Livermore Valley Reviews

Try Livermore if you want a down-home feeling, with beautiful back country and lots of wine tastings that rival Napa, Sonoma and Healdsburg.

Skip the pretense of Napa and head to Livermore wine country. Over 50 wineries! Check out Garre's tasting room with small plate dining or dine at their restaurant after a visit to their tasting room. 3 Steve's Winery is a MUST stop. One of the Steve's is always there to visit and talk wine!

On a recent visit to California,I was invited by friends to visit several Livermore wineries. It was certainly a great day out, and very interesting to find out about the different vineyards/wines. The one that stood out above the rest for me was Ruby Hill. The staff were very welcoming and very informative (despite the fact that there were few visitors, at some of the other vineyards it felt that they just wanted you to quickly taste the wine, buy and go, but it was the complete opposite ay Ruby Hill, where the pace was much more sedate, giving you time to really enjoy the wine). If you only have time to visit one vineyard in Livermore, then I'd certainly suggest that you head for Ruby Hill, you won't be disappointed.

Really nice home town feel. Livermore has a nice verity of parks and or walking trails scattered through out the city. It is also known for its local wineries. There are quit a few mom and pop restaurants that are very good as well.

Unless you are nearby, skip this area. There is no charming or exciting architecture as there is in Sonoma and Napa, and good restaurants are scarce.

Nice place to visit for wines and open spaces...Stop in to more than 45 wineries and taste the Napa Valley of the East Bay.

I returned to Livermore on a delightful November day. This time I focused on walking the downtown Livermore area, where there are some gift stores, movies, and a lot of different types of restaurants. There is also wine and beer places to enjoy. There is also coffee and tea shops.

Since it was November, several of the stores were getting their Christmas decorations up.

We go to Livermore often. This time we went on a beautiful sunny October day. We had lunch, did wine tasting, and also went to Joans Farm and Pumpkin Patch.

They have pumpkins, hay rides, fort maze, gem panning, and Old West Town.

People were also out at the parks. We went to a dog show, as well as went for a walk.

I have lived in Livermore for 20 years..the town has done a lot of growing in those twenty years..It went from 14 wineries to over 55 today...it also has several breweries for people who prefer beer to wine. Lots of restaurants downtown, two movies theatres, the Bankhead, lots of parks and trails. It should be on your list of next place to visit.

Great: Designated Drivers fee at $10 and Shuttle Buses/Limosines on Sunday of Sun/Mon event.
Great: Wine varieties, music, vendors, booklet outlining wineries and location of 'pour location' for each winery that elected to pour at another winery, very helpful.
Not Great: Heat, timing. Perhaps 4 pm to 8 pm would have been cooler.

New to the Livermore Valley. A friend and I spent a wonderful weekend visiting wineries, shopping downtown, and dining and listening to live music in the gorgeous back garden at Double Barrel. There was so much more here than I realized, and everyone we met was great.

Napa has some good wines, but it can be a bit too crowded and commercial. Pack a picnic and head to Livermore to try out excellent affordable wines in a friendly, warm setting. This is an area of experimentation, so you can try out unusual ports (Westover), Portugese wines (Fenestra) and a whole lot more. Many have picnic areas and increasingly, the town offers quality restaurants as well. It is peaceful, less crowded and you can enjoy chatting with the winemakers as you taste.

I have spent much time in Napa and Sonoma visiting NUMEROUS wineries, except for the past two years...Why? COST. They have increased their pricing of wines and wine tasting substantially...So I turned to spend these past two years closer to home and the budding Livermore Valley Wine Country with some 55+ wineries. Again, beware, still some reasonably priced wines and wine tasting - BUT for those of you like me who spend some time wine tasting and enjoying these visits? BEWARE - For their pricing is creeping upwards...Let's hope they don't fall victim to what has happened in Napa and Sonoma...For I'm slowly seeing some real jumps in pricing of their wines as well (I will mention no names). Wente's wine tasting is now $10, as many in Napa and Sonoma are and going higher...The $5 wine tasting deals may disappear sooner than later...I hope they will consider this message a friendly warning that IF they cease to offer a reasonable tasting experience and wine pricing...They too will lose their friendly "foot traffic" and visitors to this region for the sake of more fair pricing when it comes to both the wine tasting experience and purchase of their wines.

Livermore Valley is a beautiful place to visit with a lot of different activities to suit whatever you want to do, from the nice downtown area, Lake Del Valle, restaurants, wineries and breweries. I have lived here over 25 years and still enjoying it all. Beautiful event center and various social events.

