Wine Tasting in the Livermore Valley at McGrail Vineyards

Upcoming Wine Club Party at McGrail Vineyards

2011-06-06T17:21:00.001-07:00

Saturday, June 25^th

Sunset Appreciation Party and Release of The Good Life Cabernet

5:30-8pm

We have traditionally held our “appreciation” party in the winter, but the biggest complaint is that the weather is cold. So we are holding this fabulous night in June in hopes that we will have a beautiful evening outside.

You will get to taste our newest Release, 2008 A Jo Elet, The Good Life Cabernet, you will enjoy a glass of wine on us and you get to watch the sunset from our patio. Wood-fired gourmet pizzas by Soleil will be available for purchase, so come with an appetite!

We will have live music by Top Secret Band, so bring your dancing shoes.

As a special thank you, for your continued support, we will offer a 30% discount on case purchases of the following wines:

2007 Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon

2008 Wisner Vineyard Chardonnay

2009 McGrail Family Chardonnay

**Only available the evening of June 25^th**

Email your pre-orders, so we have your case ready.

MCGRAIL VINEYARDS AND WINERY AND TERRA MIA RESTAURANT ANNOUNCE FIRST WINEMAKERS DINNER

2011-05-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

--Event to coincide with AMGEN Tour of California 4^th Stage Start

LIVERMORE, CA ––McGrail Vineyards and Winery, a family-owned producer of premium wines in the Livermore Valley, will partner with Terra Mia, local Livermore independent restaurant, for a Winemakers Dinner on Wednesday, May 18, 2011—perfect timing for cycling enthusiasts who plan to enjoy the AMGEN Tour in Livermore the same day.

Terra Mia and McGrail Vineyards and Winery are teaming up to offer authentic Italian cuisine and premium local wine. Terra Mia, prides itself on traditional dishes made from scratch, with fresh, local ingredients so plan to “slow” down and enjoy a delicious four course meal paired with award-winning McGrail wines.

Guests will start with caprese salads paired with newly released 2010 McGrail Vineyards Rose, then will enjoy a pasta or risotto dish with the 2007 Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon. For your entrée enjoy Sole with 2009 Chardonnay and Prime Rib with the exclusive 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (sold out at the winery). Finish off with a dessert paired with McGrail’s first ever Petite Sirah from Casa de Vinas.

Italian tradition links food, wine, and quality time with family and friends, and McGrail Vineyards focuses on making great memories with good wine and friends. Plan for an experience truly unique to the Livermore Valley.

Seats are limited and reservations are required for this event. The cost is $85 per person. For reservations, please call (925) 456-3333.

Summer Concert Series at McGrail

2011-04-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

It seems like more and more Livermore wineries are starting to have live music for you to enjoy. Well McGrail Vineyards is going to offer a new outdoor bar with the Music in the Vines Summer Concert Series. Here is the lineup so far:

May 28th

1:30-4:30PM

Hurricane Band

Alternative Rock, Classic Rock, Blues and Country

http://www.thehurricaneband.com/

June 19th

1-4PM

James Nagel

Singer/Songwriter Soulfoul Rock

http://www.jamesnagel.com/

July 9th

1:30-5PM

Bacchus Brothers

July 23rd

4-7PM

John Wayne Zink Band

Top 40 and Country

August 20th

1-5PM

Bay Area Heat

Bay Area’s Hottest Dance Band

http://www.thebayareaheat.com/

September 3rd

2-5PM

Sage Band

Funk

http://www.sagemusic.com/

Check out the website for more events: www.mcgrailvineyards.com

Chicago Loves McGrail Wine!

2010-10-12T08:40:00.000-07:00

McGrail Vineyards and Winery www.mcgrailvineyards.com, family owned producer of premium wines from the Livermore Valley, chosen in the top 10 for Cabernet Shootout.

Affairs of the Vine hosted its 6^th Annual Cabernet Shootout, with 217 Cabernet Sauvignon entrants from 43 different appellations. The shootout was a blind tasting from both a male and female panel of wine writers, sommeliers, winemakers, and wine professionals, including Wine Enthusiast Magazines, Steve Heimoff. McGrail Vineyards placed in the top 10 for both the male and female panelist, scoring a 92 and 4 hearts, the highest honor. The top 35 wines were invited to Chicago for a consumer based tasting event.

The Chicago Wine Club, an 80,000 member organization, for wine lovers, collectors, educators, sommeliers, and drinkers, hosted the Cabernet Grand Tasting on September 29^th, 2010 at the Blue Star Wine Bar in Chicago, Il. Over 200 members showed up to rate 34 Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet blends. The men and women were supposed to vote for their top 3 favorite wines. McGrail Vineyards and Winery won the top honors as the number 1 wine for the women of the Chicago Wine Club. For more information please visit: http://www.affairsofthevine.com/

Here's what the expert panel had to say about McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (the 4 hearts were the highest honor):

(92) Red

Female: This wine displays soft and beautiful rich fruit with eucalyptus accents peeking through. Predominantly cherry and plum flavors accented by caramel. Well integrated with nice acidity on the finish.

(92) Red

Male: Cedar, tobacco, and coffee with a touch of mocha lead the way to the lush mouthfeel ripe with cherry flavors. A very elegant wine.

McGrail Vineyards and Winery Wins Gold Medal at Indy Wine Competition

2010-09-17T19:15:00.001-07:00

McGrail Vineyards and Winery, www.mcgrailvineyards.com, family owned producer of premium wines from the Livermore Valley, took home a Gold Medal at the recent Indy International Wine Competition.

