As we were driving along the highway and see the signs for wine, we think, "hey, what did we come to California for if not wine?" I can't say that my expectations were too high given the roadside location, but I must admit, there is something to Californian vinology after all. We were the only patrons on an early Wednesday afternoon and the host took excellent care of us. We got to taste several samples and then enjoyed a generous glass out on the patio while listening to the birds sing and marveling at the perfect weather. At $5 for a flight and $7 for a glass you really can't go wrong at ApCal. read more

From all their advertisements and signs along the 99 towards Fresno, I finally made the stop and visited ApCal (short for Appellation California). I came just for the wine tasting. They are not a winery but they do have a lot of wine selection to choose from local wineries down the road to wineries across the country, and they have different selections presumably every now and then. They have a list of red, white and sweet wines for you to choose from. For $5 you get 5 tasting. They also have beer tasting but from only one brewery I think from Madera. The person serving and helping us was very informative about everything wine and fun to talk to. I heard they have live music on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer and when warm weather persists (the music is played outside; bring your own lawn chair!). But I think it's more for the older crowd, like 40's maybe? I will come back again to try their other wines as well as other wineries along the road. read more

The reason why I'm giving this two stars instead of one is because the bands were really good. Things that weren't so good for the guest experience were: #1 you're not allowed to bring in bottled water yet the only place you can buy water was a barbecue trailer that did not accept debit cards.-cash only. We ended up buying $10 nachos which were mediocre at best. #2 it was really cold and sprinkling today yet they only allowed us inside for a few minutes. Why don't they have the building open all the time for people that just want to hang out inside? read more

I am an Eagles fan and was excited to hear this tribute band. I was sorely disappointed. I don't know if the lead singer (who started the show) is having voice issues or not, but he sounded absolutely terrible. He was off key, had no power, and seemed to slide into each note. Not crisp. As I sat through a grueling set after set, it didn't get any better. It was actually painful. Some of the harmony was good, the music overall was okay, if you could take the singing out. Will I ever pay to see them again"NO"!! I wouldn't even go to see them if it was free. If they are going to call themselves a "Tribute" band, at least get some one who can sing with some semblance of their sound. Don't waste your time or money! I gave them one star because there was nothing lower. read more

Fabulous! Good wine, great setting, easy to get to. This is the place to whether you know a lot about wine or you want to learn more. Weekend evening events are great. A summer evening listenting to live music with a good glass of wine under that great big oak tree is a night to remember. read more

Started going last summer (2014) and LOVED it. Everytime I go I have an amazing time. The wine and music are great! Sugar was my Favorite! I hope to see again this year! We also Loved Max Headroom 80′s Band, they are great! Bring a chair and Have a GREAT time! read more

Wow waited until 9:15 to hear the Long Run and the lead singer was HORRIBLE! His voice cracked on every note. Joe Walsh lead was so much better. The band was really talented. Glenn Fry lead was good on falsetto but really bad all other times. The music was mediocre as the concert progressed. The crowd was into it because we were here to have a good time. The venue itself was good and it ended up being a beautiful evening. Left early no surprise there. read more

The place is ok not properly staffed to serve the public long lines in the beer section you actually need to buy a growler so you won't spend the day in line good concept for ap cal to make revenue, you can bring a pop up cover but you will be blocking people behind you of the view from the band , the restrooms could use a dumping from old feces read more

Best place to enjoy outside entertainment under the stars! Great beer and vine, plus you can bring in your own food. My husband, my daughters, and I look forward to Apcal every year. The price is absolutely reasonable for this place. Music has always been great, people have always been fun, and overall experience has always been a great memory. Ignore the negative comments from haters. You can't make every idiot happy. Keep doing what your doing and we will continue to come and have a blast! We LOVE Apcal read more

We had great experiences last year at ApCal. Concerts were good, lines weren't to long & food trucks were tasty. Went to our first concert on Saturday & there have been a lot of changes. We paid to see the Journey Tribute band & got stuck primarily with the opening group. They played longer. Since when does a Tribute band need an opening group. The night got long waiting & we ended up leaving sooner than we planned! Disappointed for our first concert this year! read more

This is a great plAce and enjoy some pretty good bands. Just wish Apcal would get some better food trucks out here as the quirky cafe was the only option the night of the AC/DC tribute band . Food was not good and lady taking orders was super rude ! Not happy with the food options. You may want bring your own food as your options are very limited. read more

For anyone looking to use as a wedding venue: I was very excited when I heard of Appellation: California, the pictures made it seem so beautiful. I called to inquire availability on my wedding date and prices. I received the price, what was included and wrote it all down. He also told me to come by anytime during their hours. In January, I finally made it by and the man at the front desk gave us a rough estimate of what it would cost to use the venue and also told us "you can probably get it for cheaper." The man we needed to discuss with about the event walked in and told us to make an appointment for next week (it was Monday). So, we made an appointment for the next Monday. The day before my appointment, Sunday, there was a bridal show. I spoke with Darren and he told me whichever price quoted was less, they will go with. I told him I would see him the next day to discuss things further. Monday came, I gave him the price that was quoted over the phone in December and he told me they had new ownership starting the new year. He wasn't familiar with the price I had said to him. He said that he had to look over the number and get back to me that afternoon. The next Monday I received an email saying that they cannot do the price that I was told in December and there was some "miscommunication." For those brides-to-be, it's a beautiful venue. After talking to three people and only hearing the numbers go up, I would go with a venue that knows their prices. You never know what else could change. read more

