A lovely evening with good companions and delicious wine in Great Bear's air-conditioned tasting room. Later we moved onto the outdoor patio for Brazilian-inspired food and music. read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

Came to Great Bear Vineyards on a Thursday night during the summertime and I was pleasantly surprised to see how packed it was. There was a line dancing event outside with a food truck. I did not attend this event, but did their regular indoor wine tasting. The signature wine tasting was only $20 and the wine was so good. The female staff member was very welcoming and friendly. She did a good job explaining all the wine we had and how we could purchase bottles to go. Definitely will visit again in the future and recommend if anyone is interested in wine tasting in Davis, CA. read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

First time visiting Great Bear Vineyard. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a very nice staff. Our original plan was just to stop by for a glass of wine, but we weren't really asked what option we preferred and were automatically charged for a wine tasting. I'm guessing wine tastings are mainly what the vineyard offers, but it would've been nice to have the choice explained first. This is where my 2/5 stars comes in. They only had one person serving about 12 tables. My party was only a group of 2, but there were other tables with groups as large as 9 people. It literally took 25 minutes to receive my second pour, and the only reason we got it was because I had to remind the staff. I think having at least two people pouring wine would make the experience much smoother. Upon arrival, they also have a small parking area for non-reserved parking. Luckily, we were able to find a close spot. As for the restroom, personally I'm not a fan of unisex bathrooms, and they also did not have seat covers available. Overall, the staff was friendly, but the service and organization could definitely be improved. Apart from all this, I have visited multiple wineries in Livermore, which is closer to the Bay Area, and their wine bottles are much cheaper. Their wine tasting options are also more affordable. This is just my personal experience and opinion overall I don't think I would consider coming back. read more

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Had an amazing time at this hidden gem. The wine tasting was delightful and informative. I loved this family owned winery. The wine was excellent and the service was impeccable. My server was very accommodating and knowledgeable of each wine she poured. I was very much impressed by not only the quality of the wine but the sheer beauty of the vineyard and the grounds, the ambiance was relaxing and peaceful. I will definitely be back with my family to share in the festivities and events this local winery has to offer. read more

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Came here to get out of the house on a beautiful day. The grounds are beautiful with lots of outdoor seating. As we walked up we were greeted by a very nice lady with a beautiful smile. They have tastings for $20 and you can also buy a glass of wine if you prefer that. The lady told me they have music on Friday and a food truck to buy food if you want something to eat. I am looking forward to go back on a Friday evening to listen to some music. If you're in the area go check them out. read more

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We attended this place last Friday night and boy, hope you love fees upon fees! We were charged a pretty large entry fee which "includes a glass of wine". So obviously you're still paying a pretty hefty fee just for entry to a mediocre barn shed for some mediocre wine? For each additional glass of wine it was not cheap, and if you have a child with you or somebody who's not drinking you'll be paying a mandatory entry fee for them as well. We also waited in line for a 1-person food truck who took over 40 minutes to make our overpriced food. Have fun! Worst deal in yolo county! read more

Looking for a local winery in Davis...found it! Great Bear was totally amazing. We made reservations online; however, our day was running a bit behind and they were happy to accommodate a last minute change in reservation time. Driving up the vineyard was beautiful. It honestly did not feel like we were in Davis, but maybe Santa Barbara, as we were welcomed by the beautiful Spanish style residence. The outdoor patio is very spacious and relaxing. Our tasting was in the dance hall. It was a bit cramped between tables but we were fine. I just felt bad with the hostesses having to maneuver and squeeze in between guests. Let's get to the wine. The $20 tasting includes 5 tastings - 2 whites, 1 rose and 2 reds. All were simple delicious. The Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, was light and crisp with hints of mango, peach and apricot. Perfectly refreshing on a summer day. Not much of a rose fan, but the Fiore Rouge 2024, didn't seem like a typical rose..the grapefruit and raspberry was very appealing to the pallet. Let's get to my favs...reds! Yummy!!!! Duet 2021! Yes, very smooth with the fruitful flavors that just melt in your mouth. The tasting ended with a bang..the Cab Ashworth Reserve 2019! Oh my! It starts with the smooth fruitful texture but ends with a hint of spiciness from the tannins..not too much spice but enough to give it that perfect ending! Of course we did not leave empty handed and had to take advantage of their special! Leaving with the Duet and the Ashworth....unfortunately they did not have the Tempranillo open so we JUST HAD TO buy a bottle!! Thank you Great Bear for a wonderful experience! Oh and our hostess, Monica, is top notch! She shared with us the history and background of Great Bear. She is very knowledgeable of all their wines and just provided us with wonderful customer service! Thank you Monica! read more

