Our Historical Tour begins with a brief description of the history of Beringer and continues into the Old Winery and hand-dug aging tunnels with a talk about barrel aging and the art of wine-making. We finish with a tasting of three current release wines. Historical Tours are filled on a first-come, first-served basis; no advance reservations are necessary or taken.

Vintage Legacy Tour is a tribute to our founders, Frederick & Jacob Beringer, and a look at Beringer's past, present and future from vine to bottle. The tour begins with a discussion of how the Beringer Brothers' original 23 acre vineyard has evolved into a small but integral part of our Reserve wine program. Continuing into the Old Winery and aging tunnels, guests enjoy a barrel sample of cabernet sauvignon . The tour concludes with a tasting of current release Reserve wines at the Rhine House, home of Frederick Beringer. Limited to 12 persons. Reservations required.

Blush Wine & Food in Balance is a hands-on demonstration of wine & food pairing with an emphasis on blush wines. Guests will learn the effects of basic tastes on wines, and how they can balance their food & wine to their liking. Limited to 12 persons. Reservations recommended, but not required.

The winery is open daily --- except Christmas, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving.

The Cedar Creek Winery is nestled in the wonderful old-world ambiance of the Cedar Creek Settlement, a restored 1860's woolen mill that was once the largest west of the Alleghenies .

The mill was powered by the rushing waters of Cedar Creek, which were channeled down the mill race and through an open-flume water wheel. The 50-horsepower water wheel generated electricity and ran the mill's 21 looms and knitting machines, which converted heavy Wisconsin wool into yarns, blankets, flannels -- and even socks for the old Chicago White Sox!

In 1972, the building was converted to a winery by Jim & Sandi Pape and became known as the Newberry and later the Stone Mill Winery. The upper floors of the mill were converted to shops. The winery in the 70's was famous for its cherry wines and the unique clay bottles they were bottled in. Traditional European casks were used for about ten years, and then replaced with stainless steel tanks and smaller barrels.

In 1990, the winery was purchased by the Wollersheim family and became the Cedar Creek Winery. The wine style changed to focus on traditional style grape wines with a few grape-based fruit wines. The building's cool limestone underground cellars provide an ideal environment for fermenting and aging wines in oak barrels.

Cedar Creek Winery shares the same winemaker as Wollersheim Winery in
Prairie du Sac, winemaker Philippe Coquard, but the two brands remain distinct. Cedar Creek wines have received recognition in both national and international wine competitions.

The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and concludes with a wine tasting.
Tour fees are $3.00 for adults. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

The tour starts with a short history on our building, a restored 1860's woolen mill, then follows with a visit to the winery's underground limestone cellars. Learn how the wines are made, aged and bottled along with viewing a short video on the art of winemaking.

After the tour, visitors are invited to participate in a formal wine tasting. While sampling several Cedar Creek wines, you can enjoy the view from our tasting room windows of the beautiful Cedar Creek waterfall, which flows at the heart of Historic Cedarburg.

Wine Tasting:
A selection of our wines is available to sample in our tasting room overlooking the beautiful Cedar Creek waterfall flowing at the heart of Historic Cedarburg. Wine tastings are at no charge and are offered anytime during the day and at the conclusion of each tour.
You must be 21 years old or older to taste or purchase.

Founded in 1983 by the William R. Chaney family, the first vines were planted in the spring of 1984, a 5.5 acre vineyard consisting primarily of Chardonnay with a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. From 1986 through 1992 the remaining acreage was prepared and planted, for a combined total of 20 acres. In the summer of 1988, the winery was constructed and Chamard became a licensed farm winery. The first wine, a 1988 Chardonnay was released for sale in November of 1989. Current production is 6,000 cases annually.

Chamard Vineyards is dedicated to producing fine wines from classic European wine grapes. A blend of time-honored wine making techniques and state of the art winery equipment are used to create world class wines. The main focus at Chamard is on Chardonnay, the most noble white wine grape variety in the world and the best variety that grows in the region. The vineyards spread across 40 acres of gently sloping fields along the southern Connecticut coast, just two miles from Long Island Sound. The 20 acres of established vines include the varieties Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Chamard's classic New England styled winery features finely crafted stonework using field stones from the property and wooden beams milled from trees harvested from the property.

