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 Joanie on 02 Feb 2009
Santa Barbara Winery's tasting room is located in downtown Santa Barbara on the Urban Wine Trail, walking distance from State St. and the beach. The doors are open daily from 10am-5pm for tasting ($5 for six wines, and your crystal logo glass). The tasting room also has a lovely gift shop with a range of wine accessories, gourmet food items, and books. The winery's estate vineyard, Lafond, is in the Sta. Rita Hills, but the white wines are made at the adjoining downtown production facility. The tasting room is framed by the barrel and tank rooms with a warehouse in back. Very friendly and knowledgable staff provide infinite dining recommendations, including the Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro, also owned by Pierre Lafond. The first post-prohibition commercial winery in Santa Barbara deserves a visit for high quality and reasonably priced Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah as well as a variety of other wines. Most crowded on weekends.
This winery is located in Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Posted by David J. Whelan on 03 Feb 2009
Any visit to the Napa/Sonoma area demands a stop at Clos Pegase. Jan and Mitsuko have created a beautiful world that melds wine, food, art, culture, and fun. From the moment you drive up to Clos Pegase, you know something is different. The winery is architecturally stunning, blending into the hillside, enhanced by whimsical sculpture. Inside, the themes of art and wine continue. Sculpture is joined by paintings of the Pegasus, new versions of which adorn their special Pegase Circle releases every year. Wine dinners, tastings, and cruises with the Schrems are part of the annual cycle at Clos Pegase. And what about the wine? Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown and bottled at this estate winery. I can't remember ever having a bad bottle. Just writing this makes me want to hop in the car and drive up from Los Angeles! Perhaps we will cross paths there....
This winery is located in Calistoga, CA, USA
Posted by Roshan Sonthalia on 03 Feb 2009
Private little winery. Make a reservation, and you get to go to the "house" on the vineyard where the wine is stored and produced, and meet with the winemakers. The drive through the vineyards to get to the house is on a road about a foot wider than the car, and the wine is worth it.
This winery is located in Santa Ynez, CA, USA
Posted by Tim on 04 Feb 2009
This vineyard is easy to miss along Alamo Pintado Road, but it is well worth the stop. The tasting room is small, but personal and somewhat homey. Their Chardonnay is amazing -- it rekindled my affection for white wines.
This winery is located in Solvang, CA, USA
Posted by Diana on 05 Feb 2009
It's a really nice small vineyard near the Shenandoah's. While vacationing in the Shenandoahs, we visited a small winery. It has a raspberry dessert wine. When you do your tasting, they give you chocolate, and have you put it in your mouth and then swirl the wine with it.
Delicious.
This winery is located in Edinburg, VA, 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 DK on 05 Feb 2009
Small winery, kind of tucked away in the hills of the East Bay, CA. But really a gem of a place, especially in the summer. The 2003 cab is a winner in my book - very easy to drink, as my wife can attest! I like to bring the whole family here, and let my kids run around and enjoy the place, while my wife and I sample the wines. Also try the Riesling.
This winery is located in Castro Valley, CA, USA
Posted by Jessica Louie on 05 Feb 2009
This was the first tasting room we stopped in when we got to Healdsburg and it sure set the standard for the day! The wine was fantastic, I especially loved their rose, and to top it off the people there were so friendly and helpful! They recommended a few wines for us to try with the dinner we were cooking that night and it was a great pairing.
This winery is located in Healdsburg, CA, USA
Posted by Erin Leary on 05 Feb 2009
A relatively new winery, they are putting out some very impressive wines. The 2006 Zinfandel in particular is a stand out - very full flavor, lots of fruitiness and packed with other treats for the senses. I enjoyed this wine with hors d'oeuvres, as a part of a pairing at a chef's table dinner, and at home by itself. It is a wine that really delivers.
This winery is located in Fair Play, CA, USA
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 Urvi on 05 Feb 2009
Turnbull is a small vineyard that really deserves a visit. We rarely go to a winery where we actually think each and every wine we've tasted is fantastic. Turnbull has been the only winery we've been to that fits that description. I encourage you to go to the reserve room. There were delicious wines and there was even a photography exhibit being featured!
