Your favorite Cali Wineries... that are gone now?

[M_Dildine]

@Steve Brickley

Gemello

Old school!

[Bob_Hunnicutt]

@Ed Kurtzman

Bellerose from Dry Creek. Their Bordeaux blends were similar to Quilceda Creek’s when they started out. I’m glad I have a couple of '85 Bellerose magnums.

Didn’t know anyone else remembered Bellerose.
Or the old Fountain Grove Winery for that matter.

[G_Bienstock]

@michaelhavens

Yes, I am in cahoots with Morgan Twain-Peterson in the Abrente brand. Also to look for in a few months: Cave Dog, a Merlot/Cab Franc blend I’m now making from the vineyard blocks I formerly used in Bourriquot. First release will be the 2014.

Very excited to hear this Michael.

[Bob_Davis]

@larry schaffer

Garretson was a fave for many . . .

The first 3-4 years were very good. Loved the Rose. I never figured out or heard why it imploded.

[Stu_Fishler]

Bob-

re;Garretson-My guess (as a decent-sized consumer of ALL his stuff) would be the plastic enclosure-prompted recalls and all the damn travelling…plus I hear he wuz going blind from all the day-glo colors he chose for labels and capsules).

[AlexS]

@G. Bienstock

@michaelhavens

Yes, I am in cahoots with Morgan Twain-Peterson in the Abrente brand. Also to look for in a few months: Cave Dog, a Merlot/Cab Franc blend I’m now making from the vineyard blocks I formerly used in Bourriquot. First release will be the 2014.

Very excited to hear this Michael.

+2!

Michael, are you going to start a list for this and if so, any info on how/where to sign up? Thx.

[Markus_S]

@Mel Knox

I am surprised nobody mentioned Long Vineyards, where some legendary chardonnays were made.
The cabernet was wonderful too.

Beautiful property they had too. I remember them.

[Markus_S]

@Greg D

… I have a soft spot for SCM wineries in the first place…

Ever miss Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard?

I never met Milan, but seem to remember he used to post to alt.food.wine back in the late 90’s.
Had a chardonnay of his that really threw me off tasting blind.

[Robert_Dentice]

Vare and specifically the period when Abe made the wines. Those wines were so good and WAY ahead of their time. Not sure if Vare is continuing after George Vares passing.

[Bob_Davis]

@Stu Fishler

Bob-

re;Garretson-My guess (as a decent-sized consumer of ALL his stuff) would be the plastic enclosure-prompted recalls and all the damn travelling…plus I hear he wuz going blind from all the day-glo colors he chose for labels and capsules).

I forgot about the plastic capsules. About 2-3 years after they closed I opened my last dozen bottles or so and they were all bad. It’s really a shame. Mat had made some very good wines.

[TomHill]

@Robert Dentice

Vare and specifically the period when Abe made the wines. Those wines were so good and WAY ahead of their time. Not sure if Vare is continuing after George Vares passing.

Was just out at RibollaFest a week ago & visited a bit w/ ElsaVare. The Vare wines are no longer being made. At RibollaFest last year, we had some hlf btls
of the first Vare RG. It was amazingly good.
George’s RG vnyd is now owned by Gary & Cynthia Bengier and is in good hands. They continue to sell those grapes to an assortment of
winemakers to see what they can do w/ RG.
Tom

[Brian_Lynch]

@ATaylor

S. Anderson

The sparklers were some of the best around and the Richard Chambers Vineyard Cabs were really nice bottles.

+1.

Not many (if any) pull off that combo well.

[Brian_Lynch]

@Patrick L a m b e r t

Steltzner

Anyone know what happened there?

Great location

[dougwilder]

A precursor of Lancaster, called Maacama Creek was a beautiful example of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon back in the early '90s, $12.00.

[Thomas_Keim]

@dougwilder

A precursor of Lancaster, called Maacama Creek was a beautiful example of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon back in the early '90s, $12.00.

A good friend of mine was their broker for years 15-20 years ago, and those were absolutely marvelous Cabernets for the money. We actually used to stay at the owner’s house when in the Alexander Valley - he was such a cool guy - can’t for the life of me remember his name - and yah - 12 bucks for a great Alexander Valley Cabernet -

[Evan_Pontoriero]

Litton Springs

[michaelhavens]

@AlexS

@G. Bienstock

@michaelhavens

Yes, I am in cahoots with Morgan Twain-Peterson in the Abrente brand. Also to look for in a few months: Cave Dog, a Merlot/Cab Franc blend I’m now making from the vineyard blocks I formerly used in Bourriquot. First release will be the 2014.

Very excited to hear this Michael.

+2!

Michael, are you going to start a list for this and if so, any info on how/where to sign up? Thx.

Yes, there will be a list on a landing site soon–maybe September. I’ll make sure it gets posted here. Thanks for your interest!

[Marilyn_Eickenhorst]

@Thomas Keim

@Mel Knox

I am surprised nobody mentioned Long Vineyards, where some legendary chardonnays were made.
The cabernet was wonderful too.

True - maybe the best Chardonnays available when they were produced.

I totally agree. Loved Long Vineyard’s chardonnays, plus it was a great place to visit.

Marilyn

Wine Travel Around The World

[Kevin_Porter]

Alcina Cellars (really just miss Greg)

[Robert_Dentice]

@TomHill

@Robert Dentice

Vare and specifically the period when Abe made the wines. Those wines were so good and WAY ahead of their time. Not sure if Vare is continuing after George Vares passing.

Was just out at RibollaFest a week ago & visited a bit w/ ElsaVare. The Vare wines are no longer being made. At RibollaFest last year, we had some hlf btls
of the first Vare RG. It was amazingly good.
George’s RG vnyd is now owned by Gary & Cynthia Bengier and is in good hands. They continue to sell those grapes to an assortment of
winemakers to see what they can do w/ RG.
Tom

Thanks for the info.