Forget Black Friday. Thanksgiving weekend events in the Livermore Valley Wine Country

Thanksgiving Weekend Treats! Date & Time: Friday, November 25, 2011 - Sunday, November 27, 2011 (12 - 5pm) Who: Eckert Estate Winery URL: www.eckertestate.com Where: 2400 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA, 94550 - Get Directions Join us all three days of the Thanksgiving weekend to give thanks for great wine! Taste our new wine releases - 2010 Chardonnay, 2007 Estate Cabernet, and 2009 Livermore Zinfandel - plus our other 5 wines on the tasting list for your tasting pleasure. Big sale on all white wines and the Malbec! Taste the newly pressed olive oil, fresh truffles, great wines, fresh mustards - hey, what are you waiting for?

Black Friday at Garre Date & Time: Friday, November 25, 2011 (11:30am - 5pm) Who: Garre' Vineyard & Winery URL: www.garrewinery.com Where: 7986 Tesla Rd, Livermore, CA, 94550 - Get Directions Come taste wines, dine in the cafe, and shop 'til you drop! We have a special menu in the cafe, wine specials in the Tasting Room and lots of great new gift items which will all be 10% off!

Tasting Room Open! Date & Time: Friday, November 25, 2011 - Friday, November 25, 2011 (12am - 5pm) Who: Mitchell Katz Winery URL: www.mitchellkatzwinery.com Where: 1188 Vineyard Avenue, Pleasanton, CA, 94566 - Get Directions Tasting room open!

Black Friday Weekend Date & Time: Friday, November 25, 2011 - Sunday, November 27, 2011 (12 - 5pm) Who: Las Positas Vineyards URL: laspositasvineyards.com Where: 1828 Wetmore Road, Livermore, CA, 94550 - Get Directions Cost: $5.00 For $5, treat yourself to a glass of our 07' Estate Chardonnay or a glass of the 07' Cabernet Sauvignon along with a specially selected cheese, fruit and salami plate. These 2 wines will be discounted all weekend at 35% off half cases and above!!

Fenestra's Prelude to Christmas Date & Time: Friday, November 25, 2011 - Sunday, November 27, 2011 (12 - 5pm) Who: Fenestra Winery URL: www.fenestrawinery.com Where: 83 Vallecitos Road, Livermore, CA, 94550 - Get Directions Cost: $10.00 Come see our historic winery building decorated in the Christmas spirit and taste holiday foods along with our fabulous wines. This is a great time to bring your holiday guests to our winery. There is a $10 charge for this event.

Holiday Preview Date & Time: Friday, November 25, 2011 - Sunday, November 27, 2011 (11am - 4:30pm) Who: Wente Vineyards Estate Winery & Tasting Room URL: www.wentevineyards.com Where: 5565Tesla Road , Livermore, CA, 94550 - Get Directions Begin your holiday festivities off right and get a jump on your holiday shopping and entertaining ideas! Enjoy a fun and relaxing weekend, browse new holiday merchandise, stock up on holiday favorites, and pick up gifts for friends and family, all while you try your favorite Wente Vineyards wines. You can also “build your own basket!” Fill it with gifts and goodies and we’ll have it ready for you to take home for the perfect holiday gift. Estate Winery Tasting Room, Vineyard Tasting Room, Murrieta’s Well, & Tamas Estates

Fall Open House Date & Time: Friday, November 25, 2011 - Sunday, November 27, 2011 (12 - 5pm) Who: Thomas Coyne Winery URL: thomascoynewinery.com Where: 51 East Vallecitos Road, Livermore, CA, 94550-9637 - Get Directions Please join us at the historical tasting room. We plan to release five new wines and will serve a selection of fine fruits and cheeses. Bring a picnic and enjoy sweeping views of the Livermore Valley. A great way to enjoy the Thanksgiving Weekend. New Releases: 2010 Viognier, California, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore, 2006 Petite Sirah, Eldorado, 2009 Late Harvest Petite Sirah, Livermore, 2009 Barbarea, Livermore.

Why do wineries do this?

I recently visited a couple of wineries in Tracy, California. The first one was Windmill Ridge.
I think, and I say that carefully, I think their wines might be quite good. However, they let the wine that they pour for tasting oxidize. I don't know how they sell any wine when the samples are oxidized. Why do wineries do this? I realize they need to be careful about the bottom line of their business. However, I do believe they would sell more products if they had samples of good products. I was able to have a good sample of their 2006 Cabernet and I did buy a bottle.

They told me they save the wine they did not pour on Sunday by spraying nitrogen in the bottle, cork it and put it in the refrigerator. Then use that same wine the next Saturday. This is proof nitrogen doesn't always work well after several days go by.
The winery is only open Saturday and Sunday.





The second winery was Ramon Rios. Fantastic wines. Very well worth the visit. My favorite is the 2006 Tempranillo . This wine's aromas are plums, dark cherry and a hint of chocolate. Its fruit forward rich with grippy tannins; intense blackberry rich with good acid with hazelnut finish. It's dark red, clean yet unfiltered for more complex flavors.

I purchased several wines. I recommend visiting this winery.


I didn't have time to visit La Bonne Vie. Next time. Hopefully Windmill Ridge will have changed their practice and open new bottles every Saturday.

Live From The Winemaker's Pour House. Grand Opening for Family and Friends

Just got word about this live stream from the Winemaker's Pour House in Livermore.
Watch it here.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/winemaker-s-pour

A couple of good value wines

I ran across a couple of good value wines at Costco. Tamas Estates 2009 Double Decker Red $6.99 a full wine yet smooth. A blend of Cab, Petite Sirah and Barbera (wine notes) and Ruby Hills Winery 2009 Grapeful Red $12.99, Bronze medal in the 2011 Best of the Bay and Zin Challenge. These wines may not be available at every Costco.