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I've been to several large events here, really like the ambience and wine. I chose it for my big bday bash, ~80 people. Their coordinator, Kelsey, is extremely nice and great to work with. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend for your next event. read more

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The Davis High Band held our 34th Annual Coconut Grove fundraiser on 4/25/26 at Great Bear Winery and it was AMAZING! The venue is gorgeous, the staff was incredible and we plan to hold our event again next year. Thanks Great Bear Winery! A++ read more

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A family member suggested that we try this vineyard and so glad we did. It was super last minute that we got a family of 10 to stop by on a beautiful Saturday early afternoon without reservations . When we arrived there were only two other tables taken but shortly after the place was completely filled. Super friendly staff. Thank you Sharon & I didn't get the other staff members name. Both were Very knowledgeable and friendly. If there's no food trucks on the day you visit, you can bring your own snacks. We brought our own snacks. I had the 5 tastings for $20. My favorite was the Dulce Vita. We purchased the bundle of Red Blend Duet & Dolce Vita Regular Price: $86-SAVE $36- Special Price $5o We'll definitely be back. Today's Pourings on 2/22/25 1. Chardonnay 2023 Aromas of toasted brioche, apricot, nuts, and honey jump from the glass, and flavors of pineapple, orange, peach, and almond 2. Rosé Fleur Rouge 2023 The Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon, Fleur Rouge boasts notes of citrus, raspberry, and red candies 3. Duet Red Blend '21 70% Cabernet Sauvignon & 30% Zinfandel, this red blend has notes of mixed fruits like ripe blackberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries as well as hints of vanilla 4. Cabernet Sauvignon Dolce Vita '19 Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of pomegranate, blackberry, vanilla, and caramel 5. Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 6 '20 complex single-block, single-clone wine Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of baking spice, stewed blackberries, plums, and dark cherries, black pepper, olive tapenade, and dried herbs read more

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Can't recommend enough. Love this family owned vineyard! The place is beautiful. Their award winning wine is amazing. And staff is knowledgeable, friendly and so welcoming. For every pour, we not only get to learn about the wine but also the stories behind them. The wine tasting experience is professional yet it feels like a fun gathering at a friend's house. During this visit, we went for the standard tasting menu. It's $20 for 5 pours and it's honestly a steal!! (And even cheaper if you are a wine club member) We have: White Blend: it's rich yet refreshing Rose Fleur Rouge: the color is beautiful and it smells of strawberries I love it Red Blend, the Duet: balanced and delicious Petite Sirah: they are phasing out this one so get it when you still can Cabernet Sauvignon, Grand Reserve: so rich and deep with dark fruit flavors. I feel so sophisticated drinking this~ We ended up buying 4 of them. Only bought four cuz I'm coming back for the Cab when it gets colder and it would be a perfect drink when it's raining outside~ We also joined the wine club because I can definitely see myself revisiting very frequently. There are lots of perks and no membership fee. I'm so excited for future adventures! read more

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Made a Yelp account just to leave this review! We went to Great Bear Vineyards for their Valentine's day Chocolate and Wine tasting and had a wonderful time. Their chocolate/wine pairings complemented beautifully together and left us savoring each individual flavor. Afterwards we were visited by Jenny, a winemaker who noticed our cups were empty and offered us more wine to taste. Overall, a very pleasant and romantic experience. Would love to visit again in better weather (and when the grapes are in season)! read more

