News from Amista Vineyards
Sparkling Syrah A Ghoulishly Good Halloween Pairing
Devin Parr published an article in Wine Country titled The Best Wines to Pair with Your Halloween Candy. Who would have thought that our Sparkling Syrah would pair with Smarties. Devin explains, “These sweet-tart tubes of tiny candy disks are a true Halloween staple. Those little bites have a sweet and fruity flavor profile and a uniquely chalky finish, perfect for pairing with a glass of crisp, cold, sparkling wine.”
If Smarties are not your thing, there are several other recommended pairings such as Twizzlers and Grenache, Starburst with Rosé or Milky Way with Cabernet. It may sound frivolous to pair wine with candy, but Devin holds a certification in wine expertise from the Apicius International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy, as well as the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma, so she knows what she’s doing.
In addition, trying different wines with a wide array of foods – even Halloween candy - is the best way to discover what flavors work with different varieties of wine. It is also the kind of practice that cements various flavors in your mind so you can identify them later.
Our winemaker, Ashley Herzberg, says a mentor once told her to write down everything she tastes and make notes to describe it. Doing this repeatedly creates the memories that allow you to identify even the most unusual flavors.
If on the other hand, you don’t especially care if you can identify a vast array of flavors, you may want to simply plan a Halloween wine tasting party. You can impress your friends with this unique spin on wine tasting and Devin’s article provides the perfect shopping list.
Read The Best Wines to Pair with Your Halloween Candy.
Oct 29, 2022 at 6:00 PM
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Amista Vineyards Launches Sparkling Discoveries, A Landmark Sparkling Wine Community
Wine Business Monthly today announced the launch of Sparkling Discoveries, an online community for sparkling wine lovers, makers and thought leaders. The press release goes on to explain that “the community aims to be the first brand-agnostic informational resource and hub for all things sparkling wine, including news, interviews and maker profiles, events, education, and more. Appropriately, the platform will officially launch on Global Champagne Day, this year falling on October 28, 2022.”
Conversations with the People Behind the Sparkle
We are beyond excited about this launch. Our goal with Sparkling Discoveries is to create a brand-agnostic resource about all things sparkling wine. The centerpiece of the platform shines a light on the amazing people involved in sparkling wine, both in Sonoma County and beyond, by bringing their stories to life with in-depth interviews. Sonoma sparkling icons like Joy Sterling, Proprietor of Iron Horse Vineyards, Eileen Crane, retired founding winemaker and CEO of Domaine Carneros and Penny Gadd-Coster, of Rack and Riddle and Breathless Wines, are a few of the people featured in the initial launch of the platform.
Not surprisingly, Amista Winemaker Ashley Herzberg is among those featured and reveals how she fell in love with sparkling wine, making her first "grower sparkling wine", the bubblies she has in her refrigerator right now and what she hopes her children learn from her work as a winemaker.
Inviting Nominations for Sparkling Stars
Do you know someone we should feature? Nominate them for Sparkling Discoveries and help us build the community.
Concurrent with the launch of the new platform, Sparkling Discoveries is introducing a campaign focused on the trailblazers within the sparkling wine industry. The “Sparkling Stars” program invites sparkling wine lovers, wine professionals, and the community at large to nominate those who are making an impact on the growth, promotion, and future of sparkling wine. Nominations will be open until December 31, which marks National Champagne Day.
Sparkling 101 – All You Need to Know About Sparkling Wine
Sparkling Discoveries will also feature a “Sparkling 101” section with articles and guides on various topics pertaining to sparkling wine, such as the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine, Methode Champenoise defined and dosage basics. The goal is for Sparkling Discoveries to become THE definitive resource for the sparkling wine community.
We have big plans for Sparkling Discoveries, which is the first resource of its kind. We look forward to bringing the exciting world of sparkling wine to life for those in the industry as well as wine lovers who want to dig deeper into what this celebrated beverage is all about.
