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 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
Kaena's tasting room is on San Marcos Avenue in Los Olivos. Mikael Sigouin, the winemaker/proprietor (who has also been a winemaker at Fess Parker and is now also head winemaker at the iconic Beckmen), is often on hand to pour his wines as he also pours out his winemaking expertise and information about his wines (and those of others in the area if you ask). Kaena has a Hawaiian theme (Mikael was born and raised in Honolulu). He has a focus on Grenache, and he also produces a wide range of other delicious wines. The tasting room is often busy, but no matter--he's ready to engage with everyone.
This winery is located in Los Olivos, CA, USA
Great wine, and they have some estate rentals where you can escape in privacy while visiting wine country.
This winery is located in Calistoga, 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 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 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 Scott on 24 Apr 2009
Mosby was one winery we wanted to visit during our Santa Barbara wine tasting trips. The winery has a nice, quaint tasting room with a very friendly "down home" feel. The tasting room features shirts, gourmet items, and of course, wine. I was intrigued with the Mosby cross/crest (which added a personal note) and the various wooden boards on the walls with all kinds of witty sayings and philosophizing on the nature of wine. Our host, a fellow originally from Kentucky, touted the virtues of Mosby's wines. He told humorous stories while he served us around 6 pours. Of these, I enjoyed the 2007 Mosby Cortese (grown in California from imported Italian grapes), and the 2005 Mosby Ossessione (imported from Italy). Both were deep, rich, and very tasty. I purchased a bottle of each, as well as a bottle of the 2006 Mosby Sangiovese without trying it based upon the recommendation of our host (you see…I love Sangiovese). Not to be missed was Mosby's "Sophia," a raspberry dessert wine. This was delicious. We bought two bottles—one for drinking later with dessert and one to be used as a dessert (I am thinking poured over vanilla bean ice cream). Finally, if you go there, you have to at least visit (or use) the restroom. It's literally a HUGE, old oak barrel with restroom inside. Not to be missed. All of this lends itself to a fun, relaxing, and very enjoyable winery visit.
This winery is located in Buellton, CA, USA
Posted by Philip Sunseri on 22 Mar 2009
Unique history, great wine.
This winery is located in Vina, CA, USA
Posted by Scott on 24 Feb 2009
Orfila »
It‘s somewhat difficult to find a nice, quality winery in San Diego County when much more of the state is regarded for producing better wine. While this is largely true, we have a gem of a little winery here in San Diego in Orfila. Located in the San Pasqual valley in Escondido, the winery also has a tasting room near Julian. At the Escondido site, there is a huge tasting room with helpful, nice, and knowledgable staff. The wines made and served here are, by and large, pound for pound, quite good. My wife, who prefers sweeter wines, likes the Riesling, while I, who prefers reds, likes the Sangiovese (which was introduced to the area by the winery's last master vinter). The 2005 Sangiovese was terrific, but unfortunately, they don't have any more. Try instead the 2006 which is great too. Their Ambassador's Reserve Merlot is award-winning and very nice. At the winery, they have ALOT of spreads, breads, vinaigrettes (try the Pinot Noir--its great), jams, jellies, glasses, and other assorted nick-nacks. The view of the valley and vineyards is outstanding with open trellis features, benches, etc. Here you can get a glass of your favorite wine and relax the way God intended. Overall, if you want a nice, first-class experience in your backyard, go to Orfila. You may also want to check out buying a case of their futures Ambassadors Merlot which will entitle you to their Fall Dinner Party which is absolutely amazing, or join their Owl (Wine Lovers) Club.
This winery is located in Escondido, CA, USA
Posted by Robert on 11 Sep 2008
Palmina »
Palmina is quite the find, smack in the heart of the "wine ghetto". After you've fiqured out that you are indeed at the right place and are happily sampling some of Santa Barbara's finest wines, you'll quickly figure out that it doesn't matter where they are located. They've transformed their tasting room into a little enoteca, complete with cheese, breadsticks and homemade salami to sample along with the wines. The owners (Steve and Chrystal) believe wholeheartedly that wine is an extension of the plate and an important ingredient of a meal. That's why they offer the above-mentioned samples to try with their wines. They want you to understand why their wines taste so good with food. It wasn't just a wine tasting experience, it was a unique learning experience. I highly recommend a visit to Palmina for that reason above all else.
This winery is located in Lompoc, CA, USA
Posted by Ryan on 29 Aug 2008
Palumbo has some of the best (if not the best) wines In the Temecula wine area, particularly if you like reds. It is a family operation and they have a small wine tasting room that looks out onto their vineyard. They also have some friendly family wine dogs that lounge around in the sun. If you visit Temecula, you shouldn't miss Palumbo!
This winery is located in Temecula, CA, 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 Robert Haas on 10 Mar 2010
Small family-run winery off the beaten path making excellent organically grown Rhone varietals.
This winery is located in Paso Robles, CA, USA
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
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 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 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
Excellent wine and very impressive location.
This winery is located in Sonoma, 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
Posted by Tori Correll on 09 Nov 2009
Ravenswood Winery was our third stop during our first trip to Northern California wine country. We still weren't sure what we were doing and were really searching for a welcoming atmosphere that offered education and excellent wines. We found both at Ravenswood plus excellent customer service. Our server allowed to sample a number of wines (beyond what we paid for), offered education beyond what he was required to give us for the price, and excellent wines.
This winery is located in Sonoma, CA, USA
