Las Positas Vineyards

Posted on October 7, 2016

Rancho Las Positas name came from a land grant (8,800 acres) from Governor Juan Alvarado to Robert Livermore.  Robert Livermore believed the name meant “little watering holes” as a stream ran through the land.  The Las Positas Vineyards under the ownership of Lisa & Lothar Maier produce some astonishing small lot wines with exceptional quality. Wine Enthusiast name it “…one of Livermore’s best boutique wineries.”

Two wines recently stood out featuring a mouthful and worthy experience. First was the 2013 Tempranillo Estate. This wine was almost red/black in coloration, with aromas of cherries & dark plum. The mouth was treated with a “warm greeting of smooth tannins” and a lingering finish. Upon doing some research afterwards, it had won Gold Medals at:

2016 Alameda County Wine Competition

2016 Livermore Uncorked Wine Competition

2016 Alameda Best of the Bay Wine Competition

2016 Dan Berger International Wine Competition

This Tempranillo is now a standard in the cellar and worthy of your consideration.

The next wine was the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve. This was tasted during the 2016 Wine Blogger’s Conference excursion to Livermore Valley. This wine is aged 28 months in French oak and “is elegant and complex. Aromas of plum, black cherry, leather & clove. The palate is rich and full bodied, exhibiting flavors of pomegranate, dark chocolate, tobacco & cherry.”  The coloration was again a dark red almost “blackish” and immediately upon tasting one knows this is no ordinary wine! The recently won “Double Gold” at the 2015 SF International Wine Competition and Silver at the 2016 SF Chronicle Wine Competition. Both noteworthy achievements.

Besides these two gems, they produce various other reds like: Malbec, Petite Verdot, Barbera, Petite Sirah and a few others. For the whites, they produce Pinot Blanc, Verdelho, Chardonnay and a few blends.

The grounds are excellent for holding a small party, intimate wedding, etc. They have private banquet rooms and patio space for such occasions.  Las Positas Vineyards also hold many events for their wine club members and guests such as: Wine & Cheese Pairings, Chocolate Truffle & Wine Pairings, etc.

Don’t know if Robert Livermore did the right translation of “Las Positas” as little springs, but Las Positas makes some big and enjoyable wines.

Slainte,

https://www.laspositasvineyards.com

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