Chamard benefits from a unique micro-climate influenced greatly by Long Island Sound. Located two miles from the sound and six miles from the mouth of the Connecticut River, this maritime climate produces mild winter temperatures and a long, warm growing season. The rich, stony soil, gently sloping land and moderate climate provide an ideal environment for the growing of European wine grapes.

The Chamard Vineyard tour takes you through the winery for an informative look at our wine making process. After the tour, you'll be treated to a complimentary tasting of Chamard wines in the tasting room overlooking the vineyards. The winery was completed in 1988. Its classic New England design features finely crafted stonework using fieldstones from the property. The staff is both friendly and knowledgeable.

They are eager to share their passion for wine as well as the history of our winery, the grounds and other area attractions to provide you an informative and enjoyable visit. Please allow 40 minutes for a tour and tasting.

In addition to our complimentary tastings that are included with a guided tour, we offer two premium-tasting options:

Selected reserve and single vineyard wine tastings available at Wine Shop tasting bar for a $5 fee (no appointments necessary).

Private tastings of our reserve, single vineyard and library wines are available in our Vintage Reserve Room for an $8 fee. Reservations suggested, please call (425) 415-3633.

Located in the heart of the Carneros region, Domaine Carneros stands alone as the only sparkling wine producer using exclusively Carneros grapes. The Carneros Appellation is the first American Viticultural appellation to be defined according to climate rather than along political lines. The appellation is characterized by a long, moderately cool growing season tempered by the maritime breezes and lingering fog off the San Pablo Bay just to the south. These are optimum growing conditions for pinot noir and chardonnay, the two primary grape varieties used in Domaine Carneros wines.

Domaine Carneros farms 195 planted acres of vineyards on three different Carneros vineyard sites. There are 35 different blocks within our three vineyards. Each block is unique either because of the scion/rootstock combination (this is the grape variety grafted onto a pest-resistant rootstock) or because of the terrain of the block (i.e. slope, direction of rows, soil, sun exposure, etc.) Similar to an artist having many colors in a palette, this provides a variety of components from which our winemakers can create their blends each vintage. To add to this, we have thirteen different clonal selections (six chardonnay and seven pinot noir) all of which were selected for their flavor and intensity.

Almost all of the grapes for Domaine Carneros? wines come from our own estate vineyards. This is important for two reasons. First it allows the winery to control and direct the production from the vineyard to the bottle, and secondly it allows for continuity in our product resulting in a consistency in our wines. Our vineyards are farmed with the point of view that quality and not tonnage is the primary goal. All of our clones have small-to-medium sized clusters, allowing greater flavor concentration. We also prune each block, during the spring, to remove weak shoots that would add tonnage but would bring down the quality of the fruit because of lack of maturity.

At Domaine Carneros, we know that to maintain the longevity of our vineyards and to protect the surrounding wildlife, we need to farm responsibly in a way that preserves the soils, eliminates erosion and preserves the local ecology. We have made several changes with these efforts in mind. We have moved to the use of mechanical weed removers to reduce herbicides and use chemicals that are either organic or environmentally safe. We have been able to do this by understanding life cycles of diseases and pests by careful observation in the vineyards. We are also introducing more cover crops, which are planted between the vine rows to stabilize the soils in the wet seasons and provide nutrients and organic matter to our soils. In addition, we work with the Napa Resource Conservation District (NRCD), an organization put together by the growers along Huichica Creek a sensitive water and wildlife area.

Flag Hill's vineyard stretches over 20+ acres of land on slightly sloping terrain. We continue to plant the best-suited grapes for our erratic New England climate. Not all grapes can survive the drastic dips of temperature that winter brings. Our vineyard produces 6 varieties of grapes including North American, such as Niagara, French Hybrid such as Marechal Foch and Vignoles, and American Hybrid such as Cayuga. The owner, winemaker, and vineyard manager work closely together as a team to ensure performance and future plans for the vineyard and winery are well aligned to put quality wines on our shelves.

Flag Hill Winery produces various types of wines including grape, fruit, and dessert wines as well as NH's first port. All our wine is produced and bottled on site. We choose to produce grape wines that reflect the flavors of grapes that can be grown in our region. While you won't find Merlot or Chardonnay in our tasting room, you will find both red and white wines suited to fit a variety of tastes. Red wines normally age in the barrels for two years, aging until ready to be bottled. The white wines are aged for one year. And every spring and summer fruit wines are blended, with new varieties such as blueberry being crafted.

