We are ecstatic that this relatively new winery has produced some fantastic wines. A smaller operation to a couple newer to wine making but who have heart and passion made this find all the more special. The Primitvo Blanco, a white primitivo has been unheard of until now. This was delicious. It was the reason to visit but we tasted three others and they were wow in taste as well. We like wine, we know what we like and we are loyal to our brands/types, but the blanco really blew our mind. The owners were friendly, passionate, driven. They have additional dreams. We signed up to be a member. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The property is well thought out, worth the visit and see for yourself if Driven is for you.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Heck it's just a taste, you decide. For us it's a new brand and a new adventure. read more

See all

We really loved everything about this place. We found it by accident and are so happy that we did. The wines are unique and so yummy. Bob and Desa make you feel like you have known them for ever. Try the Primativo Blanc and the port. The grounds are covered in old cars. Cheers! read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great wines, friendly owners, and a very unique tasting room setup with the vintage cars![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You can tell the owners are passionate about what they do and we had a great chat. We'll be back! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Driven Cellars is a great place to bring your family and friends too for any occasion.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The wines are amazing and the price is reasonable. The new owners are such wonderful people they make you feel at home. So If you want to sip and have a little nip with the people in your life Driven is the place to be. They have some wonderful events coming up so check it out and stop by. read more

Driven cellars is a great place to visit and taste wine. The owners are so nice not to mention fun. We joined the wine club right away due to their variety of wines and the beautiful tastes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There are a lot of old cars near the Tasting Room that you can look at, and it even tells you what they are.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is an amazing view from the tasting room.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Excellent wine and atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The owners are hands on and very knowledgeable. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The view is fantastic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]..A must stop when you come to the Sierra Foothills read more

I came here during the Big Crush Amador wine festival last weekend which included a tasting, Chinese chicken salad and a cookie. The staff was very friendly and gave really great service, probably the best we had of the both days of the festival. The wines were good, none I poured out, but also none I had to buy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This theme is classic cars so everything is car themed and so cute.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Might be a good way to drag your guy along if he's not a wine guy! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The view is nice, bathroom was clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall a nice little hidden gem! read more

See all

My favorite Amador winery. This is the old-school Amador flavor profile, fruit-forward and intense. One feels like family here. One of the very few wineries where I love all of their wines. Other wineries in Amador have changed their wines for more mass-appeal, but Driven stays true to the Amador terroir. Give them a try to see what Amador used to be! We are members because they are that good! read more

See all

I came up here with my family for a Tesla event. We did a full tasting for $10. The wines were mostly okay. My favorite was the Barbera. I liked the snack cup that was provided. It included cheese, crackers, fruits, and a piece of chocolate. The view was nice. The grounds were decorated with old car parts. The servers were friendly, though they didn't give any details or information on most of the tastings. read more

See all

Been a fan of Driven for years! I enjoy the old car collection and their Estate Primitivo is one of my favorites. Met the new owners and they are so friendly and make you feel right at home. read more

As an automobile enthusiast, we visited driven winery a number of years ago and enjoyed it. But the new ownership has taken this facility to the next level. We had an amazing afternoon last Saturday, January 18th up there, enjoying fantastic wine and touring the grounds looking at all the amazing cars. If you're a wine lover and an automobile enthusiast, you will absolutely love this place. Thank you Bob for a great day. Cheers! Jason and Priscilla C. read more

Best winery in Plymouth! Wine is amazing and affordable. A must visit when ever you are in the area.

Driven Cellars is a great place. Love their wine and the Winery is so very lovely. It is one of my very favorite wineries.

I don't know why there are not more five star reviews for this lovely winery. The view is breathtakingly. The tasting room and outside seating, quaint. The owner was super informative and friendly and allowed us a peek of his classic car collection. The wines are some of the best we've tasted in Amador. Get the Cabriolet, a smooth red blend of Cab, Syrah and Zin! Dog friendly patio seating is available too!! read more

See all

The new owners are as amazing as their wine! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everytime we go to their beautiful tasting room it's lively, welcoming and we meet great people with great taste in wine![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] If I could give 10 stars I would! read more

We stop at Driven when we are up in Amador County...I was a bit hesitant to go back as it had recently changed hands after Chris' passing....I am so glad we did! George and Anne are still there and a staple at the winery...it was great to be greeted with their usual smile and welcoming attitude! We thoroughly loved meeting Bob and Desa and know that they will continue on with making amazing wines! It was truly like being with family and we could have sat there all night chatting with all 4 of them! I love Anne's energy and enthusiasm and George is always amazing to chat with! Wishing Bob and Desa much success and we can't wait for our next visit! read more

See all

Have you been to Driven? Fantastic wine. Bob and Dessa are so welcoming. Great area to meet with your friends and enjoy great wine. read more

Don't be judgey. Driven is not a drop down beautiful winery. But the wine is so good. I highly recommend the Barbera and tempernillo. The hosts are great And hospitable. Take the drive out to driven, you will not be dissapointed. read more

See all

A nice ride, wines are well crafted and tasty. We enjoyed our visit at this automotive themed winery. Staff in knowledgeable and friendly.

