The Most Scrumptious Wineries in Oakland

Mitchell Katz Winery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (167) • $$

"My friend was coming to pick up some wine and asked me to join him for a wine tasting. My wine tasting experiences have been in Napa and Sonoma, but I've never been wine tasting in the Livermore Valley, so I was looking forward to it. Mitchell Katz Winery was started in 1998 in memory of Mitchell's grandfather. The winery focuses on full bodies reds and a few whites. On this day, it was sunny, cool and windy, so my friend made reservations for an indoor tasting. They have tables outside next to the building and an outdoor area facing the vineyards. There are two buildings for indoor tastings. We were in the main building which had two large tables and three small tables. The tasting is $20 and consists of five wines, Estate Chardonnay, NV California Sparkling, Fat Boy Cabernet, Crackerbox Sangiovese and Rabioli Zinfandel. My favorites were the Cabernet, which had a scent of berries with taste of current, cherries and umami with light tannins and the Sparkling, which was refreshing with tastes or oranges, peaches and mandarin blossoms. The Sparkling would be perfect for the Spring and Summer and I picked up half a case. Service was friendly, but they were a little rushed as the place was busy and tables were full when we started our tasting. Glad I was able to experience my first tasting in Livermore."

Ehrenberg Cellars

★★★★☆ 4.4 (50) • $$

"The owners are great (i.e., Chris and Marilou) and it's always nice to visit them whenever we're out this way. The service is very personable. Try the wine flight to see which wine suits your palate.Their space is tucked away in a business park across from Boomers off of Airway. Very unassuming, but personal.Our recent visit was for a the launch of Landeza's Catering, which we arrived towards the end of the event, but we will try to make it back to their next event!"

Woods Island Club

★★★★☆ 4 (46) • $

"I can't believe this place doesn't have more reviews. Actually considering how few people visit Treasure Island and the limited opening hours, I am not THAT surprised. Let's get some of the could be betters out of the way:- Very limited food - only empanadas and chips- Very limited hours - I think they are only open on weekends and from 12-6 PM. We wanted to hang out longer after getting there about 5:15, and we just made it for last call. Why it is great:- The views. Literally million dollar views of the bay. - The mini beach and chairs. They have chairs so you can chill on a tiny man-made beach with some music jams and a few beach games. Or you can just sit at the tables outside (not in the sandy area). - Some yummy beer, wine, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinksOverall, a chill spot where you can kick back and enjoy a $7 drink and million dollar views."

Tesla Vintners

★★★★☆ 4.3 (74) • $$

"Tesla Vintners was one of 3 or 4 wineries in the same shared lot. doubt Tesla was part of the barrel tasting event. nevertheless they honored some ticket stubs E. Cellars had given me. .tastes (from a bottle):sauvingnon blanc and another white wine.-former fruitty, latter sweet-only vintner offering sips from bottled wine.3.5 stars for serving real wine.barrel notes:-this lot had a band playing rock & roll (oldies)-food catered by BBQ company.-dirt parking lot.-confusion as to which winery was in the barrel tasting program and who wasn't.signs : "open for wine tasting" didn't include barrel tasting. wine tasting is a weeklyevent for most vineries.-barrel tasting a livermore sponsored event, not all wineries participated."

Woods Cervecería

★★★★☆ 4.1 (234) • $$

"Quaint vibe with a deep funky bass line. I came in serenades by 80s times from the cure, to Bikini Kill to Joy Division. A Pilsner accompanied the DJ/bartender's excellent choice of tunes. Excellent service. Sitting along the great window and having a mushroom empanada rounded out the evening. Turning a lugubrious day into light and laughter."

Vezer Family Vineyard

★★★★★ 4.5 (140) • $$

"Friendly and welcoming staff. There are two locations and the prices for wine tasting is affordable. I would definitely come back :)"

Bally Keal Estate

★★★★★ 4.6 (41)

"Attended an event at Bally Keal Estate, which was hosted in the event center. Their staff was top notch with providing service and making sure our glasses remained full throughout the event. The event center itself was clean, and well equipped to host an event our size or larger events like weddings. Food was good, wine was good, the estates were beautiful and staff was friendly. Overall we had a really good experience and I'd recommend them if you're looking to host an event in this area."