It's a scenic drive all the way from San Francisco to Yosemite but this part specially offers some majestic and beautiful views.

Livermore have a lovely downtown area, perfect for a lazy afternoon with local shops, restaurants. Outside of town is one of the best outlet malls in the entire bay area, and south of town are some great wine country event centers and wine tasting places. Its a great place to visit and even nicer to place to live.

We have come out to northern CA on several occasions and have always visited Napa, Sonoma, and North to Mendocino. This time we mixed business and pleasure in the Livermore Valley. So much to see and do from quaint towns, beautiful parks, great restaurants, and many wineries - all without the traffic, congestion, and humanity of Napa. Clean, friendly, great wines, many ethnic restaurants. Very enjoyable

Lots and lots of wineries to visit all around the area and fun little restaurants in the downtown area to check out

Gorgeous valley. North of the freeway are the rolling hills. Beautiful and peaceful and great for biking.

The Livermore valley is relatively unknown but has a lively downtown and a bunch of quaint wineries with friendly service and good wines. It is well worth a visit compared to the expensive Napa and Sonoma valleys.

The Livermore Valley isn't necessarily a "destination city," like nearby San Francisco, but if you have a day to spare (and a Designated Driver), a visit to the Livermore Valley will be a delight for you wine lovers.

Livermore rivals the more-famous Napa Valley in the quality and variety of the wines produced there. Vineyards and wineries are spread out for miles around the city of Livermore and to a lesser extent, Pleasanton. Around the wineries, the roads are practically all two-lane blacktop, but traffic is generally light and winery entrances are well marked.

California requires the collection of a "sampling fee" by the wineries. State law prohibits them from giving away the product. Most set the sampling fee at $5, which seems reasonable enough to me. In many cases, light snacks are offered at no charge. Some of the wineries have adjunct restaurants, where you can have lunch or dinner accompanied by wine you selected at your tasting. I have also seen informal entertainment at some wineries, like a guitar player or a costumed character for the kids. Of course, these are not the featured attraction. That title is reserved for the wine.

If you do an Internet search for Livermore wine map, you can set up your own tour route or search for Livermore wine tours and arrange a conducted tour.

Livermore is home to the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, a major research facility. This means there's no shortage of quality lodging and restaurants. It's also home to my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, though whom I've gained my appreciation for their city.

I had the fortune to live in Livermore for about a year when I was a visiting researcher at Sandia. Livermore is a really nice quite little town with everything you need and it's really close to Oakland Berkeley or San Francisco. There are a lot of wineries in the area and if you have the opportunity it's perfect to go with a bike between the tasting rooms. If you're lucky one of the smaller once might have a BBQ or something else going on towards the evening. Worth a visit all year round. Don't forget to visit the oldest light bulb in the world at the fire department. They're always helpful och gladly shows it to you if you're interested.

If you want to enjoy the brown California hills, this is great. Weather is usually warmer as well. Great natural beauty.

Wine has been produced in the Livermore Valley since the 1800s. It’s what brought us here. Livermore might not be as well-known as Napa, but there are numerous wineries to enjoy, including the powerhouse Wente. What a beautiful area. If you’re planning a wine country trip, put Livermore on your map!

Livermore is Wine Country. It's also Downtown. Great Food. Friendly, smiling people. Friends. Family. The best place to live, work and play in the Valley.

This place has everything for a day or a week visit or place to live. Something like 50 fine wineries, fine places to eat downtown, entertainment at the Bankhead Theater, fine walking and cycling paths, and Lake Del Valle for kayaking, fishing, and camping.

We moved to the Livermore Valley in 1976. We've seen many changes--most of them are good. (Traffic isn't so good on 580.) our downtown area is delightful, the parks are pretty, the community college is one of the best, and the shopping is great. It can get hot, but usually after a few days, the sea breeze comes and cools things off. We've asked ourselves where else we might want to live, but we keep coming back to "right here!" It's home!

We had a fun Sunday doing wine tasting at several Livermore Valley Wineries. We also went to downtown First Street and saw the fountains, historic buildings, and restaurant area. Its a pleasant place to spend a Sunday afternoon in the summer.

There is also a Totem Pole in Livermore in Centenniel Park. The totem pole was carved by Adam Nordwald. a hereditary member of the Ojibwa Nation.

We've been to Livermore Many times. This time we returned to do some wine tasting had lunch at Garre Vineyard, and enjoyed going to a couple of parks. There is the vibrant downtown area as well.

