The Altamont Pass wind-power generators can be seen in the background of these Livermore vineyards.
Robbie Meyer of Murrieta's Well.
Livermore vineyards with the ubiquitous big power lines and rolling hills in the background.
Steven Mirassou of Steven Kent Winery tastes grapes in the vineyards.
Livermore Valley wine country: Why go?
A recent day trip to Livermore Valley's wine country corrected my misconceptions and also raised a few questions, the most important one being: Why should wine drinkers go there?
With good to great wine being made in all directions, it's a fair question. If you love wine as I do, or if the experience takes precedent for you, I have your answer. But first let's look at my misconceptions.
—Over-ripe, raisin-y "big reds" are the dominant style. WAY FALSE. The cool bay winds turn this assumption on its head and shake it around by the ankles. Think southern Napa Valley and Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley for comparisons. My favorite red wines tasted during my visit were the results of a moderate wine grapegrowing climate: perky Chardonnays, Cabernet Francs, Merlots and Bordeaux-style blends.
—The Livermore Valley wine industry begins and ends with the venerable Wente and Concannon wineries. FALSE. While this is true from a production and distribution perspective, a drive through Livermore Valley showcases myriad scrappy, micro-producers with down-home charm and hospitality…and smaller gates at the entrance. In fact, Wente Vineyards is all for "the little guy" and supports the industry by selling grapes and farming services to many local micro- wineries. Wente understands the more good wine coming out of Livermore helps everybody.
—Traffic can be a pain. A one-hour drive from Napa can turn into two hours if you don't plan. No matter your direction, coming or going, avoid rush hours.
—The staff at the wineries, often the owners, are exceedingly friendly and eager to please. Awesome hospitality. I got the feeling they'd invite me home for dinner if I had the time.
—The wines are good. Sometimes very good. As the up-and-comers refine their vineyard and winery practices, the quality as a whole will keep going up. Without a doubt you'll find wines, typically between $20 and $50 per bottle, to buy as you taste. I recommend a few below alongside places to visit.
Why go there? Pay Livermore Valley wine country a visit to harken back to the days in Napa when the owner is (often) your host, the vibe is homey and, with some study and guidance, new favorite wines can be found.
To get the ball rolling, here are a few recommendations. Check the winery websites or call for tasting room hours. Do try to visit on a weekend as you'll find a greater buzz of wine tasting activity then (and no rushhour traffic). All my recommendations are 5-10 minutes from each other. Super-convenient.
—Steven Kent Winery. One of the more established wineries in Livermore, Steven Kent has been making premium wines for over 20 years. Try the "SVS" or "Single Vineyard Series" Cabernets for a study of moderate climate Livermore Cabernet: red fruits, refreshing acidity, fine tannins.
—The Block 37, a group of six neighboring wineries (plus a brewer and distiller) make wine and serve guests with an air of camaraderie that makes you feel good inside. Three of my favorites poured at their respective tasting rooms are Wood Family Chardonnay (lightly buttered toast, Granny Smith apple, white peach), Embodied Wines Tempranillo (silky and spicy) and Occasio Cabernet Franc (provided you, like me, enjoy wines with a green pepper/fresh herb quality).
—Murrieta's Well. Owned by the Wente Family since the 1930s and "revived" in 1990, Murrieta's Well ramped up quality and interest when they hired Napa Valley's Robbie Meyer as winemaker in 2014. Pay Murrieta's Well a visit for a more swanky wine experience. My favorite of their wines right now is their five-grape white blend, "The Whip." I'm a sucker for fruity, floral, aromatic dry white wines and this hits the nail on the head.
—3 Steves Winery and McGrail Vineyards & Winery. These wineries rest side by side on a hill offering 360-degree views of Livermore Valley – your Kodak moment. The seating, inside and out, layout and décor at 3 Steves tells me they want folks to hang out and party for a while. Try their Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend "Duel." It's sappy, juicy and rich. McGrail takes their Cabernet Sauvignon seriously. For example, they barrel age their Estate Cabernet in French, American and Hungarian barrels and bottle small lots of each one separately. All three Cabs are dark red/black fruited and strong with fine tannins. I like all three equally, for different reasons.
Dan Dawson owns and composes Dan Dawson's Wine Advisor. Visit DawsonWineAdvisor.com for wine reviews, ratings and recommendations that focus on wines that over-deliver for the price.