The owners of Retzlaff Vineyards take pride in their vineyard, their wines and their wonderful winery property. Pull off Livermore Avenue and drive up a narrow dirt road under the shade of two rows of California pepper trees to the cluster of homes and outbuildings that is Retzlaff Vineyards.

The “front yard” is a head-pruned, rocky, all-organic Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard producing their richly textured Family Reserve Cabernet. They grow all their own certified-organic fruit, and make their wines using organic practices. This puts them in a small group of California organic producers, and the only one currently in the Livermore Valley. Their wines see up to four years of aging before they are released, giving the wine taster the unique ability to sample older vintages in their small, quaint tasting room. The winery uses French and American barrels for their aging program.

Between the vineyard and the tasting room are giant old pepper trees surrounding a huge green lawn that is used for events and picnicking. Inside the cozy tasting room is a 12-foot tasting counter made from an old barn door, with four stainless-steel lighting fixtures above it. There is a casual country feel here, with their red-checked tablecloths and old photographs on the wall. Logo clothing, balsamic vinegar, olive oils and other gourmet food items are for sale. They produce Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, a white Bordeaux blend, and a Cabernet Port.