donkey and goat winery

I frequent this jewel of a winery often when I travel to San Francisco on business. Located blocks from trendy shopping in Berkeley, it beats the long drive, crowds and obnoxious prices of Napa Valley. The owners have been making wines with some top scores for over a decade and it shows in their hand-crafted wines. Pop in to the tasting room on a weekend or make an appointment to tour the operation and make sure to get on their exclusive mailing list. This is truly worth the short trip and should be on the must see list if visiting the Bay Area for business or pleasure.

An oasis in what is becoming a new wine making hub. The quality of the wines set this winery apart from the rest. Its location in Berkeleys industrial area may be surprising but reveaks how the industry is evolving through increased specialisation. Grapes are selected from many surrounding areas with emphasis on quality. Often chosen for soil uniqueness which brings out many flavors in both whites and reds. Many are unfiltered. The location is perfect. Staff are knowedgable and a pleasure to interact with.There are a few other wineries in the area and vary in quality with non on par with D&G.

Who would have guessed that there is a winery with a tasting room in Berkeley? And that's not a Berkeley in the Napa or Sonoma Valleys, no it is in the middle of the former mostly industrial West-Berkeley area. It was a surprise that we stumbled into it. There are a few drawbacks though. You don't have the nice view across vineyards and it is also rather small without much sitting area. But the wines were good. Given that you don't have to drive for miles it is an option to at least try.