Welcome to the Swirl, Sniff, Sip, Spit Winery Resource! This community resource is the result of recommendations made by a variety of wine aficionados. It is intended to provide people in search of good wine tasting experiences with recommendations on various wineries and tasting rooms around the world. Entries are made by going to the Entry Page. The results shown can be sorted in various ways by using the “sort by” links below. You can also search by key words using the filter to select the entries of interest to you. We welcome your entries and your feedback. Of course, the opinions expressed are those of the people making the recommendations. Enjoy!
We also have our own list of wineries at our Wineries page.
Posted by Alex on 13 Apr 2009
Beautiful winery that looks like a Mediterranean villa. We checked this place out during the 2008 Santa Barbara Vintner's Festival. Wines were all good. They were even serving complimentary hors d'oeuvres that rivaled anything you could order in a restaurant (though I think it was only due to the festival that weekend). A bit crowded that day, but still a pleasurable experience. One of Santa Barbara's wine legacies.
This winery is located in Lompoc, CA, USA
Posted by Ashley Matheus on 05 Feb 2009
This is a great, locally owned and operated winery, with amazing ownership. They are so friendly, make fantastic wine, and are so welcoming you feel like part of the family. Right now they have "Recession Red", a tasty red blend that is priced at .1% of the DOW, and you have to pay in cash (because credit is what got us here in the first place :)
This winery is located in San Anselmo, CA, USA
Posted by Beth Bright on 12 Jun 2009
Great setting - great fun! Little Swan Winery is located in Northwest Iowa outside the skirts of the small town of Superior, Iowa tucked back along a small lake. The winery offers all sorts of wines to please the plallets of many. They also offer several varities of cheeses and their speciality is Buffalo meat raised right there on the farm. You can offen go to have a fresh grilled buffalo burger or buffalo lasagna. Chicks, Flicks and Wine is an event attended by many women once a month. A guest speaker opens the evening and a good flick is shown following. Wine and munchies of course are consumed my many.
This winery is located in Superior, IA, USA
Posted by Beth Hoff on 19 Feb 2009
They have a wonderful selection of wines that will make your mouth water. For instance one of my favorites is the 2007 vintage it's their 4th ice wine! This very fine and concentrated sweet estate wine is in 375 ml bottles and is intended to be enjoyed for special occasions.
This winery is located in Prairie du Sac, WI, USA
Posted by Bettie on 30 Sep 2009
We prefer the wineries in the Central Coast of California but often find ourselves down in the Temecula wine country because of it's close proximity to our home. One winery that stood out on our last visit was Ponte Winery. In the tasting room you can taste 6 different wines for and keep the glass. The tasting room has high beam ceilings and plenty of counter space for tasting. Their wine is only sold in the tasting room. You can also dine among the vineyards or shop in their marketplace. Ponte Winery is a friendly family owned winery. Enjoy!
This winery is located in Temecula, California, USA
Posted by Bettie Infante on 24 Mar 2009
Wilson Creek Winery is a family affair in the Temecula Wine Country in Southern California. We visited this winery three years ago and then just recently. It has grown in three years but still remains a warm and friendly experience. Strolling the gardens you will encounter many of the Wilson family members from the patriarch of the family Gerry to Cabernet the dog. Wilson Creek is known for it's Almond Champagne. More of a wine lover than a champagne lover I was hesitant to try their Almond Champagne but after I did I was sold. Back in the intimate barrel room they serve their signature "Almond Joy." This is port wine poured into a chocolate demitasse cup and topped off with their Almond Champagne. Everything is edible even the cup! WOW! The best dessert you'll ever have, yes better than chocolate souffle.
This winery is located in Temecula, CA, USA
Posted by Bettie Infante on 04 Aug 2009
Earlier this week we visited several wineries in Paso Robles and the San Luis Obispo area of California to celebrate our anniversary. Along Highway 46 on the east side of 101 you will find a dozen or so wineries with diverse wine tastings. Two that stood out for us were Opolo and Eberle. Opolo has a very friendly, complimentary wine tasting room. It is off the main road down a country road and has a "down to earth" feel. By the way, Opolo means fun! It is one of the newer wineries. 1999 marked the first commercial crush under the Opolo label. On the other hand, Eberle is one of the more established wineries. At Eberle you can enjoy complimentary wine tasting, explore more than 16,000 square feet of underground caves, or enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch on the deck overlooking the Estate vineyard. 2009 marked 30 years of fine winemaking at Eberle! Our tour of the underground caves was fascinating. This area has grown so much that there are currently over 200 wineries in the Central California region. Who needs to go to Napa? Cheers!
This winery is located in Paso Robles, CA, USA
Posted by Bettie@wineablegifts on 03 Feb 2010
Justin Winery is a little out of the way, but well worth the drive. To get to the winery you have to drive down an old country road canopied with oak trees. This time of year the drive is green and beautiful. We tasted six of their wines and loved them all. Loved them so much we joined their wine society club. The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Justin winery is family owned and operated. Besides the winery there is a gourmet restaurant (Deborah's Room) and a Bed & breakfast called Just Inn. You will not be disappointed. A must visit!
This winery is located in Paso Robles, California, USA
Posted by Beverly on 10 Feb 2009
The winery was very laid back and relaxing. The staff was very attentive and interacted with us. All of the wine was great and we were offered full glass samples at no charge. They also have a great store that sells cheese, meats, etc. We bought some snacks and had a great picnic on the property.
This winery is located in Sonoma, CA, USA
Posted by Billy Thompson on 12 Apr 2009
When at San Pietro Restaurant in NYC we had a bottle of Portalupi Zinfandel and it blew our mind. I contacted Tim Borges and Jane Portaulpi and they are the NICEST couple to work with and are genuine good people. Their wines have won awards in CA and well worth the accolades.
