Spain, it produces good wine varieties. Their winetasting location is in Temecula Valley in California. Besides trying the red and white wines, you can learn about their winemaking process by booking a tour of the Miramonte Winery facility.

Navarro Vineyards and Winery

Even though Navarro Vineyards and winery products are not global, it still has one of the best wines in California. Their tasting room is in Phillo and is open to the public twice daily. Their delicious wines make the winery popular with wine enthusiasts in the city and beyond.

Fess Parker Winery and Vineyards

Wine tastings at Fess Parker Winery and Vineyards occur daily. It is located in Los Olivos, California, and has a serene environment. The staff will guide you in their wine collections to ensure you get the best experience. Besides trying different kinds of wines, it’s a good location to spend time with friends and family.

Sabina Vineyards Wineries in California

The winemakers commit to producing organic grapes for their winemaking. It is a family business located at St. Helena Hills. Sabina vineyards have vintage and new wines to try. Plus, they offer excellent culinary pairings for the wine. Since limited spots are available, you will need an appointment to tour the vineyard.

Recap: Wineries in California

Some of the largest wineries in The United States of America are in California. This is only a short list, but it includes the best wineries in California. If you plan on visiting multiple wineries, consider bringing an extra top or learning how to remove wine stains so you can still look picture-ready during your tastings.

Have you been to a California winery? Leave a comment and tell us which one. 🙂

Categories
Adulting Our Family Wine Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday: Let’s Catch Up!

It’s been a while since I’ve updated you about my family and our life. I figured it’s about time to bring back Wine Wednesday, but with a little catching up involved. So – let’s catch up over a glass of wine (or another beverage of your choice).

What I’m Drinking

Before delving into our chat it’s important to talk wine. Today I’m drinking 19 Crimes, Cali Red with Snoop Dogg on it. It’s one of my favorites, and I’m drinking it out of a new wine glass that I just opened today! Check out the rose gold mirror wine glass here.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

What the Barkleys are Up to

Life has been crazy busy with the kids going back to school, and it seems like it’ll only get busier with fall sports and activities starting. Here’s a quick update on each of the kids:

Wine Wednesday, Let's Catch Up, the Barkleys, Mom Wife Wine, Let's Catch Up, catch up,
Liam, Josie, and Sylas
  • Sylas is eight now and just started the 3rd grade. He’s playing soccer this fall.
  • Josie is six and in the 1st grade. She’s playing soccer, participating in two cheerleading programs, and doing ballet and gymnastics.
  • Liam is five and in kindergarten, and he’s playing soccer too.

My boys like to keep their schedules light, but Josie doesn’t stop and wants to do it all.

I’ve been building my freelance writing business. I volunteer for whatever I can with the kids and their school, so I stay pretty busy. Chris is an assistant manager at a gym and a super dad who helps with school pick-ups and drop-offs. He also helps shuttle the kids to their activities and makes the best ever fried chicken.

Wine Wednesday, Let's Catch Up, the Barkleys, Mom Wife Wine, Sarah Writes, Sarah Barkley freelance writer, freelance writer, Sarah Barkley, Let's Catch Up, catch up

Let’s Catch Up on My Work

I’ve been writing regular articles for Psych Central and Power of Positivity, while also working with a few other clients. Some of my published work includes:

I was also recently mentioned on Feedspot in an article titled 15 Best Freelance Mom Blogs and Websites. My info was slightly incorrect, but that’s to be expected when I write about South Haven, Michigan so often. I’m honored to have made the list!

Let’s catch up! What do you want to tell me on this wine Wednesday?

I’d love to hear what’s going on in your life! Leave a comment and let me know, or find me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook to chat more. 🙂

Categories
Wine Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday: Beach Cottage Red

It’s my favorite day of the week… WINE WEDNESDAY!!!

So the wine I am reviewing for this Wine Wednesday is seriously my new favorite. I’m not even exaggerating, I want a case of it.

Beach Cottage Red is made and sold at 12 Corners in Michigan. The winemaking is done in Benton Harbor but there are 12 Corners tasting rooms in several places in Michigan, including South Haven (read about my visit here). I usually only write about wine that you can buy at a grocery store but if you are dying to try it (and you should be!), 12 Corners ships! The cost of this wine is only $12.99 which is AMAZING for the quality.

Beach Cottage Red is a semi-sweet red table wine and will remind you of being at a… BEACH COTTAGE. 😉 For real, though. It is so refreshing, goes down smooth, and the nose is one that you can only get on the Lake Michigan shore. You really don’t want to miss out on this wine!

Wine Wednesday - 12 Corners Winery

This wine is very fruity, which is my favorite kind of wine, and it is full bodied. It was hard to tell what exactly I was tasting because the flavors mix together so well, but I’m pretty certain I got a nice taste (and smell) of a Concord grape. This is the kind of wine that I can thoroughly enjoy and drink anytime.

Have you tried wine from 12 Corners? If not, would you ever order wine online and have it shipped to you? Let me know in the comments!

 

Categories
Wine Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

I am SO excited about this one!!

