You may or may not know I'm a very late bloomer when it comes to enjoying spirits.  For our 20th anniversary we went up to San Luis Obispo and did a little tasting tour.  We hit this place first http://www.autrycellars.com/Welcome.html and it was my favorite stop of the day.  The proprietor came out and chatted with us for a good 15 minutes while we were tasting.  The wines were good, a little acidy for my taste, but good.  The last one up was a dessert wine that was oustanding (I'm not into the SUPER sweet dessert wines, this one had a really nice balance).  Then they told me they used a little of the brandy they make in the blend of that wine.  Brandy?  I've never tried Brandy so I asked to taste those.  Man, soooo good.  Bought a bottle of Hungarian barrel aged and oak barrel aged.  Then he was gracious enough to take me back to the still!  He had crafted up his own still and explained all the chemistry going on in there; it was very interesting (Jackal needs to meet this guy).  Anyway, if you're a brandy drinker and you're ever on the California Central Coast check Steve out, small operation but making some nice stuff.

Sounds like a great visit

I've been wanting to go on a winery tour for some time. There are a few around Boise which is a couple hours away from me. High West is an hour away and I haven't gone on a tour there yet either. They just opened a new distillery that I hope to go tour this summer.

I've visited a few vineyards and always enjoyed them!  Sounds like you had a good trip too!

I looked into the tour group options and didn't like the fact that it's only the ones they pick for you and you drop a couple hundred just for the ride, so I researched the local wineries online and hand picked where I wanted to go and drove myself, would totally do it that way again.  You do have to manage the alcohol intake or go with someone that does.  That stop at Autry ended up being 6 or 7 wine tastings and 2 brandy tastings!    

Haven't been on one of those yet but I have toured a few breweries and that's always a good time.

Sounds like a great way to spend a day. The wineries around here are very small, so while they do have some tastings, not a whole day event and there really aren't tours. Wife likes to go anyway so we do once or twice a year.

Been lucky enough to visit a winery in the Bordeaux region of France.  The facility was hundreds of years old.  A family owned and ran it (4-5 people in total).  

They even converted one of the aging barns into a wine museum, filled with photos, drawings, old barrels and antique measuring and fermenting equipment.

Very cool.

By the way, Gary, have you visited the Bruery in Fullerton?  They have 20 or so bears on hand at any given time and give tours of the brewing facility.  

Excellent brews from the mild to the crazy strong.  Also, my favorite, they have sour beers.

I haven't, one for the bucket list, thanks!

Quoteheadfirst - 6/28/2016  9:32 AM

I haven't, one for the bucket list, thanks!

Right off of the 57 at Orangethorpe.

Too bad, being in California, there is no cigar smoking in the tasting room.

I have never enjoyed wine, but I have done many a brewery tours.  I have been on wine tours, but never cared to drink them, way too acidic for me, but my fiancé loves them!  Distilleries are another that I enjoy quite a bit, especially places that do barreling.

I hear you on acidy wine, I found a winery that same day that had some fruit forward and very smooth reds.