I've waited a year + to post this review pending a refund that never came for a wedding date that…read morewas cancelled months in advance as we no longer desired to use their services. There was no reason for these people to keep 5k with as much notice as they had The ultimate bait and switch. Our experience began with pulling up to our appointment time to about 15 other people in 3 different groups standing outside in the rain. We approached and they informed us that we could go take a look around the property, (unguided, uninformed, and in the rain). When we returned to the front about ten minutes later everyone was gone and there was a person outside that informed us that we could take our shoes off and go inside the guest house with the ~15 other people that were there. We walked around by ourselves for about 20 minutes until we were finally approached by someone. At that point it was time to go to the "something borrowed barn". By the name you would assume what this is. No. It is a warehouse painted red to match the rest of the property. When they let you in the door you are actually entering about a 200sqft room with the 15 other people touring the property at the same appt time and are all expected to share ONE (1) mock decoration table in which you may choose decorations they have in two cabinets in the room for your wedding day. Upon further questions the linens on the table and displayed in the room you may choose all other decor from are only available for rental. I wish this was the worst of it. The icing on the cake (and what they failed to disclose prior to committing to them) is that they do not allow liquor without a super special ultra premium gold star bartender with a super exclusive lisence

My (now) husband and I had an amazing experience with this venue. First, it is a large, gorgeous…read moreproperty with beautiful vineyards, oak trees, gazebo, and lawn. And the guest house is spacious and lovely. We decided it was the perfect location for our wedding! The best part about this venue is the people we worked with to plan our wedding day. Megan was gracious and extremely helpful in choosing all of the decorations, china, etc. Our wedding was in October of 2016 during the freak rain we had in Northern California that year. As our wedding day approached, it became apparent that it was going to rain. We were faced with paying $5,000 to rent huge tents! Instead Mardy offered us the use of their indoor facility - the Foothill Event Center at no extra charge. She literally saved our wedding day! Although we didn't have the bucolic ranch wedding we envisioned, we had a perfect wedding day! We will be coming back during a less rainy time of the year to renew our vows on our seventh anniversary :)

Wow, first off we were visiting Oregon House for the second time, excited to check out hiking…read moretrails and local wineries. However when we researched this winery it said "Open" to the public & till 9pm. Also had a phone number that no one answered. So we decided to drive over and check it out ourselves. A Irish lady at a booth, was rude at first then said would you like a card to her ex husband "John" whom I guess pours and "owns" the wine. We left and came back a second time. She was talking about the "local" wineries are private or you have to have an appointment!? Phone numbers do not work. And the only place to "taste" the wine is Clover Cafe? Very odd and not normal coming from the Bay Area/Napa. "Renaissance wine" what's up with that wine? And that vineyard? Weird vibes and the lady at the gate when protecting this vineyard told me to go to Clover Cafe and made us seem like we couldn't afford the wine at their "private" winery! Seems like a cult and the town. She said something about the "Fellowship" I saw a bunch of white people in hatch back cars driving in and out and realized a lot of them were locals. Very odd that this winery is only opened by appointment to the locals and there hasn't been a review of this establishment for 6-7 years. Everything is named after Greek Gods of Apollo. Which also seemed odd. Somethings not right about this place.