Had such a wonderful time at the Great Bear Vineyards! It's a beautiful walk up to the wine tasting area with the birds singing and flying around. Be sure to visit on a nice day for a great view and seating outside in the sunshine! This is a gorgeous spot for relaxing as you sip on some wine. The staff is all friendly and the owner is full of charming stories and gave great wine tasting tips. I'd definitely come back for any upcoming celebrations or even just a casual afternoon! read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

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Ended up coming back here because our daughter wanted to get one of her favourite wine from here. She's not from here. She lives down south in LA so anytime she comes into town before she leaves town. She always comes here to pick up wine to take back home. Today she asked me to jump out of the car and go with her to take a look at their tasting room, which was a barn, which I've never been to. We walked in and it was so rustic looking and warm. they had decorated with their dry lavender that they grow on the property and they had decorated it for Valentine's Day. As you walk in there is a gift nook to your right and you'll find a wine menu is right at the register. if you do a tasting there, normally you have to make reservations for it, but if you're just buying wine, you can just go and buy it. They have a deal if you buy two or more, they give you $10 off on each bottle and if you're a wine member you'll get an addition 15% off your bill. To be a wine member club it is free you just have to buy three bottles on your initial visit then you have to agree to buy three bottles every quarter which is February May, August and November. They'd like to do events where they do wine, tastings, and charcuterie boards tasting for two people but you definitely have to make reservations for those events. We also found out that they have an Airbnb on site which is a cute little single-story cottage on the property which they kept from the original from 1867. If you book your stay here, you get a free bottle of wine and a free wine tasting in the tasting room. read more

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This is a long, overdue review of a great vineyard that definitely deserves the praise. Prior to our visit here, we honestly were not aware that there was any wineries at all in Davis. We came during the summer, so it was definitely sweltering hot outside. We were concerned about sitting outdoors, but it turns out they also have a covered barn area that has water misters to keep us all cool and shaded. They even had a live pianist who did a great job with upbeat music that definitely kept us engaged. Everyone we encountered here were incredibly sweet and friendly, and we got to learn so much about not only the wine we were drinking, but about wine in general. During our tasting, one of the owners, Marcus, came around to our table to both introduce himself and provide a brief history of the property and how they came to grow this vineyard. We enjoyed our tasting so much that we brought back 3 different bottles to both try at home, as well as to share with our family. During our tasting, we opted to also get a tour of the lavender fields where we got to learn so much more about the property, the apple orchards, and care and growth of the lavenders. At the end, we even got to pick our own lavenders to take home which was a really nice touch! Parking is available in their private, dirt driveway off to the side. And is a bit of a walk onto the vineyard proper. read more

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Can't believe this charming vineyard is so close to Sacramento yet it gives you Napa vibes without having to drive too far. Gorgeous location and the wine was so delicious. Sauvignon Blanc was refreshing, Malbec, Duet and their Cab were all really good. On a Saturday afternoon, the weather was perfect. We didn't know you can bring your own food to pair with the wines. So their cheese platter was the only option for purchase as far as food goes. Some of the cheese in the platter was not fresh so it was hard and dry and couldn't be eaten. The rest of our experience was wonderful. Ruben our server was knowledgeable, he was a good host. Will Come back more prepared next time with our own Picnic basket. This would be a great place to host private events or a wedding. It has a Very romantic feel. read more

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I really wanted to like this place but the service is soooo slow here. My mom and sister came here on a Saturday around 2pm for wine tasting. As entered the wine tasting area/room/barn we checked in at front table, we were told to grab a empty wine glass and to have a seat. We took a seat and it felt like a good 5-10 min until we were there actually poured our first tasting (I know this may not seem long but sitting there with no greeting/intro of first wine was long for us). Prior to us getting our first pour I had gotten up to confirm with one of the staff members if we may need to go up to the counter and were told someone would come to us. The tasting room wasn't that full and there was maybe a totally of 5 parties doing tastings and about 2 of them were wrapping up. It seemed that only one wine hostess that was taking care of everyone. In addition, the tasting room was sooo hot (it was a pretty warm day). They have a window installed AC unit which was towards the front of the room and we were seated in the back, we could not feel the cool air at all. About half way thru our tasting we moved tables to be closeted to the front of the room to feel the cool air. Wines were good. I did purchase a Chardonnay ($46). Kinda unfortunate that they don't wave your tasting fee if you purchase a bottle. read more