Backstage Marin

★★★★☆ 4.3 (137) • $$

"Starting with Internos and ending with Zinz, one could do a fairly entertaining wine crawl along the long stretch that is Magnolia Avenue before heading up over the Camino Alto hill. Backstage Marin would sit about mid-point which is exactly my assessment of their offering. When I tried to prod a friend to join me there on a cold day she demurred. "Backstage is for sunny days" she said and I understood since most of their seating is al fresco. But I didn't wait for a particularly sunny day knowing that those outdoor seats also have gas fireplaces in front of them. The fireplaces were purring when I went. It was late in the day leading into sunset. Plopping into one of the fireplace adjacent seats I quickly noted that the seating here isn't very plop-friendly. The person I met there agreed. So sit carefully, as what looks like it should be comfortable is actually far stiffer than envisioned. Though Backstage offers some fare to accompany the wine it's first and foremost a wine bar and though the menu stated the size of the pours I was happy to see that my pour was a healthy one. I never got around to sampling their food. I often see people here at Backstage, enjoying themselves in the evening, with wine and whatnot in front of the fireplaces and do think that's the sweet spot for Backstage. Meet a friend or two in the early evening, sit outside around the fire, and get your evening started. The setting is inviting and right in the thick of Larkspur's restaurant row. It's not my favorite wine bar in the area but it'll do."

Rubino Estates Winery

★★★★☆ 4.4 (252) • $$

"My family loves this spot. It's cozy yet elegant, particularly because of the atmosphere of rest and class it is. The wine is spectacular and hits the spot everytime, we got for release typically but the landmarks are good too. Membership is amazing, part of me doesn't want to post this to avoid attracting more people."

Cuda Ridge Wines

★★★★☆ 4.4 (83) • $$

"Date: Saturday, July 15th, 2023Time: 2pmParty of: 7Bordeaux Tasting Flight (refundable with a two bottle purchase)*2022 Sauvignon Blanc*2021 Cabernet Franc*2019 Merlot*2017 BDX Cabernet Sauvignon*2019 Petit Verdot*Tasting Fee ($20) x5*2019 Petit Verdot ($41)*2016 RSV Malbec ($65)One of us wasn't drinking, so we actually did 6 tastings. Since we bought two bottles, one of our tastings was comped. I believe the bday boy made a rezzie for this spot.We were celebrating a birthday and this was the first wine stop after lunch. Cuda was the smaller winery of the two we visited that day. Or at least it seemed smaller and quieter. I believe Cuda is known for their bordeaux style wines? I like a good full bodied bordeaux, so was excited to try the BDX cab. Funny enough, we didn't end up getting that bottle, but it was nice to taste it.A good somewhat quiet winery to visit.REVIEW #3450"

Del Valle Winery

★★★★☆ 4.4 (75) • $$

"MLK Jr 2025 - The Primitivo is superb This winery has food options and is KID FRIENDLY- SOLD We had a great time ! Thank you for an awesome birthday celebration !"

Bacchus Winemaking Club

★★★★★ 4.8 (4) • $$$

"I went here for a holiday party and thought it was pretty awesome. It's basically a gigantic cool looking warehouse lined w/ barrels, complete with romantic lighting and ambiance. The company had hired a taco truck, which they drove into the warehouse (could have been tacky, but was actually completely amazing) & had an awesome cheese, cracker & fruit tray w/ a dessert station as well. The coolest part was that we were able to bottle our own wines during the party and take them home (I'm enjoying a glass now & it is pretty darn good). There was room for live music & a nice little couch seating area in addition to the bar, a number of regular tables & cocktail tables.I am in the midst of planning my wedding and after going here, I kind of wished I hadn't already booked my venue. Word on the street was that this was supposed to be a budget venue for the company too-- so I can't imagine it even cost that much and everything looked really impressive on the inside (the outside was another matter). As for the people that run it-- I've got the same name as one of the people who started it (& it's a rare name), but they didn't seem all that interested. However, they were totally willing to sell me 2 wine glasses off the bar for nearly nothing so that I could give them to my dad as a Christmas gift with the wine (which were all magically emblazoned w/ his name-- also a very rare name that one of the dudes in this family had), so props for that.If you want to hold an event at a winery, but can't afford their prices, def check out this place-- you might find exactly what you are looking for."

