Amalthea Cellars

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: May 29, 2011

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Jun 28, 2010

Favorite Wine: Calisto Rouge, Elara, Villard Blanc

I went to this winery, as a part of my hunt for a place to have my wedding reception. Despite its descriptive allure, my expectations were less than satisfied. The staff were pleasant, as Lou mainly took care of explaining the winery's availability for hosting venues, then a wine-tasting. The "cellar" (as they called the wine-tasting area) is small, tight, and a bit stuffy. And even though we were there first, my friend Steve and I had to be moved to the entrance way of the distillation room, because there was a partybus of over 15 people who came in and they just couldn't fit all of us. Most of their prized wines are dry, but surprisingly, their select few sweet wines made-up for that short-coming. If you're looking for sweet wines (as I am), there isn't a large selection here. This place in general is not as flashy (as Valenzano, which I've seen prior to this), it's small & quaint, with a big-time country-feel. I did wind-up buying 5 bottles.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Dec 14, 2009

Favorite Wine: Think I bought a chardonnay.

The way to a visitor heart is through his stomach. This winery put out crackers and some nice cheeses, even Brie. Add to that a very knowledgeable and super enthusiastic hostess, and great chateau-ish historic atmosphere, and you've got something! In the past, other hosts have been equally knowledgeable. The friends I was with bought cases -- hence the five rating for wine.