Northern California has no shortage of picturesque wine country destinations where you can unfurl a blanket and plant your picnic basket. But few have as much trailblazing historical significance as the 210-acre Concannon Vineyard property in Livermore Valley.
As the famed story goes, Irishman James Concannon founded the winery in 1883 — it is one of the oldest continuously operating family-owned wineries in the country — after immigrating to the United States and settling in the Livermore Valley, where he noticed a striking similarity to the terroir of France’s Bordeaux vineyards. He planted cuttings from Châteaux Margaux, and his son, Joe, kept the family business going through Prohibition by making and selling sacramental wine.
Future generations made their marks, too. Jim Concannon, grandson of James, was the first to bottle petit sirah on its own — a single varietal wine that put Livermore on the map — and played a significant role in the development of California cabernet sauvignon. Today, an estimated 80 percent of the state’s cab is planted to Concannon clones created from those early cuttings.
For picnics, try a table under the grape arbor dripping with tokai table grape vines or a perch on the dog-friendly lawn pavilion, where fruitless mulberry trees have been trained into arches to provide shade in summer. They’re the best spots from which to take in the property’s five estate vineyards, which are planted to a whopping 14 varietals. An1895 white Victorian house is within view, and the tasting room is just across the lawn. Don’t miss the property’s stunning landscaping, including the whimsical topiaries fashioned into the shapes of animals and sometimes people.
The picnic: Concannon sells cheeses, charcuterie, olives, nuts, gourmet crackers and other nibbles in its tasting room. Or you can grab deli sandwiches at Wingen Bakery or the Livermore Butcher Shop on your way into town. Outside food is allowed on the lawn and under the grape arbor.
The details: Concannon Vineyard opens at 11:30 a.m. Thursday-Monday at 4590 Tesla Road in Livermore; www.concannonvineyard.com.
Extras: Book a tasting at the bar or inside the estate room or the historic wine library to experience Concannon’s vast portfolio of wines, including award-winning cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, petit sirah and malbec. Make reservations for a tasting ($30 and up) at www.concannonvineyard.com/visit/experiences/. Plan ahead, and you can time your visit for Livermore Valley’s Barrel Tasting Weekend March 18-19. Find more events at www.lvwine.org/events.
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