Fenestra Winery Blog

Fenestra Fanatic Open House - November 12, 6-8 PM

The owners of Fenestra Winery, Fran and Lanny Replogle, will be hosting an open house for the Fanatics this Saturday, Nov. 12, from 6-8 PM. This is a great opportunity for Fanatics to try the new Fanatics releases and to pick up their Fanatics packs.

The Fanatic wines for this quarter are: 

2008 Petit Verdot, Livermore Valley, Ghielmetti Vyd

Our Petit Verdot exhibits luscious aromas of cranberry, mocha, violets, and spice, with rich flavors of cherry, raspberry, vanilla, and tobacco. It is full bodied with a lingering finish. Enjoy with venison, prime rib, and other rich foods. Age for maximum enjoyment. Gold & Silver Medals $30.00/btl

2009 Graciano, Lodi

Graciano is a grape traditionally grown in the Rioja region of Spain. Our 2009 is very aromatic, with aromas of cranberry, cherry, spice, and violets. It is full bodied, with flavors of bing cherry, cola, plum, and pepper. It pairs well with venison, paella, wild game, and pasta. $22.00/btl 

In addition to the availability of the new Fanatics releases, the Open House will feature light hors d'oeuvres. There is no cost for this event, but we do ask that people RSVP to info@fenestrawinery.com so that we can get an idea of how many people will be coming

Fenestra's 35th Anniversary Celebration: 8/6 & 8/7

Fran and Lanny Replogle, owners of Fenestra Winery in Livermore, would like to invite the public to help celebrate the winery’s 35^th anniversary!  The celebration will be held at the winery on August 6^th and 7^th from noon to 5 PM both days.

There will be live music, barbecued tri-tip sandwiches available, and historical articles about the winery on display for guests to enjoy.  Fenestra will also have a special release of the winery’s 2006 Conjugation, a luxurious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.  The event fee is $5 per person, with no charge to club members.

Fenestra was first established in 1976 and was originally located at the old Ruby Hill Winery building in Pleasanton.  In 1980, they moved to the historic century-old George True winery building on Vallecitos Road in Livermore, where they are still located today.

“Fenestra is Latin for ‘window,’” Fran explains. “So the name was intended to represent ‘a new view’ for our new venture into winemaking.”

“When we started the winery in 1976, there were only five wineries in the Livermore Valley,” Lanny says, referring to Wente, Concannon, Stony Ridge, Villa Armando and Fenestra.  “There has been a renaissance here, and there are now over 50 wineries.”

Fenestra continues to grow as well, and currently offers over twenty varietals, with an annual production between 7,500 and 8,000 cases each year.

Fenestra’s wine club, the Fenestra Fanatics, has over one thousand members ranging from the faithful Livermore locals, to loyal Fanatics all over the country.

Fenestra Winery is located at 83 Vallecitos Road in Livermore, CA 94550 and is open for sales and tasting every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon – 5pm.  Fenestra is also one of the few wineries in the valley to operate off of solar energy.  For more information, visit their website at www.fenestrawinery.com or call 925-447-5246 or visit them on Facebook!

Fenestra Filmed on "Eye on the Bay"!

Last Friday, CBS's "Eye on the Bay" did a filming of the Livermore Wine & Cycle Tour, and one of their stops was at Fenestra winery! The episode will be shown on 6/23 (7:30/8-ish) so set your DVR's!

You can watch it online afterwards at: www.cbssf.com/eyeonthebay

Father's Day at Fenestra - Sunday, 6/19/11

This Father’s Day, give dad the very best… “The Best of the Bay!”

Celebrate at Fenestra Winery and taste our 2010 Verdelho (Lodi) and 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Livermore Valley, Ghielmetti Vyds) – two wines that just received Gold medals at this year’s Best of the Bay Wine Competition!  Special prices will be available as well as other surprises, so tell dad not to make any other plans!

(Noon - 5pm, regular $5 tasting fee applies.  Email info@fenestrawinery.com for details.)

"Spring Fling" and White Wine Sale - THIS WEEKEND!

Don't forget about Fenestra's "Spring Fling" and Annual White Wine Sale - at our winery, this Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-30, noon to 5pm all three days. 