Went here for the first time for a beer tasting event they were hosting and came away with some mixed feelings. The venue is very nice with a good layout and a very comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. The event was very nice and had a lot of great beers to try and some good food to eat. The problem was the size of the place could not contain the amount of people they allowed in. 1500 people was the cut off and maybe there were about 800 or so and man it was very hard to maneuver around. The lines for the beer were not long it was just trying to move through the crowds of people who had just got a beer and had no where else to stand but right next to the beer booths that was the problem. We knew ahead of time to bring a couple of chairs of our own to sit down on, but everyone who didn't just stood right in the middle of the event. On top of that the line for the restroom was ridiculous. All these people and they did not rent any port-a-potty's, they only had their restrooms inside the winery open. I hope they do a little rearranging for this event next year and maybe try allowing a few less people in so everyone who is there to try some new beers can have a more enjoyable time. read more

This place is AMAZING! My wife and I got married there and we always stop by as part of our date nights. The staff is knowledgeable and personable; the owner is very personable. ApCal is an incredible central valley location for good wine and wonderful atmosphere. read more

always enjoy the wine tastings here, but, if you don't go on a "regular" weekend (non-holiday) you'll probably have a more knowledgeable person behind the bar! Not all of their staff are hired because of their knowledge of wines, much less local wines--so, don't expect to have a great wine education here. It's best to know exactly what you like, what you want, and ask for the pours. The stock in the stores on either side of the tasting room doesn't seem to ever change-same t-shirts, same bottle art, etc.--the non-stop radio music can be annoying, but, it helps block the noise from Hwy. 99. This place is much better for evening events, such as concerts in the back, and the facility is comfortable, clean and inviting--it's just that the staff can often seem to be clueless (and with such knowledgeable staff at the nearby tasting rooms, it's really disappointing.) read more

We went for first time on a Saturday Night to see one of their concerts. Had a blast. You bring your own lawn chair and sit on a nice grassy area. They have free wine tasting, a full bar, food boothes, and even pie and ice cream! it is a must try place on a lazy summer evening. read more

These events are so much fun! The only thing I would suggest is better food trucks. The music, wine, beer, and cigars are just an all around fun combination. read more

Thank you AP Cal, the success of your Saturday night concerts just shows that there was a need for local affordable entertainment. Your set up is great, wine and beer tasting is fantastic, and different food trucks every week is a nice touch. Once the sun goes down it is an absolutely perfect Saturday evening... so why 4 stars and not 5? Because I was inhaling cigar smoke, intermittently, all night long. Look folks, I get it, enjoy your cigar... My husband enjoys a good cigar, but he has the common sense and respect for others to not smoke it around people that are: 1) eating 2) on the dance floor 3) trying to avoid second hand smoke I personally have an auto immune disease and try desperately to avoid second hand smoke. It would be sad if people like myself have to stop going to such functions because 20 somethings have not been taught proper etiquette. AP Cal please enforce a designated smoking area and then we can all enjoy your well planned events. (smoking is not even allowed at ballparks unless you're in a designated area, just sayin...) read more

Emilio is a great tasting expert, he was able to help guide us to the best wine for our tastebuds. He was open with his opinions, and made sure we were please with our choices. read more

Brandon was really unprofessional, he wasn't welcoming with my party of 8 . I'm sorry but I will never attend there again . Thanks Brandon

Went there last night with pre purchased tickets and had a very unpleasant experience. They had way over sold the venue. We arrived an hour early and had to wait in a massive line sucking down dust as the cars drove by us in dirt fields to park. The only spot where we could place our chairs was way to the back off to the side where we could not even see the stage and barely hear the music. The lines for wine and especially beer were a joke. Six of the 10 tickets we had purchased for friends weren't used because they texted us that they weren't going to fight the lines in the dust and turned around and went home. Very poorly orchestrated and executed event. Sad that they have lost a lot of future customers because of last night. I hope that they can acknowledge this and make changes for the future. read more

I recently went to Ap Cal for an event and was very pleased with our experience. The gift shop is adorable and the selection of wines was great. The night we were there was for a tasting and there was live music. It was packed with a diverse crowd and it was nice to see everyone walking around looking at the local art work. It's right off of 99 and has great on and off access and the parking is good. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys wine tasting or who might be looking for a gift for a wine lover. read more

My therapy is spending Friday night dancing under the lovely old oak tree and drinking wine at ApCal. Wonderful place, great people!