We invite you to stop by our winery and vineyard to take a taste of NH, stroll through the vineyard and learn more about grape growing and wine making.

We'll see you soon !

Ironstone Vineyards' Private Tour and Tasting package is the best and most unique way to experience wine and the wine making process. On your private tour of the winery, your group will be guided through Ironstone's seven-story complex, modeled after an 1859 Gold Stamp Mill, and learn intimate facts and details about the winery.

Following your tour, samples of each of Ironstone's award-winning wines will be provided. At this time your group will have the opportunity to sense the aromas and taste the wines craftsmanship. Along with the wine tasting, canapés prepared by our culinary staff will be made available for a food and wine pairing experience. Please keep your Ironstone Vineyards wine glass as a souvenir.

The price of the Private Tour and Tasting package is $15.00 per person with a twelve-person minimum. Advanced reservations are required and a $50.00 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking. The final guest count and estimated balance due must be received 10 working days before your group's arrival.

Arrangements can be made for your group's very own Private Tour and Tasting package by contacting our Tasting
Room at 209.728.1251.

Nassau Valley Vineyards is the first and only award winning winery in the state of Delaware.

Founded in 1987, our vineyards were the first commercial wine vineyards to exist in the ?First? state. Peg Raley and her father, Bob Raley founded the vineyards on a family farm site just outside of historic Lewes, Delaware.

Peg got her start in the wine business working for Les Amis du Vin International and The Friends of Wine magazine. After several years of globe trotting for the publication she decided it was time to stop writing about other people's wines and start making wines in Delaware. Delaware's laws prohibited farm wineries, so Peg drafted legislation and lobbied the Delaware General Assembly to create Farm Winery legislation for the state. The law passed in 1991. The Raley's opened Nassau Valley Vineyards in October of 1993.

Our vineyards are comprised of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. We use other regionally grown fruit to produce the 14 wines in our product line. We purchase grapes and fruit from growers on the eastern shore and supplement with other regionally grown fruit.

NVV boasts one of the most unique winery tours in North America. Our five gallery self-guided museum chronicles everthing from the increadible 8,000 year history of wine to how how the vineyard grows in the modern day.

Did You Know That ...
The egyptian's invented the wine press?
Or that It takes 16 lbs of fruit to make 1 gallon of wine? The origin of the culivated grapevine was Mesopotamia and not Italy? Wine has been used a medicine for countless centuries? It takes at least 15 leaves to ripen one cluster of fruit?

These are just a few of the things you'll learn on our tour surrounded by beautiful photographs, illustrations and unique artifacts. Of course, you can also see the processing equipment if you want to. But that's what you see at every other winery in the country (yawn).

The first exhibit gallery of the tour also houses our art gallery space. Each month a new exhibit features the work of regional artists covering all genres from watercolor and oil paintings to photography and sculpture. A ?Meet The Artist? reception is held at the beginning of the show and is always open the public.

Visit our vineyards and see how our vine reaches perfection.

The tour begins outside (weather permitting) with a close-up view of the vineyard. Our guide will explain how grapes are grown and harvested. Next, visitors learn the step-by-step winemaking process. The tour includes an in-depth explanation of how wines are aged in oak barrels.

Following the tour, our guests enjoy a tasting of selected wines. Visitors enjoy browsing in our 1000 square foot retail shop. The store features wine accessories, clothing and gourmet foods.

Nissley Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They?ve been growing grapes and producing Nissley wines for over 25 years.

Just down a country lane bordered by tended vines and sun-dappled meadows, is a stone-arch winery set near an 18th-century mill and a winding creek. Nissley Vineyards, and its companion Winery Estate is located on 300 acres within the fertile Lancaster Valley viticultural area of western Lancaster County - an area renowned for its rich, well-drained limestone-based soils.

The operating winery was built by J. Richard Nissley to reflect the estate's 18th-century heritage. It is airy and bright while retaining a rustic character. The stainless steel tanks, filters and bottling line are complemented by a large stone fireplace.

On 50 acres of carefully tended vines, they grow 14 varieties of grapes. If you visit early in June, you will catch the luscious fragrance of the grape blossoms, with the tender young grape leaves unfurling. Through the spring and summer, the vineyard staff is busy tying the expanding vines onto their arbors and removing unneeded clusters. With Mother Nature's cooperation, the first plump juicy grapes are ready for harvest by mid-August. The juice that ultimately becomes Nissley estate-bottled wine is pressed from grapes brought into the winery fresh from the vineyards.

