Really lovely vineyard and venue. Good wine, fun vibe. Location means you need a DD but worth it.

Our last for today from Yelp's Passport to Yolo Wine Country event was the quite small Great Bear Vineyards in nearby Davis. Parking reminded us of the Napa wineries wherein we entered through a driveway of trees. We got a confirmation email from Jenny and Marcus prior so we thought going in was a breeze. There was a lot of people in the tasting area which featured tree & umbrella shaded tables as well as a patio with a pianist (lived inside the grounds BTW) and water misters. During the registration confusion, we were made to pay a $12 fee even when we told the girl that we belonged with the Yelp group. Jenny, owner and winemaker poured our first and she was so welcoming and even gave my wife a lemonade. Marcus, the husband and co-owner gave us a bonus taste as we were leaving. It was the A la Cara red blend which he told us was their daughter's first wine in which she did all the work with close mentoring by Mom of course. Marcus then gave us a tour of the winery which includes the family residence as well. Our day ended with a lavender bunch picking at the vineyards aromatic garden. Another excellent Yelp Elite event by the Sacramento group. A very welcome one to "end" 2020's misery. Here's to the region getting their American Viticultural Area (AVA) certification. read more

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

Lovely Vineyard! We had no idea this was in Davis! Beautiful vineyard with elegant architecture. We're told they also have AirBNB of the original house on the 10acre property. We got there early, so had a chance to talk w/ co-owner Marcus (his wife makes the wines) who told us about their wine making journey & about how they try to be sustainable and allow the animals (jack rabbits, squirrels, hawks) to co-exist in harmony with the vineyard. They also have a beautiful lavender field and we got an aromatic bunch to take home. The chardonnay that was part of the tasting menu was smooth and delicious and had gotten 91pts! We also liked the Grand Reserve a lot as well. The wine prices were reasonable and we bought 2 bottles of the chardonnay. The outdoor settings were spaced out for social distancing. They often have concerts and apparently can seat 100 (while adhering to social distancing) and are sold out for tonight's concert. Overall, had a relaxing time with the husband and our friend. Next time we'd love a tour of the winery but did not have time today unfortunately. read more

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My wife and I came here on a Saturday afternoon. They were super chill and very friendly. They own ten acres of grapes and offer various red and white varietals to taste. We met the Co-Owner who was very nice and took a lot of time to walk us through the wines. The Chardonnay was our favorite, very crisp and refreshing. Also, price appropriate! Definitely come by and give it a try! Wonderful and beautiful! read more

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

I proposed at Great Bear Vineyards and their service was amazing they helped me with coordinating the entire thing (I set up my vendor for proposal stand)! Me and my fiance were very happy with their service and champagne as well! read more

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Beautiful spot with a great outside tasting area. The staff was very knowledgeable and attentive and provided a lot of background for each selection of wine. As my first wine tasting in California definitely was a great experience and would stop in again on the next trip. read more

Our visit to Great Bear included a great tasting, very friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a perfect escape from the summer heat! Absolutely recommend stopping by for a tasting, and taking a couple bottles home with you! read more

We had an 80th birthday celebration this past Saturday and it was an absolutely amazing event. There were about 35 of us, most from Davis and Woodland, and at least half of the guests had never been here. They were gobsmacked that such an amazing venue was in our back yard! I came by about 4 weeks ago to check it out and Kathryn did an amazing job showing us our options and tasting some wonderful wine. After about 10 minutes, we were completely sold that this was going to be the spot. Everything was so easy! She introduced us to Simply Satisfied catering and all of our communications were via email, and their responses were spot on. Within three email exchanges, we were designing the menu. We opted for heavy finger foods as opposed to a sit down meal, and it was sheer perfection. I also have to give a shout out to Sterlitzia Flowers for designing all of the floral arrangements as well. I don't know if I can give GBV extra points for the exceptional sunny and dry weather, but it was picturesque. Lyndsey was our host during the party and helped to keep the glasses filled and taking care of all of the details. Once the food started magically appearing the three-hours that we had reserved flew by. The grounds were spectacular, the trees had just started blooming and there was not one thing that we would have changed. By far, one of the best experiences of our life. Kudos to Great Bear Vineyards!! read more

Great Bear Vineyards - 80th Birthday at GBV - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

Great Bear is a privilege for those of us who want to share great times and exceptional wines. Amazing staff and live music. Right here is in our backyard. Great Bear makes Davis a better place to be. Thank you. read more

