It’s what all the locals say: “Meet me at Turk.” Since it Turkovich Family Wines opened its doors on Railroad Avenue in downtown Winters in 2010, it has become THE place for people to meet, chat, visit with friends and taste amazing wine. Whether in the stylish, relaxing tasting room or outdoors on the cushioned couches, that “sit back and enjoy” vibe is everywhere.

Hungry? Turk has you covered. The tasting room offers a selection of artisan cheese from the Winters Cheese Co., and you can purchase a chunk right there to have sliced up and served along with your wine. Or, choose from a tasty menu of delectables that will pair perfectly with whatever you’re drinking. The “Plowman’s Platter” is absolutely a staple — smoked salmon, cheese, nuts, fresh fruit and crusty bread bits. One of these, a bottle of Mourvèdre, Syrah-Viognier or Barrel Select Tempranillo, and your visit is off to a perfect start.

Although these three are my go-to wines, the fact is that there is no bad wine to be found. It’s all good at Turkovich. Many of their wines are of the Spanish varietals, and all of their reds are rich and spicy. Their whites are bright and crisp, and the sparkling Rosé is simply delightful. And yes, I do mean “all.” I have literally tasted them all, and way more than once. You have a lot of catching up to do.

Turkovich Family Wines sprouts from a rich local agricultural history, surrounding the Button and Turkovich ranch. A wide variety of seed crops, fruits, vegetables and, of course, wine grapes have been grown by this family for decades, and third generation farmer Chris Turkovich was the driving force behind Turkovich Family Wines. In addition to his college studies in viticulture, his vision for the beautiful downtown tasting room is everywhere, right down to the amazing curved bar top, made from walnut trees that once lined the road between Winters and Davis. When the road needed widening, and those old, beloved trees were destined to be chopped down, Chris thought of a way to preserve their beauty and memory, and designed the bar top itself.

While in college, Chris met his future bride, Luciana, and following their marriage, Luciana (who herself has a rich legacy of family winemaking as well as a food science and chemistry background) introduced bright, crisp sparkling wines to the Turkovich mix. Chris’ brother, Danny, is the cheese maker, and his parents, Tony and Joanie, have been involved and supportive since Chris came home from college and decided that wine was the way to go for Winters.

In addition to wine, cheese and fabulous finger food, the Turkovich tasting room has a wonderful selection of wine-related gifts, including chocolate, local honey, art and clothing, any of which can be placed together in a gift bag with a bottle of wine to bring to a birthday or holiday, or “just because.” Turkovich offers a wine club, and members enjoy discounts on wine and gift purchases, and get the news about upcoming events, such as the annual Albariño Wine Stroll and special events at the nearby rural winery. The tasting room is also currently the only place in Winters where you can get sushi, but only on Wednesdays, and only by reservation.

The tasting room is located at 305 Railroad Avenue, and is open Sunday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wine tasting is available by flights, and cheese tasting is also offered. For more information, contact the tasting room manager, at 530-795-3842, extension 3, or info@turkovichwines.com.