We went here on Memorial Day weekend with a reservation, which was recommended on their website. We always head up to Amador for how down-to-earth & unassuming the wineries are. The tasting space is open and not crowded. The final 3 pours in our flight that are exclusive for wine club members were good. Two stars mainly for the service. It took more than a beat for the 2 men to look at us when we showed up and said, "hello." The man who poured us our wine seemed inconvenienced & literally said things like, "this one's made with some grapes grown somewhere around here, I don't know," before abruptly walking off between pours. After our tasting was done (we guessed? it was weird, we were just kind of abandoned and there were only maybe 3 other tables occupied), we went to our car to head to our next stop. A different man ran to our car literally as we were driving away and asked us for a tasting fee. He told us, "There's a sign up in the office, but you probably didn't get that far." No mention of a fee or waiver if you bought a bottle on the tasting menu. It is not upfront on the website. No one mentioned until he was literally flagging us down. From a customer service perspective, you'd think a small family winery would have their A-team out on a bustling weekend, upselling us to join the wine club or at least a bottle or two. My experiences: A surprise $10/person fee for meh wine that I'm not convinced they enjoy selling. read more

We were there on Friday after not visiting for a few years and were surprised by the new ownership sign. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. Came in as customers but felt like we left as friends with Bob and Desa. Also, we left as unexpected wine club members the wine was so good. Definitely one of our new favorite wineries in the region. Hope to get back during next year's vacation. Looking forward to visiting again! read more

$15 wine sips outrageously expensive. Will never return, wasn't even enough wine in the glass to taste and again $15!!!

Hubby simply loves this wine he's been coming here forever, it's his hidden gem for a winery.. Located in Amador region up along Stenier Road next to Dobra Zemija.. You drive up the path and you come upon new buildings with old scarps of rusted vehicles which is very appropriate considering the wine name.. Driven is owner by 2 brothers who also have a love of cars as well thus the name.. Every wine they have is simply outstanding, that's why they have so many awards for their wine.. Some of our favorites and ones we recommend are their barbera, tempranillo, zinfandel, primtivo, and of course the 2 that's a must is the 454 & 429..!! We happen to come up during their 454 wine release but also tried everything they has to offer for reds.. There's nothing there that disappoints here.. They offer 20% discount on all bottled wine to wine club members.. 10% discount to all if yℴu buy 6+ wine bottles.. Prices are fair for the wine they offer.. If you want something different outside of napa please do check this place out.. Their wines not only are they tasty but they open up so well with more time as your drinking it.. The view they have outside on top of the hill is breath taking.. read more

See all

Joined on our first visit to try to help support a small winery. Almost a year later subsequent to my husband's heart attack & our having to scale back dramatically I asked to cancel our membership and was told I would have to pay a 90+ dollar fee for not completing the year, or I could get one more wine club release for $80+....my choice! No compassion whatsoever! So we stayed in the club and picked up our accumulation of 9 bottles the day after Thanksgiving and I was asked if we were going to taste that day. I said "I don't think my husband can"and was told "well, since you're not in the wine club anymore just so you know it'll be $10 each to taste unless you buy 2 more bottles". So here we are picking up 9 bottles of their so-so wines & I was not even offered a taste unless I paid for it? I said no thanks, we got our wine & we will never go back. read more

