I had a great experience today at the vineyard! We liked everything we tasted and I bought 4 bottles for less than $40. My favorites are the Chardonnay, hillside white, and Cabernet. Vicky was very sweet and two sweet dogs greeted us before we headed into the tasting room. The scenery was beautiful and unexpected! Now that I know this place is here I will definitely be back. read more

Viano Winery - Wineries Near Me - Martinez, California

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A fellow Yelp'r had described this place as "the last honest vineyard". I'm in complete agreement with that statement. The most anti-pretentious place to go wine tasting in the area is tucked into the Martinez hills between an industrial zone and a residential one. Not exactly where you would expect to taste some award-winning vinos, and if you blink while heading there you'll easily miss it; however, find this gem of an establishment and you'll be immediately greeted by friendly, four-legged friends, Ruby and Ellie, and rewarded with some great whites and reds. Fortunately, a friend in-the-know, who raved about the place, was kind enough to give me the tour and share some wines, else I would have remained oblivious. She was not wrong! The rustic tasting room is handled by generations of the knowledgeable wine-making family and stocked with locally-sourced, if not house-harvested or house-made, goods such as fruits, vinegar, and oil. I'm a newbie to wines, but the multiple ribbons on the wall attest to the Vianos' wine-making ability. Looking out to the grounds, which have been used to host large events, you're in awe of the landscape and in wonder of the history. Somewhere, great-grandpa Viano is smiling down on the winehouse he built. read more

I love having a winery so close to home! My family has been coming here for years and we always have a wonderful time tasting. I don't think there's ever been a time where we didn't walk away with at least a bottle of wine (and they waive the $5 tasting fee if you buy a bottle--what a deal!). Along with such tasty wines (at excellent prices!), I noticed they also sell wine vinegars as well as some other seasonal items. Last time I was there, I picked up a pound of pistachios, too--yum!! Everyone I've encountered working the tasting room has been nothing less than lovely. Hard to top such a pleasant hometown place, would definitely recommend checking it out if you haven't been. read more

Friendly staff! Great patio and reasonable prices. Amazing experience. Recommend highly for friends gathering, enjoying a glass of wine :)

I'm not sure about all the good reviews - they must be friends and family members. The outdoor tasting area is nice. I bet it's beautiful at night. The wine, however, is absolutely terrible. It's cheap/inexpensive wine, which we were kind of excited about - my husband, especially - but I think even the winery associates knew it was nothing to write home about because they poured out our tasting into a set of 5 little Dixie cups, handed us each a glass, and disappeared inside. That is NOT how you do a tasting. There was no bouquet, no tasting notes, nothing. Those bottles had been open for days and days. We will not be back, and I warn others from wasting their time (because the tasting fee was only $10 bucks, so not much money wasted). They waive the tasting fee if you purchase a bottle, and their bottles are from $9-12 (the reserves are around $21), so basically, the bottles would have been free, AND WE STILL HAD NO INTEREST IN BUYING ANY. So yeah, don't waste your time. read more

"The Last Honest Vineyard". When all of Napa has tuned into Wine Disneyland, Sonoma has taken the spillover, and the hordes discover Livermore and ruin that too - this will be the last honest vinyard standing by virtue of Martinez being so under the radar. I spent an hour or so at Viano with the third generation owner, his wife, and their son just laughing it up, telling stories, and enjoying wine in their nice tasting room. Italiano to the core! They've had the place for a century, converting it from fruit orchards to wine post-WW2. Incredible wood touches though out - some of the counter-tops and tables are showroom quality. Nice outside area that was having a fundraiser for a scholarship at the time. Old guy giving keynote and delivering big check: "My dear wife couldn't be here today but I know she's up there looking down on me - because she lets me know every single time I screw up!" Touching stuff. An Italian expression goes "Al buon vino non bisogna frasca" - "a good wine needs no bush", which basically means good products and services sell themselves. Viano is one of those places. Details - Easy Bicycle Trip from WC/Pleasant Hill/Concord Area. Way closer than you think (check it on the map). Downhill and fun the vast majority of the way. CALL AHEAD to check if they are open and doing tastings (mostly weekends) Friendly dogs - don't let the dog sign scare yah! Clean and nice Bathrooms Picnic Friendly Very fair prices ($5-$17/bottle) 4 star only because I reserve 5 for HALL OF FAME ;-) read more

Stopped here on the way home from Tahoe. Had pretty low expectations, aside from a place for us to take a breath and the kids to stretch their legs. The fields stretched lovingly over the rolling hills on their large plot, mustard in full bloom. The dogs entertained our little boys and the wine was a gem for the price. Great place, genuine people, good value on highly drinkable table wines. Drop in! read more

Very cute family winery. Wine was awesome. Best port ive ever had and was only $9. Got 2 other bottles for $6.50 each. Cant beat that!

