It was a roasting-hot Fathers’ Day in Murphys and we had just completed a fun tasting at Gossamer Cellars. Our enthusiasm for wine tasting was still quite high, but our appetite for walking great distances in the triple-digit temperatures was low. Great news: one of our favorite tasting rooms was mere feet away. Mineral Wines, it was meant to be!
Summer in Murphys is not for the faint of heart. Some days bring a new meaning to the chestnut, “It’s a dry heat.” With the temperature passing 100 degrees before lunch, we knew that we needed to be very focused with our wine tour. With only a few hours before it would be too hot even for wine tasting, we went to some favorites, like Gossamer Cellars.
The road into Murphys is lined with wineries, each trying to distract visitors from their quest for the tasting rooms of downtown Murphys. One winery that should not be passed is Ayrael Vieux. Don’t worry, Murphys will still be there when you’re done!
A trip to Murphys for a summer concert was the perfect excuse to visit some of our favorite area wineries. At the top of our list was a favorite that we had loved when we visited a few years ago: Four Winds Cellars. Could the second visit be as amazing as the first?
An annual highlight of the spring wine tasting season is the Taste of Calaveras. The best food, wine, and art from across the county is brought together for a wonderful afternoon. This year’s Taste was a great way to ring in a new summer of wine!
Spring is a great season for wine tasters! The warming weather puts new shoots on the grape vines, and the air is filled with the promise of a new vintage. Wine festivals are another exciting part of the season, including one of our favorites: the annual Taste of Calaveras food and wine event.
Launching a new winery is tough! So much to do, so many details to get exactly right. We had the pleasure of visiting Gossamer Cellars on their grand opening weekend, so we were excited to return to discover how they had progressed.
Discovering new wineries is a thrill, but revisiting familiar favorites is equally fun. Every visit reveals new wine, new sights and new winery happenings. We recently had the chance to check in at Mineral Wines just before the excitement of harvest.
Discovering new wineries is a thrill that never gets old for us! Strolling on Main Street in Murphys led us to another exciting new adventure: Renner Winery.
From big trees to big wines? We discovered a new winery that demonstrates that a love for nature can be expressed in a multitude of ways. Locke Vineyards is the happy result of a career in forestry pivoting to a second career in winemaking.
Their motto is “For a good time, call Twisted Oak Winery” so you know that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Oh, and their mascot is a giant yellow frog. When winetasting in the Murphys area, we ALWAYS try to include Twisted Oak in our plans.
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| Jul 07 |
Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Thursday, July 7th | 5pm Latin Soul, Classic R&B, Jazz-Rock Joey Torres and Carlos Reyes create a groovy blend of Latin soul, classic R&B, and jazz-rock infusion. Enjoy food from RYE Culinary or our deli section. Click here for more info |
Occasio in Livermore Get in touch with your artistic muse and enjoy an evening of painting and wine on Thursday, July 7th. Pinot's Palette will be on hand to provide all the supplies and instruction to paint your own vision of Pinot in Paradise. We will provide the wine to help get your artistic juices flowing. The ticket price of $55 includes all art supplies and instruction along with a glass of wine from our menu. Additional wine is available for purchase. Click here for more info |
| Jul 08 |
3 Steves in Livermore through Jul 10 Happening this Weekend! July 8th - 10th We have another fantastic weekend coming up at the winery packed with amazing food, wine & great times. Come enjoy a flight, glass, or bottle of wine out on the patio or join us inside & relax in our airconditioned space. Plus, the new rosé is now available for take-home in the bottle, or pick up one of our new insulated growlers & get $5 off every fill. Scroll down for more details on our upcoming Thursday Happy Hour & more!! FRIDAY: Open 11:30 - 4:30 SATURDAY: 11:30 - 4:30 Food Truck: Torres Tacos y Mas SUNDAY: 11:30 - 4:30 Food Truck: Your Taco Guy Live Music: Jack Quigley |
