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    Val du Vino

    4.5 (73 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Open 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Val du Vino Photos

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    Great space.
    Veronica T.

    Don't let the exterior fool you. It totally belies what you'll find inside. The only fully operating winery in Murphys. Right at the end of the "strip." Once inside, you can see the facility where the magic happens through glass floor to ceiling windows. Even when the equipment was not operating, it was still kind of dazzling. The glassware is Titanium. Very nice touch. The space is a balanced mix of rustic & contemporary. Check out the ceiling. Check out the bar. Beautifully made. Take a seat on a leather chair, or a stool at the hi-top. I could easily sink in a chair w a glass of one of their good reds, Netflix on my iPad, & forget I'm not at home. The wine. The reds are strong. I didn't make a purchase, because this was the first stop on the way to several tastings, & I knew I would be back another day. The wine hostess was thoroughly knowledgeable, easy to talk with, & infectiously enthusiastic. No hovering, & no pressure. An impressive operation, along w a great space. 4 stars.

    ARIeL P.

    Happened to come by here with friends that are members, after visiting another friend up the hill. In the beginning, it was awkward, the lady working -- did not believe they weren't members. She looked up the incorrect name. However, Jeanine (I believe that's her name) was working and she's the owner. What a sweet lady. She was very friendly. Tasted her wine, and they have good selections. My favorite was the Zin and Dragon (which we drank back at the ranch). Also both the only white wine they had on the list, which I forgot the name of it. But I really enjoyed it. This is located at the end of the street. This day was my first time visiting Murphy's.

    Sherri H.

    Wonderful winery, recently taken over by new owners. Abundant outdoor seating to enjoy the fresh foothills air, friendly staff, and good wines.

    wine bottles in a wine cooler
    Lea M.

    This place is a true gem! The tasting room is beautifully appointed and there is not enough I can say about how lovely the winemakers are! We found this winery over 10 years ago and have been long standing members of their wine club. I highly recommend the Barbera and the Spanish Dragon but everything they offer is exceptional.

    Tasting room sign.
    Bradley N.

    If you were to google "boutique winery" and "Calaveras County," chances are extremely good that Val du Vino would pop up. Housed in a hundred-year old Gold Country farmhouse that has been lavishly, if understatedly, refurbished by the current owners, the tasting room and wine-making facilities are ever-so slightly located off the beaten path of Main Street Murphys - close enough for one to walk or drive, but far enough away to be discreet. Beautifully labeled bottles rest in the middle of a stunning stained concrete tasting bar, which projects solidity and purpose, while weathered ceiling beams and an intricately carved wooden entrance door evoke rusticity without sacrificing elegance in the process. Close your eyes, hum a French tune, and you are in Burgundy or Provence or some other location amidst the foothills of distant, snow-covered peaks and dark, dense forests. Winemaking is overseen by the owners, who divide tasting room duties with several dedicated friendly staff. They pay premium prices to acquire fruit from some of Calaveras County's most dependable and respected vineyards, and they use traditional techniques and barrel aging for most of their wines, which are released in limited quantities on a seasonal basis, so you never know what will be available when you visit. Club members also have the option of purchasing futures to secure rights to new vintages when they are released, and on our visit in late December, the majority of the tasters in the room were members, not out-of-town visitors. Because VdV isn't on Main Street in a prominent visual location, like Newsome-Harlow, Hovey, or Milliaire, you have to seek it out. Outside, there are red Adirondack chairs and a gravel parking lot with room for about half a dozen vehicles. Inside, the bar easily can accommodate 10-15 tasters or more, who can expect 5 samples (for $5, waived with bottle purchase) of the wines on offer at the moment. On our visit, we were impressed by a 2014 Calaveras County Viognier ($20 range), done in stainless steel rather than oak barrel, with crisper, lighter notes than some of the other wineries in Murphys who tend to make their Viognier in a heavier, richer style that mimics Calfornian Chardonnay. The other favorite was a surprise, and a rare treat: a 2014 Calaveras County Pinot Noir, (upper $30 range) very limited production, that was aromatic and delicious, and definitely a wine of considerable distinction. Other 2014 vintage reds, Mourvèdre, Zinfandel, and a Cabernet, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc blend, were quite good but tasted young and might need additional cellaring to reach their full potential. Because the wines here are popular and produced at an artisinal scale, there isn't a lot to go around, so you are less likely to find reserve or library wines here than at places like Hatcher, where 2011 and 2012 wines were still being poured. With many Calaveras County reds in particular, 3-5 years rather than 2 often is better in terms of overall fruit-acid-tannin balance, but this isn't always easy to do given limited storage capacity at smaller wineries like VdV. Overall, the impression made here is remarkable: it looks like a boutique winery, and it feels like one, too. And most important of all, it smells and tastes in the glass like one. Highly recommended when you are in town for a wine tasting! Ask if they have complimentary tasting cards for Allegorie, an art-and-wine gallery in town next to Murphys Hotel whose wine are made here, at VdV.