I recently wrote a guest post for Elle Goes Global called Wines of the World and in the post I talked about wine from France, Argentina, South Africa, and the United States. Well, the wine I’m writing about today is from Mendoza, Argentina, where the best Argentinan wine comes from.

This Alamos Malbec is amazing. I’ll just start there. I may have accidentally drunk the whole bottle. I take that back, Chris’ brother drank a little, too. 😉

It can be purchased for around $10 at grocery stores. This mama doesn’t have time to go anywhere special to buy her wine. 😉

The first thing I noticed was the dark, intense red color of the wine. The next thing I noticed was that this Malbec is VERY aromatic. I could smell cherry, peppers, and a little blackberry.

The taste was very cherry forward with hints of cocoa, and a soft spice on the finish. That is honestly all I could come up with when I was drinking it because the cherry is VERY powerful.

I think it would pair really well with barbequed foods.

Overall, it was a well balanced, medium-bodied wine with strong tannins. I’d rate it a 4.5 out 5, so for the price, it is a MUST TRY.

Have you tried this wine or a different Malbec before? What did you think? Let me know in the comments! 🙂

Categories
Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

Heeellloo everyone! It’s Wine Wednesday, my favorite day of the week!!

Today I am going to talk about Fetzer Gewürztraminer, which you can pick up for about $8 a bottle at your local grocery store. The regular price where I shop is $10 but it goes on sale often so I never pay full price. I like yummy, inexpensive wine that I can buy at the same time as my groceries because I rarely have time to go anywhere special just for wine and I’m on a budget. You know, mom life and all that.

IMG_E6378

So – this wine is one of my favorites. I usually feature wines that I haven’t tried before on here but I realized I had never done this one and it is definitely worth talking about.

Fetzer Gewürztraminer is made in California and has won several awards. For its price range, I would rate this wine a 5 out of 5 stars. If I were to compare it to other, more expensive wines, I would rate it a 4 out of 5.

There is definitely honey, peach, and apricot on the nose. Just the smell makes my mouth water. It is so good.

After taking a sip, you’ll notice the peach, apricot, and even a little tangerine. I also notice a few spices in this Gewürztraminer… clove and cinnamon I believe. It’s refreshing and goes down nice and smooth, with a subtle peach aftertaste.

This wine is labeled as a medium sweet wine. It kind of has an off-dry palate. I think that (since everyone’s palate is different) it just depends on who is tasting it. For some, more of the sweetness is going to come forward and for others, it’s going to seem a little dry. When I taste it, I think it’s a little sweet. Not too sweet, it’s kind of just right for me.

If you like a Riesling, you’ll probably like this one. It is also similar to Traminnette, both containing the same grape.

I drank this wine while sitting on the deck watching my littles play in their inflatable pool at my in-law’s house. I didn’t pair it with anything, but if I did pair it with something it would definitely be something a little spicy. Or maybe fruit. Those two options are completely different but I think it would be good with either one.

Categories
Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

I love Wine Wednesday. Gives me an actual *reason* to indulge in wine, know what I mean? 😉

This week I’m going to talk about Flipside, which is a dry red blend.

The cherry in this blend is very overwhelming, both when smelling and tasting. I also smelled hints of cocoa and pepper. Again, the taste has an overwhelming dark cherry flavor and I also noticed flavors of pepper and vanilla.

The tastes did blend together very well, but I would definitely pair it with a bolder food, probably something spicy. My husband (who thinks everything tastes like Mad Dog 20/20) actually said it’s not too bad!! I didn’t mind it but it wasn’t one of my favorites. I’d give it a 3 out of 5.

Categories
Wine Wednesday

Wine Wednesday

Hey guys! I’m going to start doing a bi-weekly wine review on Wednesdays. I love wine and I love to talk about wine, so why not post about it here? I’m so excited for this! Please feel free to recommend your favorite wine so I can try it! I’m open to any kind – sweet or dry, red or white!

I’ll focus on inexpensive wines because every mom knows on a night when you just reaaallly need wine, you’re going to head to your local store to pick some up, probably not looking to spend a fortune, and head back home. I do love vineyards and wineries, I actually used to work at one, but that’s typically a special treat for myself.

I’m also not going to get into all the wine technical terms. I know most of us just want to know how it tastes and feels and smells, but if you want to get a little more in depth, I’d love to talk about the body and the tannins and any other aspect you’re interested in! Just leave me a comment and I’d love to chat about it!

So for the first Wine Wednesday, I am going to tell you about Richebois 2014 Red Blend.

This one came from Sam’s Club for only $11 and it is one of the best inexpensive red blends I’ve tried. I’ve had it a couple of times and it always hits the spot.

It’s refreshing and the smell reminds me of the beach. I’m not kidding. When I take a sip, I always envision an ocean or a lake, sitting with my toes in the sand.

It went down smooth and the fruit blend was well balanced, making it the perfect wine for sipping. It paired well with dinner but was perfect for sipping afterward. It isn’t too sweet and isn’t too dry so for me, that middle area is the best.

Drop a comment below and tell me if you’ve had it or if you decide to try it!! Also, drop a comment if you want to tell me your favorite wine or talk about this wine a little more.