A nice and chill vineyard with great wines! We love the Chardonnay. The couple who owns the vineyard greeted us and gave a beautiful background story on how the wife makes the wine. We will definitely be back as we had a beautiful day and enjoyed the scenery! read more

Wine is such a subjective item. This winery certainly has the awards to prove it is a quality product but it isn't my favorite. I like big bold flavors and tannic reds and these are soft and jammy. And I found the prices to be quite high. That said the grounds are beautiful and service friendly and knowledgeable and it is so close to Davis it makes it hard to not visit. read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Live, local music. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

This is just off the back roads in Davis and it is wonderful. Great landscaping and scenery and there's plenty of places to park as well. This place is very friendly way forward and make sure that you have a good time as well. The people that own it And gave us the story on how it all started so make sure you stop by so you can get that story to see how the vineyard started. read more

This place is beautiful, serene and welcoming. The owners are extremely friendly and knowledgeable without making you feel inferior in your lack of wine knowledgeable. If you look carefully you will see some wildlife crossing the yard while you are relaxing and enjoying a sample or two. Don't forget about their lavender and oils while you are there too. Check out their wine club. read more

We've visited once before a year ago and now today. They created a new seating area that is lovely. I also want to mention how friendly and kind the owner is. Didn't catch his name but it's so nice to have a quick conversation with him, to learn about the place his wife and him have been and the places they've visited. :) Today Ruben helped us and he was GREAT!! We had a tasting and decided to leave with a bottle. It was great to be able to bring our own snacks and sit in a shady table and enjoy the beauty this place has to offer. Thanks again Great Bear. We can't wait to visit again with more friends! :) read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

We attended the food and wine pairing at Great Bear Vineyards. It is a beautiful property and was an amazing date night and opportunity to meet others. There were six courses and all were excellent. The fish taco was my personal favorite. The wine was paired perfectly with the food selections and the service was excellent. I had chosen a pescatarian option and they were very accommodating. We even had the opportunity to talk with the owners. I've been to Great Bear Vineyards for National Charity League events as well as a couple of other events and food trucks. The experience is always relaxing and excellent food and wine! read more

Stumbled across their ad on Instagram and gathered the girls to go wine tasting. The ambiance was calm quiet and perfect for socialising. Great mood lighting and the host guided us through five tasting with great descriptions and background. It was lovely to connect with another local to the area and to learn from his knowledge of blends. Thank you for awesome service ! read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

Nice ambience, went with some friends for a wine night. Met the owner of the vineyard, very nice guy! Pretty place! read more

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The wines are very good here. Nice ambiance. Knocked off one star because my boyfriend was our DD and they made him pay a $5 fee just to be there. Obvi it's not about the $5 because we spend way too much on tastings and bottles, but the principle. Maybe people take advantage and come for the free water and live music, but c'mon, you're punishing a designated driver who's already not drinking !! If anything, give them a free glass of nonalcoholic wine! read more

Lovely tasting space with friendly and knowledgeable staff. Laura was lovely to talk with and the chardonnay was a surprise.

I made a reservation for a tasting through their website. I got no confirmation for my reservation. The day of the reservation I tried to call the number on their website to confirm my reservation and ask a few question. I tried multiple times throughout the day. They did not pick up, so I left a voicemail on my final call but I never heard back from them. When I arrived at my reservation time, the front desk worker told us that they stop serving tastings at the time our reservation was for. They still kindly seated us but the staff bickered right in front of us about who would be our server because they were leaving for the day. The wine tastings themselves were very nice, but we had to ask the server each time for the next round and remind them which part of the tasting we were on. While in the venue, we found that they had a different phone number than the one listed on their website, which was quite frustrating to discover. Our server was very kind, but the whole experience was chaotic and unorganized. read more