Oct 27, 2022 at 10:00 AM
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Visit Amista for a Taste of Wine and a Taste of Nature
Our little town of Healdsburg takes center stage in this article that curates a perfect Sonoma wine country getaway. And Amista is one of the recommended wineries to visit for not only a taste of wine, but also a taste of nature.
Venture Out to Taste Among the Vines
Writer Jessie Beck says, “To sample the area’s best vintages, it’s absolutely worth venturing out to the wineries for a tasting among the vines.” The articles feature wineries that pair wine with nature including, Amista Vineyards that offers “wine and hike tours.”
Healdsburg – Special Place for Visitors and Locals
Healdsburg has become a destination for well-heeled travelers. “Right now, one of the most exciting towns to stay in is Healdsburg, which is experiencing a spate of openings and remodels,” explains the article. At the same time, Healdsburg remains a charming hometown where, as locals, we enjoy the same activities described by the author.
We agree with the writer’s advice, “Even if you have been to Healdsburg before, go again. Though many old favorites remain, much is changing in this small NorCal town. Use this guide to navigate it all—from where to stay and things to do to what to eat and drink in this corner of Sonoma wine country.”
We Love Sharing Healdsburg with You!
We are blessed to call this our home and love to share it with you. We are especially proud of our Vineyard Adventure Walk, which was developed in partnership with the Sonoma County Winegrowers. You can enjoy a self-guided stroll around our vineyard and see the grapes we grow, view our 200-year-old heritage oak and learn about the Habitat Restoration Project designed to restore the habitat for the Coho salmon and Steelhead trout that run in Dry Creek.
Read “Your Perfect Weekend Getaway in Sonoma Wine Country” by Jessie Beck in AFAR Magazine.
We invite you to experience Healdsburg, enjoy our Vineyard Adventure Walk and explore our estate grown sparkling and Rhône wines. Come Taste with Us!
Oct 5, 2022 at 10:00 AM
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Why We Love Healdsburg
Photo by Craig Outhier
Phoenix Magazine just published an article called “Healdsburg Wine Tour”, and we were excited to be among the wineries they showcased. The article says, “Amista Vineyards, known for its sparkling wines, the winery has a comfortable patio with scenic views of its 20-acre vineyard and Mount St. Helena. We enjoy getting a tongues-on primer in the art of making bubbly while noshing on the winery’s excellent charcuterie board, much of it derived from the on-site farm and garden.” The article reminded us how much we adore our little town of Healdsburg and how much fun it is to share it with visitors.
Healdsburg on Many Best Small Towns in America Lists
When we first started visiting Healdsburg in the 1983, it was a sleepy small town with wineries in the surrounding countryside and a couple of great restaurants. Since then, it has been discovered and is now a popular destination. It has remained small and charming but can no longer be described as sleepy. On most days, the downtown is bustling with people checking out the shops around the town square or sitting on a park bench under the trees overlooking the fountain.
We now have many more great places to dine, and the town is packed with art galleries, boutiques and unique tasting rooms. The article describes all our favorites and goes on to say, “And for a town of 11,000, it boasts one of the densest hospitality biomes you’ll find in California, which explains all those best-small-town accolades. It’s quaint and seasoned, but unmistakably upscale.”
Just Outside Healdsburg - Wine Tasting in Dry Creek Valley
“Still, the thing I love best about the Sonoma County town is leaving it – or more precisely, hopping on a bike and gliding around the rolling, winery-encrusted foothills just a few miles up the road,” the writer declares.
Agreed! There are more wineries in Dry Creek Valley than there were when we first visited, including Amista Vineyards! The idea of starting a winery wasn’t even in the back of our minds in 1983 when we first saw Healdsburg while visiting from our home state of Colorado. It was nearly two decades and a trek from one coast to the other (Colorado to Silicon Valley to New Jersey to Nevada) before we moved to Healdsburg in 2002. We launched Amista in 2004.