Caddis Winery

★★★★★ 4.5 (17) • $$

"Caddis Winery has just dirt parking. driveway was also dirt.event: LBVT(3.21.15)barrel tastes:-2013 cab. no tannin(so not the usual harshenss in cabs)smooth-barbarba, chardonnay tastes passed.not so fond of these varietals.vine notes:-the dust and dirt was a turn off.-presenters impressive, friendler, just not into their wines."

Wood Family Vineyards

★★★★★ 4.7 (151) • $$

"Met up with Yelp buddy for an evening of music from the band Urban Sky. Wood family Vineyard is a winery located in an industrial complex in Livermore. They have a tasting room that doubles as a music venue. The menu has lots of wine and no food. For eats your directed to a Salvadoran food truck across the street in the parking lot of Altamont Beer Works. Urban sky the band was rockin in the packed room. Good thing we had reservations and got one of the couches. The crowd was 50+ and the dance floor was filled. The parking lot for Woods is small and street parking is hard. Not a lot of service so just order bottles and pour your own."

La Nebbia Winery

★★★★☆ 3.6 (229) • $$

"The crew and I stopped by this very cute winery off Highway 92 on the way back from our lunch buffet and was in the mood to try something local. The service was very friendly and let us try a few reds before making a selection. Most bottles were around the $30 price point. The negroamaro was definitely something new, but even after trying it, I opted for the Barbera. Definitely worth a stop and bringing back some bottles as gifts, but I preferred the flavor from other wineries. Next time try:- Port- Muscat"

Windchaser Wine

★★★★★ 4.7 (41) • $$

"Came for their block party and had a super good time with friends. We enjoyed a few bottles of the sparkling and red wines and I went home with a bottle of sparkling. There were food trucks there and a band. The vibe was happy and fun. And the winemaker was friendly and attentive. Can't wait to come back!"

Arroyo Cellars

★★★★★ 4.9 (33)

"We were next door purchasing a bathroom mirror and they had an event going on so we decided to check it out. Sure enough, Lukas Pizza drew us in and we ended up purchasing a glass of wine!Wine and service was good. We'll have to come back for a tasting so I can upgrade my review."

Captain Vineyards

★★★★★ 4.9 (86) • $$

"Easily one of the best wineries in the Bay Area. Hidden gem by far. From the time I walked in I fell in love with this place. From Susan's lovely tour and Sal's knowledge of the wine and production. Their knowledge and passion for every step of the process of wine making is very apparent. Cleo the sweetest dog hung out with us and I just loved it! The wine was fantastic. All organic, all from their grapes. We tried Grenache, Petit Syrah, Super Tuscan blend, and a Bordeaux blend. They also do Cab and Pinot Noir. All reds. They also paired it with some tasty cheeses.I highly recommend Captain Vineyards! I cannot wait to go back very soon :)"

Barterra Winery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (102) • $$

"Cute tasting room in downtown Half Moon Bay. They were previously located further down the block tucked away in a little courtyard, but now they're on the main strip front and center! They have plenty of indoor seating as well as a few tables outside. They had a few different tasting flight options when we went, we opened for one that was all white and one that was all red. We ordered at our table and the wines were brought out to us on cute little slate serving boards. Each wine came in a mini mason jar so that you could pour it in your glass at your own pace when you were ready. Of course everyone's wine preferences are different, but I personally didn't love any of the wines I tasted. I ultimately I preferred the whites over the reds. As we were checking out though, I noticed they had a rosé and asked for a taste, I'm so happy I did because it was fabulous! I ended up taking a bottle of that to go. Overall a cute spot with friendly service!"

