Les Chênes Estate Vineyard

Livermore Valley Winery and Tasting Room

When you are sure you’ve gone too far on Tesla Road, keep going. Go left at Victoria Lane. Turn right at the wrought iron fence surrounding vineyards. Pass the rose garden (featured in Sunset Magazine) and French Country home. Here, you are transported to the French countryside. Birds chirp; an owl hoots; far off a rooster crows.

Laughter comes from the tasting room—elegant, with barrel tables, a beautiful granite bar, backed with wine racks and an Argentine mirror. Owners Candice and Richard Dixon greet you, offering up Rhone wines.

“We grow, crush, make and bottle right here,” says Candace.

Richard is an expert at pruning vines. His father grew for Christian Brothers, Charles Krug and Beringer.

The Dixons sold their Sonoma vineyards when they purchased Livermore land. Once a run down wheat farm, they’ve transformed it into a beautiful estate. And just three months after opening their tasting room, Diablo magazine named them “Best new Winery in the East Bay.”

Wines here are estate grown, except for few blends for which they use locally sourced grapes. Richard makes wines reflective of French, European and Rhone styles, food friendly, not overwhelmingly fruity.

Fascinating Fact:

The gargoyle above the door comes from Richard’s childhood home in San Mateo—designed by Julia Morgan.

Amenities: Wine club, private tastings
Founded: 2007
Signature Wines: (Estate wines) Roussanne, Mourvedre, Syrah
Wine Tasting: $5 fee waived with purchase
Hours: 12 – 4:30 and by appointment

Les Chênes Estate Vineyard
5562 Victoria Lane
Livermore, CA, 94550
925-373-1662

leschenesvine@aol.com
www.leschenesvine.com

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Sandy Sims, an award winning journalist, newspaper editor, and travel writer, also writes fiction.
Thomas C. Wilmer is an award-winning author and travel writer. His latest book; Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley is available from White Cloud Press or Amazon.com.

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