Many restaurants and wineries in the area. Family activities like bike riding and picnicing. The Rodeo is held the 2nd weekend in June and is lots of fun for everyone. Stroll downtown and see all the great restaurants and stores. This time of year the grape vines are lush and full.

First time in Livermore the views of the valley were breathtaking and gorgeous to view. It was especially awesome to see the low clouds that hovered over certain parts of the valley as the wind whisked them away.

Livermore Valley is far lesser known than the regions north of San Francisco but with about 40 wineries the region is more intimate. The wine making has an equally admirable history. Considered "East Bay" it's only about 40 miles from SF and Oakland and close enough to San Jose that people live here and commute to their jobs in Silicon Valley. The towns of Pleasanton, Danville and Livermore provide a nice atmosphere to stroll with nice restaurants and shopping. Dublin has a great reputation for ethnic restaurants. Petite Syrah and Chardonnay seem to be the signature varietals of wine but they are also adept at red blends with many grape varieties on the vine. Concannon and Wente are the big winery visits but smaller, family owned wineries are the majority. Check on opening hours for the smaller wineries with many welcoming guests Thursday-Sunday. Bring your golf clubs if you play. Some stunning courses around there.

We had a great time vacationing in area. We could find anything and everything for all ages to do. Great food, hotels, shopping and business opportunities at every turn.

Warning, the valley does have an unusual shape, which results in a nasty inversion layer when it gets hot. It gets hot a lot there . . . when it does, the smog just sits in the valley. If you have any health problems, especially lung oriented, just be aware.

I lived in Livermore for 14 years. When I first located there, it was known as the town of "cowboys and labbies." The term "labbies," coming from the famous Lawrence National Livermore Lab or the Rad Lab (radiation lab) as it was known, due to it's work with nuclear devices. It was a bit rough around the edges in those days. Like every other city in the bay area, it has gone through it gentrification period, and still is.

Yes, many wineries to visit here, Lake Del Valle is a beautiful spot to swim and picnic, but I would not recommend it on the weekends. Many new restaurants to visit, some highly acclaimed. But . . . if you see a whole in the wall taco joint or burger diner try it, because you'll be pleasantly surprised.

If you have a chance, check out the old Vine Theater, now known as the Vine Cinema and Ale House. Catch a film, with cocktails. Seriously.

Hit the rodeo and parade in June, usually hot, sometimes triple digits, so bring the sunscreen. If you're in town Labor day weekend, there are bus tours of all the wineries. It's a great way to go, no driving, and most serve a free snack or you can purchase some very good food.

There is a local collage, in the event you want to pick up on a couple of courses. It is accredited, I received an AA in Computer Information Systems there.

It gets quite cold in the winters, can drop into the 20's, but rarely if ever snows.

I was lucky, as in my 14 years living and working there, I was just a renter, so I lived in many areas of the valley, from the floor to the hillsides.

Interesting old town, you may want to use the internet to check out other interesting areas, old and new. I do know they built a new theater, so check it out.

Wineries, restaurants, hiking, farms - they might be not as glamorous as North Bay (Napa, Sonoma, Marin), but they are much closer to Bay area so it makes it easier to visit.

After visiting Napa & Sonoma County and San Francisco's theaters and restaurants, I was lucky enough to discover the much closer and cost friendly Livermore Valley. It offers over 40 wineries, a beautiful Bankhead Theater, restaurants and outdoor activities that stretch my entertainment dollars and the stress and strain of driving in crowds and paying more for less. Livermore Vslley is East of San Francisco and only 30 minutes to the Oakland and San Jose airports. It has much to offer visitors of all ages starting at the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore. There you can find a visitors center open 7 days a week with many suggestions for the area including reasonable yet class performing art acts in the 507 seat theater and outside in the Bankhead Theater. We took the Wine Trolley to a few nearby wineries but they are easily accessible by private car. The beautiful views, selection of award winning wineries and hiking, biking and tasting opportunities make this a great place to visit and plan a special event like a wedding. The hustle and bustle of city life or all the folks heading to Sonoma and Napa County for wine tasting are avoided thankfully in the Livermore Valley. It also has a premium outlet mall, national science labs and cultural arts that rival any town or area its size. Check out the Independent newspaper for a thorough local events calendar.

We decided to visit Livermore Valley on our way back from Yosemite. We were pleasantly surprised on how lovely the area was. The town of Livermore was a wonderful place for dinner, with numerous choices of restaurants and lots of street activity. We visited two wineries the next day, and thoroughly enjoyed the tastings and tours.