I really wanted to Love this place . Staff is friendly, we paid 20$ for wine tasting , which is a good price . Wine was good , the only thing that sucked we weren't allowed see the main house . They told us we have to make another reservations paid more just to see the inside of the house that's crazy ! . We were only allowed to walk on the side of the house . We had our wine tasting on the back or side of the house more like a farm stay . Unfortunately I will not be going back read more

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What a wonderful experience throughout! As we came up the driveway, we were awed by the beautiful home straight ahead; we later found that it was Marcus' dream and a local architect made it a reality. The wine tasting currently takes place outside in an old barn, and it gives you a relaxed country feel while you wine taste. We parked ourselves in from of the fan and nearest to the misters as it was a balmy 108 degrees the day we went. Jenny informed us that Marcus had insisted on purchasing it the day before... so thank you, Marcus!!! The tasting room attendants were all very friendly and helpful. Great explanation of the wine, and they sent over Jenny, who is the owner and winemaker. She was so fun and definitely enjoyed chatting about her wine and the winemaking process. You can tell she is passionate about what she does and puts a lot of love into her process. Marcus introduced himself and told us their background of their "quick trip" to the US 20 years prior, haha! And the house they have back in England. Jenny offered us a tour of the property and to educate 2 new hires. She told us about the grapes they originally started with that were only meant to produce wine for their own pleasure but ended up expanding to increase production to share with the rest of us. YAY For us because the wine is excellent. Jenny told us her desire to focus on quality versus alcohol/sugar content. I appreciate this as it makes wine tasting more enjoyable, you get great wine but you can still function after a few glasses. As we strolled around the back of the property, there were lavender bushes upon lavender bushes. You could hear the bees a buzzin; they were happy! And the smell was amazing! They pick bushels and sell them at the entrance or give you the tools needed to pick your own. The proceeds are donated to a local LGBTQ+ non-profit, which is even better! Overall a great experience with excellent, beautiful property, fragrant lavender, excellent hospitality, and most important of all... delicious wine perfect for enjoying on a hot day! read more

I attended UC Davis and graduated in 2012 and I wish this was here while I was an Aggie. Located past Covell off F street we came here on a Sunday upon opening at noon. It is family owned and the owners both took the time out to chat with us to explain their history here and their highly rated wines! I enjoyed all of the wines we tasted and the staff were so friendly on this hot day. Our server went into detail with everything and I believe she was from Chile. The owner also said that they host many events out here and have bans come and play outside. This particular weekend all of the tasting tables were located up front but the tastings are usually in the barn where it's a little cooler. They have lavender fields in the back and are open for picking, they just ask that you make a donation and every week donations go to different local organizations. The tasting came with complimentary breadsticks and bottled water. They sometimes have a good truck outside if you want to purchase food and they also sell lavender candles. If you're in the area this is definitely high quality wine without the Napa Valley prices! I can't wait to come back and take my friends here! read more

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I had the loveliest visit to Great Bear Vineyards this past weekend - this is a super cute family owned boutique winery with wonderful wine and a whole lot of character. What started out as Marcus and Jenny's retirement project, has quickly become a lovely little respite in the YOLO wine county. As soon as you arrive, the staff is warm and friendly and ready to seat you (definitely make a reservation ahead JIC) and you are quickly given a tasting notes page along with your first pour. A lot of the staffers had just started when I visited, but they still knew plenty about the wine and were engaging and oh so friendly. I also love that Jenny and Marcus meander about from table to table and sit down with you for a glass of wine and entertain you with all the stories of how certain wines were developed and/or all their amazing travels across the world (definitely ask Marcus about why Jenny created the Petite Syrah!)It definitely contributed to the wonderful family feel of this winery. After an animated discussion with Marcus about all the best places in the world for Indian food outside of India itself, I was asked if I would like a tour of the property, and the lovely Sara and I wandered about, sneaking into the oak barrel room and wading through the stunning lavender fields. All the proceeds from the lavender sales are donated to charity and all of the produce grown on the vineyard is donated to local food banks (how amazing is that!!). Anyways I digress - I highly recommend coming for the wine (my favorites were the rosé and the petite syrah), staying for all the wonderful anecdotes of life on a vineyard, and leaving with as many bunches of fresh lavender as you can possibly carry. read more

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Great Bear Vineyards is an amazing hidden gem. Please don't everyone go here at once, because I want it all to myself. Quality: 5 Value: 5 Service: 5 Ambience: 6 We came here through Yelp's wine passport event to support small businesses coming out of the pandemic - we basically got a free tasting. This place is amazing - truly one of a kind. It is centrally located, has beautiful architecture, and owners who will come out, chat with, and offer tours to literally every group that shows up. They clearly love people and wine and this shows through the outstanding experience they offer everyone. They also have a great wine club, that is as affordable as their tastings / glasses / bottles for sale. read more