Petite is what we love the best here. . Cab is the award winning but not our favorite or mines. . These 2 is what stands out for me. . We really had a great time here. It was our first time here. When we arrived we checked in and then got a table to sit down. We did our wine tasting. The owners give us a tour of the winery about the grapes. Gave us a tour of the lavender filed and to pick our own lavender too. . We got to enjoy the winery like it was our home. It was very welcome and friendly knowledgeable workers. We had an amazing time. Thanks for reading and have a yelptastic day! read more

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Our server was wonderful, she answered any questions we had about the wine and cheese platter. I highly recommend ordering the cheese platter as it pairs perfectly with the different wines. They have complimentary water and excellent seating. There were chickens and squirrels frolicking about. I highly recommend arriving around 12 for a private and beautiful day. I will come back in a couple months! read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Cheese Plate - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

I am SO impressed with Great Bear Vineyards! This was by far the best tasting experience that I had during my Yolo County wine tasting trip. This winery is located just a short distance from downtown Davis, but the drive there will literally transport you into a mini wine country! You'll be driving through town until it turns into a rural road, and then bam! All of sudden there's trees, vineyards, and then the entrance into their estate. The owners actually live on site, and their chateau is GORGEOUS! We actually thought that it was the tasting room at first, but saw that they had a cute tasting barn nearby as we walked up to the entrance. Gaaawd, this place is so damn cute! Their tasting barn is equipped with water misters which was perfect in the super hot weather! The tables overlook their lawn (which seems to be still coming along) and it's super comfortable and relaxing. Lindsay was our host and she was absolutely fantastic! She gave us the low down on each and every wine that she poured and even mentioned her favorites. She checked in on us often during our tasting, so we never felt like we were forgotten. We were so ecstatic to meet the owners and winemaker! Jenny and Marc are a husband and wife team and they own the winery. Jenny is actually the winemaker. We really enjoyed hearing the story about their journey to California. They come from South Africa and migrated into the United States where Jenny was really able to thrive in her passion of winemaking. And let me tell you; their wine is exquisite!!! I enjoyed EVERY single wine that I tried here. They were all super enjoyable. My favorites were their Rosé and their Chardonnay, both of which I took home with me. Maybe it was the hot weather that made me choose their white wines, but they're reds were equally delicious as well. They had a live pianist who was gettin' DOWN on the keys. What a performance! We really enjoyed listening to him. It was such a treat! Before we left, we took a stroll through their beautiful lavender garden. Wow, it's so extensive! And it smelled amazing too. We made our way to a private tasting area behind their chateau where we found some vibrant flowers. Of course, we had to stop and take pictures next to them. They were so pretty! We honestly didn't want to leave, but we had another tasting right after. I'm blown away by my experience here. I will definitely be back again! This was such a wonderful tasting experience. read more

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Can I give them 10 stars? Or a 94? Such an amazing visit to Great Bear Vineyards. As you drive through the gates flanked by lush vineyards leading to the stunning Mediterranean style fusion architectural main home, you know that you are in for a special VIP treat. Marcus was so gracious as he answered my questions and set up our reservation for an elite wine tasting and vineyard tour. We were so lucky to be able to meet both owners, Marcus and Jenny, who have built such an amazing vineyard which features the vineyard and wines, lavender fields, apple orchards, olive trees, and more and still preserves and integrates the original 1860 homestead into the upscale property. It was so interesting to hear from Marcus how they designed and built the custom property, how Jenny, a chemist, went to school at UC Davis to get her degree in winemaking, and how UC Davis used the property as a real life lesson in developing the farmstead land into a world class winery. The original 1860s home was ordered from a catalogue and then brought to the property even before the railroads were built. The old barn has been transformed into a charming rustic space for wine tasting and events. Sometimes, they even have a UC Davis professor provide music to entertain guests. The old water tank is still is use to provide water for the vineyard which is important for the summer temperature swings from the 60s to the 100s. Loved getting a VIP lesson in how to make wine from Jenny and Marcus. Each wine is so unique and many have been award winning. It was really so nice to hear about the wines and their sweet family. The Petit Sirah 2018 was our favorite. So light and full of floral aroma. Congratulations also to their daughter, Cara Meadows-Smith, who won a gold medal for her first vintage, A La Cara, a bold cabernet sauvignon. Definitely take time to tour the property. Marcus graciously took us through the vineyards, orchards, lavender fields and main home. It was interesting to hear how he designed the home and wine making facility to be integrated together. Note the different rooflines. The barrel room was great with a retractile door that can open for the harvest. Proceeds from the lavender sales are donated to local charities. The fruits grown on the property are also donated to the community. A special thanks to Marcus and Jenny for opening up their winemaking home to us and for sharing what really felt like a VIP tour. And thanks to Sacramento CM Alex for inviting a couple of Texans to a world class winery. Such an elite treat. read more