Great place with many winery's and lots of great restaurants. Many outdoor activities and lots to do. Worth a trip.

This is a great place to taste some of the best wine in California and not pay the high prices of Napa and Sonoma. People are friendly and the atmosphere is low-key not snotty. Many places to have a great meal and get out into nature.

This is a beautiful time of year to travel to Livermore and do some wine tasting. The hills are all green and the sun is out. It's still a little chilly, but still a really cool place to visit.

We love wine tasting in Livermore. It's close to the silicon valley but far enough out that you still feel like you've gotten away. All the wineries are friendly, many are dog friendly and most are award winning wines. A few Favorites are Big White House, John Evan Cellars, Crooked Vine, and the down town wine bar Swirl on the Square. Many of the wineries have entertianment on weekends, bands to food trucks. Member pricing is mostly reasonable. the restaurant scene has been picking up the last few years. We love Demetri's Tavern, Casa Orozco, and for you gluten-free folks Paxti's pizza and outside downtown Lanna Thai. It really is the first wine trail in California you can stop at the chamber of commerce and get a map. Most of the tasting rooms have a small fee $5-$10 waived if you buy a bottle mostly, a few places are more and a few places require reservations.

A very nice retreat from the Bay Area without a long drive. Plenty of wineries and a few breweries to visit. Downtown Livermore has a nice variety of restaurants to choose from.
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Livermore is similar to Napa and Sonoma before they became heavily commercialized. The wine tastings are reasonably priced, more casual and relaxed.
If you want the "high end" wine experience, there are a few available.

Traffic isn't a problem once you get there (580, 680, 84 can be nightmares if not timed properly...or even if you do!).
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We go to Livermore Valley many times. Its a fun place to go with many wineries. The winery area is also a very good place for a picnic or to dine as several of the wineries have cafes and restaurants (Concannon Underdog and the restaurant at Garre Vineyand and Winery for example). One can do it on one's own, ride bikes or horse ride, take tours, and so forth to visit the wineries.

We have dined at many of the restaurants in the downtown Livermore area. We also like to go see live theater and other acts at the Bankhead Theater. There is movies one can watch either at the Vineor at Livermore Cinema. The Vine ofen has local events as well; and has an awesome wine and beer selection and food as well. There is lso wine tasting rooms, ice cream places, and more in the downtown Livermore area.

There are some very good parks such as Del Valle or more local parks for major sports play such as Robertson Park. This is also a good park for horse riders and also the site of the Livermore rodeo held in June.

There are many local events that occur in Livermore

Its an easy drive from the San Francisco Bay Area if one wants to go to wineries nearby.

There is a lot to do, see and enjoy.

If you want a wine tour. There's a trolley you can ride on and go to 3 different winary and get some wine tasting.

There's a lot of nice countryside in southern Livermore, plenty of parks, and miles of farms and grapevines. The Livermore Valley is a must if you're on vacation in the area (San Francisco, for instance, is only about an hour away). The parks have great views, and are open to the public to enjoy. The city of Livermore also supplies several hiking/biking trails that give visitors a taste of both the city and the countryside.

I have spent 20 years, 12 living, and have seen much growth throughout this beautiful city. I enjoy the downtown, nightlife, ease of getting around and all around good living. The weather is hot during the summer, but overall good conditions.

Unlike the sprawling metropolises of Southern CA, Livermore is a city (town) of just over 89,000 residence. Sandia and Livermore Labs are two of the major companies for employment and as such you will meet a lot of well educated, friendly people. Four of the things I like most in Livermore include at least 41 wineries, and five breweries, all of which produce some fine selections. My next favorite item in Livermore is the quaint main street with sidewalk dining and a fantastic choice of restaurants from which to choose. Then there is the Thursday Farmers Market where one can pick up locally grown farm fresh produce, honey and more. And finally if you are looking for a gentle walk, Livermore offers some very scenic pathways with plenty of flora, fauna and friendly wildlife.

Loving it here in Livermore, the original Napa. Napa is for autoparts as the saying goes and Livermore has been producing (award winning) wine for far longer than Napa has. You also will find that the winery tours and tasting rooms here will cost you a lot less than in Napa. So if you'd like to keep all of your arms and legs do yourself a favor and check out Livermore for your visit.

I belong to a couple of wine clubs in the Livermore Valley.
The people there are friendly and it's a nice area to stop when we're going to the central valley.

Reception and personnel are friendly. The hotel is not clean, breakfast is pretty much a joke, coffee, few nature valley bars.
You have the option to cook in your room.