Retzlaff Vineyards

★★★★☆ 3.9 (296) • $$

"TL:DR. One of my favorite Livermore wineries. Ambiance - super chill; old school winery. Relaxing green space. Amazing picnic areaWines - great selection. Cabs are super earthy and delicious. The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is unique in a good way. Try it before and after foodA must visit when in Livermore"

Pacheco Ranch Winery

★★★★★ 4.9 (9) • $$

"We first went to Pacheco Ranch Winery, for a tasting event, as guests of a member. We had seen the sign out front for years, but had never ventured in. This is a rather unique winery in that they specialize in catering to their members rather than broadcasting to the masses. Everything here is done by appointment with you in mind. We were so impressed with this quietly exclusive approach, and the masterfully crafted Cabernets, that we joined as members right then and there. Classic Cabernet Sauvignons are the only wines they make. They grow all their own grapes on their estate and make only wines for their label. This is quite a feat for a local family winery. It shows here that "the art is the thing." The art of fine winemaking. The Cabernet Sauvignons that we experienced were by way of a vertical tasting from each of the last 12 years. I was amazed how the wines all held to their terroir and signature style, but each had a nuance that kept them slightly apart from one another, interesting, and worthy of notice. Knowing which years suffered more or less rain, locally, could easily explain why these nuances were evident in the wines. I latched on to three that were favorites to me, and will leave it to you to discover your own favorites, but none was a "miss". These are reliable Cabernets, from a long established local family business with a storied past. No corporate glitz here, just fine wines made proudly by a fine family."

The Steven Kent Winery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (152) • $$

"We walked in with a party of 7 on a Saturday around 3:30pm. It's quiet and only 1 other table was taken. Not busy at all. We were poured a complimentary Barrera sparkling wine to start. We had the pleasure of Michael helping us with the tasting. It was $20 for 4 wines or $30 for 4 premium wines. The pour was generous. We liked that the tasting flight was all poured into carafes for us. Theres both indoor and outdoor seating. 1 restroom. You can bring non-smelly snacks like cheese, charcuterie, crackers. Barbera sparkling- good Barbera rose- okMalbec- okPetit Verdot- good & smooth Smith ranch cab- good but a bit tannicCab Franc- good, fruity, smooth Premier Cab- good , fruity, smooth Lineage 2018- more earthy , smooth Lineage 2019- less earthy , smooth"

Darcie Kent Vineyards

★★★★☆ 4.2 (179) • $$

"My friends and I went to Darcie Kent on a Friday morning. The winery had beautiful views of the neighboring vineyards, and the property even had a dispensary. The main tasting room was in a modern barnyard, which was also like a rustic art gallery. Actual paintings from Darcie Kent, as well as other paintings curated from local artists, hung all around the interior. They were certainly stunning and unique. We had a reservation for a tasting at 11am when it opened, and we were one of the first customers there. We were greeted by our lovely sommelier, who was just the sweetest. She was very knowledgeable and a good storyteller. What stood out to me was her explanation of the West vs East hill wines. We each did the mixed tasting, which included their seasonal whites and their reds. I'm not the biggest wine drinker, but I did enjoy what was offered."

Longevity Wines

★★★★☆ 4.2 (120) • $$

"If you are not familiar with Longevity Wines, do yourself a favor and pay this little urban Vineyard a visit. I reckon you will be impressed but the talent of Phil, the winemaker...extraordinaire. Phil has that rare gift; the ability to craft some brilliant wines with what's available. I haven't tasted a better domestic Barbera, Grenache, Mourvedre or Tempranillo from anywhere else! Especially from one winemaker under one roof! Keep in mind I said DOMESTIC...in most cases local as well! These varietals rotate on a regular basis and aren't always available. I'm always hopeful that some of the aforementioned varietals are available whenever I pay them a visit. Then there are the classics like the brilliant Bordeaux style blend Deb-ru-vée, Phil-osophy or Preston. Long story short, I discovered Longevity on accident. It was the last stop on a Livermore wine tasting tour. Oddly enough everything we tried was good! I had to return on another day; in a better, more alert state of mind and try every thing again. Annnddd...the only thing I got was confirmation of our previous journey!! Everything was brilliant! Over the years Longevity expanded their tasting room, added regular events on the weekends and grew operations to offer their wines nationwide. A tribute to their success while some of their neighbors shut their doors!Needless to say...I'm a fan! err...a Vino!"

Pruett Farms

★★★★★ 5 (12)

"Fabulous second visit to Pruett farms winery. Enjoyed everything. It's a lovely place to bring a picnic. Because it was such a hot day the unoaked chardonnay was especially refreshing. All the whites are delightful and we also really enjoyed the cabernet.The winery thoughtfully puts out a large flag by the driveway so you can find the winery which is in back of the house - making it hard to see."