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Magnificent Wine Amidst Yolo's Beauty! SITREP Recently been introduced to wine region of Yolo County and am enjoying enchanting treks to explore varietals heralding from Davis. JENNY & MARCUS MEADOWS-SMITH: VINTAGE CELEBRITIES! Vineyard owners Jenny & Marcus Meadows-Smith were wonderful introducing me to Wine-Making in Davis. Jenny (originally from South Africa) and Marcus (English from across "The Pond") met over careers in International Business, and then found themselves in LOVE, in Northern California - what to do!? ;) Jenny got on it! Got her degree in Viticulture @ UCDavis, because what better way to share your passion for wine than MAKE your favorite varietals & blends, right? Her wines are highly regarded and noted for well-deserved excellence in Reds, Rosés and White wines. [And after meeting her, I call her "Wine Master!"] :D VINEYARD SETUP When stepping into Great Bear Vineyard campus, immediate structures and areas to note: * ORIGINAL HOME - dating back to 1860, this 450 square foot house raised two (2) generations of family from the Gold Rush through Roaring 20s in 1927. It is a mainstay of this property for more than 150 years. * ORIGINAL BARN & SIDE YARD - contemporary to original house, all still functioning and integral to winery operations! In fact, this section is where the day-to-day entertaining, picnicking and wine tasting is done. Resident pianist David (and local UCDavis prof) is often found regaling guests with tunes from the upright piano. * NEW WINE OPERATION & RESIDENCE - featuring a beautiful Old mission-style / Spanish Ranch vibe, a gorgeous centerpiece for hosting incredible cultural events, concerts and other shows. VINEYARD EXPERIENCE & COST SUMMARY Even though this is Davis, many excellent varietals are represented here that you would find "just one or two valleys over." Not only are Great Bear wines delicious & high quality, when compared to Napa Valley for similar varietals, bottles run lower-moderate in cost. Only between $22 to $40 - for your more accessible wines, and up to $55 for excellent reserve wines. Easily less than 50% for comparable wines in Napa and Sonoma. As my uncle Vincenzo said, "You're drinking the wine, NOT the label." MY TASTING! The wine selection is quite impressive for an up & coming winery located in Yolo County, and includes: * A range of White Wine, including Chardonnay, Sparkling Wine and Sauvignon Blanc; * A couple of Rosé; and, * A wide range of Reds, starting with a popular Red Blend (that is completely SOLD OUT), and extending to more traditional varietals including: Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. After tasting six (6) wines, I settled one bottle per category: My white, I took home 2020 Chardonnay ($24), surprisingly light & crisp and not overly "buttery" the way I find other wineries in Napa Valley - it was full of aromas of citrus, specifically oranges and limes, fermented in oak barrels; My rosé, I settled on 2020 Rosé Fleur Rouge ($22), a beautiful pink-rouge Rosé derived from Great Bears' Cabernet Sauvignon with both red fruit and floral aromas; and, My red, my tastebuds voted for 2018 Petite Sirah ($28), a vintage MUCH lighter & crisper than more traditional Petite Sirah / Petite Syrah - full of aroma of red & black fruits (berries & plum). Overall, an excellent example of local wine deals obviating the need to endure the inconvenience traveling long distances or pay exorbitant shipping charges. MARCUS' WINE WISDOM - *FUSION PAIRINGS* - "ABOUT THOSE TANNINS!" Marcus was so gracious and extremely agile in raising my wine-pairing awareness. Now that we are entertaining again, and having more varied cuisines on our dinner table, dishes with various curries, BBQ and other strong Indian & East Asian spice palettes are more frequent. Going BEYOND usual wine-pairing with "fish" or with "steak", how can we better navigate pairings? Marcus gave me one (of many) excellent rule-of-thumb: "You want tannins if you are going to have curries and/or BBQ'd meats - stronger the structure & body of the flavor, than you need a better counter-balance. This requires tannins to "cut through" strong flavors. For example, don't use a Sauvignon Blanc (in general) to pair with BBQ chicken or Tikki Masala - a better pairing would be Petite Sirah, even better would be Zinfandel. KUDOS Huge thanks to Jenny & Marcus, and their team members - Ali, David, Gabriel, Lindsey, and I KNOW I'm missing couple of names - making this experience at Great Bear Vineyards so outstanding! THE LOWDOWN When passing through Davis, it's definitely worth the stop to see what the latest offerings are and perhaps pick up a few bottles - an enjoyable stop worth the side-trip from your Sacramento to Bay Area community. read more

