SL Cellars

Simon Levi has a long history in the California wine and spirits market, going back to 1873 when Austrian immigrant Simon Levi opened a general merchandise store in the town of Temecula, near San Diego. The business later blossomed into one of the largest wine and spirits distributors in California. Years later, the family found its way north and purchased the Stone Creek winery, riding the success of the popular Merlot varietal in the early 1990s. It sold the winery a few years later and began to concentrate on small-scale, source-site-specific grapes to produce wines that reflect the characteristics of their appellations. Today they make Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and three sparkling wines

The tasting room is located right alongside the road in the little burg of Kenwood and is the site of the Old Kenwood Schoolhouse, built in 1890. The tasting room has a horseshoe-shaped Corian-topped tasting bar as well as a multitude of gift items to peruse including gourmet mustards, oils, smoked salmon pate, glassware and clothing. Out in back are a number of inviting picnic sites on the lawn, and you can even play a round of croquet if the mood strikes you.

The winery makes very limited amounts of still and sparkling wines, with less than 200 cases made of most varieties, and some at even less than 50-case production. The wines are made off-site and created in a fruit-forward and food-friendly style. There is a monthly “Wine 101” wine education program held on the first Friday of every month where you can taste wines along with cheeses and special food pairings for $35.