Why you should visit the wineries Walnut Creek offers
This blog post covers the best wineries in Walnut Creek, California.
Walnut Creek is a tiny town with a big heart located at the base of Mount Diablo. It’s conveniently located near San Francisco and Sacramento, which makes it the perfect easy day trip.
The wineries Walnut Creek offers are relatively unknown compared to more famous wineries in Yountville and St. Helena in the Napa Valley. But this little wine country town has award-winning wineries with delicious wines if you know where to look.
Seven businesses comprise our list of the best wineries Walnut Creek has to offer. Exactly two places on this list are located in the town of Walnut Creek, California. The other five wineries on this list are located in small towns nearby. So bring a car!
We hope this blog post inspires your own self-guided tour of the top wineries located in and around Walnut Creek, California. Come with us to enjoy the fruits of the East Bay booze boom!
How to access Walnut Creek, California
Walnut Creek is easily accessible from two major cities: San Francisco and Sacramento.
Both the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the Sacramento International Airport (SMF) have dozens of incoming flights per day, so it’s super easy to find a flight. You could fly into either airport, rent a car, and drive to Walnut Creek.
The distance between Walnut Creek and San Francisco is about 25 miles. Depending on traffic conditions, the drive could take between 30 to 45 minutes.
Walnut Creek is about 70 miles southwest of Sacramento. Depending on traffic conditions, the drive could take between 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Thanks to its closeness to both San Francisco and Sacramento, Walnut Creek makes for an easy day trip from either city.
The best wineries Walnut Creek offers for a wine tasting
Shadowbrook Winery (Walnut Creek)
Shadowbrook Winery is the only winery with an address that’s actually in the town of Walnut Creek.
Which is funny because the area around Mount Diablo area used to be a thriving grape growing region so you’d think there would be a ton of wineries.
But Walnut Creek switched to growing walnuts over a century ago. That’s a longer story for another day. The point is: Shadowbrook Winery makes wine. And it’s quite good.
Shadowbrook Winery is one of the best award-winning wineries in the East Bay. A selection of their top-rated wine has earned over 69 medals from the San Francisco Wine Competition. Wow! Their recently built facility is beautiful; it’s home to one of the most elegant tasting rooms in the area. This Walnut Creek winery is definitely worth a visit.
Guests can choose between three thematic wine tastings. The Northgate Tasting ($50 per person) features five current-release wines from across their portfolio. This 45-60 minute tasting is served outside.
The Meritage Blend Tasting ($65 per person) is similar except it highlights three vintages of red blends. Guests can also book the Summit Tasting ($83 per person) in which a personal host will lead a private tasting of small-production estate wines. Shadowbrook Winery Wine Club members may receive up to a 25% discount on these tastings.
Buon Vino (Walnut Creek)
Buon Vino is a wine store in the heart of Walnut Creek that allows you to taste before you buy.
Customers can enter the shop, sample a variety of wines, and choose their favorite. Buon Vino employees will then bottle, cork, and label your bottle of wine on the spot. The process could not be simpler (or tastier).
Buon Vino carries fantastic wines from different wineries across California’s finest wine regions. And of course they include the wineries Walnut Creek and the surrounding areas like Livermore offer.
Rather than represent merely one Walnut Creek winey, Buon Vino represents the local community of winemakers who make exquisite wines.
It’s rare to find a shop that tailors tastings for the taste buds of each wine enthusiast who enters their shop. But Buon Vino is special like that.
The best wineries near Walnut Creek, California
Wente Vineyards (Livermore)
Wente Vineyards is another local winery with family ties back to the 19th century.
In 1883 German immigrant Carl H. Wente purchased 48 acres of vineyard land and began building a winery. Today, the fifth generation of Wente winegrowers work the land.
According to their website, Wente Vineyards is the “longest, continuously family-owned and operated winery in the United States.” Fascinating!
Thankfully their longevity has lead to quality wine. Wente Vineyards played a pivotal role in shaping California’s wine industry. According to the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association, the iconic Wente Chardonnay Clone accounts for a huge portion of California’s Chardonnay. In addition to Chardonnay Wente Vineyards also works with Rosé, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Franc.
Wente Vineyards farms their land sustainably. They carefully manage their soil, water, and energy to eliminate unnecessary chemicals, to reduce waste, and to reduce carbon emissions. The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance reviews their vineyards annually to ensure Wente remains a certified sustainable vineyard.
Seated tasting are by appointment only but walk-ins are welcome. Guests can enjoy the “Cave Tour & Barrel Tasting Experience,” the “Seated Wine Tasting Experience,” or the “Walk-up Bar Wine Tasting.”