Nella Terra Cellars

★★★★★ 4.7 (153) • $$$

"2022 Estate Sauvignon Blanc - light and fruity with a buttery finish like a Chardonnay2012 Estate Viognier - Floral and dry with a slight butter finish2020 Estate Pinot Noir Rose - A lighter version of Pinot Noir. Soft and fruity with a crisp dry finish. 2021 Gold Medal Winner2021 Estate Pinot Noir - Soft and fruity berry, medium body, and a hint of pepper. Dryer finish than most Pinot Noirs. At $48/bottle I feel it was a bit overpriced for an ok Pinot. In my opinion price should be $35.2021 Estate Rubertino Red Blend - 50 Zinfandel and 50 Petite Syrah. Medium body, dry wine, slightly acidic, spicy. Table wine would be good with Italian pasta dishes, pizza, Asian and hearty beef comfort food. Would not recommend with lean beef like a filet or NY Strip but could be good with a Ribeye or a sirloin. $46/bottle for a table blend seemed overpriced to me. In my opinion price should be $32/bottle.Good service, seating area with shade, and view of the Viognier vineyard. There was a nice breeze coming over the mountain for a perfect summer day with a glass of wine. Recommended to come on a Sunday afternoon at about 2pm for less crowds. And if they have a wedding finishing up you get music in the background for your tasting.Tasting fee $25 waived if purchasing over $125 in wine."

Fenestra Winery

★★★★☆ 3.7 (231) • $$

"One of my favorite wineries in the Livermore Valley! I've tasted and had memberships at some other wineries but I love how relaxed and chill this one is.The reservations are easy to get, the staff is very friendly, and the seating is very cute and comfortable. It's a small little winery but I wouldn't have it any other way! Too bad it only opens Friday through Sunday. The wine itself is tasty - I'm no wine snob but I dislike when the wine is too tart. Some of the wines here are of a "heavy body" or as a wine noob as myself describes it as stronger and deeper. The whites are all on the sweeter side and are so refreshing! Come visit and support."

Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (78) • $$

"Our favorite winery to visit that has outdoor picnic style seating! You can bring your snacks/picnic and enjoy their delicious wines! Our kids loved the open outdoor area and it kept them entertained while the adults got to drink wine and chill! Beautiful decor and friendly staff. Everything about this winery is chill! Their two friendly poodles came to greet us. Our kiddos adored them!Their wines are really good! Our favorite is their Italian Barbera! Yum! We will be back here to spend a nice warm summer day sipping their French Petit Verdict, enjoying their beautiful garden view and cool breeze, AND grazing on our extra large charcuterie board! Total bliss!"

Tenuta Vineyards

★★★★☆ 4.3 (218) • $$

"My boyfriend and I had an absolutely phenomenal time here. California wine is both an interesting and competitive scene. Above all, we (Californians) want to try excellent wine and aren't willing to compromise on this (at least I am not!). But it's refreshing when you can find that elite quality at a place that is very relaxed, comfortable, and like home.I am happy to say we found this at Tenuta. To call it a "hidden gem" is an understatement. I appreciated the very knowledgeable staff who understood the winemaking process and obviously made deliberate choices with their grape selections for their winemaking, and for our tastings. But again, in a completely relaxed way. It's clear everyone there loves what they do, and above all, have great wine to share with their patrons. I'm looking forward to going back this season!"

Trojak-Knier Winery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (44) • $$

"After the vodka experience, we took a walk around the neighborhood, which was very pleasant and leisurely. Saw the sign that directly us to Trojak-Knier tasting. The place is cute and very casual, sat down for our taste of very interesting six different blends of wines. Started off to light from dark. My favorite one was the red blend, mixtures of of Sangiovese, cab, and something else which was very good. Wines were smooth and each had its own distinguishing taste. We tried few with award winning ribbons. The wine maker was very thorough in explaining each wine and ease with the paste of our taste, he was not pleasuring the taster to buy, very easy going. We had a wonderful time, relaxing and trying different taste."