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We made reservations in advance and reserved a table for our party of 10. This was one of several different wineries that participated in Yelp's Passport to YOLO Wine Country Event. We had a complimentary wine tasting and a lavender bunch. The grounds are gorgeous, it's well maintained and very appealing! We tasted a variety of whites, reds, and rosè. We were impressed with all of their wines, especially the Chardonnay and Zins. Marcus, the proprietor allowed our group to try his daughter's prize winning red. It was an impressive wine, so smooth. They allowed food to be brought in since there weren't any food trucks available. We brought in our own munchies to enjoy with our wine. We sat outside in the Valley heat but it was bearable because there were misters everywhere. Marcus also took us on a tour of his lavender garden where we picked fresh lavender. I paid for an extra bunch to take home! Marcus and his wife were the most gracious and hospitable hosts. We are already making plans to go back real soon! read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Beautiful lavender garden - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

As part of the Yelp Passport and reading some great reviews, we made a reservation to visit Great Bear for a tasting. You must go onto their website and buy tickets for the date and time you want. We decided on a Friday (5-8pm) for a tasting and it happened to be a picnic and music day also. When you go through the gates, you will park along the side of the roadway as they are not allowing cares to park up by the main buildings. In the afternoon the trees give some shade. As we walked up to the beautiful Mediterranean style building we see a sign for the tasting room at the big barn area. We saw lots of people already relaxing at their tables with food laid out on the tables. We were greeted as we walked up to the table to check in. We were given glasses and told to find a table we would like to sit at. A band was setting up while we sat down. Many of the tables are under the barn roof (and shaded with misters) as well as other tables in the grassy area next to the barn. Marcus (one of the owners) greeted us and told us how the tasting process works as well as who would bring our wines to taste. He gave us a great history of the place. Michael then came over to start our tasting with the Chardonnay. We also tasted the Rose Fleur Rouge, Petite Sirah (slightly chilled which Marcus likes) Zinfandel, and Grand Reserve Cabernet. We enjoyed all of the wines but ended up getting the Petite Sirah. We listened to some music, ate our sandwiches we brought and enjoyed the wine. Marcus came by several more times to check on us as well as offer a tour of the grounds. We finished our wine and were introduced to Sarah who took us on a tour. We saw more of the homes located on the grounds as well as more history about the family who started the farm. We also got to see where the wine is stored and all of the lavender grown on the grounds. As we were finishing our tour, Jenny (the other part of the fabulous couple who own the winery and wine maker) ran up and handed me a fresh bunch of lavender. Oh the wonderful fragrance of lavender. She was so sweet!! Thank you to Jenny, Marcus, Michael and Sarah (and other staff) for a great experience! read more

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Thank you Yelp for introducing me to a beautiful vineyard in Davis! I visited Great Bear as part of Yelp's Passport to Yolo County Wines. My friends and I were treated to a tasting of five different wines and a complimentary bouquet of fresh lavender. We enjoyed tasting a selection of their wines while relaxing at a table in the shade. We noticed quite a few parties wine tasting and many had brought their own snacks and picnics. Chandler was a wonderful host. She brought us cold water bottles and introduced all the wines. My favorite was the Chardonnay. It was crisp, fresh and very smooth. The owner, Marcus, came by and introduced himself. He was friendly and I loved hearing his story about how he and his wife built the vineyard. He gave us a tour around the property. I was impressed his vineyard began as something for his family but turned into a business! I enjoyed strolling around the property and through the lavender fields. What a lovely afternoon. Thank you Great Bear and Yelp Sacramento! read more

