Nottingham Cellars

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Livermore Stories: Nottingham Cellars

This is another installment of a series called “Livermore Stories,” which takes a look at the most exciting wineries in this wine growing region located east of San Francisco.  More than 50 wineries now call Livermore Valley home.  The wines have never been better, and the wineries have great stories to tell. He’s been called a rising star, a rock star of the Livermore Valley wine scene.  He’s a young gun for sure – in his late 20’s – a completely self taught winemaker.  Meet Collin Cranor of Nottingham Cellars.  Two years ago, when I first tasted his Viognier and GSM – Grenache, Syrah Mourvedre blend that is – I was completely blown away.  This guy’s a major talent. While he didn’t get the top honor, Best of Show, at the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition [that went to friends and neighboring Livermore winery 3 Steves] Collin’s wines took…

12 Livermore Valley Wines You Need to Drink Now

In Northern California wine country, Napa Valley and Sonoma County get all the attention.  Another wine region I love is Livermore Valley, an easy drive from San Jose and Silicon Valley, and 35 miles east of San Francisco.  Livermore boasts 50 plus wineries and is still growing, with about eight new wineries that launched in the past 5 years.

Why do I love LV wine country?  Great wines are a big draw, but what’s even better is that most wineries are small and family owned.  That means you have a good chance of the winemaker or owner actually pouring your wine, which happens rarely in Napa or Sonoma (unless you make an appointment, but I digress).  Because these wineries are not as well known, you don’t get huge crowded tasting rooms or bus loads of tipsy visitors.  The roads are not clogged with tourists as they are in Napa Valley, especially in the summer.  There’s plenty to do besides taste wine, from playing golf or bocce ball to biking and eating well.

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