Omega Road Winery has enjoyed great success in their short time in Livermore. So much success, in fact, that they outgrew their tasting room. Luckily, they found a new and larger space mere steps from their old space!
We have enjoyed every tasting experience at Omega Road Winery, so we were excited to have an opportunity to drop in again. As we approached the strip center that housed their tasting room we noticed something new: the tasting room was on the opposite side of the u-shaped building complex. Intrigued, we ventured inside. The new tasting room was bright, with crisp lines and plenty of space to welcome Omega Road fans. It even offered tables for seated tastings! What a great step forward.
We were welcomed by Nicky, wife and mother to winemakers Ken and Alexandra, respectivey, who were both fully engrossed in processing that day’s grape harvest. Nicky started our tasting flight with their 2018 Torrontés, which they called “Gratia.” Very light and refreshing, we loved the apricot and honey notes. We next tasted their 2018 Verdelho, which is a Club exclusive. Made from Lodi grapes, this was an incredible taste! Bright and lovely, with lemon and kumquat flavors leading to a delicate and low-acid finish. A big hit with both of us.
Their 2018 Alicante Bouschet Rosé was our next taste, and this leapt onto our Take Home list. With a body built to be paired with food, this Rosé covered the tongue with fruit-forward goodness. Rosés are very popular right now, and we couldn’t wait to show this off at our next family gathering. As we sipped our next taste, a 2018 Nero d’Avola, we walked into the back area to look at their space for larger group tastings. This area larger than the entire original Omega Road tasting room! So much more capacity to handle their growing fan base. We learned that their Nero d’Avola was made in the style of a Sicilian table wine. Unfiltered, we enjoyed the peach aromas and flavors of sour cherry and watermelon. Unique and fun!
We next tasted a 2015 Alicante Bouschet. A favorite varietal of mine, this wine showed bright, assertive fruit with a memorable finish that kept us coming back for more! A remarkable achievement. As we were raving about the wine, both Ken and Alexandra swooshed by. Tired, but happy, they both welcomed us to their new facility, raved about the incoming fruit, and then zoomed back out to perform the next step in the grape processing. No rest for winemakers! Our final taste was their 2016 Syrah. Mellow and happy, we loved the subtle layers and the hints of vanilla on the finish. Perfect for sipping beside a roaring fire.
We expressed our gratitude to Nicky and encouragement to Ken and Alex, purchased our Rosé, and set off. Another wonderful day of winetasting in Livermore!
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?
