Retzlaff Estate Winery

Livermore Valley Winery and Tasting Room

Drive under the pepper tree canopy to the Retzlaff Winery driveway. This family farm, complete with ranch house, turn-of-the-century barns, water tower and machine sheds, is shaded by pepper trees. The sprawling lawn, picnic tables, and more pepper trees offer up a lovely picnic area.

The tasting room, at the edge of the lawn, brings to mind a small country kitchen. And the attached barrel room and winemaking facilities are where Retzlaff’s Certified Organically Grown grapes are transformed into award winning wines.

Robert and Gloria Taylor bought the old farm on the outskirts of Livermore in the 1975 because it was peaceful. But Gloria, who couldn’t stand seeing the land lay idle, said, “Let’s grow grapes.”

They ventured into commercial winemaking in 1986, using Gloria’s maiden name Retzlaff for their label. Robert believes in keeping the winemaking process simple. He says chemistry can prevent some fundamental mistakes, but the best tool, he says “is your mouth.”

Fascinating Fact:

Instead of a wine club, the winery offers barrel futures, which means customers taste a wine aging in the barrel, purchase it at a reduced cost, and return for a celebration when it’s ready to pick up.

Amenities: Barrel tasting, weddings and events, picnics
Founded: 1986
Signature Wines: Chardonnay, Merlot Blend
Wine Tasting: $5 tasting fee waived with purchase
Hours: Friday 12 – 2, weekends 12 – 4:30

Retzlaff Estate Winery
1356 South Livermore Avenue
Livermore, CA, 94550
925-447-8941

retzlaffwinery@gmail.com
www.retzlaffwinery.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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