First and foremost this my first visit to this venue. I read multiple reviews and all were great. The venue is a sprawling old ranch with multiple out buildings. Most of the juice is estate for their wines. This place has a great atmosphere and I would encourage anyone to go there. My experience was on a Saturday afternoon. First off you have to make a reservation online so you are insured a seat. I get it. It's about a $20 tasting fee per person. They have an extensive wine list mostly cabs. If you purchase wine you tastings are not credited back to you. I asked about the wine club about joining i was told you have to by 6 bottles to join and at 3 bottles per quarter, owner picks. They have multiple clubs. Staff was very nice. I have no issues with them. The lady that helped us was very nice and had worked there for just over a year. I was asking basic questions about the grapes, vines, vintage, etc and she was not very knowledgeable. Not blaming her however training may be better. I would think if you wanted to join the wine club someone would show you around the winery and tell you about the benefits of being a member. We we not even asked to become a member. I will go there again and see what experience has to offer read more

The best of the best! Every wine was delightful. I know that's not helpful but it true. The owners were knowledgeable welcoming and interesting. We really felt like welcome guests. It was sooooo hot the day we went but we sat in the shade on a covered patio and had plenty of water. There was no food being served so make your food plans accordingly. I highly recommend you go out try the wines and company for yourself . read more

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We came for their wine tasting and loved their Chardonnay, it's very crisp and light, I think it's a great choice for gifts or to host a party. It's a family owned vineyard, and Marcus and Jenny were very friendly and approachable. Their Chardonnay got a 91 point with the Wine Enthusiast Magazine, I really enjoyed it so much, I got 3 bottles, thanks Ally, our waitress for having us. I love the picnic and laid back vibe and when we were there Friday night, they had a live pianist. Some of their tables were covered and others has patio umbrellas. They also had mists to help cool us down. I also loved their lavender field. It's a nice bonus to the wine tasting. We were here from Yelp's Passport to Yolo Wine Country, and this was our first stop and is my favorite, for their wine and vibe. We were having trouble finding parking at first but did see a couple of car parked outside, we decided to have dinner before coming back. I would remember this place to sure. read more

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I came here for my first stop for the Passport to Yolo Wine county. Thank you Yelp. If it wasn't for Yelp. I never would've found this hidden gem. Jenny and Marcus were amazing. They gave us the history of this amazing winery. You have to try Great Bear Vineyards at least once. All wines were unique and delicious. By my third tasting. I knew this was the winery for me. I have officially joined this winery. I can't wait to bring my family and friends here. read more

Great Bear Vineyards - I love these doors - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

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Went on a rainy day. Tasting was in the Dance Hall. Cute decor. Didn't get a whole lot of information about the wines we tasted. When we finished our last one that was it. No follow up. read more

You know you've had a great experience at a business when you can't wait to give them an amazing Yelp Review!! Great Bear Vineyards is an absolute picturesque view right out of the Eagles Hotel California album cover. I seriously can't believe this place has been in Davis the whole time! I called the vineyard Friday evening and made reservations for the next afternoon with no problem. The gal who answered was super helpful and friendly. When we arrived, they had all the Covid safety protocols in place and seated us at a table with an umbrella ( thank goodness because it was a little toasty out). Dana, our wine pourer, was amazing, she was very sweet and knowledgeable about the wines and the vineyard and never made us feel rushed. She even bright us bottles of iced cold water which I appreciated very much! I LOVED all of the wines, I mean every single one which is pretty rare. My fav was the 2020 Rose of Cabernet and the 2018 Petite Sirah....so good. We were told we were free to walk around the beautiful buildings and grounds and check things out. The architecture of the house is absolutely beautiful as well as the fragrant lavender fields. Lavender bunches are available to buy or pick at $10 a bunch and well worth it. Marcus, they owner also came and checked in on us and gave us a little history of the place. He gave all credit for the delicious wines to his wife, Jenny, and he will only take credit for driving the tractor, lol. My husband and I loved Great Bear so much that we decided to become members! It's free to join and a no brainer since we loved the wines and atmosphere so much. I can't wait to be able to come back for in-person member club parties as well as the live music. read more

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The estate itself is beautiful! A leisurely walk down the entry road led into a well-furnished outdoor tasting area. Ally was an amazing hostess, with Jenny and Marcus - the owners - walking around and making sure every customer was happy. I truly loved all of the wines provided with the tasting! In the end I walked away their 2018 Petite Sirah, as a sweet chilled red hit home during a warm day such as this. Marcus was kind enough to provide a tour of the grounds, which proved to be exciting. It was also touching to learn that the lavender, grown and sold on-site, has all of its sales donated back to the community. I can't wait to visit again! read more