Wind your way up from Steiner Road (entrance next to Dobra Zemija) to the road that takes you to Driven. At the top of a beautiful piece of property, you find what looks like a junkyard http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xHmPsOg2qZso8CxdJiUmXg?select=bU5pdlNIIMS2STc0PMv5VA but it is a purposeful collection of rusted vehicles. You are at the place that we believe has the #2 best line-up of wine for tasting in Amador County. Not often can one say that each and every wine offered for tasting is exceptional. At Driven, that is the case. I would love to be able to do a side by side with Cooper, Driven, Drytown and Runquist with Tempranillo, Primitivo, Barbera, Zins and an everyday red. That would be a special event and it would be hard to predict who would excel at which tasting. From a price position, Driven would be the value choice with Drytown pushing it forward. Christie was the host at the tasting. She is a blast. Local color here. You must meet the ranch cat - 'nuff said. We tasted the following: 2006 Primitivo 2007 Barbera 2008 Tempranillo 2007 ZIn 2007 Petite Syrah 2008 454 Blend All of them were excellent with the Temp, Barbera and blend holding up the high bar. Maybe the best in the region. Without the side by side, hard for me to tell. With all of them selling between $17 and $22, they are a tremendous value for what is in the bottle. BTW, you have to appreciate the corks. They have tire tracks on long side of them. Driven - got it? We met Rudy Chinco the winemaster out on the grounds and he was serving as an impromptu guide by pointing out the various sights that are visible from the huge landscape below their vineyards. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/xHmPsOg2qZso8CxdJiUmXg?select=9MJ8FQCPaI3NnM29ce66Eg Quite candidly, if you are visiting the area, you can take the top 5-6 wineries that we reviewed for Amador County and ignore the rest. Whatever you do, do not miss Driven. read more

Driven Cellars - This is a collection, not a junkyard. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Plymouth, California

See all

We went to Driven for the first time a little over 10 years ago and today was a very different experience. The vibe was not good and there was little to no explanation of the wines we were tasting. The wine was good but not amazing compared to some of the surrounding wineries and there is a $10 tasting fee that was not clearly communicated. It was not a big deal but it took us by surprise since they didn't say anything until the end. There are so many great wineries that are either free or the tasting fee is waived with purchase in that area, I don't think we will be back. read more

This is one pretty small family owned winery. It was very personal and nice. The wines were good and we ordered some for delivery home. I really like some of the older vintage car collection as well. It was a great overlook of the valley as well. Make this a stop, you will find it neat and eclectic. read more

The most amazing views in Shenandoah Valley and lovely people. Will definitely be going back soon. The experience is well worth the drive!

The wine tasting room is very cozy and fun. The winery reminds me of a new operation and the owners are very friendly. The view is beautiful. The wine is good and every year, the wine becomes more and more popular. If you have a chance, engage the father into a conversation. His brick story is really funny. read more

We liked the Primitivo. But the place is a junkyard, literally. If you're into that, cool. But not where I like to hang out in my spare time. The guy pouring wine for us was nice, but the creepy owner displayed a little too much interest in my beautiful girlfriend. read more

Great place to stop & enjoy the views & some great wines, my fav was the old vine Zinfandel, we had some great entertainment as well, the guy yesterday was very pleasant & funny, you must stop in & try his wines read more

I chose Driven Cellars because they had a 5.0 star rating which motivated me to try out a new winery in Amador County. The reviews sounded great so I thought I missed out a hidden gem. Unfortunately, from arrival to departure, I felt my entire experience was just awkward and weird along with mediocre wine. After my experience, I received mixed reviews from several wineries in the area but the common positive note is how they will always recall the love and passion of the now beloved and departed patriarch, Rudy Chinco. My experience is that from the lack of a formal wine tasting room to the strong opinionated views of the current owner and server leading me to finish our tasting within 15 minutes. Moreover, if you are a person who is indifferent about wine tasting and enjoy the awesome vehicles on the property, Driven Cellars will be a good place to start. Overall, I would not recommend Driven Cellars to my friends, family, or colleagues and would rather consider other family wineries in the area ensuring your experience from wines and hospitality is amazing. read more

When we heard that a new winery had opened up in Plymouth and that they had a Primativo wine, we set our path to Driven. Our sense of anticipation was only heightened as the driveway kept leading up and up, knowing that a fantastic view was going to be our reward. We weren't disappointed with the wine or the setting. Having only recently opened, they are still getting the buildings sorted, but Chris and his sister couldn't have been nicer hosts, showing us pictures of the construction (be sure the check out the beautiful rock walls along the driveway) and walking us through the process of selecting the name (a genesis of the father's career working at the Harrold Ford dealership- you can tell a love and appreciation of cars is in the family as they talk about the cars they grew up with) and logo (very eye catching). The wines were good with prices to match, but the 2005 Primativo stood out, and at $21 it was a gem of a find. The color was rich with deep well-balanced flavor- a party for my tastebuds! I will definitely be heading back as they finish up the grounds (new building to show some of the old cars and picnic area to appreciate the view). read more