This winery is located in Sonoma, CA, USA
Posted by Blind Muscat on 17 Apr 2009
This has to be one of the funkiest, most unusual tasting rooms on the planet, plus they make some darn good wine--Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, red blends, unusual grapes like Negrette.
But ah, the tasting room. DeRose is located in one part of the old, nearly abandoned Heublein monster complex in San Benito County (that's the county east of Monterey County). Besides the usual tasting bar and cash register, it has the San Andreas Fault running right through it -- visibly -- complete with cracks in the floor and the walls and the ceiling, and a plaque from the Coast and Geodetic Survey folks indicating it's one of the best places to stare the San Andreas straight in the face.
Plus, Pat DeRose has the best mustache in the wine business -- you can see it on their website.
Until a few years back the tasting room was furnished with used, reconditioned airline coach seats, from a repair facility across the highway, which made lounging along the fault line even more amusing. They finally took the seats out, because too many folks were just spending the day lounging around and not buying wine.
Still, more than worth a trip -- and a fine introduction to the wineries of this overlooked little growing and winemaking region.
This winery is located in Holister, CA, USA
Posted by Carla on 22 Apr 2009
This winery is a complete experience. From their website, to their handcrafted fine cheeses, to their exquisite wines the whole experience leaves you wanting more. I have been looking in the Seattle area for a Tannat wine, as they are very hard to fine. Only today did I bring my prize home; the only disappointment, it is not from Narbona. I have yet to see a winery equal to Narbona. I challenge you to head south to Uruguay and taste for yourself.
[Ed Note: See also www.fincaygranjanarbona.com]
[Ed Note: See also www.fincaygranjanarbona.com]
This winery is located in Puerto Carmelo, Uruguay
Posted by Carolyn Gonzalez on 31 Mar 2009
Biltmore Estates »
I recently moved to NC and so a friend gave us a few bottles of this wine and it was delicious.
This winery is located in Asheville, NC, USA
Posted by Christian Staples on 17 Apr 2009
The 35,000-square-foot facility at Childress Vineyards is poised to become a destination for visitors and North Carolinians alike. Designed by Winston-Salem, NC architect Kyle Troxell, the stone and stucco building, with its ornate terra cotta roof is inspired by the Italian Renaissance architecture of rural Tuscany. The winery's opulent interiors are the creation of Wolf Design Group in Atlanta, GA.
This winery is located in Lexington, NC, USA
Posted by Christine Siebels on 09 Jun 2008
Great wine/food/golf and accomodations.
This winery is located in Napa Valley, CA, USA
Posted by Craig L. on 02 Jul 2009
Noted for their great pinot noirs (4 pinots ranging from $30-$75 per bottle) but also have pinot blanc and gris (both $18 per bottle). Family run 110 acre estate winery by the parents and four daughters (the four graces) and one son. Gorgeous winery; have 3 wine dogs (2 golden retrievers and one Irish setter).
This winery is located in Dundee, OR, USA
Posted by Daisy Penzo on 18 Feb 2009
This family owned estate makes a fantastic Pinot Noir. Oltrepo Pavese (in Lombardy) is known for Pinot's and champagne-like wines.. so make sure to taste their Pinot Nero Rose' brut !! The Scarani family is very friendly and their son Alberto speaks English so you won't feel completely lost :)
This winery is located in Cigognola - Pavia, Oltrepo Pavese, Italy
Posted by Dan Pennington on 05 Feb 2009
This is a must go-to winery when in that area! The wine storage in a natural cave is incredible (compared to the typical warehouse!). Their Isosceles wine is excellent. After touring their facility, I have been a member of their wine club for several years and look forward to every shipment.
This winery is located in Paso Robles, CA, USA
Posted by Dave on 24 Feb 2009
Robyn is the daughter of Reg and Pam Drayton who owned the winery when Linda and I visited there a number of years ago. If you make the journey to the Hunter Valley, the wine region in NSW is known mostly for their excellent whites. Theirs is a family run winery that is a must if you like a comfortable environment with very warm and engaging staff. We spent a very enjoyable afternoon tasting wine and listening to stories of the founding of the Hunter Valley wine region. Reg and Pam had passed away a year earlier (plane crash) and the family had created a commemorative port. After an entire afternoon of tasting their best, they mentioned this port and they then broke out a bottle for us to taste. It was TERRIFIC! Some of the best I had ever tasted (and in turn we purchased a number of bottles). It was one of the most memorable afternoons spent with wine experts and enthusiasts who enjoy talking about their passion of making great wine. If in the Hunter Valley, please stop by and say hello for us.
This winery is located in Pokolbin, New South Wales, Australia
Posted by Dave on 02 May 2009
Rich, during our recent trip to Paris we took a tour of castles in the Loire Valley. We chanced on a family run winery which has been in the Plou family since 1508. Their tasting center is still manned by family members. A young lady (about 19) was our host and in tasting red wines, I asked her the differnce between Cuvee Prestige and the Cuvee Les Menigottes; her scientific answer was in very broken english that it was "stronger". Very charming and very warm environment with a reasonable price for the Touraine wine growing area. The two wines I mentioned were 6 & 7 Euros, yet very drinkable. I will share when next you visit.
[Ed. Note: Bribing me with wine doesn‘t guarantee you a win, but it doesn‘t hurt either.]
[Ed. Note: Bribing me with wine doesn‘t guarantee you a win, but it doesn‘t hurt either.]
This winery is located in Amboise, Loire Valley, France
