David Coffaro Vineyard & Winery

Small, funky, casual and hip are the descriptors of this laid-back, unpretentious stop along Dry Creek Road. Only the wines are taken seriously here, with the specialty being Zinfandel.

As you amble off the main road, you will come to group of buildings and a residence; at this point you will need to look for the little “Tasting Room” sign that leads you to the right toward the production facility/tasting room/music video arcade and home of David Coffaro Vineyard and Winery. Koovy (rhythms with groovy), the famous winery dog, will probably greet you — unless he is asleep.

You may have to step over hoses and other winemaking paraphernalia to make your way to the tasting bar, but that is part of the ambiance of this working winery’s operation. The jovial staff and winemaker are happy to pour your way through their list of wines, including their Sauvignon Blanc, old-vine Carignane, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and their many white and red proprietary blends. Much of their fruit comes from the adjacent vineyard, where the “Block 4” old-vine Zinfandel can easily be spotted by its 100+ year-old girth.

The winery’s production is small, and as much as 70 percent of its wine is sold as “futures,” where wine is paid for that is not yet bottled or even made. Barrel samples are a frequent part of the tasting here in order to help promote the futures program.

When there is time and space, the equipment is pushed aside and couches, chairs and pillows are brought out for viewing music videos and football games on the big-screen TV. There is a lone picnic table available for use under a tree by the vineyard.