Are you looking for the best wineries in Livermore? Well then, you’ve come to the right place. With over 40 commercial wineries on over 5K acres, choosing which Livermore wine tasting room to visit can be confusing. Here’s your solution: below you’ll find a list of the best wineries for Livermore wine tasting, as well as a Livermore winery map or two. But first, why Livermore, California?
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Livermore Instrumental in Putting California on the World Wine Map
“Livermore Valley played a crucial role in the development of California wine,” explains Tami Kelly of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association. We recently met on a Zoom wine tasting hosted by IFWTWA (International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association.) Early grape producers in Livermore figure prominently in historical turning points for wine development in California.
3 Historical Turning Points
The best wineries in Livermore have their roots planted in the Valley’s long history, which stems back to the 1840s when wine grapes were first grown here by Robert Livermore.
1.) Livermore Valley wine takes French competition
First, Livermore Valley dry white wine put California on the map when it wins the Grand Prix at the International Paris Exposition in 1889. The French created the Eiffel Tower for that Expo attended by 32M people, and ever since, Gustave Eiffel’s structure and Livermore white wines have been icons.
2.) Livermore Valley clone source of 80% of US Chardonnay plantings
Two decades later, German immigrant C.H. Wente brought to Livermore chardonnay cuttings from the vine nursery at the University of Montpellier, France. He planted them next to his Chardonnay vines (cuttings from Burgundian chard vines grown in Livermore since 1882.) That was in 1912, and today—over 100 years later—his clone is the source material for 80% of American Chardonnay plantings.
3.) Wente produces first varietal labeled Chardonnay
Livermore Valley’s Wente Vineyards cloned the first-ever varietal labeled Chardonnay and made the Valley famous. The Livermore Valley AVA is home to over 50 commercial wineries, with much land protected by conservation efforts. Besides Chardonnay, local vignerons grow over 30 other varietals.
Learn more about the history of Livermore Valley.
Livermore Winery Map: Livermore Valley AVA
Wine Country Closest to San Francisco
Another reason that Livermore Valley should be on your wine bucket list: it’s is easy to get to. It’s the wine country closest to San Francisco.
How to Visit Livermore Valley
What makes Livermore Valley even more convenient is booking your flight into San Jose, Oakland or San Francisco. That gives you a plethora of flights to best fit your budget and time constraints.
- Livermore – Oakland 31 miles
- Livermore – San Francisco 40 miles
- Livermore – San Jose 27 miles
Long Weekend or Day Trip
Drive for a long weekend, romantic getaway, or girls’ trip from the airport that works best for your schedule. Or make it a day trip add-on to your SF excursion. You could actually stay in San Francisco and make Livermore Valley wine country a day trip. Simply take BART to Livermore and then Uber to the wineries. Or jump on the Livermore wine trolley with a box lunch. Electric bike tours are another way to get around to the best Livermore wineries.
Best Wineries in Livermore
So finally, here’s my list of the best wineries in Livermore, in alphabetical order. Are your picks for the best wineries in Livermore Valley on this list? If not, then leave your favorites in the comments below, and we can add them to this incredible lineup:
Bent Creek Winery
Good times start at the end of the road
5455 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA 94550
925-455-6320
Longevity Wines
Livermore Valley Winery of the Year 2018, One of the only certified minority-owned wineries in the world
925-443-9463
Open Friday 1:00 – 6:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12:00 – 5:00 pm
McGrail Vineyards and Winery
2012 Best Red Wine in the US, SF Chronicle Wine Competition
5600 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA
925-215-0717
Omega Road Winery
Woman winemaker who enjoys introducing folks to less-common varietals
2127 S Vasco Road, Unit C, Livermore, CA
925-290-8616
Wente Vineyards Tasting Lounge
The oldest continuously operated family-owned winery in the US. 100% sustainably farmed with certified sustainable vineyards and winery
Open for tastings Friday to Sunday, by appointment only
5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA
925-456-2405
Livermore Winery Map
With over 40 wineries from which to choose, you might want to use this search tool that I found online. It helps you search by town, “now open,” wine types and food and wine pairings.
Ready to book your wine escape? Check your dates here:
I always recommend Booking.com and use it to book my own accommodations when I travel.
Enjoy this article? Then hop on over to these other stories about wine regions across the US.
As is common in the travel industry, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey was provided with two bottles of wine for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, the Arizona travel writer believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
In addition, this blog, UNSTOPPABLE Stacey Travel, contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Stacey earns a commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help reduce the costs of keeping this travel blog active.
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3 thoughts on “Best Wineries in Livermore | Plus Livermore Winery Map”
I found the Longevity Cab at my Sam’s Club here in Flagstaff. So excited to bring it to a dinner party last night!
Looks like a place I need to visit!
Yes, I agree, Robin! Livermore wineries ARE trip-worthy! Thanks for your comment, Stacey