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    My family and I absolutely Iove coming here when we visit Murpheys! The environment is so fun and the wine is even better.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Val du Vino

    What time does it open. Do they still do a farmers market on Fridays?

    I think they open at 12 noon and not sure about the Farmer's Market, but they do look like they have space there to have one...I'm just not sure. Hoping the weather is not too hot and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water while you're tasting.

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    Review Highlights - Val du Vino

    They offer the only pinotage in murphys because their vineyard is the only one that produces that particular grape.

    Mentioned in 32 reviews

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    Ironstone Vineyards - Wine displays and much more!

    Ironstone Vineyards

    4.0(303 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    We visited Ironstone Vineyards to celebrate my daughter's birthday and it was such a beautiful…read moreplace to spend the day. As you drive up, you're greeted by gorgeous landscaping and flowers everywhere -- the setting alone makes you want to slow down and stay awhile. We did a wine tasting and really enjoyed the wines. The Sauvignon Blanc was especially good -- crisp, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day. The Pinot Noir was also a standout, smooth and easy to sip. You can tell they put care into their wines, and there was something for everyone in our group to like. The grounds are spacious and peaceful, with views, gardens, and plenty of spots to wander or sit and relax. It feels more like an experience than just a quick tasting stop. The woman helping us was a bit reserved, but still helpful as we made our selections. Overall, Ironstone is a lovely place to visit if you're in the area -- great wine, beautiful scenery, and a relaxing atmosphere that makes for a memorable outing.

    My husband and I had an elevated tasting with Buck! He was incredibly knowledgeable on everything…read moreand shared so much valuable history. He made this adventure one of a kind and the best tasting experience we have ever had. We walked around the property found out in September there is a car show and got to see how beautiful of a wedding venue they offer. Buck told us multiple stories about the history of Ironstone and the area. The bites with the tasting were absolutely delicious and paired so well. I have food allergies and they accommodated my needs with no issues at all. The wine was wonderful and I can't wait to go home and enjoy them with dinner or dessert. Thank you Buck for make this a memorable experience and sharing your experience with us!

    Photos
    Ironstone Vineyards - Wine tasting with a great selection and reasonable prices.

    Wine tasting with a great selection and reasonable prices.

    Ironstone Vineyards - Wine goodies.

    Wine goodies.

    Ironstone Vineyards

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    Locke Vineyards

    Locke Vineyards

    4.5(39 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    We discovered Locke a few years ago and now make it a point to visit every time we're in the area…read more First and foremost we love their wine! I say go for the wine but stay for the hospitality. Kirsten and her dad, Kevin, are incredibly kind and welcoming. They always remember us from previous visits and genuinely make us feel like valued guests. The property is beautiful, with comfortable spaces to enjoy your tasting, whether you choose the cozy barn or the outdoor patio. It's a relaxing place to stop while in Murphys. Their no outside food policy is clearly communicated, and it makes perfect sense to me. It's important to remember that this isn't a public park--it's a winery, and the purpose of your visit is to experience and enjoy their wines. If you get hungry while tasting, they offer a wonderful selection of cheeses, crackers, and other snacks available for purchase. I'd also add, respectfully, that in my opinion wineries generally aren't the best destination for an afternoon with young children. If you are tasting with kids I recommend going downtown which is 5 minutes away from Locke. When our kids were little, we loved visiting downtown Murphys because we could taste at the wineries along Main Street while taking turns with the kids at the public park just behind the tasting rooms. It was a great compromise that allowed everyone to enjoy the day while respecting the purpose and atmosphere of the wineries. One extra perk worth mentioning at Locke: if you become a wine club member, there's a separate area behind the tasting room where you're welcome to bring your own snacks. We enjoyed that this weekend, and it made an already wonderful experience even better. We always look forward to coming back and highly recommend a visit.

