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 Jennifer Endicott on 21 Nov 2009
This winery is off the beaten path and the tasting room has a cute, homey feel. We were camping in the area and I saw a sign on the side of the road for it. It is basically set in the middle of no where and you drive up a one-lane gravel drive surrounded by grape vines. I had my one-year old with me since we were on a family vacation and they were so attentive to him in the tasting room--they gave him all the pretzels he could eat. They have a great Merlot! Sandhill cranes (the birds) are very prominent in that area--hence the name. We saw a bunch of them driving the back roads.
This winery is located in Jackson, MI, 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 Jessica O‘Brien on 30 Mar 2009
I didn't have a choice in going to this particular winery because it was part of a wine excursion for school. But it was my favorite winery out of the three we visited that day. This winery offers a small, friendly feel. The winemaker, Mr. Helm himself will take you on a tour of his winery and will sit down and taste wines with you. He provides you with a "welcome to the family" atmosphere and will chat you up about anything (I really mean anything...he gave us a quick little latin lesson). The winery is located in a somewhat remote area (you have to drive on a dirt road to get to it) but its scenery is beautiful. You are taken away from all the noise of the city and able to enjoy the "outback" of NSW.
This winery is located in MURRUMBATEMAN, New South Wales, Australia
Posted by Jim Morrison on 23 Apr 2009
This winery is one of the best in New England. A beautiful
tasting room with a large stone fireplace and large windows looking out into manicured vineyards and a picture perfect postcard of quaint barns and old stone walls.
Then there is the wine! Delicious brooding reds and delicate whites. Don‘t be surprised if John Edwards joins you with a taste in between his wine making duties or better yet invite you to a barrel tasting.
All and all this is a fabulous little winery that will enchant you and most likely "WOW"
you! It‘s a must visit if your staying a couple days at one of the nearby casinos.
By the way I have no personal
affiliation to this winery…I just think it‘s a well kept secret
with locals and visitors that love this place…like myself.
This winery is located in N. Stonington, CT, USA
Posted by Jim Morrison on 29 Apr 2009
We went to this winery recently and instantly I felt like I was transformed into one of the wineries in Rhone Valley. Beautiful grounds and beautiful vineyards with a unique rustic touch...The winery is located in a mountainous area right in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Small hills and rock filled vineyards form the terroir of these concentrated wines all named after the wine maker‘s dogs that seem to have free range of the place.
By the way there is an excellent bistro in the winery that
can‘t be missed. We had a mixed cheese plate and some
great wines to pair with for little cost. This place is hard to find and probably off the beaten path but well worth the
find. Great wines...Great food...Great scenery...
This winery is located in Blue Ridge Parkway, VA, USA
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 Joanna Walters on 20 Feb 2009
Robert the winemaker, owner, and wooden-shoe afficianado is often found pouring his delicious reds at the tasting room. He prides himself on selling his wines only when they are ready to drink so you don't have to be patient to enjoy them. You can find the winery by looking for the driveway fence topped by yellow wooden clogs.
This winery is located in Fair Play, CA, USA
Posted by John Kibler on 09 Feb 2009
Brokenwood deserves a visit for four reasons. First, it sells some of the best red wines in the Hunter Valley, an area not well respected for reds. Second, it maintains the small-winery, homey tasting room ambiance in an area overrun with the mega-winery tasting rooms. Third, the servers are personable and knowledgeable. A fourth reason is that they do not allow tour buses, which keeps the crowds down too.
This winery is located in Cessnock, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Posted by Kathy on 18 Feb 2009
This is a small winery specializing in fruit wines. I first found them when dining at a friend's cabin on a lake in the North Woods--blue sky, sun sparkling on the water, and sweet light cranberry wine. I love all their wines, which are very affordable to boot. The people at the winery couldn't be nicer; there's a retail shop and they give free tours throughout the day. Well worth a visit!