Cuda Ridge Wines in Livermore  Music on the Vineyard Patio with Violet and the Dirty MartinisFriday, July 8th, 5:00pm - 7:30pm Join us for an evening of live jazz music on our Vineyard Patio featuring Violet and the Dirty Martinis. RSVP below or contact us at events@cudaridgewines.com. No cover charge, just a two bottle minimum purchase per table. We have a limited number of tables (~19) that seat up to 6 guests comfortably. FOOD: Marty's Joint No outside food please Click here for more info |
Las Positas Vineyards in Livermore  Friday Night Concert SeriesDoors open at 5:30pm, Music begins at 6pm No cover charge! Flatbreads, Charcuterie plates, and Dessert plates available for purchase July 8 Carlos Reyes Harpist and Violinist |
McGrail Vineyards in Livermore Friday Night Live with Sound Decision Friday, July 8th 6:00-9:00pm Grab your dancing shoes and dance the night away with an upbeat band, Sound Decision, for Friday Night Live! Enjoy a beautiful sunset, McGrail wines by the glass and bottle for purchase, and delicious food from Posada for purchase. Please bring lawn chairs and blankets to make yourselves comfortable! Limited Arbor Cabanas available (Our Arbor Cabanas comfortably fit up to 12 people, but there is no limit on group size) Arbor Rental - $250 for guests & $200 for Wine Club Members for the space (rental does not include tickets) We encourage that guests attending this event are 21 years or older. Every guest needs a ticket to the event, so if you do have guests under 21 years of age in your party, they need a ticket as well. $7/wine club member $12/guest Click here for more info |
R&B Cellars in Richmond Live Music Friday, July 8th 6-9pm Thomas Molina Yuppie Liberation Front Thomas Molina’s band is a Riggers Loft favorite. Fun, toe-tapping and energetic, YLF plays a variety of jazz, which is heavily influenced by Bay Area R&B, Soul, Funk, and Latin music, as well as putting their own touch on all the loved jazz standards. |
| Jul 09 |
Balletto Vineyards in Russian River  WHEN: Saturday, July 9th | 5-8pm | @ Balletto VineyardsTICKETS: $75 EACH | $60 WINE CLUB Wine Club Presale ends 6/22. Purchase up to four (4) tickets per club membership. Each ticket includes two (2) complimentary glasses of wine Barbecue style dinner Live music entertainment featuring The Core DETAILS Fire up the grill and turn up the music – the annual Balletto Summer BBQ is back! Put on those dancin' shoes and join us for a warm summer evening full of food, wine, and live music! We're pairing down-home, delicious barbecue with classic rock n' roll from local legends, The Core. Tickets for this event are limited and will sell out. Wine Club Members can only purchase up to four (4) tickets. Click here for more info |
d'Art in Lodi  Join us on Saturday, July 9th, 12 -4pm for Dog Day Red(fest). We are bringing back the infamous Dog Day Red(fest). Come and enjoy LIVE MUSIC, a glass of Dog Day "sangria" and a pulled pork sandwich with black bean/corn salad. All for only $20/person with 100% of those proceeds being donated to a local pet charity. Reserve your spot and join in the fun. The event is from noon to 4pm on Saturday, July 9th (come any time during those 4 hours). There might not be a better way to enjoy a summer afternoon than sipping our version of sangria and a little lunch all with live music on the lawn at d'Art. All the proceeds go to support our furry little friends. Our winery dog, Abby, would love to see you here. Click here for more info |
| Jul 10 |
R&B Cellars in Richmond Live Music Sunday, July 10th 6-9pm Jinx Jones Jinx Jones, a guitar virtuoso, seamlessly moves from rockabilly to jazz to twang and back again, sometimes in the same song! He dazzles…while launching melodic lines consisting of standards by Montgomery, Kessel, Lionel Hampton and Benny Goodman. “The one thing that remains consistent throughout Jones’ multi-stylistic journey is the grace and finesse of his virtuoso playing.” (SF Chronicle) |
| Jul 13 |
Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Wednesday, July 13th | 6pm Live jazz music by Matt Finders Flow through Wine Wednesday with Concannon Vineyard and The Well Studio. Following the yoga practice, enjoy a glass of wine and charcuterie box on the breathtaking and historic Concannon grounds. Click here for more info |