Cute little winery! Had so much fun talking to the owners. The wine is delicious and super affordable. They sell cute little items in their tasting room. I will definitely be back soon. Cute little picnic tables outside to eat at. Great for a date :) read more

In a word...YUMMY! Very laid-back and casual, which I appreciate. Napa wineries sometimes give off this arrogant, self-important vibe. Here, they let the wine speak for itself. As the crow files, they are located less than a mile from my home. I love the Late Harvest Zin, which is rich and delicious, and quite affordable. Finally, since I bought a couple of bottles, they didn't charge for the tasting. It doesn't get better! read more

Cute winery! Love that it's local and you don't need a reservation for tastings. Highly recommend; great prices and delicious wine, you won't be disappointed! Also, there are picnic tables available so you can bring lunch while you enjoy their wine. I will def be going back! read more

I needed something closer than napa and open on a Sunday in January. Viano more than delivered. I was able to call ahead to confirm and appointment. The setting was very family oriented, quiet. The service was very individualized with excellent tasting wines! They let you keep a souvenir glass as well which I liked. All the bottles of wine could not be more affordable especially for a local wine as good as theirs. We were able to talk with the wife who poured for us as well as the head farmer himself. Afterwards they had no problem with us taking as much time as we wanted to picnic among the vineyard and enjoy this beautiful intimate town. Viano I will be back! read more

So you know where the winery in Martinez is? Winery in Martinez? What? I know that we have many wineries in Napa, that wasn't my tesonse. Most of us would never imagine there is a winery in Martinez. I promise you there is So....I did move across the street from hete. My folks have tried this wine and they enjoy it. I do not drink alcohol. read more

Fun Find! Family on winery with some interesting wines. The wines are very reasonable prices and the tasting fee is waived if you buy bottle. Very relaxed and a fun place to taste wine. read more

Our party of six stopped by for a tasting recently. Mrs.Viano and her daughter hosted us in their tasting room. Tasting went well with Mrs. Viano talking to us while her daughter handled the business end . They waived the 5.00 tasting fee since we purchased 5 bottles of wine. When I asked for the souvenir glass, the daughter said we did not pay the usual tasting fee of $10 for the glass to be included. Recommend giving the $2,00 glass with their name and logo on it as an advertising piece and a warm thank you. A few inexpensive snacks and a reminder to the daughter that we are the customers is also recommended. Wine is very good. read more

Wonderful, fun place to taste wines. Friendly owners, and good times tasting with family. Reasonably priced wines ($5-17) and a great variety (white, red, port, late harvest). We will return for wine tasting and picnicking. read more

What time is it? Its Wine-o-clock! The quality exceeds the price at Viano vineyards. It is a great place to stop for wine tasting. I really love the hillside table red! They also have some great vinegar for cooking. read more

Samantha was a great hostess and recommended a nice place for lunch after doing our tasting. The wine was great and we loved learning about the Vineyard's long line of family history! Thanks for a great afternoon! read more

I was planning for my birthday party and realized almost too late that I had no wine AND I was almost out of money. I checked on Yelp, and found this winery, that was close enough for me to make a run and get some good wine for the party. My experience was very pleasant. I was sooooo thrilled by the service and flavor of the wine and the price absolutely saved the day (or the party). And to think I only had to drive just a few miles away to get it. It was a hit. Thanks so much Yelp, for turning me on to this place. I will be returning very soon. read more

This place has great wine, but also their wine vinegars are the best! Perfect for salad dressings. Thanks Viano family!

Went there today. The only thing that could have been better is that we volunteered to move away from the bar if any other customers came in but were today that we couldn't drink (aside from tasting) at the bar. We would have bought even more if we had gotten a different answer. read more

Love this winery and the wines they sell. Very nice people and reasonable prices. I wish we had more local wineries in the area. I plan to patronize this business more in the future. I highly recommend the wines! read more

I am new to this area and was so excited to find this hidden gem! The family that owns this vineyard is so friendly and fun to chat with as you taste. I am happy to have them so close. The wine is very good too (can't forget the best part!), very reasonable prices! read more

Happy to say problems with corked wine seem to have been solved, and we are continuing to enjoy their excellent zins. The private stock zin is very reasonably priced for the quality (much better than comparables on the open market), and the heavier, richer Sand Rock Hill continues to be a great wine. Also, their red wine vinegar is intense and flavorful, and a great value. We're not crazy about the whites, but much of this is a matter of individual preference, of course. Inexpensive whites are not hard to find in the grocery store, but value-priced zins are. We have dropped our previously favorite Windsor zins, because since the company was bought by some huge conglomerate, its ridiculously high prices have left most of us middle class folks behind. And we only rarely treat ourselves to a Seghesio. Viano is the way to go for zin lovers. read more