This winery is located in Napa, CA, USA
Posted by Kathy Lee on 05 Feb 2009
beautiful
This winery is located in Napa, CA, USA
Posted by Edward Lo on 09 Feb 2009
Very interesting winery with strong Italian roots, producing a great tasting Nebbiolo and Super Tuscan. Had a delicious lunch as part of the GrapeLine tour. They have an outdoor area that can be setup for small weddings and their cask room can accommodate a small reception. The guide on our winery tour told us that on certain days, they will let you taste the wine straight from the fermenting vats. The wine club gives some decent discounts, especially if you buy in quantity.
This winery is located in Temecula, CA, USA
Posted by Leeann L. on 09 Feb 2009
Herman is a small rustic town with a lot of local shops. The winery itself had a beautiful quaint restaurant on site. They have several tasting rooms and they offer tours for next to nothing. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The wine is great. If you like sweet wine I recommend the Vinscatto.
This winery is located in Hermann, MO, USA
Posted by Diana Hayes on 09 Feb 2009
This is a small micro winery up in the mountains of New York. According to their website they are the highest elevation vineyard in the Northeast USA. I enjoyed their wine when we visited the town of Windham. They have a day in the fall when they invite the locals to come and help pick grapes. You pick the grapes, have a sumptious feast for lunch and then get to use certificates to pick out wine to bring home. I found it while visiting my sister, introduced her to their wines and she went for the picking. She then picked out the wine for the family Christmas dinner.
My sister brought the rose and chardonnay for dinner, but the maple syrup dessert wine is one of my favorites to pour over my ice cream.
This winery is located in Windham, NY, USA
Posted by Urvi on 09 Feb 2009
St. Supery is a great place to take guests who want to take in California sunshine and great wine. The grounds around the winery make for an amazing walk. There's a beautiful farm house on the property that gives you a nice view of what old Napa looked like. Inside, there's a self-guided tour where you learn more about what goes into the varietals and you can see St. Supery's casks as the staff works away in the warehouse.
There's a private room where you can set up tastings for large groups and at the end of the walking tour, you arrive at the tasting room, which is incredibly intimate and yet unpretentious. I thought the staff was incredibly helpful and well-informed about the surroundings, giving us a great lunch recommendation nearby (Rutherford Grill). I highly recommend the Sauvingnon Blanc, which is the best I've had in Napa.
This winery is located in Napa, CA, 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 William Limburg on 14 Feb 2009
The owner/winemaker creates some of the best wines in the Sierra Foothills and the tasting experience, with frequent barrel tastings, is always enjoyable. The winemaker, Robert, along with his father (during the half of the year when he visits from the Netherlands) engage visitors at a personal level, while also being highly knowledgeable about all aspects of winemaking & enjoyment.
This winery is located in Fairplay, CA, USA
Posted by Walt Spevak on 16 Feb 2009
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Great Vintage Brut. Also pinots, chardonnay, dessert wines and others...all in a spectacular setting with an outside terrace for basking in the warm sunshine. Stanford alums may enjoy knowing that owner, Judy Jordan, played on Stanford's 1981 NCAA championship tennis team.
This winery is located in Healdsburg, CA, USA
Posted by Scott on 17 Feb 2009
My wife, me, and some friends recently went wine tasting in the Sonoma Valley. While we had some very good experiences (and some great tales), I was particularly impressed with Ravenswood winery. This winery is known for its Zins and it did not disappoint. At the winery, there are two "tasting" areas--one for the reserves and one for the rest. Rather than forking over a higher tasting fee, and wanting to try a wine for the "masses," we tasted with "Uncle Bob" at the regular station. Here we tried some very subtle and wonderful Zins. With my interest peaked, Bob allowed us to sample some wines not on the "flight" including a 2000 and 2001 Monte Rosso Zinfindel. I was so impressed with the 2000, that I bought a magnum for later consumption. I also joined their wine club which I am really looking forward to sampling. Of course, when you do so, they offer discounts on purchases and waive the tasting fees. Overall, this was a great winery which lives up to its motto: "No Wimpy Wines" (No Vinos Sin Huevos). 'Nuf Said.
This winery is located in Sonoma, CA, USA
