The 8 BEST Livermore Valley Wineries Worth the Visit

As a Bay Area native, I thought it was perfectly normal to grow up surrounded by vineyards and wineries right in your backyard! It wasn’t until I moved to Missouri for a few years that I realized fantastic wineries can be harder to come by in other states. I always appreciated Livermore Valley for having beautiful and accessible wineries anytime I came home for the holidays!

For this reason, I wanted to share the 8 BEST Livermore Valley wineries for you to visit while in the Bay Area!

Over the years that I have lived in the area, I visited many of the 42 wineries in Livermore to determine the best of the best. At each winery, I paid attention to the quality and variety of the wine, the aesthetic of the estate, and the overall atmosphere created by the staff and surroundings.

Note: All opinions are my own, and my taste and aesthetic preferences might be different than your own! I will try to be explicit in my descriptions so you can determine if the winery is a great fit for you, regardless of my own personal opinions!

After visiting all of the wineries that Livermore has to offer, I narrowed down the list to the 8 best wineries in Livermore Valley that are worth visiting.

So without further ado, here is the list of the top Livermore wineries!

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Map of Livermore Wineries

Here is a map of all of the wineries in Livermore discussed below, to help you plan your trip! I recommend visiting wineries nearby each other, such as Darcie Kent Winery and 3 Steves Winery.

Best Wineries in Livermore

1. Cuda Ridge Wines

Cuda Ridge Wines is a family-owned winery located in the Livermore Valley wine region of California. The vineyard was established in 2007 and is owned by the Mahoney family. It is situated on a picturesque hillside with panoramic views of the Livermore Valley.

The vineyard is known for its high-quality wines, particularly its Bordeaux-style blends and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery produces a range of red and white wines, including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

Rating (98/100): The quality of the wine is outstanding, which is what you can find at smaller wineries in the area that focus more on the craft of incredible wine rather than large production. I love that the winery has a focus on Bordeaux-style wine, yet still has a huge selection. The estate is beautiful and set within the vineyards. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, and can easily help guide you towards what you would be interested in tasting!

2. McGrail Vineyards

McGrail Vineyards is a family-owned winery nestled in the heart of the Livermore Valley wine region in California. The vineyard was established in 2008 by Jim and Ginger McGrail, who are passionate about producing high-quality wines that showcase Livermore Valley’s unique terroir.

In addition to producing wine, McGrail Vineyards is committed to sustainable farming practices. The vineyard is certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and strives to minimize its environmental impact while producing high-quality wines.

Rating (98/100): McGrail Vineyards has an incredible tasting menu to taste from. I actually was able to do a side by side tasting of their Cabernet Sauvignon with the only difference being the type of barrel the wine was aged in. Sampling wine from New French Oak, Hungarian Oak, and American Oak was a very unique and special experience. The estate is beautiful and the staff are incredibly kind and hospitable.

3. 3 Steves Winery

3 Steves Winery is a family-owned and operated winery located in Livermore Valley, California. The name “Three Steves” comes from the three friends and founders of the winery, Steve Burman, Steve Melander, and Steve Ziganti, who all share a passion for winemaking.

The winery was established in 2012 and primarily focuses on cold-climate wine, with many of their grapes being sourced from places like Chile. Because of this, you can try a variety of wines that otherwise aren’t produced much in the United States, such as Carménère or Cabernet Pfeffer.

Rating (96/100): 3 Steves Winery is a perfect winery for anyone who enjoys a laidback atmosphere. While the winery is not incredibly fancy, the property is still cute, and the wine more than makes it worth it.

4. Wood Family Vineyards

Wood Family Vineyards is a boutique winery located in the Livermore Valley, California. The winery is owned and operated by Rhonda and Michael Wood, who have been making wine since 1996. They initially started as home winemakers, but their passion for wine led them to establish their own label and open a winery.

Wood Family Vineyards is known for its small-lot, handcrafted wines, which are made using traditional winemaking techniques. The winery produces a range of red and white wines, including Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are aged in French oak barrels, which adds complexity and depth to the flavors.