McGrail Vineyards winning entry was among nearly 2,700 wines in the competition. Wine from 15 countries including France, Australia, Chile, and Spain were judged on appearance, aroma, taste, and aftertaste by 14 panels of judges. In all, 52 judges from the United States and Canada evaluated the entries, led by Professor Christian Butzke.

The Gold medal was awarded for their 2007 McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Reserve, a complex, rich, red wine that was aged in 90% new French, Hungarian, and American oak. The Indy International Wine Competition is the first gold medal received by McGrail Vineyards.

“With, Mark Clarin, our winemaker on board, we are hoping to see many more gold medals,” said Heather McGrail, McGrail’s president. “His 30 years of experience and knowledge in premium wines will only help elevate our brand. We couldn’t be more excited!” exclaims Jim McGrail, McGrail’s owner.

McGrail Vineyards and Winery, located in the Livermore Valley, is owned by the McGrail family and specializes in their estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon. The McGrail’s invite you to visit the tasting room between noon and 4:30 Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. For more information, please visit www.mcgrailvineyards.com.

Sensory Analysis Classes at McGrail Vineyards

2009-11-25T23:15:00.000-08:00

McGrail Vineyards and Winery Offers First Educational Series: Sensory Analysis taught by CWP Dale Carrillo

LIVERMORE, CA – November 23, 2009 – McGrail Vineyards and Winery www.mcgrailvineyards.com, family owned producer of premium wines from the Livermore Valley, has announced the first series of educational courses offering Sensory Analysis. Recent graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, in the Professional Wine Studies, Dale Carrillo, will lead fun, thought provoking, hands-on 1 hour classes.

The Sensory Analysis class being offered December 19th, January 23rd, and February 20th, from 1-2PM, will be in the barrel room of McGrail Vineyards and Winery and focus on the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal. The classes will be open to 30 students and the cost is $30 per person. Each student will leave with a great experience, premium wine tasting, barrel tasting, a handout of wine evaluation terminology and a wine aroma wheel.

According to Carrillo, students will learn the meaningful, precise, descriptive wine terms to describe the phenomena you see, smell, touch, and taste in wine. Students will walk away with a toolbox of evaluation skills to help make tasting even more enjoyable.

If you have a passion for wine and you are interested in diving deeper, this is the perfect introductory class. You will gain a better understanding of what is in your glass and you will walk away with skills to enjoy every sip you take.

McGrail Vineyards and Winery will be selling tickets for the class at the tasting room (5600 Greenville Road, Livermore, CA 94550) or you can order online at http://mcgrailvineyards.com/events.html.

Wine Club Appreciation Party at McGrail Vineyards

2009-11-13T00:27:00.000-08:00

Busy, busy, yet always fun! Tonight McGrail Vineyards and Winery hosted the 2nd Annual Wine Club Appreciation Party and the evening was a beautiful success. The stars aligned as they were fortunate to have a tent setup out back (which was necessary for the large turnout) for a Retirement Party later in the weekend. Barrels were setup sporadically through the tent with delicious food from Chef's Touch, cupcakes, and wine from McGrail. The room glowed with candles and the excitement of the night was radiating through the room. Sue Lukito livened up the party with great music all evening. To make a great ending to a perfect party, Mark Clarin, (McGrail's new expert winemaker) grabbed his guitar and sang along with Sue for a couple of songs! What a pleasure!

The special release of the night was the James Vincent. This is McGrail's "ultra premium" Cabernet that is very limited as only 100 cases are produced. Cherry, casis, smooth, and powerful are just a few words I heard describing the first taste of this wine. Club members were walking away with cases and very excited to share this special treat.

Nights like tonight remind me why Livermore Valley Wine Country is so very special. The wine is delicious, the music made me move, and the company was pure pleasure. Everyone shared a smile and laughter was heard throughout the winery.

The McGrail's meet more McGrail's!

2009-11-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Wine brings together family, fun, and great stories!

The owners of McGrail Vineyards and Winery in Livermore, CA had the great experience of meeting Jill and Sean McGrail last Wednesday at the winery. Jill and Sean live in Ohio and found the winery through a searching the web. Last year, the McGrail's tried the wine and this year they decided to come for a visit. Sharing the not-so-common last name, McGrail, was only the beginning of similarities. The east coast McGrail's decided to renew their vows on the front lawn of the McGrail winery with their long lost relatives as the guests. Warm, friendly, and full of life were just a few words used to describe the McGrail's from Ohio.

Although, the family tree is not complete and we are unsure of actual relationship, the stories and location seem too close to not have some distant relationship.

Whether the two McGrail's are from the same clan or not, they both like wine, like to have a good time, and love the Irish roots.

Family or not, going to the mom and pop wineries give you a chance to feel like part of the family!

Harvest is Coming

2009-09-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

With mid-September approaching quickly, we are tasting the vineyards everyday to decide when to pick. For 2009, we are going to harvest Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, and our Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The Chardonnay is just a couple of weeks away and then we will be in the vineyard by 5am to pick only the best fruit. The Petite Sirah and Cabernet both look like they will be picked mid-October, but as we get closer those dates could change. Both the Petite Sirah from Casa de Vinas and the Cabernet Sauvignon from McGrail Vineyards have never looked better. The vineyards are maintained immaculately. Although we won't have these two wines bottled until 2012, I believe they are going to be our best yet! Make sure you come out and try McGrail Vineyards and Winery.