Their wines have won numerous awards over the past ten years in state & international competitions. Whenever you visit, wine sampling follows each tour, with home-made grape juice for visitors under age 21, who must be accompanied by their parents on tour.

Nestled in a bucolic valley, a mile southwest of Hammondsport, is the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, home of the world-famous Great Western Winery Visitor Center. Established in 1860, the winery proudly displays the designation U.S. Bonded Winery No.1 and has eight remarkable stone buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The winery retains the original integrity of an old-world winery with caves carved deep into the valley's hillside; it's an architectural masterpiece nestled in the heart of the spectacular Finger Lakes Region of New York State.

The Great Western Winery Visitor Center is the most comprehensive center of its kind in the world; it's fun for the entire family and a great learning experience.

Browse among historical artifacts covering over 140 years of Finger Lakes wine making and grape growing expertise. You'll see an extraordinary working model of the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad, "The Champagne Trail," intricately detailed with over 168 feet of track and 28 switches. Visit our cooper's shop, featuring authentic wine casks and barrels, cooper tools and equipment

History
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The Pleasant Valley Wine Company, popularly known as the Great Western Winery, located near the village of Hammondsport, New York, is the oldest winery in the Finger Lakes region. By the 1830?s and 1840?s, European settlers found that the Finger Lakes region provided such favorable growing conditions that grapes had outgrown home production capacities. On March 15, 1860, Charles Davenport Champlin and 12 local businessmen consolidated their holdings under ?Articles of Association for the Manufacture of Native Wine? and, with $10,000 capitalization, built the first winery in this region, The Hammondsport and Pleasant Valley Wine Company, which was designated as Bonded Winery No.1 in its State and Federal districts.

The original winery was constructed on land whose price had soared from $10 to $100 an acre in one decade! It was built on a slope owned by Mr. Champlin overlooking Pleasant Valley, two miles south of Hammondsport. All wine making operations were carried out by Jules and Joseph Masson, noted French-born winemakers of the time, in still-used wooden and stone structures, with adjacent cellars carved deep into the hillside. Eight of these Great Western Winery buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

During the winery?s first year of operation, 18 tons of Isabella and Catawba grapes were harvested, yielding 220 gallons of wine per ton. On August 17, 1862, the first recorded shipment, 100 gallons of wine, left the winery. Business thrived. While the Civil War brought supply and labor shortages, as well as price increases and transportation difficulties, the enterprise was sufficiently successful in 1865 to invest in champagne-producing equipment. Twenty thousand bottles of Sparkling Catawba were made that year. In 1867, this wine was awarded honorable mention at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, the first American Sparkling wine to win an award in Europe. In 1873 in Vienna, the winery?s champagne was awarded first prize and its first European medal; since then the Company?s champagnes have received numerous European gold medals and other awards.

Because of the internationally recognized excellence of Pleasant Valley Champagnes and because of the similarities of climatic and soil conditions between the area and the Champagne district of France, Pleasant Valley came to be called the ?Rheims of America.? When the U.S. Postal Service opened a branch at the winery in 1870, it used the postmark, ?Rheims, N.Y.?, which was used until 1945 when rural delivery took its place.

In March 1871, Mr. Champlin sent a case of champagne to his close friend, Marshall P. Wilder, who was a well-known wine connoisseur in Boston. After introducing it at a dinner party at the Parker House, Wilder declared it to be "the Great Champagne of the Western World." The Champagne was thus dubbed ?Great Western.?

Shipping records of the 1860?s, 70?s, and 80?s are filled with such prestigious accounts as S.S. Pierce, Macy?s, Park Tilford, George F. Hueblin and Brother, Palmer House of Chicago, Parker House of Boston and individuals such as Professor Henry W. Longfellow of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Pleasant Valley wines appeared on the lists of the most fashionable restaurants. They were even heartily recommended by doctors for their medicinal qualities.