I didn't visit the wineries, but the drive through winery row is amazing. Rolling green hills in the distance. Vineyards along the road. Why go all the way to Napa when the Livermore Valley is so close?

If you're a wine enthusiast you must come here. Spend part of the day visiting the wineries then grab some food in downtown Livermore.

I have visited Livermore and much of Livermore for the past 19 years. It is amazing at the speed that the population growth have expanded. Where else can you go from summertime weather in the 90’s down to 65 or 70 degrees in nearby San Francisco? All the towns in the valley have undergone tremendous growth. The big problem with living in the valley is the tremendous backup on the major highways. The saving grace for us visitors is BART which is a great way to get around to visit the various towns between the valley and coastal towns such as Berkeley, Oakland and San Francisco. The town of Livermore is my favorite. Homes are not permitted on the beautiful hills close by which keeps the beauty intact. There are many wineries that dot the valley. The downtown area has many great places to dine. Even though the area has grown, the ambiance has survived.

Livermore is getting an awesome reputation for world class wines, There are at least 30 that offer amazing wines for every taste and budget. Places to try- Cuda ridge- Bent creek, under dogs, Wente, Murrietas well and Garre. Just to name a few. if you go to the Livermore wine maps web page you can find so many choices. Check it out.

OK, maybe it isn't Emerald City but the rolling beautiful mountains, the array of wineries, the selection of shopping and eating options are fantastic. A great get away from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco and a welcome site after driving past Oakland. Wonderful place to visit.

so much to do. The wineries alone could keep you busy for a day or more depending, on your preference towards wine tasting. Not Napa Valley quality wines but indeed tasty. Plus downtown Livermore is very very nice. Lost of food choices, and wonderful nightlife with a very good vibe.

I come to Livermore to visit the famous LLNL where some amazing scientists and engineers have done great things and continue to do today. LLNL aside, the downtown area is a pleasant eclectic blend of wine country town and trendy California scene. I find places like this in California with their walkable streets like 1st Street such a pleasant change after other towns and cities in the US which seem to have little town life. I like to meet my friends from Livermore in the restaurants and bars on 1st Street and near by streets, where sitting out and drinking great wines or micro brewery beers while listening to some live music is a past time for all.

We live here so the attractions are just part of life. There are a lot of wineries, some even grow their own grapes, (if you get my drift), some serve food too. It can get HOT in the summer, so maybe best to visit in spring or fall.

Do you need a quite and simple getaway? Then visit Livermore. Fly in or drive in, no matter. Give yourself time to explore and take in the simple relaxing sights. Explore the vineyards, hike the park, walk the downtown, drive the neighborhoods, partake in the assorted eateries, or dive into the the local arts & history. Day trip or weekend escape, Livermore has all this to offer and more.

This area is a wonderful spot to stay. It is very laid back and unpretentious. The wineries are welcoming, friendly, and some even have nice spots for picnicking where you can bring your own food while you enjoy the wine flights. The wine tastings are typically $10 - $15 and are usually not crowded if you go early. The downtown area has some great restaurants too.

Beautiful wine country without Napa and Sonoma traffic! Over 55 wineries, 6 breweries and one or more distillery. All within easy commute from a marvelous Downtown Livermore... Pleasanton and Dublin are only 8-10 miles away if you want a little more traffic and stores. Livermore is home to one of the biggest shopping outlets in the USA.

I have been eating in the Livermore Valley for more that 40 years and have yet to be disappointed. Favorites are Lemon Grass (Thai) and Casa Orozco (Mexican) and Vitality Bowl (healthy)

I have posted reviews of Retzlaff and Concannon Wineries that two of our favorites.
We have tasted at many other wineries and have never walked out without bottles of wine for our trip. YES, in other areas we have poured out our tasting samples and said thanks and good bye. My council to you, if you like/love good wine, go to the Livermore Valley for a weekend and stock up your wine cellar.

It is nice to have this gem of an area nearby from the many wineries and fine restaurants...who would have thought to find this nearby!

Only an hour or so from most of the Bay Area, the 60+ wineries in Livermore Valley are reminiscent of Sonoma & Napa 20+ years ago. Friendly and unpretentious, no big buses, lots of interesting wineries and wines, with staff who are actually glad you came! Tasting fees are much lower as well. Can even take BART and get a Lyft or Uber to take you around. Try some of the smaller, family owned wineries; at many, you can bring your own food or picnic.

Beautiful day to taste some delicious wines and listen to great rocking Blues.

This one time a year event celebrates the wine harvest.