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So grateful for Yelp for always getting us to the best places! I can't believe we only just found out about Great Bear Vineyards after over 8 years in Davis. Located a stone's throw from campus, Great Bear is located on an incredibly beautiful property where they make the wine, and grow lavender and fruit. We picked up Nugget sandwiches on the way there since they allow picnics on non-food truck days, and we were greeted by such friendly staff who checked us in. We tasted 5 wines as part of the tasting and our server was even kind enough to let us try a couple other of her favorites as well. Marcus came by to introduce himself and gave us a tour of the property. He explained their wine-making process so well and we loved hearing their story. It's always wonderful to hear about businesses who are not only passionate about the product they make but are interested in giving back to the community as well. We enjoyed our wines at their beautiful table and then bought 3 more to take home (their wine club is free to join!) I honestly can't believe we've been driving out to Zamora all these years, this is definitely now our go-to spot for wine tasting! read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Ask for a tour- the property is INCREDIBLE - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

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The property is BEAUTIFUL! Wide open views of the valley, and a nice lawn and shaded awning to relax under. 4 stars for the property. The wine is 2 stars though unfortunately though it is not good at all! read more

Really enjoyed this gem in Davis! $20 for a tasting of 5 wines, friendly staff and owner, and beautiful setting and property. They host a variety of events year round (salsa dancing, paint and sip) in addition to their regular tastings and I definitely plan to return. So glad I found it through TikTok! read more

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

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Our first visit and we immediately signed up for membership. The grounds are beautiful! The tables and spaced far apart enough for your groups privacy. There was live music while we were there on a Sunday afternoon. It was a great turnout and people still continued to come in as we left 3 hours later. No food serving at this time and so brought our own snack/lunch which worked out perfect for us. Wine and picnic wit afternoon laughs. Ranger was helping us that afternoon and he was most pleasant. Kept us informed about the different wines. And you get a keepsake wine glass! Local favorite for sure! read more

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Came to check out great bear vineyard for my yolo wine passport and it did not disappoint! The Yelp elite pass came with a free tasting and a complimentary lavender bunch that you can pick on your own! We got to try chardonnay, rose fleur rouge, petite Sirah, Zinfandel, ashworth reserve. Dana was helping us and she was great! She poured our wines in a timely manner and we did not feel rushed at all. Their wines are so easy to drink, especially for a wine rookie like me. We got to meet the owners, Marcus and Jenny. Marcus spoke to us about how their winery all started. We just missed their opening, as we graduated from UCD in 2012. Their winery is a very Spanish/mission vibe. Jenny took us to the lavender fields and we got to pick our own bunches. The aroma was amazing. She warned us about the bees but they didn't seem to bother us. I would definitely come back. It's a fun family run business and you can tell their passion for wine runs deeps. read more

Came here 5.14 (lol I love writing reviews when I actually have time to reflect so I'm in the moment when I'm at wherever I'm at). Was with a friend, he made reservations which was nice. I love everything about this place! From arriving, getting greeted right away with a glass of wine, Kendall who walked us to our seats was the best part! She is so knowledgeable about wine, and was an amazing host! She did a tour with us around the property, and it is stunning!!!! The wine amazing, price point = great! Ambiance was beautiful, there was a pianist playing the piano in front of our table and behind the estate is a pool and beautiful fountain!!! Parking was super easy. If you're looking for a hidden vineyard/winery not in wine country and you're out this way, I highly recommend this location. read more

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Very charming setting in Davis. We had a nice afternoon meeting one of the owners Marcus and a well informed and friendly server--Kendal who made our tasting enjoyable. The sample wines were very good and we enjoyed them very much. Marcus gave us a short tour of the main house and barrel room. During these COVID-19 times everything is just a little harder to navigate BUT our Saturday afternoon at Great Bear could not have been better. We'll be back. read more

Great Bear Vineyards - Very enjoyable Saturday. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

This is a hidden gem in the outskirts of Davis. The service was lovely, the owners were nice enough to come and introduce themselves to me and explain a bit about the venue and their wines. I was a fan of their Chardonnay out of all the options. The offer live music from a local band which added to the environment. You can tell this is a local favorite for folks as you can bring your own food/snacks when they dont have food trucks. They also had cheese boxes available for purchase, too. The cheese boxes come with a note and which wine they are best paired with. read more