These were exciting years at Pleasant Valley. From 1872 to 1875, Mr. Champlin and area businessmen built the nine-mile Bath to Hammondsport Railroad to combat price increases of canal transportation. Not only was this a successful business venture, but it also brought tourists to the area to ride the Keuka Lake steamers, such as Lulu and Urbana, at 10 cents a ride. Later, on March 8, 1893, the Pleasant Valley Wine Company was registered as a New York State corporation, with the Champlins and Massons holding 205 of 400 outstanding shares of stock. Adding further excitement, on July 4, 1908, Glenn Curtiss made the first pre-announced airplane flight on the Pleasant Valley flats directly below the winery entrance. The world-renowned Curtiss Museum, dedicated to his flying endeavors and the remarkable decades when Hammondsport epitomized the country?s spirit of innovation, attracts aviation enthusiasts from around the world to its spacious quarters across Pleasant Valley from the winery.

The good news that Pleasant Valley had sold more champagne in the first six months of 1919 than in any previous year was marred on July 1 by the enactment of Prohibition. The winery was left with an inventory of 70,000 cases of champagne and substantial quantities of still wine. Yet it survived the 14 years of Prohibition on sales for sacramental and medicinal purposes.

After Repeal in 1933, the Company progressed steadily. Charles D. Champlin II, grandson of the founder and dean of American champagne makers of his time, managed the operation until his death in 1950. The family retained control of the business until 1955 when it was sold to a company run by Marne Obernauer, a businessman from New Jersey, who officially renamed the winery Pleasant Valley Division of Great Western Producers. In 1961, the winery was acquired by The Taylor Wine Company, its next-door neighbor, which was itself acquired first by The Coca-Cola Company in 1977, then Joseph E. Seagram & Sons in 1983 and finally Vintners International Company, Inc., in 1987. Having survived Prohibition and several ownership changes, the winery returned once again to local family control in 1995.

Great Western Winery has the largest plantings of the vinifera varieties Chardonnay and Riesling in the East, pioneered French-American varietals in the 1960?s, was the first New York State winery to produce natural ice wines and is the only New York winery to have won the Governor?s Cup for the ?Best Wine in New York? two years in a row. The winery is the largest producer of bottle-fermented champagnes in the eastern United State and for over a century Great Western Champagnes have been the most-honored American Champagnes in European competition and have enhanced the wine lists of some of the most prestigious American hotels and restaurants.

Our tour begins in The Fountain Room where the Greek goddess Hebe, cup bearer of the gods, holds court. We?ll continue on to our celebrated Antique Glass Museum which houses our priceless champagne & wine glass collection dating back to medieval times. On to our Hospitality Room where your guide presents the unique history of Renault Winery and it?s founder, from the mid-nineteenth century, through prohibition and the jazz age to the present.

We'll continue on through our sun-drenched European Courtyard - a favorite background for wedding portraits. You'll see our private collection of Antique Wine making Equipment, then onto our Pressing Room where our wines are made. Next you'll see our climate-controlled Wine Cellar where the cellarmaster continually monitors our wine aged in giant oak and redwood casks. The tour continues to our Wine Tasting Emporium where you'll have the opportunity to sample our award winning wine and champagne selections.

All our wines and champagnes are available in The Gift Shop, including a unique selection of gift baskets, stemware, carafes and many other interesting items.

For visitors looking for an intimate winery experience, S. Anderson is the perfect place. Away from the crowds, on the Yountville Cross Road, guests will find a friendly, relaxed atmosphere at this family-owned winery and enjoy some of the valley's best still and sparkling wines.

Our tasting room is located in a charming century-old stone pump house surrounded by lovely gardens where guests may take a leisurely stroll. The terrace offers a quiet setting with beautiful views of the vineyard and surrounding hills.

Sequoia Grove Vineyards was founded in 1978 by Jim Allen, whose love for European wines inspired him to discover Napa Valley in the early days, and whose determination has produced elegant, award-winning wines of depth and character ever since. The winery is nestled on 24 acres of choice Napa Valley vineyards in Rutherford, California, on the site of a 100 year-old farmhouse surrounded by some of the last sequoia trees in the Napa Valley. These redwoods are carefully preserved by the Allen family and today, the majestic sequoia trees have become the trademark of the winery and symbols of the family's commitment to conservation of our natural resources.
The 24-acre estate is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and a small amount of Chardonnay. The Rutherford viticultural district is more than an appellation of Napa Valley. Rutherford is an icon of quality, the standard bearer for the best fruit. It is the center of Napa Valley, where some of the most sought-after wines in the world are produced.