This place is one of the jewels of Martinez. The wine is excellent in both taste and price. It makes a great house-warming and party gift, as we have used it as both. That's because it doesn't break our budget, and we get to take a wine that everyone enjoys drinking! A win-win, for sure. I love going in and talking with Paula. She will tell you what she has and ask what you are looking for. Her matches are great, and her suggestions are right on. I especially like that the family is the business, and they enjoy selling their great wines. I have also bought some great produce and she says the honey may make it to the shelves this year. Allergies beware! All in all, Viano Winery is a great place to sample and sip, but especially to buy and share! read more

I went to visit Viano Vinyards today. This family run vinyard bases it's business on making good wines with little marketing. I have visited other Contra Costa wineries that think marketing is the way to make good wine (money). Viano has been doing it the good old fashion way for a long time. It is one of the few places in California I have visited that is reminiscent of wine tasting in France: the people behind the counter are actually involved in making the wine, it is free and low key, no pretentious language to describe the wine nor someone telling you what you are supposed to taste. Highly recommend the Cabs, Sangiovese, and the Zin port is to die for. read more

Viano Winery 150 Morello Ave. Martinez The small unassuming tasting room sits at the edge of the undulating vineyards. The vineyards and winery are run by 3rd and 4th generation Vianos who pour their pleasantly priced unpretentious wines: cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, chenin blanc, French Columbard, gamay, muscat canelli, petite sirah, sangiovese and zinfandel. The vineyards were planted in 1888. The Vianos bought them in the 1920s as they reminded them of their Piemonte homeland and have owned and operated them since. At one time over 15 wineries (including Christian Brothers) were in the area, most on the nearby Vine Hill. Only Viano remains. Midway between the Livermore and Napa valleys, this is a quiet, traditional place to escape the crowds. read more

Martinez staple! Service is great and wine is always yummy! Valdigue is a limited edition and my favorite!

Whoops, the Zin is pretty metallic, but the cab was ok.

Sunset magazine featured Viano in 1963 - I think - and I have been buying their wines ever since. My dinner guests rave about the Sandrock Hill Zin, as well as the Reserve Cab. In a recent comparison tasting with BV, and Valley of the Moon Sangioveses, Viano was rated highest by all 11 guests. 100% Sangio, no blending. Now is the time for John's pumpkins, and if you ask, a taste of olives cured with Grandma Carmen's Italian process. They also recycle their own bottles - green - along with dry farming, head training, and superb viticulture. Great color in the vineyard now. read more

Wonderful local family owned winery if you are looking for a fun afternoon but don't want to drive all the way to napa/sonoma. While I love their wines, the Champagne is the absolute best. Definately check them out. read more

This winery is a 3-star by some of the Napa/Sonoma standards, but ALL STARS for an intimate, friendly, value winery. It is family run and it feels that way. Our favorite and most purchased wine here is the sparkling wine ! We've tried some expensive stuff over the years and the value for the taste of the Viano Champagne is STELLAR ! Even some of our very 'wine snobby' friends have believed we spent a fortune entertaining them. This winery is definitely worth a visit, a purchase, and repeat often! read more

Great wine tasting experience at this charming Martinez Winery. Paula was an exceptional host. This was like a breath of fresh air compared to my Napa wine tasting experience one week before. This is a family run business and it was a very relaxing and inviting environment. I bought four bottles of wine for a little over $40.00. It feels good to support local family businesses. My favorites were the Chardonnay, Petite Sirah and the Cabernet Sauvignon. Where else can you buy a good bottle for under $8.00? This is my first post on yelp - I just couldn't resist posting about a a really great deal and fun experience! read more

We have been going there for years and always leave with wine and pleased with the friendly service. I bought all the wine and champagne for our daughters wedding and got fabulous reviews of the wines throughout the evening. This is a must stop if your are looking for a nice afternoon of tasting. Thanks Viano's....Loyal customers Kim and Mike Marchese read more

My family and I love wine so much that we are club members at most of the Napa and Sonoma winery locations. After attending the Jazz Art and Wine Festival in Brentwood, CA I fell in love with a Viano wine. Which in reality was great because its local (we support local business). The guy at the booth was wonderful in his explanations of his wine and had a great personality. So what do I expect? The same personality at the winery itself of course! Wrong!!! The lady who was doing the tasting as well as the selling couldn't have been more rude and insulting. I have recommended my friends to try their wines, so we made it a afternoon trip. With the snide comments from the same lady we walked out. I think I would rather order a bottle on-line than take the 15minute drive to the winery! read more

we had so much fun! the wine is good and affordable, the wine-ista was friendly and genuine, the pour room was comfortable, the picnic area inviting. a great place to recover from arrogant and expensive napa wineries! i like french columbard (an old-timey standard) a main ingredient of the white mix--delicious sippin' wine and i'll be back for more! read more