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Wow! We came to Great Bear Vineyards after getting several recommendations from friends and were completely blown away. The vineyard is beautiful and the wine was phenomenal (I would recommend trying the Chardonnay, even if you are not usually a fan of Chardonnay). The owner came over and welcomed us, and gave us some history of the winery. It is great to have such a local gem in Davis. I will be returning for the beautiful scenery, amazing wine, and welcoming owners. Great Bear surpassed all of my expectations, 10/10! read more

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

We came across Great Bear Vineyard by happenstance after we let go of our hopes for Napa. We were so glad Napa didn't work out because this family-run vineyard and its Mission Revival architectural design gave us a far more memorable experience than we ever could have gotten elsewhere. We tried to support small businesses wherever we could along our road-trip, and this, especially, was one we were proud to support. The grounds, designed by the owner himself, provided a beautiful backdrop. Through conversation, we heard Marcus's story of how Great Bear came to be, and his passion for sharing these experiences with others. We enjoyed sunset sips of the Reserve Red and Rose as David played ensembles on the piano. Thanks for the good vino, amazing ambiance, and standout hospitality. read more

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I loved visiting Great Bear Vineyards! I am a Davis local and had been dying to do a tasting here! They have you sanitize your hands upon entrance and follow safety precautions to keep you safe while tasting. The owners Marcus and Jenny are wonderful! They are so friendly and I really enjoyed hearing them discuss their wines and the vineyard. The estate is a beautiful and great location to unwind and sip wine with friends. I really enjoyed the wines! I especially appreciated their Cabernet Sauvignon and Roussanne. My friends and I ordered dinner to be delivered while we tasted at the winery. I will definitely be returning to this gem in Davis! I hope to come by sometime when there is live music! read more

Great Bear Vineyards - My friends and I in the back of the winery catching the sunset! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Davis, California

I had a wonderful time at the Sunday wine tasting! $20 per person for five wines with beautiful views of the vineyards from the outdoor patio. Definitely a must-see if you're in Davis even for a day. I would recommend bringing some fruit and cheese with you (they encourage you to bring a picnic) or check to see if they have a foot truck the day you intend to go. read more

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

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This winery is a gem. The owners are the most authentic people you could ever hope to meet. The wines and olive oils are superior. This is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon or evening. Be sure to check out their website for their event opportunities! I would highly recommend this beautiful place. read more

Such an amazing experience! We had 3 April birthdays to celebrate, and we wanted a cool venue for a little celebration. Great Bear Vineyards was amazing and we are so glad we went! The ambiance was lively, the wine was delicious, and we had an unforgettable time. The best part was that we all felt safe, as everyone had their mask on while away from the table, we were out in open air, and we were all well socially distanced. There was a pianist who played some of our requests, and the staff was very attentive and friendly. We had ordered some of their cheese boxes, and they were delicious! They even came with a menu that suggested which wine each cheese pairs best with! We had a blast, and we will definitely be back again! Thanks Great Bear Vineyards! read more

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Terrible. Dogs are not allowed, even in the outdoor. It's unfortunate, especially since so many wineries are dog-friendly, and it's something my friends and I enjoy when wine tasting. Not only was it inconvenient, but it also made the whole experience feel a bit unwelcoming for pet owners. If you're someone who likes to bring your dog along for outings, I'd suggest looking elsewhere for a more inclusive spot. read more

This was so a fun and romantic evening. We went for the 5-8 wine tasting and got there when it was dark around 6:30. The string lights and music made the whole drinking/ dining area feel like you were at a barn party. I had no idea that this existed and think it was one of the cutest date spots I've been in Sacramento/ Davis. This is SO much nicer than Old Sugar Mill which gets super crowded on the weekends. Highly recommend. Service was lovely and had fun talking to the sommeliers (some in training). A little slow sometimes but we didn't mind. read more

Had a wonderful wine tasting and tour of the vineyard last Saturday as part of the Yelp's Passport to Yolo Wine Country. Fantastic find as I am quite familiar with the Davis area but had no idea that this vineyard existed! A great alternative to having to drive out to Napa Valley for a little weekend vineyard getaway. Beautiful main house (designed by the owners themselves after traditional European architecture) and the wine tasting at the 19th century barn is a nice touch! The short winery tour by our lovely host was informative and engaging. There was a live jazz pianist when we went and it was so nice to have live music while drinking great wine. As part of the Yelp event, my husband and I were both gifted two bunches of dried lavender which is scenting my house so nicely right now. The lady who poured the wine was friendly, engaging and had good insights to each wine. We walked away with a bottle of Petite Syrah which was fantastic lightly chilled and perfect for the summer season! Definitely recommend! read more

This place had beautiful grounds, tasty reds and white wines. The staff were very friendly.