About a month ago I wrote about two wineries that are near our new home. My plan is to slowly expand the circle around our home and visit each of the Livermore wineries. So here are two more that are within a mile or so.
The first winery is Mitchell Katz. Launched in 1998, this winery has become a popular brand because of their broad selection of wines and beautiful property. Most of the wines are perhaps a bit on the high side. My assumption is you can find the wines cheaper than the pricing at the winery itself.
The 2010 Pinot Gris was a nice balanced wine. It would be a good one to have in the frig as the summer heat arrives. And at $12 it is very affordable.
The 2008 Petite Syrah was a pleasant surprise. I enjoy this varietal but seldom have tasted a Livermore PS that made me want to buy a bottle. The $24 price tag is a bit high, though.
The next winery is Ruby Hill. The winery has a long history, having first opened in 1887. Of course the current ownership is not the same family, but it’s good to see that they honor the wineries history. Their wines are very affordable, seldom cracking the $20 price level and often in the low teens. This place really understands marketing and does a great job of making a tasting experience fun. Their old bus can even take you for a cruise around the winery!
I wasn’t keen on any particular wine offered in the tasting room. Everything seemed, well, pedestrian. The chardonnay is a bit too oaky for me, and the reds were predictable. Before you read this as a poor review, remember that I’m simply saying the wines were average. Which is what you’d expect for wines priced at these levels.
Perhaps next time they’ll have something on the tasting menu that will jump out at me. It just didn’t happen this time.
Looking forward to the next free afternoon when I can visit a few more neighbors!