Our little cottage, that we think was first built around 1918, is surrounded by vineyards. I never get tired of waking up to the vines outside our bedroom window. It is a pleasure to walk the vineyard each day with our two Shelties, Dylan and Torin, and pop into our tasting room to meet our guests. We’re in the heart of the bucolic countryside and yet only five miles from our adopted hometown of Healdsburg.
If you visit Healdsburg, we invite you to Taste with Us at Amista Vineyards in the heart of Dry Creek Valley. We specialize in estate grown, Methode Champenoise sparkling wines and Rhône varieties. Soak up our gorgeous vineyard and valley views and experience a friendly Amista welcome (Amista means “making friends” in Spanish).
Read more in “Healdsburg Wine Tour”, by Craig Outhier for Phoenix Magazine.
Sep 6, 2022 at 10:00 AM
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Amista Sparkling Syrah - One of the Best 2022 Rosé Wines
When the JetSettingFashionista picks you as one of the “The Best 2022 Rosé Wines I’m Loving”, you know you’ve arrived! She describes our Amista Sparkling Syrah as “aromas of freshly picked raspberry and orange blossom leave the perfect bright taste on the palette.”
We call is simply, “Joy in a Bottle!"
It Started as a Class Project
We first made our Sparkling Syrah in 2008 and it’s been a cult favorite ever since. Other than our club members and frequent visitors, it is still a best kept secret. That was the bubbly that launched us on our journey into sparkling. It started out as a class project at Santa Rosa Junior College, and it was so good and so beautiful in the bottle we decided we had to make it.
Six Estate Grown Sparkling Wines
We now make six different sparkling wines, all from grapes grown on our estate vineyards, and all using the traditional Methode Champenoise. The post says, “Amista Vineyards produces some of the best rosé wines right here in Healdsburg, California.” We are honored to be on the list!
Our other sparkling wines include Blanc de Blanc, Sparkling Grenache, Sparkling Mataró, Fusión (a blend of Chardonnay, Grenache and Mourvèdre), and our newly debuted Sparkling Tres (a GSM rosé blend). We love bubbles and we are the only winery in Dry Creek Valley with an all-sparkling wine club.
Plus Limited Edition Rosés
In addition to our sparkling rosés, we also have two limited edition still rosé wines this year, a Rosé of Grenache and a Rosé de Tres, a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. We made only 68 precious cases of each.
Rosés with Food
We love to have a chilled rosé with our favorite summer meal, linguine con pesto (made with basil, fresh from the winemaker’s garden) topped with wedges of just picked tomatoes. Now that is summer!
The Sparkling Syrah can stand up to heartier flavors, including spicy foods. It’s wonderful with sushi and spicy Chinese or Thai dishes. We even love it with taco salad, which is another of our easy summer weeknight meals. And did we mention the holidays? It not only goes with all the dishes on the holiday table, but it adds a festive pop of color and refreshing brightness to any occasion.
We invite you to Come Taste With Us and get in on the secret of our Sparkling Syrah, along with our other sparkling wines and red Rhône wines.
Check out “The Best 2022 Rosé Wines I’m Loving” to see all the delightful rosés on the list.
Jun 12, 2022 at 2:00 PM
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Dog Friendly Wineries Near Healdsburg - Amista Vineyards
Two Kinds of Dog Lovers for Wine Tasting
We have two kinds of dog lovers at Amista. Which one are you?
The first lives a car ride away, loves wine, wants to explore new wineries, or return to their favorites, loves their dog, and hates to leave him or her at home…so they bring them along. They are welcome at Amista!
The second comes from afar, loves wine, wants to explore new wineries, or return to their favorites, loves their dog, and hates to leave them at home, but couldn’t bring them and misses them terribly. They are welcome at Amista!
For the dogs we offer fresh water – current vintage – and doggie treats. For the humans who miss thier dogs, we offer ours for petting and loving, when we visit the tasting room on our daily walk.