This winery is located in Three Lakes, WI, USA
Posted by Kathy Lee on 05 Feb 2009
beautiful
This winery is located in Napa, CA, USA
Posted by Leah on 22 May 2008
We discovered Summerland winery about 4 years ago on a visit to Santa Barbara. We were renting a house and upon our arrival found a bottle of their chardonnay (and a tray of freshly baked brownies) waiting for us in the kitchen. It turned out that there was no winery to visit, but they had a tasting room just down the hill in a new, little shopping center. It was kind of like visiting a shop in the Hamptons (what else would you expect of a beach town named after a beach season?). I half expected Ina Garten or Martha Stewart to walk in looking for supplies. The little wine bar (about 2 persons big) offered samples of some of the food items they were sellling alongside their wine and various apparel items. The woman who was in charge of the shop was very pleasant and knowledgeable and kept opening various Santa Barbara food products for us to try along with the wine (we're still hooked on the flavored pistachio nuts). We've since found Summerland in attendance at many local wine events and festivals (Los Angeles/Santa Barbara area). I'm happy to see that they're still growing and producing wines that are still enjoyable.
This winery is located in Summerland, CA, USA
Posted by Leah on 22 May 2008
I liked not only the wines (especially the whites), but also the atmosphere of Gainey Vineyard. Even though a large, private function was in progress out on their patio while we were there, the tasting room didn't miss a beat. They also have a great shop that sells many wine country food items and other things you feel the need to buy! I loved the pepper trees that flanked the road on the drive into the winery. I highly recommend a visit to this winery!
This winery is located in Santa Ynez, 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 Len Eisenstein on 15 Jun 2009
Domaine Ferrando »
Recently, on a "business trip" to Paris my colleagues and I tasted an excellent bottle of Rhone wine. It was called Colombis Chateauneuf du Pape, 2006 from Domaine Ferrando. It smelled of strawberries and rasberry aromas. The taste was silky, smooth and very fruit foward.
This winery is located in Rhone, France
Posted by Mary Gollwitzer on 02 Mar 2009
We stopped at Black Wolf at lunch time. We had a personalized tasting right at our table before ordering lunch. Our waitress was knowledgable about the wines, the winery, etc. The wines were reasonably priced and delicious, as was lunch.
This winery is located in Dobson, NC, USA
Posted by Matt Tompkins on 22 Apr 2009
Paolo Bea is a small, family run organic winery in Umbria. Giampiero, one of the sons, gives a lovely tour—as long as you'd like. Only want to taste? No problem, into the tasting room we go. Want to feel the earth between your toes where the vines grow? Let's walk out back. They'll tell you all about their wines and how it's made without technology, over 2 wonderful hours of tasting. All grapes and olives are harvested by hand and their creative labels are individually numbered. The sagrantino grape is deep in color and the wine bursts with flavor in your mouth.
We communicated directly with Giampiero by email and 6 of us visited in June 2006, during the World Cup. I asked him what he would drink to celebrate, if Italy won (which they did), and he proceeded to let us taste a wine, poured by his mother, that had been fermenting for years, which they weren't selling at the time. Very personal.
This winery is located in Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
Posted by Meg & Dave on 30 Aug 2008
We love Thornton Winery! They're known mostly for their champagnes, but also make red and white wines. The best thing about the winery to us is their Champagne Jazz concerts that they have during the summer months. They have them out on their fountain terrace, which we heard is also a good place for wedding receptions. We just saw Dave Koz and it was fantastic! You're practically sitting on the stage you're so close, and you get to meet the artists after the concert. We also got the dinner (made by their Cafe Champagne) and it was pretty tasty. If you like jazz, you must go to a concert here! They get some pretty big names and you can't beat the setting. We got some great photos, too (no need for zoom lenses here!).
This winery is located in Temecula, CA, USA
Posted by Michael R. on 10 May 2009
Beautiful subterranean storage caves. Powerful Central California reds. About a mile east of US 101. We stopped by on the way from SoCal to NorCal. Pleasant reception in their tasting room. Within the man-made caves, they have carved out a banquet room for special occasions. It's an anti-L.A. experience!
This winery is located in Paso Robles, CA , USA
Posted by Philip Sunseri on 22 Mar 2009
Unique history, great wine.
This winery is located in Vina, CA, USA
Posted by Rich on 23 May 2008
Chateau Montelena is a gem located at the Calistoga end of Napa Valley wine country. The old stone Chateau is a beautiful setting. The wines are delicious (after all, Montelena's '73 Chardonnay was the winner of the infamous 1976 Paris tasting that put them on the map internationally). The tour is an interesting one, so consider taking it if you have the time.
This winery is located in Calistoga, CA, USA