Bent Creek Winery (Livermore)
Bent Creek Winery is nestled amongst the lush rolling hills near Livermore, California. The Livermore Valley is one of the best known wine-growing valleys near Walnut Creek.
This family-owned vineyards and winery works with multiple grape varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.
They also make three kinds of port, including Zinfandel Port (“a touch of spice”), Petite Sirah Port (“dark fruit aromas”), and Vintage Port (“A true Portugese-style Port”).
Bent Creek Winery serves tasting flights of their favorite wines in a beautiful outdoor setting. The wine tasting fee is $20 per person and guests are welcome to stay for up to 90 minutes.
The winery grounds are the perfect place to relax with a picnic, so you can bring your own food. And bring your dog! Dogs are allowed if they remain on a leash.
P.S. If this Livermore winery appeals to you, check out the Livermore Wine Trolley that tours Livermore wineries. It’s a great way to explore Livermore’s amazing wine scene.
Captain Vineyards (Moraga)
Captain Vineyards brings a personal touch to their business. Owners Susan and Sal name wines after their grandchildren, lead tours themselves, and offer hands-on educational activities.
Their wine tasting tour sounds amazing. It’s an inclusive wine tour with cheese, wine, and a talk with both Susan (the winegrower) and Sal (the winemaker). The tour costs $45 per person and pairs four wine samples with artisanal cheese, homemade bread, and nuts.
The featured wines could include grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, and Pinot Noir.
The wine tasting tour also highlights their organic and sustainable dry farming practices. Captain Vineyards has won numerous awards for their environmental practices, so it’s a must visit winery if you’re interested in sustainability. This is quality California wine that tastes good and is good for the land.
Guests can buy a bottle of wine and enjoy the view of vineyards, rolling hills, and oak trees. Visits are by reservation only.
Deer Hill Vineyards (Lafayette)
Deer Hill Vineyards is one of those small family-owned vineyards that you can’t help but like.
They’ve created a homey space where guests can relax beneath a pergola and enjoy stellar views of Mount Diablo and a cool evening breeze.
Beside the vineyards they planted over two decades ago is a bocce ball court, which is great news for people whose hand-eye coordination improves after a glass of wine (or three).
Deer Hill Vineyards specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon but they produce several other varietals including Sangiovese, Chardonnay, and Pinot. And, thanks to the awards they won in 2020 and 2021 at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Deer Hill Vineyards is also one of the region’s award-winning wineries.
According to the Lafayette Chamber, Deer Hill Vineyard is “a tasting room by appointment only.”
William Welch Wines (Martinez)
William Welch Wines has the best winery origin story I’ve heard in a long time.
To make a long story short, Irishman William Welch arrived in the United States as an indentured servant but he literally jumped ship to avoid hard labor (as would I).
He moved to a predominantly Spanish region of California and married into a prominent local family. In 1844 William Welch was eventually granted the majestic Rancho Las Juntas, which was a whopping 13,324 acres. It’s safe to say that William Welch Wines has a long history with deep roots in the local land.
Today William Welch Wines welcomes guests to the new tasting room to learn about their history, grapes, and wine. Owner and winemaker Steve Welch works with Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Barbera, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zinfandel Rosé. He also makes a port-style wine. The tasting room is open Friday through Sunday.
California wine regions to explore
If you’re interested in the wineries Walnut Creek offers then you might like wineries in Brentwood, California.
Like Walnut Creek, Brentwood is a tiny town in California wine country with lots of potential. Both towns are close to Sacramento and San Francisco. Brentwood is a ninety minute drive from either city. Here’s our list of the best wineries Brentwood, California has to offer.
Looking for another low key California wine country town? Somerset, California is only an hour from Sacramento but the area feels like a hidden gem. The best Somerset wineries have mountain views, picturesque hilltop vineyards, and lots and lots of wine.
Placerville wineries create liquid gold. And by “liquid gold” I mean wine! Located halfway between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe, Placerville is a former Gold Rush town in El Dorado County. Placerville wineries are easily accessible, quaint, and full of great wine. What’s not to like?
Morgan Hill, California is a short 25 minute drive from San Jose. This family-oriented town is home to several wonderful Morgan Hill wineries that serve great wine and great views.
Nevada City, California is a former Gold Rush town. Today the town boasts Victorian-era homes, tree-lined streets, and plenty of wine. The best Nevada City wineries reflect the charm, history, and community feel of their hometown.
