Chumeia Vineyards (closed)

Dramatic, custom designed gates welcome visitors as you enter Chumeia’s (Koo-May-A)vineyard property just off Highway 46. The road winds between the vineyards to the production area and tasting room back up against the hillside. The simple entry way is adorned with a couple of tables with umbrellas and chairs. There is also a separate lawn and garden patio area around the north side of the building.

As you enter under the burgundy colored awning, you find yourself facing a row of stainless steel fermentors with a simple tasting bar set up over wine barrels. Being inside the winery you get a sense of the wine making activity as you taste through their wine list. There are cookbooks, glassware, chocolates, clothing, and a cooler with cheese and meats available.

The winemaking philosophy is to find the best grapes you can and then stand back and let the winemaking process precede without too much interference. The resulting wines are big and bold with the emphasis on Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Barbera, and Syrah. They also produce a Chardonnay, Viognier, a port and a unique semi-sweet blend made from the Torrontes grape brought in from the Mendoza region of Argentina and local Chenin Blanc grapes.