The Livermore Valley is one of California’s oldest wine-producing regions. The first grapes were planted there in the mid-18th century by Spanish missionaries.
The Valley is surrounded by mountains resulting in warm days and cool nights, which helps retain acidity in the ripening grapes.
There are 4,000 acres of vineyards under cultivation in the Livermore Valley and around 30 varieties including Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
There are more than 50 wineries in Livermore Valley and we are going to take a look at 15 of the best.
1 – Retzlaff Vineyards
Retzlaff Vineyards have won awards for their wines which are all made from estate-grown certified organic grapes. No fungicides, pesticides, or herbicides are used in the making of their wines.
They produce such wines as Merlot Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
They offer several different tastings but be sure to book as they are very popular. The Premium Wine Tasting is definitely worth attending. You get a tasting of seven wines, starting with sparkling wine and ending with Port.
You also get a meal choice of either a cheese and charcuterie board or a vegetarian option. There is live music and on-site food vendors at most weekends.
Join their wine club for discounted shipments, complimentary tastings, and invitations to members-only special events.
2 – Cuda Ridge Wines
Cuda Ridge is family-owned. All their wines are hand-crafted and have limited production. Many of their wines have won prestigious awards. They produce Bordeaux-style wines such as Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
They also have a Black Label collection with non-Bordeaux varietals and the Reserve Collection which are micro label lots with just one or two barrels being produced. These are initially released only to Connoisseur Club members.
Cuda Ridge has both indoor and outdoor tastings. You get a flight of five different wines and your tasting fee is refunded if you buy two or more bottles of their wine.
There are two wine clubs, the CRU, and the Connoisseur. With both you get discounted shipments, are invited to the Open House where you can taste new releases, and get to go to complimentary tastings.
With the Connoisseur membership, you have the opportunity to taste and have delivered small lots and Reserve wines before anyone else. The staff are very helpful and will tell you all about the wines and the winery.
3 – Wood Family Vineyards
Wood Family Vineyards are family-owned. They offer wine tastings of a choice of 6 pours of different wines. Tastings are refundable if you purchase two bottles of wine per person. On Wednesdays and Fridays, there is live music at the tastings.
One of their best wines is the 2018 Clone 30 Cabernet Sauvignon. It has fruit-forward aromas of blackberries and cherries as well as floral notes of gardenia and freesia. The flavors remind you of sweet cherry pie.
Wood Family Vineyards have three levels of wine club membership ranging from 1 case of wine a year to 4 cases a year. Perks include discounts, club member-only events, and complimentary tastings.
4 – Dante Robere Vineyards
Dante Robere Vineyards is another family-owned winery. It offers delicious wines including Mourvèdre which has a taste of black plums, sage, and sweet tobacco, with soft tannins and Lexikat VI Port which has a light sweetness and a velvety finish.
Dante Robere Vineyards has won more than 35 awards for its wines.
They have a large indoor tasting area and two outside patios. One of the patios is just for club members while the other is for everybody. The wine tasting includes a choice of 2 wine flights. If you buy a bottle of wine, your tasting fee is refunded.
Dante Robere Vineyards has a wine club. Perks include shipments, complimentary tastings, and access to pre-release wines and small-production wines before the general public is offered them.
5 – Concannon Vineyard
Concannon Vineyard is one of the most popular wineries in Livermore. If you want a tasting, it’s better to book. It is a family-owned winery, and it has been in business since 1883.
Concannon Vineyard has 182 acres of vineyards and produces 14 varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay.
The wine tasting includes a flight of 6 current releases only available at the winery. You will have an expert wine specialist guiding you through the tasting.
There are 3 wine clubs for shipments, discounts on the wine, and complimentary tastings. If you want to try the Reserve wines join the Legacy Club.
6 – Nottingham Cellars
Nottingham Cellars has won many awards and are dedicated to highlighting unique vineyard characteristics. They work with top vineyards and growers to produce their wines and their main focus is on Bordeaux wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon.
They have three wine clubs to choose from and the perks include discounts on the wines, complementary events at Nottingham Cellars, access to members-only wines, and first access to new releases.
7 – Rios-Lovell Winery
Rios-Lovell Winery is in the center of Livermore’s wine region and produces and bottles the wine on-site. It has 68 acres of vineyards with magnificent views which you can see from the tasting room. A tasting involves a flight of either 5 wines or 5 ports.