I feel compelled to write this review after a recent experience at Driven (and since I just realized, I have never reviewed them). First off I agree with some reviewers that Driven has some great wine in a rather unique and eclectic environment. And, while I am a member of their wine club, California is full of great wine. Its not the wine that compels this review, its the owners and their fantastic customer service. Anyone who reads my reviews, knows I place a premium on good customer service. Recently my wife and I went to the Big Crush in the Amador wine country with some friends. We have been going for about 7 or 8 years. Driven has always been one of our stops since it opened a few years ago. This year, they were selling these really cool windstopper vests with the Driven logo on the back, and my wife wanted one. So, we ordered and were told it would arrive in about two weeks. A month goes by, and no vest, so I give a call. They had volunteers working over the Big Crush, and had not placed the vest orders. So Driven ordered the vests, and then called me back right away. They were very apologetic and promised the vest in a few days. Well, they delivered on their promise. But not only did they get the vest as promised, the owner hand delivered it to my wife at work in Yolo County. Now that is customer service. Driven is a very pleasant winery to visit, with some outstanding wines typical of the Amador region; Barbera, Tempranillo, Zin, Petit Syrah. And the owners are really nice folks who are eager to please their customers. The winery is also great for a picnic lunch. So this year, when the fog rolls into the central valley, and you are really missing the sun, take a short drive up to the best kept secret in Cali, the Amador Wine Country, and visit the folks at Driven. You will not be disappointed. read more

My French alter ego C.A. Bernet will be reviewing Driven Cellars for you today. Please read this in a ridiculous French accent. "Bon Jour, I am sorely disappointed in my self for soiling my mouth with American wines from the so called Amador county. The vins here are nothing on par with the excellence and artistry of French made Bordeaux wines. Mais, oui! Here I am drinking yet another bottle of the Primitivo from 05 and 06 from Driven Cellars. The wine here while totally offensive is somehow acceptable to due to the quality and care that the owners put in to the wines. Give then choice between never having wine again and only drinking Drive Cellar's wine, I would choose Driven Cellars. It amuses me to see American's struggling to make wine but nevertheless the folks at Driven are great people despite their American handicap. If you simply can not afford to fly to France for wine tasting try Driven Cellars and try to forget that your compromising everything that you should be standing for." - C.A. Bernet is a world renowned ass hole, xenophobe and French wine enthusiast. He currently resides in the nether region's of Andrew K's brain in Southern Orange County. read more

When we first visited Driven during the "crush", i was suffering from a cold. Based on my wife's tastings, we bought several Zins and Barbs to take back home. Several weeks later, I tasted her picks and really enjoyed them! Fast forwarding to our second visit, today, and we found the tasting room empty except for one member of the owner family. Cathy was warm and gracious, and did a nice job of providing information about each wine, without laying it on too thick. This time, it was the Zin and the Primitivo that won us both over. Afterwards, we walked outside to admire the views of the vineyards and the Sierra in the distance. the family patriarch, Rudy, joined us and explained how he originally got started, pointed out who owned which vineyards in the distance, and talked about his love for old cars and trucks, the relics of which are prominently on display around the property. Driven has captured the essence of what Amador wine country is all about: real people, making real wines, inviting you to share a bit of their world. We'll be back. read more

We intended to go to a different winery to end our day, but after discovering they had a huge gulf of water in their driveway that we couldn't cross, we figured we'd have to end our day. It was extremely fortunate that we ended up finding another winery right next door that was still open - thanks Driven! Our end of the day beacon of light. We were pretty exhausted by this point, so I'm not sure how objective my view was of the wines. The staff here were super friendly, and they had recommendations for us from the tasting menu based on what type of wine we said we liked. Driven was a tad small (both the interior and the parking lot), but it felt really swanky. I would definitely put this on my return to list - hopefully at the very beginning of the day! read more

This is the best winery on my entire wine tasting list. Always the last stop and the most purchases. Locally owned by 2 brothers. Every single one of there wines are outstanding. The Primitivo and 454 are beyond incredible!!!!! The cork and bottle had tire tracks on them. The property has old cars and is absolutely beautiful! A must go!!!!! My favorite by far! read more

Driven Cellars - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Plymouth, California

See all

This place has an old feel to it with the old trucks, etc around the place. This place is pretty new though and a little off the beaten path. We only tried two of their wines and they were decent. I think the young girls working there could have been a little more helpful though. I would go back and give it another try again though. read more

We thought it would be just another pleasant wine tasting. But the owner turned out to be a foul-mouthed angry little man that "hated California" and wanted to see "Jerry Brown in prison." When I mentioned that Gov Brown was no longer in office and that I was a fan of his, we were told to leave. read more