Stonington Vineyards was established by Nick and Happy Smith in 1987, when purchasing 58 acres in the Stonington Uplands on which winegrapes had been planted earlier in the decade. The winery was constructed in 1988/89 incorporating the latest in winemaking technology and the traditional methods of barrel fermentation. From the start, Mike McAndrew has been the Winemaker, garnering the reputation for producing quality, European-style table wines that have won numerous awards over the years.

Stonington is best known for its barrel fermented Chardonnays and its proprietory blends Seaport White and Seaport Blush. We also produce, as varietals, Fumé Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.

Our vineyards are situated on south-sloping well-drained glacial soils. The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean provides us with a maritime microclimate not unlike Bordeaux with a long and relatively cool growing season.

The majority of our wines is sold from the winery tasting room with the balance to fine restaurants and wine shops throughout Connecticut and small volumes to Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Located in one of the most historic buildings on the island of Maui. The King's Cottage dates to 1874, when it was built specifically for the visit of Hawaii's monarch David Kalakaua and queen Kapi'olani. During his turbulent reign, which began that year and lasted until his death 1891, Hawai'i's last king often came to Ulupalakua find peace of mind.
The centerpiece of the Tasting Room is an eighteen-foot-long bar cut from the trunk of a single mango tree. Shelves are stocked with Hawaiian-made products and specialty foods and gifts.

The Tasting Room provides packaging to make it easy to carry our wines back home, either carried on or checked as luggage. The outlying grounds, shaded by trees more than a hundred years old, retain the buildings and landmarks of a fascinating bygone era. This is the landscape of old Rose Ranch, one of Hawai'i's most prosperous and admired nineteenth-century sugar plantations as well as the headquarters of present-day 'Ulupalakua Ranch, home of the Paniolo or Hawaiian cowboy.

Today the ranch is a destination for visitors exploring rural Upcountry Maui. They picnic here and learn island history by touring the grounds.
The Kalakaua Cottage Tasting Room is open nine to five daily (except for major holidays).

One of the most important aspects of Three Lakes Winery is our tours. This is because we consider it an important tool in educating people about the difference between fruit winemaking and making grape wine. We also have the chance to show how our fruit wines are different from other fruit wines! The Tour has a prominent place in our website, too, although nothing can compare to the "real" thing. As you read, try to imagine the smell of wine fermenting, or the sound of the bottling machine in action...better yet, plan a trip up to Three Lakes and stop in! We are open all year round, seven days a week.

Vine Cliff Winery offers unparalleled hospitality to its guests on its beautiful and historic 100-acre estate. Vine Cliff is located on the Silverado Trail between the Yountville and Oakville crossroads.

The wine tastings are conducted in the main barrel room at a magnificent antique English pine table. The tour includes the underground aging caves, the production facilities, vineyards, and beautifully landscaped grounds. All of these are situated in a canyon about 100 feet above the Trail, affording stunning views of the valley below.

Small groups as well as individuals are welcomed at Vine Cliff. Each guest or group is, whenever possible, given time and attention on an exclusive, individual basis, for a most memorable Napa Valley winery experience.

Please call Vine Cliff at 707-944-2388 to arrange an unparalleled tour and tasting.

Vine Cliff Winery Caves

All of Vine Cliff?s wine is aged in underground tunnels or caves. From 1991 to the year 2000 the wine was aged in the stone cellar, originally built by Chinese laborers in 1871, and in the fifty-foot long concrete-lined tunnel constructed in 1990 that connects the Winery to the old cellar.

The year 2000 saw the completion of 15,000 square feet of tunnels carved out of the Vine Cliff canyon rock, just across the drive from the winery. These tunnels have a twelve-foot diameter bore and have been carved into the hill in a ladder configuration. The entrance portal gives access to the 260 foot long right tunnel, which is connected to the 200 foot long parallel left tunnel by five 100 foot cross tunnels.

These caves have racking facilities and can accommodate approximately 1500 - 2000 barrels of wine. The climate will be naturally maintained at a constant 60 degrees F., with about 60% humidity year round.

Additionally, carved out of the volcanic Tufa and Basalite rock, between the first and second cross tunnel, a 50 foot long by 18 foot wide by 30 foot high function room has been created. This will provide the winery with ample space to seat fifty guests at a winemaker?s dinner or other events.