Went was our checking point. There were 6 tasting stations, art exhibitors and food.
The Tasting room was open for specialty tastings of varietals and sparkling wine.

Next was Steven Kent a short walk away.
This winery was pouring 4 varietals had some food and good boogie band.

Make sure to have a designated driver, limo or bus van.

Have fun and drink responsibly!

A hidden gem... Livermore Valley is a great destination for a GWA ( Girls Weekend Away). There are over 50 wineries to chose from - all being unique and different. Because they are situated so close you will be able to visit quite a few in little time. A few quick mentions Wente, Concannon, Wood Family and Retzlaff. When it comes to restaurants Downtown Livermore has plenty to offer Uncle Yu’s - good Chinese and an extensive wine selection, Sauce - awesome BBQ and First Street Alehouse - a great sports bar/pub. Last but not least...SHOPPING! You can’t leave Livermore without visiting the Livermore Outlets. Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to fill your shopping bags. You definitely want to leave extra trunk space to fit all your new little goodies. The best time to visit is in the late Spring or Fall. The temperature is usually very comfortable. Summer months can get hot and that can be a damper. Don’t wait, get out your calendar and book your GWA! Enjoy 😊

I moved here in 1987. Of all the places in and around the bay area, this was the one place that felt like home to me. It still does.

Many very good wineries located within minutes of each other if not next door. Easy to find some great values at non Napa/Sonoma prices. Most tasting rooms very friendly with employees eager to share information about their wines.

We love visiting the Livermore Valley. There are so many beautiful natural sites to explore. Livermore’s Downtown is quaint, relaxing and there are many lovely restaurants to choose from for dining.

If you are looking for a unique and special experience where you will meet the nicest people around, taste the most delicious wines, and be away from the commercalized and high prices of the Napa Valley, the Livermore Valley is for you. We were told there are over 60 Boutque Wineries to visit. We were visiting wineries for only one day and could only visit five, so we can not attest to the"60" number. But there were far more than we could visit in even a few days! We have to plan trips back to see if the "60" number is true. Sounds like a good way to test the information to me!

The Livermore Harvest Wine Festival in September is a wonderful way to acquaint yourself with the Livermore Valley. A hop on-hop off trolley visits many of the local wineries where sampling can take on an art form. The weather is usually beautiful and sunny. Take a hat if you are follically challenged like me.

Go there often or not often enough, just love the wine county and want to settle there but it is little ways for me now but great alternate to Napa or Central coast if you want to avoid high cost, crowded and touristy places.

We moved here 9 years ago and couldn't be happier! This is a great place to raise a family! This is a very family friendly area with great parks, family restaurants and great neighborhoods!

Livermore valley's wine region has become what Napa used to be before it got so full of itself. Yes great wines come from Napa and at Livermore you have to pick and choose your venues wisely, however, it retains the hospitable, genuine experience that does not require an arm and a leg just for the privilege of tasting before you buy. Specifically, I captured a delightful case of high quality yummy wine in Livermore for about the cost of tasting at two "premium" wineries in Napa. Nothing touristy, just wine tasting the way it should be. Don't miss it.

If you are not into crowds, buses and pretentious people then skip Napa and Sonoma and visit Livermore for the real wine experience. They've been making wine here since the late 1800s and many families boast 5+ generations in the business. Everyone knows everyone and it's a friendly feel. Some wineries are small but make excellent vintages so don't be afraid of the prices - they are well worth it if you love wine!

Everyone either goes to Napa or the Sonoma Valleys for wine tasting, and they are missing out on some really stunning wineries in the Livermore Valley.
There are never tour buses or large crowds, just wineries keen to please their clientele.

As a wine lover and foodie, can't wait to get back to Livermore and Pleasanton.Tasted the wines, enjoyed the views. Gorgeous little town. A wonderful weekend indeed!
Weather is almost always very nice.

We posted our home in Fremont for sale and looked into homes for sale in Livermore that were within our price range. The home in Livermore we selected was at the upper limit of what we wanted to pay, but established a good relationship with the seller & their agent. We moved into our new home in Livermore about May 4 th 2018. We are now very pleased with this new home.

Wineries, Golf, Restaurants, charming downtowns in both Pleasanton and Livermore and huge premium outlet center

So much to do. History, science, outdoors, wine tasting, shopping, dining...... A little something for everyone. Combine all the experiences for a great escape from the Bay Area hecticn life or a stop-over for tourists.

