By now it’s a given that if there are airplanes and wine involved, then most likely I’m going to be there! Yesterday I was invited by the Livermore Winegrower’s Association to attend the Livermore Airport Open House, Air Show and Wine Tasting and I couldn’t have been more impressed. We took the kids and enjoyed some stunt planes, meeting some law enforcement officers (Toddler D is a big fan of our public servants!) and tasted wine from 19 wineries.
If you haven’t visited Livermore and any one of their wineries, then you’re missing out. Livermore has more vineyards than you can count and for those in the Bay Area is closer to us than Napa. We hit 9 wineries at the airport tasting and thanks to Ted helping me out, tried 13 wines.
Our first stop was Pagemill Winery where we tried the Chardonnay and the Rhone Blend. The Chardonnay was light, buttery and smooth. The Rhone Blend had a slight tartness and didn’t appear to have any tannin remnants after sipping it.
Ehrenburg Cellars Chardonnay comes from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in Livermore. It is delicious and tasted like caramel! Their Zinfandel was fruity and dry. They just opened a new tasting room and are featuring wines from Ehrenburg Cellars, Rosa Fiero Cellars and Favalora Vineyards Winery. Check it out if you’re in the area!
McGrail Vineyards offered a light Sauvignon Blanc which was bright fresh and crisp and a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon that was delicious.
Concannon Vineyards in Livermore.
Concannon Vineyard’s Monterey Chardonnay was buttery delicious and retails for around $24 or less in the grocery store! It boats apple, pear, and tropical fruits that mingle with lemon custard. Their Cabernet was also exceptional!
Wood Family Vineyards caught my eye with their model Woody that sat next to their wine bottles. Their Chardonnay had a light buttery flavor which was exceptionally good. Their El Rojo Red Blend is mainly Cabernet. They have 15 wines on their menu plus their Chardonnay. They’re a laid back vineyard that is creating some exceptional wines! It’s all good at wood!
Leisure Street offered their Swirly Rose which was dry and stood out on its own being the only Rose available that day.
Longevity had a Chardonnay that was on the sweeter side. It has aromas of apricot, pineapple, Asian pear, sweet vanilla and butterscotch.
Mitchell Katz had a fabulous Sauvignon Blanc that had hints of pears and apples and couldn’t have been more perfect for a warm day. It also comes in the cutest bottle that you could definitely create into a craft after you finish it.
Eagle Ridge Vineyard was our last stop and their Pinot Grigio might very well be one of my favorite Pinots ever. It tasted of vanilla and pear and was really darn good!
If I haven’t already convinced you to make a trip to Livermore, then I’m not sure what will! These vineyards are true hidden gems and although I would love to keep them to myself, I love to share great wines because everyone deserves to drink the good stuff! Ready to go wine tasting? I’m happy to help you plan one to Livermore!
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