| Jul 14 |
Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Thursday, July 14th | 5pm Pop Folk & Electric Violin California pop folk artist Michelle Lambert brings a high energy acoustic show with powerful vocals bringing her story alive through passionate songwriting shaped by electric violin riffs. Enjoy food from Marty's Joint or our deli section. Click here for more info |
| Jul 16 |
Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Saturday, July 16th | 4pm - 6pm In partnership with LVWA Prepare to uncork your senses with Sommelier LeeAnn Kaufman as she spills the secrets of all things wine. Learn to experience each bottle to its fullest, and why the serving temperature is crucial to finding that perfect glass. Along the way, discover the Unami Zone and enjoy a cheese pairing with master of cheese, Eagle Harper. Click here for more info |
Eberle Winery in Paso Robles  Saturday, July 16th, 2022 | 6:30 pmJoin Gary Eberle for a magical evening in the vineyard with a four-course meal paired with Eberle's award-winning wine prepared by Chef Monson of Oak & Vine Catering. Enjoy live music by singer/songwriter Rolf Gehrung. $200 Guests | $160 Club Members |
Omega Road Winery in Livermore STOP + SMELL THE ROSÉS Celebrate the amazing Livermore Valley during Taste Our Terroir in July! We’re excited to be part of a rosé-focused event with Rosa Fierro (Rosa Fierro Cellars), Beth Refsnider (The Lineage Collection), and Samantha Bunegin (Las Positas Vineyards)! We’ll each feature our own rosés, along with some fantastic small bites from Charming Fig! We know you’ll want to join in the fun - make sure to register soon as space is limited! Saturday, July 16 | 11:00a Click here for more info |
| Jul 17 |
Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Sunday, July 17th | 9am - 11am In partnership with LVWA Start your Sunday morning with a relaxing flow yoga session & glass of Rosé. Find deep connection while nourishing your mind and body with this soothing experience on the breathtaking and historic Concannon estate grounds. Click here for more info |
| Jul 21 |
Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Thursday, July 21st | 5pm Singer-songwriter Greg Lamboy weaves unforgettable melodies with raw emotion. "Greg’s performances are intimate and inspiring; he possesses the rare ability to deliver heartfelt emotions in a strong, clear voice and commanding guitar style" (GregLamboy). Enjoy food from El Gran Taco Loco or our deli section. Get Tickets Now ---> Click here for more info |
Las Positas Vineyards in Livermore "Appy Hour" Wine & Food Pairing Event at Las Positas Vineyards Hosted By Chef Curt & The Vineyard Mom Thursday July 21st 6:00pm-7:30pm 4 Appetizers paired with 4 Las Positas Vineyards wines! Not to be missed! Click here for more info |
| Jul 28 |
Concannon Vineyard in Livermore Thursday, July 28th | 5pm Jazz, Rock, Country & Pop Singing effortlessly through selections by artists varying from the great ladies of the Jazz Age to modern artists topping the charts, Meredith McHenry & her network of talented musicians are known for their unique stylistic blend of jazz, rock, country & pop. Enjoy food from RYE Culinary or our deli section. Click here for more info |
| Jul 30 |
Charles R Vineyards in Livermore  WINE & CHEESE PAIRING WITH THE CHEESE PARLORSaturday, July 30, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Join Brandon Wood from The Cheese Parlor and the Charles R Winery Team for this amazing private wine and cheese pairing event. We’ll be featuring 4 of our wines with cheeses selected by Cheese Monger Brandon. We’ll spend an afternoon, on our beautiful garden patio, leading our guests through an adventure of unique cheeses and equally unique wines. We are excited to introduce you to the fabulous pairings we come up with. Reservation Only, Limited Space: $55 Club Members, $65 Public Click here for more info |
| Aug 06 |
Harvest Moon Winery in Russian River  Summer Seafood Event is Back!Saturday, August 6 5:30pm Join our winemaker, Randy, to celebrate the return of our annual summer seafood event. Enjoy an evening of seafood, wine and music. Menu will include ceviche, Harvest of the Sea pizza, oysters, and a crawfish boil. There will be a broad selection of wine and desserts! Click here for more info |