Apcal Winery is the best place to enjoy a summer evening with friends and family. You can enjoy dancing to great music, tasting delicious local wines and craft beers. For those who enjoy a fine cigar there is Aldo's cigars for purchase. I like that there is a section for smokers even though I'm not a smoker. I have been going to Apcal Winery for the past 8 years and have not been disappointed. Looking forward for the upcoming concerts for 2019 read more

Good times, good music, good wine. They used to allow you to bring your own beverages on Friday nights, but that's now against the rules. It's still worth a visit. read more

Was at the Journey tribute concert 9/30. Music was great! Nice venue. Very disappointed in the bathroom setup. Not enough portable toilets for the size of crowd. Long lines, dirty toilets. Probably wont go back for another concert. read more

Music and atmosphere very nice....but WHY sell cigars???? Totally ruins the evening. They stink and are so big takes forever for the person to finish. STINKS STINKS STINKS!!!!! read more

Fun place to go to in Fresno. You used to be able to bring your own water bottles in, but now they make you pay for them inside Apcal. Not a fan of that, but they only charge 1 dollar (but it can all add up especially to stay hydrated on all the vino tasting). They have a variety of wines to choose from. For 5 dollars you can choose from 5 different wines to taste, or buy wine by the glass or bottle. The entertainment is great also. Friday nights are free and Saturdays there is an admission charge. read more

Apcal is a unique and much needed venue for gathering a group of friends and grabbing lawn chairs to listen to good music. The atmosphere is fun and I always run into old friends when there. The best part is apcal is only a few short minted north of Fresno!! Thanks for giving people a great place to gather and listen to music on weekends. read more

This is a great place to drink farmer's fury wine and hang with friends! Everyone should come out and drink and listen to the bands they book! read more

Great music and atmosphere ruined by people dancing and behaving inappropriately. Won't be returning as the last time I went was disgusted by people groping each other on the dance floor. They would then switch partners and continue that with another person. Used to enjoy this venue but surprised that the owner allows such disgusting public behavior read more

My experience at the winery was ruined by a couple of feckless thugs who attempted to intimidate myself and my father in law. After enjoying the cover band that was performing that night, a gentleman confronted me abruptly about how I had been "Obnoxious the whole night," and that I had been bumping into his wife the whole night and that I must apologize to him or "suffer the consequences." While neither myself nor my father in law are intimidated by such ridiculous insults, the "security" on the premises did absolutely nothing to intervene and positively promoted a hostile environment. If one cannot enjoy the niceties of a winery in safety I question whether or not one can enjoy the establishment at all. What was turning out to be a wonderful night was completely ruined by negligence and poor decision making on behalf of the winery. All it would have taken was more awareness on the part of the security team. If these gentleman would have acknowledged these thugs as the ruffians they were then my whole rating may be revised, as of now I have a thoroughly negative view of this establishment and the type of clientele it attracts. read more

I've gone to events/festivals at Apcal around 3 times and have enjoyed the environment. The music is always makes it Relaxing as you sit in your lawn chair with a nice glass of wine or beer. Apcal allows people to take in food, but not drinks. Make sure to bring your own lawn chair and find a good spot to sit down to relax. They sell a variety of wine bottles and beer on tap. They also have a few food vendors, but I've never tried any of the food. They usually have a vendor who sells cigars so if you like smoking you can purchase a cigar and smoke it in the designated smoking area. The only downside is the restroom because they are portable potties so after having a couple of drinks and walking into them you can become nauseas from the unbearable odor!! Wish they had a better restroom system. The parking lot is all dirt which means you will be walking in dirt so wear comfy shoes. The environment is casual and people wear shorts, jeans, long dresses, sandals, flip flops, hats, boots and basically anything comfy. The price to attend the summer music events are descent. They're usually anywhere between 10 to 15 dollars per person. You can purchase the tickets online. read more

This used to be a pretty cosmic place to come hang out under the stars & listen to a band. No more; now it's just a mess; oversold, lots of jackasses standing around in the middle of the crowd, constant stream of people walking up & down the middle/main aisle. Nowhere to sit & see the band, crap sound system. The big wine concession & the sound board platform take up the prime real estate where the audience could sit. It's outdoors, but as smoky as a bar from the old days; there are so many cigar smokers. read more

Came all the way from Nevada. Sign said open till 5, but then a paper sign said closing at 4 that day. Arrived at 3:25 but place already closed up. Saw a worker and explained we wanted to buy local wine, said (with a cigarette in his mouth) that there was no cashier and they were leaving early. What a waste of my time! read more

This place rocks. It reminds me of back when I was youngster. Hangin out in the country drinking with friends and listening to good music. I've never seen any problems or fights at this venue, just good people hanging out and getting along read more

Went to my first event of the 2016 season last night (4/2) the comedy event. It was absolutely horrible due to the cigar smokers in the crowd, ruined the event for me, why don't they have a designated smoking area!!! Comedians were so so, crowd was fairly small, the one food truck ran out of food half way through the evening and the drinks (beer and wine) serving lines at the start were swamped and service was very very slow. Went to one event last year (a musical event) event ruined for me for same reason, the obnoxious cigar smoke throughout the crowd, went last night hoping for a change,,,,,, read more