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Livermore’s Wine Country
I received an email a few weeks ago from Kathleen who suggested that I check out California’s oldest wine region, Livermore. I recently got the chance to spend an afternoon doing just that.
I had an appointment in San Francisco one recent Friday morning. After the appointment I had to drive to Fresno to visit my very pregnant cousin for the weekend. So on the way from SF to Fresno I decided to take a detour and have lunch at the Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore’s wine county. After all, a girl’s gotta eat. I know it’s a tough job…. blah, blah, blah.
Livermore is about 45 miles east of San Francisco, about a 45 to 50 minute drive if traffic is cooperating. Livermore is about 60 miles southwest of the Lodi wine region.
I have never been to Livermore’s wine county and I didn’t quite know what to expect. Talk about a pleasant surprise! Livermore has a very cute old downtown area with lots of shops and restaurants. As I drove past downtown into the country area, I was met by golden hills and rolling vineyards. Autumn in wine country is always a beautiful treat. The Livermore Valley is no different.
My destination, Wente Vineyards is America’s oldest family owned, continuously operated winery. Wente is 125 years old and is run by fourth and fifth generation Wente family members.
Wente is a beautiful property that not only has vineyards, a tasting room and a restaurant; but it also has a championship golf course and golf clubhouse as well. If you are a wine lover who likes to play golf, this is the place for you.
The buildings on the property resemble Spanish mission architecture. After all, the Spanish built a bunch of missions in California back in the late 1700s and early 1800s, when they came to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism.
I stopped in at Wente’s tasting room first. It was a pretty popular place. I was hungry and didn’t want to wait for a tasting, so I decided I would get my wine with lunch at the Restaurant.
The Restaurant was pretty popular as well, but I managed to get an outside table with just a 15 minute wait. The Restaurant does take reservations, but I didn’t have one.
It was a gorgeous day to eat outside. The temperature was in the mid-to upper 70s F in November. (I love California’s weather.) The tables were draped with simple white linens and white umbrellas shaded the area.
The Restaurant offers a wonderful lunch deal. You can get a three course meal for $20. That includes your choice of soup or salad, your choice of two entrees and your choice of two desserts.
You can also order a wine flight. For $10, you can have 2oz each of three selected Wente wines. For $12, you can have 2oz each of three selected Rhones.
Bottom line: you can have a three course meal and sample three wines for $30 before tax and tip. That’s a great deal.
I choose to splurge and go with other items on the menu. I started with a salad of petite lettuces, delicate squash, goat cheese and pumpkin seeds with balsamic vinegar, $10. It was very good. The seasonal touches really made this salad shine.
The executive chef at is Arthur Wall. The Restaurant at Wente serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Their menus change daily.
Jason was my waiter. He was gracious and helpful. I told him I wanted a Wente wine. (The menu has wine selections from other labels as well.) He suggested I order the Wente Vineyards 2005 Crane Ridge Merlot, Livermore Valley, $10. On first sip, I wasn’t really sold. But that all changed when the main course arrived.
My entrée was a braised Liberty Farms duck leg, roasted winter squash, warm Brussels sprout salad with endive and pomegranate, $18. This duck was wonderful. Again, the seasonal touches really added to the meal. My Merlot came alive with the duck. Thank goodness. Jason was right after all.
There’s an important bit of information I should mention about the Restaurant at Wente. They only use sustainable foods. Here’s a quote from the menu, “Wente Vineyards supports farms and fisheries that share our commitment to sustainable and ecologically sound practices.”
That news definitely made me hungry for dessert. Ok, I admit, everything makes me hungry for dessert. I had the caramelized banana-rum crepes, brown sugar pastry cream with pecan ice cream, $10. I’m usually a chocolate freak, but my neighbor at the next table had the banana crepes dessert, and I had to try it. I’m glad I did. It was dreamy.
All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon and lunch. I’m definitely coming back to Wente.
Now, the 2.5 hour drive to Fresno.
No worries. I have a happy tummy, a navigation system in my car and a brand new little cousin on the way. Life is good!
Wente Vineyards is located at 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore, California, 94550. For more information about Wente, their wines or the Restaurant, call 925-456-2400 or visit them on the web at www.wentevineyards.com.
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You MUST return to Livermore - and SOON!!! You missed the ultimate wineries in the area - The Steven Kent Winery and LaRochelle Winery. Both are owned by Steven Mirassou of the Mirassou family - the first family of California wine. Steven Mirassou started The Steven Kent Winery with his dad, Steven, Sr. and they began with a kick-butt cabernet sauvignon and a wonderful chardonnay, Merilee, named for his grandmother.
La Rochelle was a family name that was purchased from a cousin and Steven is producing wonderful Burgundy-style wines under the name. If you like pinot noir, this is a not-to-be-missed experience. For $15 you can taste 6 different pinots along with a plate of cheeses, pate and tapenade. It is a lovely afternoon snack.
Both tasting rooms are on what was once the Ivan Tomas site. The LaRochelle tasting room was the Tomas tasting room and Steven built a new facility across the parking lot for The Steven Kent experience. He serves the most amazing aged parmesan in the barrel room.
And, in the event that I need to impress you further, my niece was married this past June. Her now-husband, a young guy, began his wine experience by just jumping in to pinot noir. Good for him!!!! We gave them a mixed case of LaRochelle as a wedding gift. Bon appetite!!!!