The limousine rolled slowly through the Livermore Country making the sprawling hills and the cobblestone paths to the wineries apparent. Inside, a group of seven are riding in style with wayfarers on and already smoking their barrels with a bottle of complimentary champagne. Outside, Livermore, the easternmost city in the Bay area, is one of the California’s oldest but less explored wine regions where the Spanish missionaries planted grapes circa 1760s. Today, Livermore is an officially recognized viticulture area with many boutique wineries produce uncommon varietals and hence make it distinct among wine lovers.
The first stop was at Crooked Vine and Stony Ridge Winery - estate grown grapes and a family owned enterprise. An artfully decorated tasting room offers more than twenty different wines and you could pick any five on a tasting flight that costs $5. Blends dominated the list so, in Livermore, this could be the strating place to break from 'snobbery'. None of the wines tasted were, in my opinion, outstanding. However, Moxie (Cab, Merlot, Petit Verdot blend) , Petit Syrah and Zinfandel were quite an indulgence. The wine steward was giving a good ten second swirl and served the glass tilted to get a better view. When you wanted a palate cleansing, there were crackers and pretzels with mustard/fruit sauces available as accompaniments. Excited, about barrel tasting in our next stop, we wasted no time in Crooked Vine. 
McGrail Vineyards, our next stop, made our day with excellent wines and learning. The private tasting was $10 per person and included five wines and a barrel sample. McGrail specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon and Mark Clarin, the wine maker, explained that he sources oak barrels from different regions and allow the wine ferment in the barrel for at least 32 months before bottling. Bold and complex cabs -“The Graduate” and “The Good Life”-surprised us and the taste from a Hungarian oak barrel was a pure bliss. Staff (Rich) was very friendly and the tour included a visit to vineyard, plucking grapes and a closer look at the wine making equipments. Levity, coupled with rumbling stomach, steered the Limo to a downtown restaurant, the Campo De Bocce. 
Campo De Bocce, a locally owned, traditional Italian restaurant, overlooked the Livermore vineyards. We did not play Bocce and also skipped their extensive wine list to order lunch. Chicken Saltimbocca Sandwich – grilled herb marinated chicken breast with sliced prosciutto, pesto aioli and provolone cheese on a crusty warm focaccia – just slid down the throat leaving rich flavors to relish. Partners appreciated every bite of Pork tenderloin roasted with grape and Grilled Salmon. In other words, we were really hungry and elevated. Already running short of time, we have decided to try just one more winery, Bent creek, before we hit the road back home.Bent Creek winery looked crammed full from outside but the owner encouragingly acknowledged our arrival. Instead of tasting in the busy foyer, we let the owner choose a couple of bottles for us and sneaked out to a covered picnic area in their vineyard backyard. Tucked away from the street, this spot offers an enormous view to the vineyard and lets you wander among vines with a glass of wine. Uncorked Petit Syrah, paired with I
ndian spicy trail mix, generated flavor and aroma along with the required buzz for the moment. Pressed for time, though happy, we finished the other Cabernet Sauvignon in hurry but did not forget to pick up a few bottles to carry back home. Brent Creek is known for their complimentary tasting, generous pour and a long list of quality wines so this one surely demands a revisit. At five o’clock, delightfully pleasant weather prevailed and the evening is just ripe for a lamb BBQ party, that is waiting for us in San Jose. Back in Limousine, spread-out and relaxed, thoughts of a winery ownership created a vibe that transcended the concerns of essential money and labor.