    **Updated response from owner Kirsten in photos. She sent it as a private message rather than post…read morepublicly, but I think her message speaks for itself .*** Unfortunately, Locke Winery was not a good experience for our family this time. This was incredibly disappointing because we had been the summer before and loved both their wines and their hospitality. We had even bought several bottles from them. This year we went with a group of 8 adults and 2 children and brought food with us for lunch. To be fair, they have a no outside food policy but we didn't realize that until we arrived. They only allow wine club members to bring in outside food. My husband asked if it was ok if our two kids even had a small snack because they were hungry, but the owner's daughter's response was "no, food is food." We went to eat sandwiches out in the parking lot before doing a tasting, which we were really looking forward to and had highly recommended it to our family. However, the owner's daughter came out and said, "Sir, I don't know what is going on here but I am not ok with this." We told her ok, that we'd leave but we were disappointed. She continued to say it's the state's rules and not her's. She then said it was her property and she could make the rules. She continued to lecture us until I let her know she had made herself clear and we had already told her we were leaving. The owner, her father, came out to try and talk to us but we were done at that point. We understand that they have the right to make their own rules, but the snippy approach is what completely turned us off. Locke just lost money on multiple tastings, purchases, and recommendations to others.

    Photos
    Locke Vineyards - Wine and snackies

    Wine and snackies

    Locke Vineyards
    Locke Vineyards

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    Hovey Winery

    Hovey Winery

    4.5(91 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    I love everything about this winery! First off, they have the outdoor tastings with social…read moredistancing seating, AMAZING wines, beer tasting area and they serve food (sandwiches, small plates, etc). Fortunately we were able to get in without a reservation on this busy Saturday, the friendly host cleaned off our table and got us situated. The grounds are really nice with picnic tables, umbrellas, lots of shade and even little wicker sofas. They've done a really great job adapting to these Covid times. Wine tasting is $15 per person which is kind of high from the last time I was here but they probably need to make up some deficit after lockdown. Anyway, the four of us did a wine tasting flight of 5 different wines plus a few tastes of their special ones. When I do wine tasting, it's very rare that I end up liking all of the wines but I seriously loved every single wine that Hovey had. My favorites were both end of the spectrum...a light criso viognier and their petite Syrah. Both were like summer and winter in my mouth! We ended up buying the viognier since it still feels like summer! Our hostess was great and explained the taste and background on each tasting, she was very knowledgeable and friendly. Murphy's is about an hour and a half from home but I might consider doing a membership here because I loved both their whites and reds which is rare. We all left feeling a little happier than when we got there! I will most definitely be back!

    I had an absolutely lovely time at Hovey Winery and I have no doubt that you will two. For…read morestarters, the set up is fabulous. Outside surrounding the space you'll find picnic tables and other seating scattered about. The day I visited it was a bit chilly and they even had blankets placed around to help keep us warm. Such a nice touch that went a long way. I didn't spend much time inside except for when I went to the bathroom, but it was nice and cozy, too. This place is family owned and operated, and of course, everyone is extremely knowledgeable about their wine, where it comes from, and all that stuff. My friends and I got flights, so we could try a little bit of everything. Each new wine our waitress poured came with a back story and I loved it. All of the wine we tried was great and I can't remember exactly what they were, but my favorites were the white wines, I know that. While they don't have food, we were welcome to bring food from outside so we grabbed a few pizzas from down the street to munch on while we were there. I'm not from the area, but I do visit every so often and I can totally see myself returning whenever that day comes.

    Photos
    Hovey Winery
    Hovey Winery
    Hovey Winery

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    Val du Vino - wineries - Updated July 2026

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