Very nice small winery's and various of them had good weather when visited rios winery has a new tatsting room oh there is a charge for tasting if you hadn't been there and didn't know that it's between 10 and 20 dollar's

Great area to explore. Lots of great restaurants, wineries and biking opportunities. Spend the night in fab. B&B's or camp at Lake Del Valle. Hike the ridges and valley.
Be sure to visit Retzlaff Winery!

You feel that you are on vacation....a few minutes from home. Wonderful wine tasting experience and exciting restaurants downtown....

On the way to visit friends who live on Cull Canyon road we saw a tasting event at Twining Vine. We met the wine maker (Keith), his wife and a few other really nice folks. I did not taste but purchased 2 each of the Cab Franc, Chard and Merlot. Have not had the Merlot but really liked the other two. I will not try to give an elaborate K&L type review but a guest of ours liked them also. What else can one say if the wine is good. The property is not large but beautiful and would be a great place to picnic with wine.

I frequent Livermore Wineries 2-3 times a year. It's much closer than Napa/ Sonoma and a lot less crowded and pretentious. Most wineries are $5 for a great pour and more tastes. For my birthday this year I decided to rent a party bus with 25 people and we went to 4 wineries. I called into three in advance and they had a special area for us. I'm going to share my birthday route with you.
1. Retzlaff opened up earlier for us. They charged us $10 a person instead of the $5 listed because we were a big group but I got a free taste because it was my birthday! an extra $5 got us barrel tasting, but we ended up buying bottles and sharing it over lunch which we brought with us. They have excellent port here. This is a small more rustic tasting room with outdoor seating area. Not great for any group larger than us or for more than our group inside at one time. Staff is super nice and accomadating.
2. We headed to Steven Kent next which is a little more mainstream. Their tasting room was like an underground wine cellar, which was nice because it started to sprinkle outside. They charge you right before going in, felt a little like a nightclub. But they also had a nice area set up for my group and served our tasting by walking around our table. They had yummy chocolates for sale, among other knick knacks. They weren't a personable as Retzlaff but they were nice. We had finished early so we asked if La Rochelle which is 20 steps away from their front door (sister winery) could take us. They called in and could not. so...
3. I went to Bent Creek which I had tried to get a reservation two weeks in advance but they didn't call me back until a week later after I had book McGrail (which is next). We showed up anyways and they set us up outside with some heating lamps. Now the last two places weren't as crowded as expected (probably b ecause it was suppose to pour that day) but Bent Creek's tasting room was crowded!!!! there was no room for walking inside but we were outside and had all the space int he world. And because it was my birthday they brought out a necklace with a flashing birthday cake on it for me. So sweet! and I had canceled! so glad I made it anyways! Our group brought a bunch of wine from here as well.
4. Then we headed to McGrail which was beautiful! and they had us on tables to the side of the tasting room where we bought bottles of wine (which is cheaper for a large group) and shared it rather than tastings. It came out cheaper too. The service was nice.

And that was a wonderful day in Livermore. Plus we were home in 30 minutes. Not a long two hours drive from Napa.

Always enjoy coming to Livermore. Love seeing good friends there,and enjoy the wineries a lot! The restaurants downtown are all really good and serve a variety of international cuisines.

Livermore is the most beautiful city with landcaping everywhere! It has a quaint downtown that people walk around, listening to live music, eat and/or sip wine at sidewalk cafes, kids play in a in a splash pad, and the list can go on. You feel like you step back in time where you feel safe to walk the streets with friends or take a romantic stroll with your spouse.
The valley has so many wineries to visit with great wines to taste (and buy). There are events yearround, there is always something to do. It has gorgeous views, bring your camera!

Happy with everything !
goutdoor concerts,winerries trolley,brewerris ,Shakespeare festivals, good food at local restaurants ,opportunities for golf,weddings,and ,check the area events for more !

TLivermore and surrounding area is beautiful! Wineries all around. Lots to do! Great food and shopping!

Very rapid population growth and the valley is filling in. In the summer it is extremely hot. Employment here. Can be smoggy. Lots of traffic. Some good wineries.

People, places, and location. I have lived here since 2001, but in the area since 1963 (born here...) and I have seen this city grow over the last 12 years into a classy place to live, entertain, explore, and of course drink and learn about wine.

Each year, during Christmas, Valentines Day, and Labor Day, there are major wine events in the Livermore Valley just east of San Francisco. Excellent wine, often music and crafts, make a visit a special event for guests to the San Francisco Bay Area. Many wineries are open during the week for visits and offer an uncrowded opportunity to enjoy great wine and a beautiful vineyard atmosphere. There a places to enjoy wine and a picnic at many wineries.