Dog Friendly Wineries in Sonoma County
If you’re visiting Sonoma wine country, you’re in luck. There are several wineries that are dog friendly. Amista was featured along with our dog friendly neighbors in “18 Best Dog-Friendly Wineries in Sonoma County” in Sonoma Magazine.
Amista Dogs Dylan and Torin
Our dogs, Dylan and Torin (both Shetland Sheepdogs or Shelties for short), love to visit our tasting room on their daily walks. They especially love to meet other dogs. Once they’ve made the rounds of the visiting canines, they greet the human guests. We can always tell when people are missing their dogs at home because they are eager to say hello to our pups.
“Several Sonoma County wineries are now welcoming visitors to pair vino with Fido in ways which both dog-owners and dogs can appreciate: fine wine and artisan bites for “Mommy” and “Daddy,” and treats, vineyard sprints and bowls of water for the beloved pooch,” the article goes on to say.
Vineyard Adventure Walk – for Dogs and Their Humans
Our self-guided vineyard tour is another attraction that is perfect for dogs and their owners. You can breathe the fresh air as you explore our vineyards on a self-guided Vineyard Adventure Walk, created in partnership with the Sonoma County Winegrowers. See the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Chardonnay varieties we grow, learn about the wines we make from them and discover our backwater pond that is part of the Habitat Enhancement Project designed to restore the natural fish habitat in Dry Creek. The complimentary walk is approximately one-half mile on flat terrain. Dogs on a leash and children are welcome.
Discover Estate Grown Sparkling and Rhône Wines
“After taking a self-guided tour of the property with your dog, taste Amista's sparkling and still wines on the patio,” says the writer. We are the only winery in Healdsburg to offer a selection of sparkling Rhône wines as well as a Blanc de Blanc made from our Chardonnay grapes. If red is more your style, order our Taste of Amista flight and enjoy a selection of our Rhône reds, Dry Creek Zinfandel or Rockpile Cabernet.
Friendly Vibe, Gorgeous Views
Amista means “making friends” in Spanish and you can be assured of a warm welcome and a friendly experience. Sit on our solar covered patio surrounded by our estate vineyards and gaze out at the gorgeous Dry Creek Valley hillsides.
If you’re planning a visit to Sonoma, with or without your dog, come Taste With Us at Amista Vineyards, Healdsburg, California in the heart of Dry Creek Valley.
Check out 18 Dog Friendly Wineries in Sonoma County in Sonoma Magazine.
Jun 8, 2022 at 12:20 PM
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Does Amista Vineyards Make Vegan Wines?
Yes! Since 2014, every wine in the Amista collection is vegan.
Sonoma Tourism recently published an article showcasing some of the vegan wineries in Sonoma County. It explains that “Historically, and this is largely still true present day, the process of fining and filtering wines always involved the use of fining agents that included animal ingredients. There’s nothing unusual about these ingredients in winemaking, and these fining and filtering methods are still prevalent in most commercial wine-producing regions around the world.”
What Are Fining Agents?
Fining agents are used to clarify and polish the wines to remove the small particles and sediment. The agents bind with the particles making them large enough to filter out of the final wine. They are completely removed before the wine is bottled, but the fact that animal derivatives were used in the winemaking process means the wines cannot be considered vegan.
Does Amista Use Fining Agents?
In the early years, like most wineries, we used fining agents for some of our wines. Since Ashley Herzberg joined as winemaker in 2011, all our wines have been vegan, except one where she used egg whites as a fining agent. That wine was vegetarian but not vegan.
Amista - Vegan Wines, Organically Farmed
Now all our wines are vegan. This is only one part of our commitment to make our winemaking process more natural, as the article explains:
“All of Amista Vineyard’s wines are vegan, as a result of the winery’s focus on minimal-intervention winemaking practices. No fining agents are added to Amista’s wines. Instead, the focus is on keeping wines in balance naturally, through close attention to the vineyard, pressing choices, and skin contact time.