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I went on a weekend with my bestie on an extremely hot day - Would love to come back on a day not so scorching. The area is easy to get to, and not hard to find. The hubs dropped us off. The weather actually wasn't nearly as hot as we thought, since there was a nice breeze. There was a nice little patio area where we chose a spot and made ourselves comfy. I can totally see hit being super nice spot for live music. There was a guy that sat down at the piano there and started playing music for a while. It was lovely. One of the owners Marc came by to chat with us about the wines - You can really tell that him and his wife put a lot of love into what they do. I loved the cabernet sauvignon that they recommended chilled - But I opted for the chardonnay since I mostly go for whites during the hot weather. Jenny, Marc's wife who is also the lovely vintner came by to chat with us too - They really were the highlight of the trip. We did later realize that they don't have food sales unless a food truck is on the property - Marc encouraged us to order Doordash if we were feeling hungry but also gave us some breadsticks to nosh on. We did end up ordering a snack on Doordash and they found us easily enough. Probably a good call to soak up some of the wine. After puchasing a couple of bottles of wine and picking up our bundles of lavender, we went wandering around the lavender farm and into the courtyard. Marc let us in to check out the wine barrels. It really is a lovely property. Can't wait to come back for another visit! read more

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Incredible wines and very hospitable hosts! Had an amazing tasting and wonderful conversation with the owners.

I used to live in Davis and this beautiful vineyard didn't exist then. What a lovely setting for wine tasting and they've got a great selection of wines. The staff is friendly and accommodating. We were greeted nicely then checked in at the front (reservations needed) then sat at any table. It was a hot day with a slight breeze, but still hot enough to make you sweat. Our wine steward was Chandler. She was gracious and described each wine she poured for us. We tried 5 wines: Chardonnay - this was delicious Rosé of Cabernet Sauvignon Pinot Syrah Zinfandel Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - my favorite! After the Rosé, Marcus - who is one half of the amazing duo who built their home here - introduced himself and offered a tour of his vineyard. He talked about the history of the land, and how he and his wife started making wine. The chateau is MAGNIFICENT! Like something you'd see in movies or if you happen to be in a village in France or Italy. Gorgeous!! Aside from grapes, they also had LOTS lavender shrubs, apple trees and citrus around the property. You can pick your own lavender or bush them in a bunch. They smelled divine! We returned to our table to try the last 3 wines (the reds). We noticed that a lot of people brought their own charcuterie board or you can order ahead of time. I wish I had known that because we wanted something to nibble on with the wine. Next time! Thank you, Marcus, and Yelp Sacramento for this Yelp elite event and free wine tasting. My friends and I left with 3 bottles of wine and our complimentary lavender bunches. It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday! read more

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I had such high expectations since everyone in the comments mentioned this winery. I made a reservation and arrived on a pretty hot summer day. There was no indoor seating available, but the outdoor tables were nicely arranged allowing space and privacy. Wooden tables gave the space its rustic feel. At the entrance, I was greeted by one of the owners who offered a bouquet of lavender (part of the Yelp passport package, typically $10). I sat at one of the available tables and was served with the first wine by a friendly associate. The atmosphere was laid back and relaxing. A couple of fans or misters could have helped with the heat, but this is Yolo county! I really enjoyed talking with the owner to took the time to explain how they started the winery. My favorite wine was their Petit Sirah that is served cold. It was an everyday kind of dinner wine - low sugar, light and did not leave any tannins in your taste buds. I purchased a bottle. The second favorite was their Zinfandel - more flavorful and sweeter than Petit Sirah, but not as sweet and powerful as a Pinot Noir. Overall, a good experience, but I would recommend some cooling options for outdoor seating. read more

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