I love everything about this winery! First off, they have the outdoor tastings with social…read moredistancing seating, AMAZING wines, beer tasting area and they serve food (sandwiches, small plates, etc). Fortunately we were able to get in without a reservation on this busy Saturday, the friendly host cleaned off our table and got us situated. The grounds are really nice with picnic tables, umbrellas, lots of shade and even little wicker sofas. They've done a really great job adapting to these Covid times. Wine tasting is $15 per person which is kind of high from the last time I was here but they probably need to make up some deficit after lockdown. Anyway, the four of us did a wine tasting flight of 5 different wines plus a few tastes of their special ones. When I do wine tasting, it's very rare that I end up liking all of the wines but I seriously loved every single wine that Hovey had. My favorites were both end of the spectrum...a light criso viognier and their petite Syrah. Both were like summer and winter in my mouth! We ended up buying the viognier since it still feels like summer! Our hostess was great and explained the taste and background on each tasting, she was very knowledgeable and friendly. Murphy's is about an hour and a half from home but I might consider doing a membership here because I loved both their whites and reds which is rare. We all left feeling a little happier than when we got there! I will most definitely be back!

I had an absolutely lovely time at Hovey Winery and I have no doubt that you will two. For…read morestarters, the set up is fabulous. Outside surrounding the space you'll find picnic tables and other seating scattered about. The day I visited it was a bit chilly and they even had blankets placed around to help keep us warm. Such a nice touch that went a long way. I didn't spend much time inside except for when I went to the bathroom, but it was nice and cozy, too. This place is family owned and operated, and of course, everyone is extremely knowledgeable about their wine, where it comes from, and all that stuff. My friends and I got flights, so we could try a little bit of everything. Each new wine our waitress poured came with a back story and I loved it. All of the wine we tried was great and I can't remember exactly what they were, but my favorites were the white wines, I know that. While they don't have food, we were welcome to bring food from outside so we grabbed a few pizzas from down the street to munch on while we were there. I'm not from the area, but I do visit every so often and I can totally see myself returning whenever that day comes.

Came over Labor Day weekend in Sept 2026 and had an awesome experience. TLDR: very approachable,…read moreless common varietals, and family-friendly. Sue was super friendly, low pressure. We have two young kids who were happily hanging out, drawing, and chatting with Sue. Sue shared lots of stories behind how she & Gary got into wine, info about the wines we tasted, and details about the wine making process. Sue was super sweet, patient, and chatted with all of us -- including my 8 year old kid who asked tons of questions about the wine-making process. Wines were fun and different, including varietals you don't usually see at the grocery store / Costco. Wines were good, especially enjoyed the Tempranillo Rose, Carignane, and Petit Sirah.

Super homey wine tasting room. Sue is such a personable wine connoisseur. Generous pours and loved…read morehearing her stories. Crisp white wines and rich reds. Stop by on your trip to Murphy's!!

Magnificent! My brother and I stopped in for a tasting and were able to meet with the owner Lorne…read more These are quality wines. Not acidic, smooth and unique. We got to meet Bosco the pup and he took a nap while we tried the tasting. This is a standing tasting room but there are some small tables inside if you prefer to be seated. Lorne took the time to speak with everyone about his experience and how each wine is made. It was honestly such an amazing tasting and very educational

The friendly staff is great, the no pressure to join a wine club, the professional expertise on…read moreeach wine. We walked out with a few bottles which was not in the original plan.

We visited Ironstone Vineyards to celebrate my daughter's birthday and it was such a beautiful…read moreplace to spend the day. As you drive up, you're greeted by gorgeous landscaping and flowers everywhere -- the setting alone makes you want to slow down and stay awhile. We did a wine tasting and really enjoyed the wines. The Sauvignon Blanc was especially good -- crisp, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day. The Pinot Noir was also a standout, smooth and easy to sip. You can tell they put care into their wines, and there was something for everyone in our group to like. The grounds are spacious and peaceful, with views, gardens, and plenty of spots to wander or sit and relax. It feels more like an experience than just a quick tasting stop. The woman helping us was a bit reserved, but still helpful as we made our selections. Overall, Ironstone is a lovely place to visit if you're in the area -- great wine, beautiful scenery, and a relaxing atmosphere that makes for a memorable outing.

We attended a Willie Nelson concert at the Ironstone amphitheater. The lawn seating was perfect and…read morea great price lots of food options and plenty of restrooms. The only downside was their Wi-Fi. I was unable to pull up my Ticketmaster tickets so after I went through security, I had to get out of line and go all the way over to will call to get printed tickets and go back through security again.