This a great excuse to stock up on your white wines for the summer and also to enjoy our beautiful creek-side picnic grounds in the springtime, so pack a basket!  Also receive a fresh herb plant of your choice included with every purchase of $100 or more!  (Normal $5 tasting fee applies)

For further details: info@fenestrawinery.com or call the winery at 925-447-5246.

"Spring Fling" and Annual Whites Sale!

Fenestra will be hosting our annual sale of all our white wines, as well as some new releases on Memorial Day Weekend, May 28 - 30, noon to 5pm all three days.

This public event is a great excuse to stock up on your white wines for the summer, as well as to enjoy our beautiful creek-side picnic grounds in the Springtime.  You can also choose a fresh herb plant of your choice, included with every purchase of $100 or more!

(Normal $5 tasting fee applies, refundable upon purchase.) info@fenestrawinery.com / 925-447-5246

April Events Featuring Fenestra!

Sun, April 3rd  Taste of Spring on the Niles Canyon Spring Wildflower Train (Sunol)

Thurs, April 7th - Client Appreciation Event at Larkspur Landing Hotel (Pleasanton)

 

Sat, April 9th - Discovery Bay Spring Wine Event (Discovery Bay)

Sat, April 9th - Fanatic "Rhone Blending Experience" at Fenestra Winery (invitations via mail)

 

Sun, April 17th - Kidango's Tasters Showcase (Fremont Marriott)

 

Thurs, April 28th - Taste of San Leandro (San Leandro)

 

Fri, April 29th - Top Chef's Grand Tasting (Shannon Community Ctr, Dublin)

 

Sat, April 30th and May 1st - Art & Wine Stroll at the Blackhawk Plaza (Danville)

 

Sat, April 30th and May 1st - Livermore's Wine Country Festival (Livermore)

For more information, email us at info@fenestrawinery.com or call 925-447-5246!

Fanatic "Rhone Blending Experience" - April 9th

Invitations were in the mail for Fenestra's “Rhone Experience” on Saturday, April 9th from 4-6pm at the winery.  The cost is $20 per person and is limited to the first 50 respondants.

Winemaker, Brent Amos, will be explaining the fine art of varietal blending, and giving actual demonstrations.  Guests will be able to ask questions, learn helpful hints and facts on blending and even taste samples of actual blends.

Club members can RSVP via email at info@fenestrawinery.com / call us at 925-447-5246 / or sign up in our tasting room during one of your visits!

Don't Forget - Chocolate and Cabernet this Weekend!

 Don't forget - Chocolate and Cabernet weekend is coming up, this Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13 from noon to 5pm both days!

Our red wines are paired with different chocolate dishes, both savory recipes and sweet chocolate treats. $12.50 gets you a glass, buffet plate, and a decadent pairing for your taste buds.  ($10 for club members, and $5 for non-drinkers / children.)

For questions, email info@fenestrawinery.com or call 925-447-5246.

New Releases to be Debuted at Fenestra's Barrel Tasting Weekend

We have four new releases: 2009 Livermore Valley Semonnay, 2007 Lodi Alvarelhão, 2007 Lodi Touriga and 2007 Livermore Valley Cabernet Franc. Semonnay is our blend of Chardonnay and Semillon. Several wineries have made this kind of blend, but they usually call them “Sem-Chards.” We thought Semonnay sounded better, so chose that name, which we have trademarked. Our first vintage was 1992, and although we had some trouble, the label was approved by BATF. With subsequent vintages however, BATF objected to “Semonnay,” saying that consumers might think that was the name of a grape, even though we list the percent composition of Semillon and Chardonnay right below our proprietary name. A favorite of many customers, this blend combines the richness and complexity of a Chardonnay with the herbal-melon flavors of Semillon.

Both the Alvarelhão and the Touriga come from Silvaspoons Vineyards in Galt, CA. Although the “Alva” (as we call it) has a difficult name, it is an easy wine to like, having a distinctive taste with soft tannins. We have been out of Touriga for a while, delaying the release of the 2007 vintage, because we thought it needed more bottle aging.

Our 2006 Cabernet Franc was a big success, and the 2007 vintage, also from Ghielmetti Vineyard is a worthy successor. It got a Silver medal and Best of Class, Greater Bay Area, at the 2010 California State Fair and a Silver medal at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Competition.