This month, the Wine Pairing Weekend (#winePW) group of wine and food bloggers is sampling Livermore Valley Wines and pairing with food.

Disclosure: Wines were provided as a media samples. No other compensation was involved. All opinions are mine.

Livermore Valley Wine At A Glance

Livermore Valley has a long history of winemaking that dates back to the 1860s, and the first cuttings of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are said to have come from the famous estate of Chateau d’Yquem in Sauternes, France according to Winesearcher.com.

• The Livermore Valley AVA was established in 1982. There are about 4,000 acres under vine, over 50 wineries and 30 different grape varieties are grown.
• The top 5 grape varieties by acres in descending order are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.(1)
• Livermore Valley wineries were the first to bottle varietal labeled Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Petite Sirah.
• Nearly 80% of California’s Chardonnay vines trace their genetic roots to a Livermore Valley Wente clone.
• The region has a warm Mediterranean climate that is moderated by marine breezes to come in from the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. Its soils are predominately mixed loam and gravel. And it’s one of the few valley’s with a east-west orientation.
• The region has identified 12 sub-districts within Livermore Valley AVA

It is home to the oldest continuously-operated, family-owned winery in the country – Wente Vineyards, which was established in 1883.

For more than 10 years, the Livermore AVA was the closest wine region to our home (only 30 minutes away). We’ve visited the region many times and I can tell you from personal experience it’s a fun region to visit, particularly in the Spring and Summer. I’ve attended various events at Wente (and dined at their fabulous Grill ), and Murietta’s Well. And the region’s premier wine and food event Taste Our Terroir is one of my all-time favorite events.

In My Glass And On My Plate

2021 Murrieta’s Well Sauvignon Blanc – Fruit for this wine was sourced exclusively from the Murietta’s Well estate vineyards. Blend of 78% Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Viognier 8% Orange Muscat, 5% Malvasia Blanca. Varieties were fermented in predominately stainless w/a portion fermented in neutral French oak barrels. A portion of the wine was aged sur lie. After fermentation varieties were blended together and aged in stainless.

Tasting note: Pale straw color with tropical (lychee, passionfruit, a bit of just ripe pineapple), lime and low-key stone fruit (white peach, apricot) with hints of blossom and wet stone aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and dry with refreshing acidity, and flavors that echo its aromas. 13.5% abv. SRP – $30 (89 pts.)

This wine was lovely paired with Dungeness Crab cooked in coconut milk + ginger + acorn squash

2019 McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 
Fruit for this wine sourced from estate vineyard. Raised in a blend of French, American and Hungarian oak (approximately 70% new) for about 30 months.

Tasting note: Deep garnet color with appealing black and red fruit, vanilla, oak spice, tobacco, roast coffee, pencil shavings and black licorice aromas. On the plate, it’s medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and well-integrated fine-grained tannins with ripe black cherry, cassis, ripe blackberry, vanilla, oak spice, roast coffee and a hint of graphite flavors with a very satisfying finish. 14.7% abv| SRP – $49 (90 pts.)

2019 L’Autre Côte Cabernet Franc
The wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Franc (sourced from the renown Ghielmetti Vineyard) and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon(sourced from the Home Ranch Vineyard). The Cabernet Franc was raised in neutral French Oak while the Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in new French Oak.

Tasting note: Medium garnet color with enticing black raspberry, black cherry, red plum crushed gravel, dried savory herbs vanilla and a hint of cola aromas. On the palate, it’s on the lighter side of medium-bodied and elegant with well integrated sweet tannins and black cherry, black raspberry, red currant, red plum, vanilla and subtle cola flavors with a long finish. 13.4% abv| SRP – $98 (92 pts.)

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Both of these wines were terrific paired both of these wines with Rosemary Garlic Grilled Lamb Chops.

If you’re looking for more Livermore Valley wine and food pairing inspiration, I invite you read other articles posted by the Wine Pairing Weekend crew!

Camilla from Culinary Cam is sharing “From California’s Oldest Wine Region: 2019 L’Autre Côte Cabernet Franc + Chimichurri Lamb Lollipops“

Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm is “Celebrating Livermore Valley with the #WinePW Gang“

Wine Predator Gwendolyn Alley is writing about “Learning More about Livermore: McGrail, Murrieta’s Well, Steven Kent“

Susannah Gold from Avvinare serves up “Sauvignon Blanc from Livermore Valley Paired with Asparagus Frittata for Spring“

David from Cooking Chat pairs “Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry with Livermore Valley Wine“

Sources and Resources:

2021 Alameda County Crop Report