Joining Longevity Wines and Nottingham Cellars in an unassuming strip center, the Occasio Winery tasting room is a real surprise as you cross their threshold. Light stucco and dark woods complement the assortment of library wines, creating a wonderful wine tasting experience.
Occasio Winery
2245 B South Vasco Road
Livermore CA 94550
(925) 371-1987
Friday-Sunday Noon – 5:00pm
$5 tasting fee
Owner and winemaker John Kinney hand crafts each wine. His focus is on quality and letting each grape varietal speak for itself. This focus was apparent in every wine we tasted. Occasio hosts Kendall and Marc made us feel welcome, but there was a club member special event going on, so our visit was brief but enjoyable.
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| Our hosts Marc & Kendall |
We started with the 2011 Rose of Pinot Noir. This is a somewhat unusual wine, in that the grape juice remained on the skins to imbue a pleasant rose color. The result? A very light and refreshing wine, just perfect for a summer afternoon.
We next sampled the 2009 Merlot. This award-winning merlot had notes of plum, smoke and leather, and some of us thought a bit of cinnamon. We enjoyed the slightly oaky taste and dry finish.
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| Lovely wall ornamentation |
A 2009 Petite Sirah was next. We thought that this wine floated on the tongue, with a light and crisp taste. A favorite for several of us. Hearty enough to pair with cheese but light enough to sip solo.
We wrapped up our brief visit with the 2009 Zinfandel. Like the Petite Sirah, this came from the Del Arroyo vineyard. A classic zin, this was peppery, well balanced and assertive. It had a light fruit finish, not at all jammy.
After our quick survey of Occasio’s wines, we said our goodbyes and made our way next door to the next tasting room.
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