Rating (94/100): Overall, Wood Family Vineyards is one of the more affordable wineries on this list that also serves incredible, high quality wine. The one drawback (for me) was the winery is located in an industrial part of Livermore, and the interior of the wine tasting room seems a little bit outdated. But, the wine was phenomenal and the servers were friendly and spent time talking about the wine.

5. Murrieta’s Well

Murrieta’s Well is a historic winery located in Livermore Valley, California. It was established in 1884 by Louis Mel, and the winery’s name is derived from the original name of the estate, which was owned by Joaquin Murrieta, a legendary figure during the California Gold Rush era. Murrieta’s Well is one of California’s oldest wineries and has a rich history of winemaking that dates back over 130 years.

The winery is situated on a beautiful estate with a historic stone building that houses the tasting room and winemaking facilities.

Rating (94/100): Murrieta’s Well is one of the best wineries in Livermore that combines a comfortable and friendly vibe with a luxurious feel. The wine is really good, but the tasting fee was a little pricey in my opinion. Murrieta’s Well has a great cheese board, too, that makes a day out wine tasting even more enjoyable.

6. Concannon Vineyard

Concannon Vineyard is a historic winery in Livermore Valley, and it is recognized as one of the first wineries in California to produce Bordeaux-style wines. The winery was established in 1883 by James Concannon, an Irish immigrant and wine pioneer. Since then, the Concannon family has been producing award-winning wines for over 135 years.

The winery is situated on a picturesque estate with a historic Victorian house that serves as the tasting room and winemaking facilities. The vineyard is planted with a variety of grape varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Semillon. The estate is known for its Bordeaux-style blends and Petite Sirah, which are made using traditional winemaking techniques.

Rating (93/100): Concannon Vineyards is easily one of the most beautiful wineries in Livermore, with its castle-like estate and luxurious tasting room. The wine at Concannon is very good, but typically a bottle of wine here will be ~Napa level prices. Definitely a must-visit to experience the winery, but might not be one you go back to frequently unless you become a member!

7. Darcie Kent Vineyards

Darcie Kent Vineyards is a family-owned winery in Livermore Valley. Founded by Darcie Kent and her father, it has been producing exceptional wines since 1996. The winery is known for its estate-grown, handcrafted wines, which are made using traditional winemaking techniques and sustainable farming practices.

Darcie Kent Vineyards is known for its small-lot, handcrafted wines, which are made using traditional winemaking techniques. The winery produces a range of red and white wines, including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. The wines are aged in French oak barrels, which adds complexity and depth to the flavors.

Rating (90/100): Darcie Kent Vineyards is now of the most beautiful Livermore wineries out of all that I visited! The property is absolutely stunning, and the tasting room has wonderful atmosphere. While the wine was good, the tasting fee was a little bit overpriced in my opinion. Their “all reds” tasting was $40, which seemed a little too pricey for what you get in my opinion.

8. Wente Vineyards

Wente Vineyards is a well-known winery in Livermore, California. Founded in 1883 by C.H. Wente, the winery is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operated family wineries in the United States. With over 130 years of winemaking experience, Wente Vineyards has established itself as a pioneer in the California wine industry.

The winery is situated on an expansive estate that even has its own golf course on property! Tasting can be done on the patio or indoors, and the facilities around the entire property are beautiful.

Rating (89/100): Wente Vineyards is absolutely worth a visit for wine enthusiasts because of its important history for California winemaking. In my opinion, the wine was a little bit subpar for what I was expected, likely because the wine label has become so large, leading to larger production. The wine is good (but not great), and comes with a bigger sticker price for the tasting fee and for bottle purchase.

Summary

Livermore Valley is one of California’s most underrated wine regions, and is worth visiting from anywhere in the Bay Area! With 42 wineries to choose from, there is certainly a winery in Livermore that will fit your budget, overall atmosphere, and taste preferences. My favorite Livermore winery is Cuda Ridge Wines, because they do such a good job with Bordeaux-style wines, and the wine is more affordable than at other wineries in the area. Regardless of where you go though, I’m certain you will have a good time!