Distinctive. It is not always a word that springs to mind when tasting wine. Or visiting yet…read moreanother California tasting room, for that matter. All too often, the wines offered to visitors start to look and taste the same, as do the facilities and even the vineyards where the grapes are grown. Big, rich, and extracted. Ripe, lush, and decadent. Robert Mondavi's oak-soaked legacy lives on, in Napa Valley, and beyond. Not so at Renaissance. Your wine palate here will be reborn. Your senses will be heightened. You will see things differently. The usual "wine words" will not activate automatically in your brain. Your sensory wine tasting memories will search in vain for something similar with which to compare, to judge, to rank, to rate. In the end, you will give up trying to put this place in its proper wine country box, because, as you suddenly realize, that box does not even exist. You decide to reboot your system. You clear your mental cache of past tasting experiences. You clean the slate. You turn the page. You open up your mind wider perhaps than ever before. You choose to forget what a wine is supposed to taste like. You banish Robert Parker and the Wine Spectator from your overly cluttered and anxious mind. You willfully ignore what you were told to expect about this place in the Chronicle. You elect to begin again, like a child learning to read, by picking up an old book on your grandfather's shelf, opening its beautifully embossed, leather bound cover, and turning to page one. The first thing you will notice is that you are almost alone out here. The grounds are quiet and restful with a Zenlike calm emanating from the golden hillsides and green forests. The tour buses, bachelorette parties, and stretch limos are nowhere to be found. The wines are well aged, bottled in a previous century from a time when other people now retired and out of the spotlight commanded the White House or looked out at you from your television screen. A Cabernet Sauvignon 20 years old is not uncommon here. A 15 year old Bordeaux style red blend seems like an upstart teenager. A 10 year old Syrah is barely out of its diapers and is just starting to walk about on two legs like a young child. The grounds are filled with unseen mystery lurking behind the stately rows of palms and vineyard terraces on the hills where hundreds of acres of grapes once thrived. You know that this is a special place, but you are not exactly sure why. The wines in your glass suggest elegance, complexity, precision, passion, resilience, legacy, and strength. They speak of past lives and untold hours of human endeavor. They tell tales. They reflect the soils surrounding you and speak of the people who made them. They taste good, too. They are not merely of the mind, but also of heart and soul. "Wine country" wineries come and go. Ownership changes hands. Founders die, families fall apart, and corporations move in. Tasting rooms get remodeled to appeal to the tastes of millennial consumers using a new algorithm created by a Silicon Valley start up. Cult wines from coveted vineyards and accoladed AVAs that are bathed in new French oak and dialed in to precise alcohol levels are released. High scores and prestigious awards are bestowed. And yet, Renaissance wines endure. In myth. In memory. In the mouths of those who sip and savor them, one glass and bottle at a time. You will never be more present than at the very moment when the crumbling cork is removed, the bottle is gently tipped, and the contents starts to fill your glass. You stop to inhale. You pause. You lift the glass to your lips. You clear your mind. You close your eyes. And you taste as if you had never done this sort of thing before. Veritas in vino written with words you do not yet fully comprehend. But you continue to hope that, one day, probably when you least expect it, you will.

Avanguardia was that rare experience when visiting a smaller wine region where you not only enjoy a…read morerelaxing afternoon with countryside views but the wines themselves are amazing and creative even for serious wine lovers and collectors. The winemaker-owner himself hosted us and had great stories to tell about the rare Italian varietals he works with plus wines including hybrid varieties from UC Davis' wine program. Other red blends combined better known Italian varietals like Barbera, Dolcetto and Montepuliciano with small amounts of those lesser known grapes. From Grass Valley drive in from Main Street and scenic Newton Road (rather than the unmaintained, high clearance gravel road that connects to Highway 49 on Google Maps). Or you can also enjoy their wines at a tasting room right on Mill Street pedestrian area in Grass Valley itself. As a wine lover myself I can't recommend them enough!

Love everything about this winery. Owner Rob Chrisman gave us some excellent tutelage on the…read morevarietal wines they offer. We tried 10 different wines-including white, red and sparkling-they were all excellent. Highly recommend visiting this winery-completely unique experience and wines in the area!

A beautiful family owned winery! We arrived right at 11am on Saturday. It looks like you're pulling…read moreup to another house in the neighborhood, until you walk to the back. It was a beautiful day in March and we sat outside and enjoyed the sun and great tasting wine. The owner/wine maker and his family were kind and helpful. The wine was delicious! Highly recommend!

I had a lovely afternoon on my first visit to Montoliva. I was the guest of a member and was…read moregreeted warmly and made to feel at home from the moment we arrived. The staff are gracious and attentive and Mark is an engaging, if loquacious, host who is obviously passionate about wine and winemaking. The views alone are worth a visit. The wine is made from locally grown Italian grapes--but Mark will explain all that over a taste.

Such a cute little spot to stop with friends or family and grab a glass of wine. The wine selection…read moreis good and the overall ambience is really nice. Very casual and has some really cute chicken running around. Everyone who worked there was really nice and attentive. Everything is done very timely manner so it's great for a quick stop or you can sit back and relax. They have live music frequently.

What a nice local winery. Pretty setting, good wine that's not overpriced. One of our favorite…read morelocal musicians was playing while we were there, Quinn Hedges, which made for a great afternoon. We'll return for sure.