I had a glass of their wine when dining at a local restaurant, and I really liked it. Good tasting…read moremenu, and we liked their Rose, Melbac and petit Syrah. Price is reasonable too. Tasting room is cozy and modern, and inside was very well air conditioned which helped in a hot day. Big outdoor seatings and tables in a shade, and mister is going with huge fan browsing. Do swing by for a good tasting experience!

It was our first time doing wine tasting and did not really know how it goes. We were given a menu…read moreand each wine was brought out to us one by one. Each was explained, what year it was made, how it compares to the other wines. It probably would be nice to be able to sit longer and order some food to go with our wines. Not bad for our first wine testing.

We have been coming to Murphy's CA for about 4 years and always make a stop at Milliaire. Right on…read morethe Main Street and easy to walk to. Love the back patio with the fig tree and the sound of the creek running in the back- so relaxing. The best part of visiting this tasting room is Linda! She is always so welcoming and remembers our names and our doggos. We love hearing her stories and catching up with her while we are tasting delicious wine. Thanks Milliaire and thanks Linda for such a great experience! -Courtney and Jeremy "Reno kids"

Decided to visit this winery based on the wonderful reviews. It was cute. We were greeted by the…read morefragrant of the fig tree on the back patio. The sparking Chardonnay was yummy. Nice, crisp and fruity. The whites (Calaveras Chardonnay, Calaveras Viognier) on the tasting menu were good. The Pinot was good, a bit light. The best ones were the Old Vine Zin (blend) and the Ghirardelli Heritage Vine Zin. Our favs! Service was a bit slow which was a surprise since there were only 2 other couples. The experience was a bit different from what we're used to, no real explanation of the wines itself. Just serve and pour. Not really a winery we were real impressed with but cute.

Visited this quaint stop while on a guided wine tasting day with the girls. This was the smallest,…read moremost hidden spot of our day but the ambiance here is BEAUTIFUL. The owner and his dog greeted us right away and took us back into the vineyards where he spoke to us about the different varietals he was growing, showed us his owl boxes, and more. We continued on to the tasting room, and enjoyed a variety of reds, all of which I enjoyed. Each bottle of wine includes a personal touch- there is a small photo of the owners elderly dog on the back. I loved the sentiment! We'll definitely be back when we are in the area again. Thanks for a great experience, and some great wine!

Wow what an amazing, quaint & stunning winery! I took a…read morewine tour (see Courtwood review) with a bridal party and this was our last stop. We were the only ones stopping in at around maybe 330/4pm. It was "Irish day" so most were down in Murphy's. We were greeted by one of the owners and his dog! *there is a sign on the tasting room that you can always find them working in the vineyard if nobody is in the tasting room* Before we started our last taste of the day, we were asked if we wanted to go see the vineyard, if you don't like wine, no issue, you'll have a beautiful place to relax all the same. We were educated on the process of harvesting,etc. took photos,enjoyed the breezy warm afternoon. Now the fun part...the wine was amazing, and there were also little bits of chocolate and crackers to have while you sip. The cherry on top was being taken back where the barrels are stored and having Port straight from the barrel!! Not sure if they do that all the time, or if it was to celebrate the engagement of my cousin! I couldn't walk away without getting a bottle of the port. I would definitely come back to try more. The Rosé wasn't ready when we visited but I can't wait to try it next time (hopefully on a romantic weekend trip with my bf!) What's your favorite Winery!?

Wine + eats = a happy day…read more As you walk in the door of the Calaveras Winegrape & Gourmet a wristband is placed on your wrist, and you are presented with a wine glass and plate. Each participating winery is paired with a restaurant or catering company. The wines and foods compliment each other so nicely. Let the festivities begin! It is so fun to try new wines and wineries that I haven't visited before on my tasting excursions. So many delicious foods and wines to experience in one place! If you've never visited the Calaveras wine country, the Winegrape and Gourmet weekend is the perfect opportunity to experience the wonderful wines and foods of Calaveras County. Buon Appetito! ;)

Damn, she beat me to it again. I swear Karen you have the fastest fingers in the west…read more Anyway, I'm a member so got the whopping $5.00 discount per person and to tell the truth $100.00 per person would not have been out of line for what you got there. Some of the best wines in the state were served and I even found some which I had not tasted before which I now have in my wine celler. The food pairings were superb from the local restaurants. I really hate to say this but I tasted food from restaurants which I didn't even know existed there, but, I do now. And in the words of A. S. "I'll be back." Now if you really want to read a great review on this, NON-Yelp sponsored event, then I suggest you read Karen G's. Her gift of gab is far better than mine and she really hits the nail on the head. I know she is going to read this so 3 thumbs up Karen, great review and if it doesn't get ROTD then yelp is nuts.