Is it a brewery? Is it a winery? It’s both, and it’s where the adults go to play in Winters, California: Berryessa Brewing Company and Berryessa Gap Vineyards, both located just outside of town on Highway 128. Both businesses were brought to life by the Martinez family of Winters (Dan and Corinne serving as key players) as well as grower Santiago Moreno. The winery began production in 2002, opened its downtown Main Street tasting room in 2004, and eventually moved the operation to the historic Tufts Packing Shed west of town, along with a second tasting room.
Under the same roof sits Berryessa Brewing Co., co-owned by craft brewer Chris Miller and his wife, Laurie Nicolini, and partners Dan Martinez and Santiago Moreno. The 20-barrel brewhouse will celebrate its 7th anniversary on Sept. 30, and festivities and beer will be aplenty from 12-7 p.m. The brewery, which frequently offers free live music, also hosts a variety of food trucks offering everything from hamburgers to tri-tip sandwiches. The business is both dog and family friendly, and the patio is typically packed with people looking for beer, music, food and fun.
A large, shady outdoor patio now adjoins both businesses, and wine and beer lovers can gather together. The law prohibiting two alcohol-producing businesses under the same roof to allow its customers to co-mingle caused a headache for both businesses for years, and was changed in October 2017, thanks to efforts by California Assemblywoman (and former Winters Mayor) Cecilia Aguiar-Curry who wrote the bill abolishing the antiquated law. Now visitors to the Highway 128 site don’t have to choose, and if a group of beer lovers has a wine lover in the group, or vice versa, no problem — everyone is happy. And it’s a LOT of happy — on any given Saturday or Sunday, Berryessa Brewing Co.’s patio is hopping, with not only locals but beer lovers from all over the region and beyond.
In addition to award-winning wine, crafted by superb winemaker Nicole Salengo, the Berryessa Gap side also offers wine gifts, like Menagerie wine pourers, and local produce including olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Both the winery and the brewery have a variety of T-shirts, hats and gifts, for those who want to take home a little extra with their beer or wine. Beer is available in refillable growlers and cans, and wine is available by the glass, bottle(s) and case. The winery additionally offers a wine club, featuring different wines every few weeks, and members get discounts on a variety of special events, including the popular “Springtime in the Vineyard” and the usually sold-out “Paella Cook-off.”
Martinez Orchards, under Dan’s leadership, is also a provider of grapevine rootstock, sold to wineries regionally, and a reminder that this winery literally has its roots in local agriculture and farming. Long before the first glass of wine was poured, the Martinez family and Santiago Moreno were growing regionally renowned grape rootstock. The winery can be credited for introducing new Spanish varietals to the Winters area, including Verdejo and Tempranillo. Moreover, Berryessa Gap Vineyards can be credited with inaugurating the next generation of winemaking in Winters and being the first to put Winters on the winemaking map.
The winery tasting room at 27260 Highway 128, is open Thursday and Friday, 12-8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 12-6 p.m. The downtown tasting room at 15 Main Street is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Berryessa Brewing Co. is located at the same address, and is open Thursday and Friday, 3-8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