Roland Rosario Cellars

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Have been drinking their wine since they launched and I LOVE it. I also served this wine at my wedding (the dona, syrah, and verdelho) and got a ton of compliments. Although it's a young winery, its verdelho won a Silver plaque in the SF Chronicle Wine Competition. Roland Rosario also placed 1st and 2nd at the Marin County Fair in winemaking.The new tasting room (in World Ground Cafe in the Laurel) is gorgeous. The grand opening introduced their new wines (a viognier and two new reds). Delicious!"

Eagle Ridge Vineyard

★★★★★ 4.5 (48) • $$

"First off, I have to admit, I didn't really "love" any of the wines here. Of the 8 or so reds that we tried, there may have been 1 Cab, and maybe one Petite Syrah that I found decent. Just basic food wine, good red fruit presence with grippy young tannins. Nothing to bust out on a special occasion. Yet some of the pricing is delving into the "special occasion" realm. Unless you go for their lower end stuff ($20ish), most everything else will be over $30 and some approaching the $50 mark. But in their defense, I noticed this at other neighboring wineries as well, so it could be just keeping up with the market. But at these prices, you can certainly find much better stuff at a store/on line. But when you buy at the store, you will not to be able to sip on the wines amongst the vineyard and the people who make it. That is the price you are paying for when you go tasting/purchasing at the winery. So there is that.The digs: -Quaint farm-like environment. You have to drive through the steep hills crawling with rows of grape vines.. Gravel parking lot, porta-potties and farm machinery. Cool in my book. -Metal barn that serves as the tasting room. It also doubles as an antique gallery so you can browse about whlist sipping on your glass. It looks junky, but there are some cool old shit up in there. -Lots of wines on their tasting list. More than 12! I had to scale and edit what I really wanted to taste, other wise my mouth would've puckered out. 6-8 is way plenty. -Free tasting. Yes, that is not a typo, it cost nothing. You will never find a place in Napa/Sonoma that does this. They used to, but no more. Livermore is on its way to that, but you can still find a handful out here, that does it the old school way. -The Mad Cait is a white dessert wine that is pretty unique. Peachy, slight citrus with an earthy and heavy finish. It is quite unique. Pairing this with grilled stone fruits over vanilla ice cream and honey this summer. -Spring time and maybe late autumn will be the best weather months to venture out. In my recent outing it was a perfect 70ish degrees, with a slight wind and a cloudless blue sky. We just sat on their makeshift patio for literally an hour, just chilling. In deep summer months, it will be waaayyy hotter, with hot wind. I'll pick and choose.So this may not be top on your list when venturing out here in Livermore Valley, but certainly consider it. It is charming enough to warrant that opportunity."

Charles R Winery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (92) • $$

"Really nice place to come wine tasting. Small indoor seating area and large back patio. Wines are delicious- there was an extra fee to taste the port, but it came with a home made brownie.All the wines were good, but we really liked the port, so we were glad we paid a little extra to add that on. We also like the chardonnay, and we don't usually like whites, so that was a nice surprise.Everyone was welcoming and friendly and helpful. If you happen to be in Livermore and you are wine tasting, you might want to stop in here. It will be a big change from the huge commercial outfits like Wente and Concannon. A nice change."

Dante Robere Vineyards

★★★★★ 4.6 (103) • $$

"We dropped by here Sunday around 4:30ish so we had to drink fast before they closed at 5. They were nice to still accommodate us even though we were running 30 mins late due to the other winery taking longer to finish our tastings. We saw another being accommodated too but they were members. $20 tasting fee of 5 wines. It was towards the end of the day so the lady could only pour what they still had opened. Wines were pretty good. Fruity and bold. Tasting fee is waived with 1 bottle purchase. Will need to come back when we aren't so pressed for time to fully enjoy."

Ruby Hill Winery

★★★★☆ 3.9 (334) • $$

"Came here for their membership appreciation night and to pick up my wine allotment. Clive is always so welcoming and knowledgeable. Ruby Hill really knows how to show their wine members that they are appreciated. All of the wine tastings came with food pairings, (cheese and crackers, salami, olive tapenieda, etc). Plus, all of the staff were so happy to talk about their amazing wines.Thank you Ruby Hill. You really know how to make your members feel loved and appreciated...."