I've been to Naggiar a couple of times for their summer concert events. The vineyard is gorgeous…read moreand the live music makes for a fun evening, but there are a few things I wish I had known in advance. The road leading in is unpaved and about a mile long, so drive slowly -- your car will get dusty, and in my case, a rock from the car ahead cracked my windshield. Tickets are on the pricey side and only cover admission; food and wine are extra. Arrive early or bring lawn chairs, since tables aren't guaranteed. The food truck lines can also be very long, so plan ahead. During one visit to celebrate my mom's birthday, I brought a small cake, not realizing outside food wasn't allowed. The owner asked us to put it back in the car and wouldn't let us sing or serve it, which felt unnecessarily strict considering how much we had already spent. Overall, it's a lovely spot and could be worth checking out, but I won't be going back after the birthday incident. Just sharing in case it helps others plan better.

We love this family friendly winery. It's nestled in a peaceful and scenic remote location. The…read moreowners are very friendly and make an effort to talk to their guests. The wine is fantastic. We brought our friends who are members at multiple wineries and they were so impressed that they ended up buying a few bottles. Some of our favorites are the black bear and viognier. They also have an electric concert lineup of events over the year.

Bob is amazing! I hate to write this review because I want this place to myself. Bob's palette…read moreis spot on and he makes wines he wants to drink. If you want wonderful, unique wines, where everyone is great in the bunch, then come here. But don't, cause he has limited supplies. So stay away!

Sign on the street says welcome...the host however was not welcoming at all. Winery owner was at a…read morelarge table doing a tasting for another group. We sat down and were completely ignored for over 10 minutes. Didn't even have the decency to look at us or let us know that he apparently was stopping tastings that day. Another person visiting informed me. Unbelievably rude.

What a great find . Was visiting town and happened upon this little gem. Server was amazing…read more----full of information. . And I opted for a flight ----very good and reasonable at $20. But better yet ...free if buying two or more bottles . So I did! She seated me outside and lit the table top fire . It was a delightful time. I'll be back.

Beautiful drive over to Nevada City, California today for some wine tasting and browsing around the…read moretown. Very quaint and friendly people here. Our tasting was made special by Paula, pours were generous, charcuterie board enough for the three of us, Wines were excellent! Indoors or outdoors seating available, Loved the heating at the table, just a little chill in the air, beautiful setting. Bought some gifts and wine and look forward to our next trip back!

Great local winery. We were looking for music on the weekend and this place had bands both Saturday…read moreand Sunday. Nice wine selection and plenty of tables both inside and outside. Plenty of parking and food trucks for tasty lunch selections. We'll be back.

Absolutely 100%, I would recommend this winery. One of our favorite wineries ever in Newcastle ,…read moreCA. We were introduced to this winery almost 3 years ago by some friends who lived in Lincoln , CA. We do live two hours away but it's so worth the drive to come out here !!! This is a beautiful small vineyard w/ ample amounts of outdoor seating & inside as well. They recently have expanded their wine tasting bar too . Love it ! The wine sommelier ladies are truly down to earth. We're literally there every time Raquel & Elena are working they're truly the best w/ their smiles & hospitality. We love the environment b/c just so absolutely chill w/ the exception of when it gets busy it's busy like standing room only . The wines are phenomenal are favorites are Pearl , Hummingbird and St. George. They have food trucks every weekend & absolutely delicious. A great winery to visit atmosphere, hospitality & beautiful view of the winery .

A sweet little vineyard outside of Nevada City. Owned by a wife, husband, and daughter team. They…read morehave been in business since 2018 and we were lucky enough to stop in on our way through town back to Reno. The tasting was perfection with 3 whites, 2 meads, and 3 reds. There was a rose' on tap that was a great concoction made by the owner! Talking with him he is passionate and eager which always makes for better wine. Dog and kid friends, nice outdoor patio, and a sweet koi pond. Be sure to stop in when you are in the area!

From the owner: Wild Loon Winery is a regenerative, biodynamic farm winery in Smartsville, CA — on the Yuba/Nevada…read moreCounty line, just minutes from Grass Valley and Nevada City. We farm 1.5 acres of estate Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel using biodynamic practices, integrated sheep grazing, and a circular system where grape pomace feeds our sister mushroom operation, MushLoon. Currently open by appointment only. Estate reds, mead, and wholesale available. Easy Highway 20 access. Formerly Meade Hill Winery.