We recently had friends visit for the weekend, so we went wine tasting. Three different stops, each with a unique style. To provide full disclosure, we visited the first two below because we had free tasting coupons. But I would’ve gone to them anyway because my past experience has been good with their wines. Besides, if you know me, you know I’m not going to be swayed by a $10 off coupon!
The first was Steven Kent Winery, which is operated by Steven Kent Mirassou. The barrel room was a cool place for tasting, if a bit loud, and it might be nicer on the patio (but it was triple digits last weekend, so that didn’t seem wise). The wines were consistently good. We ended up not buying anything because it seemed a bit pricey, but the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the better ones I’ve tasted in Livermore. So was their fun 2011 “LOLA”, which is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon aged in stainless steel.
Our next stop was McGrail Vineyards. Family owned, this is a popular place with a nice modern building in Eastern Livermore. It has lots of parking and thus plenty of tour groups, so it was hectic in the tasting room. But the people were helpful and the wines were all good.
I thought the Cabernet was good but not great, as was the Petite Sirah. I bought one of the Petite Sirah’s not so much for the taste as for my own education as I get to know that varietal. The white wines were a bit dull, but that doesn’t mean they were bad. Just not all that exciting.
The last stop was the most fun. We tasted Eagle Vineyard wines at the Taste of Terroir event a few weeks ago, and we vowed to visit the winery. It was classic: a mom and pop operation run by a couple who have lived in the area for decades, a working farm without the fancy tasting room (the tastings are done in their old barn, complete with odd collectibles throughout), and a dusty gravel road off the beaten path. In the midst of slick marketing and trendy wines, this was a breath of fresh air and old school style.
Naturally, we joined the wine club that they offer. And we bought several of their wines. The port (called MadLyn) was a stunning surprise, as was the dessert wine (called MadCait), both named after grandchildren. The 2007 Petite Sirah was good, the 2007 Cabernet was better, and the 2009 Zinfandel ended up in our cellar. Some of their wines are still a bit iffy — especially those made from purchased grapes before their own vineyard started producing. But there is great hope for this winery and I’m excited to see how they evolve in the next few years.
So there you have it. Three good wineries, each with a different expression about how to do this wine thing. You’ll enjoy visiting all three.