The winery has a concert hall, a pavilion, a picnic area, and landscaped gardens. You can book special events here such as weddings and anniversary parties.
Join their club for shipments at a 20% discount, complimentary tastings, and exclusive previews of new releases.
8 – Tenuta Vineyards
Nancy Tenuta owns this family-friendly winery. The estate covers 25 acres with 18 acres of planted grapes. You can tour the production facilities and see the wine-making process followed by a wine tasting.
You will be able to taste past and present wines as well as new wines straight from the barrel. Also on offer are wine-blending events where teams compete to produce the best blend.
Tenuta Vineyards produce many different varietals including Estate Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, and Grenache.
9 – Omega Road Winery
Omega Road Winery produces excellent wines such as Torrontes, Alvarhino, and Carignan. It is always producing new types of wines for you to try.
You can purchase a cheese and charcuterie board, a baguette, or seasoned popcorn with your tasting. The staff is very knowledgeable about the wines.
Two wine clubs feature discounts, complimentary tastings, and member events.
10 – Page Mill Winery
Page Mill Winery opened in 1976 at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains and moved to the Livermore Valley in 2004. It produces classical, award-winning wines such as the 2016 Blanc de Blanc, the 2020 Muscat, and the 2019 Estrella.
The tasting room is open from Thursday to Monday, and it is on a heated enclosed patio. On Thursdays, they have BYOB where you can bring your own empty bottle to be filled with delicious red wine while having a tasting.
Page Mill Winery will also host special events.
Join the Underground Wine Club. You will get 2 wines from the cellar every other month with discounts, access to special releases and small-batch varietals, and exclusive access to tastings and parties.
11 – Mitchell Katz Winery
The Mitchell Katz Winery was opened in 1996 and is a state-of-the-art winery that creates high-quality wines reflecting the identity of each vineyard. All of the grapes are hand-harvested and barrels are used for both fermentation and aging.
It produces a selection of sparkling wines, white wines such as the 2020 Estate Chardonnay, red wines such as Fat Boy Cabernet, a 2013 Tawny Port, and the special 2015 Speechless Magnum.
Tastings are offered at weekends and booking is required. The wine club offers discounts, complimentary tastings, and special events.
12 – Darcie Kent Vineyards
Darcie Kent Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery that was opened in 1996. It grows, barrels, and bottles all of the wines which include the 2019 Stone Patch Cabernet Franc and the 2021 Pistachio Lane Chardonnay.
Wine tastings consist of your own choice of flight. Choose 6 wines to taste from a list of 10. The tasting room covers 1000 sq feet and is home to the art of owner, Darcie Kent. There is also an outside porch where you can sip your wine and listen to live music.
There are 4 different club memberships offering quarterly shipments, discounts, complimentary tastings, discounts on Darcie’s paintings, and complimentary tickets for wine club parties.
13 – Mumeta’s Well
Mumeta’s Well produces all its wines on-site. It farms the vineyards and plants the varieties according to the different microclimates on the property.
It is one of California’s original vineyards and offers a tasting with an experienced professional who will tell you about the wines and the history of the vineyard. You will taste wines based on your preferences.
Also on offer is a wine and food pairing and you can purchase a picnic basket.
14 – The Singing Winemaker
The Singing Winemaker is a fun place to visit and is different from most wineries. If you go to a tasting at the weekend, the owner will serenade you. You can join in the singing while you sip your wine. There are 4 tasting rooms and an outdoor seating area.
The winery has signature red wine varietals and some unusual wines such as the Strawberry Sparkling, a crisp sparkling wine with flavors of ripe strawberries. It is nice and fruity with a berry finish.
The Singing Winemaker also sells ports including a delicious chocolate port.
15 – Del Valle Winery
Del Valle Winery is family owned and boasts excellent grapes and conventional winemaking techniques. The vineyards surround the winery and you can have a tasting outside with lovely views.
There is also an indoor seating area. The staff are knowledgeable and will tell you all about the wines and the history of the winery. The tasting room is open from Friday to Sunday and there is music on Friday nights.
There is a wine club and benefits include discounts, complimentary tastings, priority for purchasing new releases, and members-only winery events.
Final Thoughts
Livermore provides wine lovers with some of the best wineries in California and indeed the whole of the US. We think that you will enjoy any of the wineries we have mentioned so why not make a visit and enjoy a glass of wine surrounded by magnificent mountains and hills?