Its lower cost than the Napa and Sonoma wineries for tastings and closer in for access.

Hal

Livermore Valley is situated in the east bay of California state and east of Sanfrancisco. It is valley and Livermore city is located in this valley

Love Livermore valle, the first and only home of California wine, Napa is for auto parts! Livermore had the first award winning wine back in the mid 1800's Napa did not exist until middle 1970's. Vantastic winery's in Livermore approx 62 I believe now, must come visit!

Delicious wines. Comparable to Napa valley only cheaper Steven Kent. MurrietasWell Mcgrail vineyards.wood family.

On a short trip from Reno to San Francisco decided to stop for some California wine tasting. We heard about Livermore Valley and am I glad we stopped. The people are friendly, the wine tasting reasonable, and the wine choices endless. Highly recommend Ruby Hill and McGrail Vineyards. So nice to have a great experience in the central wine country!

The livermore valley with its vineyards and fine eating is a place you should make sure you stop there and check it all out. There's 1St. Street with all its fine dining establishments. Ten minutes away you have Del-Valle park and lake to the south and thirty minutes away to the north you have the Delta.

Livermore valley is down to earth compared to its bigger more pretentious neighbors. Don't get me wrong it will still cost you some cash but you won't go broke or feel like you need a loan to get a tasting. This valley wineries offer family friendly choices that are still fun and offer exceptional wine.

A beautiful drive through the countryside to visit the area wineries. The leaves have turned and it is like a picture post card.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area yet close enough to commute. The best-kept secret of Northern CA.

Quick business trip to Livermore, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautiful rural landscape, vibrant downtown district, great food, and wonderful people. Can't wait to go back.

This is a great place to visit if you're looking to taste wine with kids and not go broke. The tasting fees are low and some are waived if you buy a bottle. Kids are welcome in almost all of them. Downtown is packed with bars, restaurants and shops. It's a win if you want wine county without Napa prices.

Our recent visit to Livermore was just for a night but we've been before.
Just seems a bit rough around the edges now more than before. Still the nice restaurants and ability to walk through downtown shopping area but just outside of that (Stanley Blvd/Railroad Ave/Livermore
Ave) are where you'd need a buddy with you...
Beautiful winery's abound and close to San Francisco are great!

I lived in Stockton for a few months. I have been renting a plane from Livermore airport. I had the chance to fly several times above the Livermore valley. I was also passing it when driving from Stockton to San Francisco on the highway.

It is a very spacious, peaceful, sunny area. The view by plane is really nice.

Livermore Wineries are a fun place to go. Some are open during the week; majority are open on week-ends only. It is an excellent place to bike between wineries as there is a nice paved trail there.

Downtown Livermore area is now lively with lots of restaurants, two movie theaters, and a live theater. Its changed a lot for the better and also has some wine tastings bars with good appetizers, and tapas.

There are recreational activities also from hiking, picnic areas such as Del Valle (where you can also camp and go swimming), golfing, and more.

All in all Livermore is a good alternative place to visit form Napa/Sonoma if you want to do some wine tasting within a short drive from the San Jose and Santa Clara Valley Area.

There are a variety of events, music concerts in the summer at Wente, and wine week-ends. There is a web site for the wineries that will let you know more about the region events as well as individual winery events. For example, Garre Winery has a nice restaurant and does holiday specials such as at Easter, and other key holidays. Another winery does barbecues and live music in the summer

Liverrmore has amazing wines, from Wente, the big guy's to Le's Chenes out at the end of the Valley with outstanding views and cheese pairing Too. What's not to like. Several great restaurants are in town, or many of the wineries have picnic grounds, bring your own goodies, from Trader Joes's and make a day of it.

The Livermore Valley has a number of wineries with rolling hills and phenomenal neighborhoods and a wonderful downtown Livermore.

We went to Livermore, which is a short drive from our home. Its a beautiful area. We did wine tasting and visited Main Street area this time. We went on Valentine's Day.

Over 50 wineries and 8 microbreweries are in Livermore. Many city and regional parks are also here. Downtown Livermore has been and is being revitalized.

Have you ever noticed that the Livermore Valley always touts the fact that it is one of the oldest wine growing areas in California? The problem is, that is their only claim to fame. If the area was that great for growing grapes, why did so many venture outside the area to grow better grapes? The best wine from this region is just "OK." This AVA can't compete with other areas in California.

Any decent wines I have ever tasted from wineries in this AVA had grapes that were sourced from other venues.