Amista’s vineyards are farmed organically, the property is free of herbicides and glyphosates, and the vineyards are certified as Fish Friendly and Sustainable.”
Today, there are more and more wineries in Sonoma County that craft vegan wines. Check out Sonoma County Vegan Wineries for a diverse list of wineries from all parts of Sonoma County. Yes, we have something for everyone!
When you come, we invite you to Taste with Us at Amista Vineyards in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, just outside the town of Healdsburg. We specialize in estate grown, Methode Champenoise sparkling wines and Rhône varieties. Soak up our gorgeous vineyard and valley views and experience a friendly Amista welcome (Amista means “making friends” in Spanish).
May 24, 2022 at 6:16 PM
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Need Your Sparkling Wine Fix? Amista Vineyards is a A Must in Dry Creek Valley
Dry Creek is a jewel in the crown of the Golden State according to Allison Bailin Batz in her recent article for FabulousCalifornia. “As one might expect, the best adventures in Dry Creek are centered around wine,” says Batz. She’s right!
In addition to incredible wines, Dry Creek serves up beautiful vistas, acres of vineyards, and a friendly, laid-back atmosphere. Did you know we have just two roads, two stop signs, and no traffic lights in Dry Creek Valley? You’ll be among the vines surrounded by tree-studded hillsides, yet only a few minutes from the charming town of Healdsburg.
Favorite Wineries in Dry Creek Valley
Tasting marvelous wines is the reason to visit Dry Creek. Batz shares a list of her favorites. We are honored to be on the list with some of our own favorite winery neighbors. Here’s what she says about Amista:
“This small, family-owned winery is a must if you need to get your sparkling wine fix. There is a splendid winery walk you can take by reservation that showcases their sustainable farming practices and gives a behind-the-scenes look at how they succeed at making Rhône varietals in the heart of California.”
Even though she narrowed down her list of wineries from 80 to 12 of her favorites, you may need more than a weekend to check them out!
Local’s tip: be sure to have some food as you venture out wine tasting. You can pick up sandwiches or deli items on your way into Dry Creek at Big John’s, our incredible local market, or pop into the historic Dry Creek General Store for takeout sandwiches and salads. Or you can order a cheese and charcuterie board when you visit us at Amista!
Where to Dine in Healdsburg During Your Visit
“Oh, we are not done yet! You cannot leave Dry Creek without checking out at least a few of the lauded restaurants and bars,” adds Batz. Totally agree and she has some of our favorites on the list. We also love Baci Café and Wine Bar, Campo Fina and Willi’s Seafood. You’ll need a place to stay while you’re in Healdsburg, and we have some nice ones. The article showcases several terrific boutique hotels.
Check out A Weekend in…Dry Creek Valley by Allison Bailin Batz in FabulousCalifornia.
Get Your Sparkling Wine Fix!
Need your sparkling fix? Come taste with us. We have estate grown, Methode Champenoise sparkling wines and Rhône varieties paired with a friendly Amista welcome.
May 19, 2022 at 12:40 PM
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Ashley Herzberg, Amista Vineyards Winemaker, Featured in Winemaker Moms
Winemakers love to make blends, so it’s no surprise that our local Sonoma women winemakers have crafted their unique blend of having a family, being a mom and making wines.
“Blending wine and kids, these winemakers work hard to create a healthy work-life balance in an industry still dominated by men,” writes Jean Saylor Doppenberg in NorthBay Biz.
Amista winemaker Ashley Herzberg shares her story along with other woman winemakers in Sonoma County, revealing how she makes it all work.
Embrace Controlled Chaos
“When you are the primary caregiver to two kids and have a full-time job and clients who need you, it’s a giant jigsaw puzzle of many pieces. You can’t always get to all the things you want to do in one day, so you lean in and embrace it,” says Ashley.
“As a bit of a perfectionist, it’s a hard lesson for me to learn, but perfection isn’t the goal. It’s a huge difference now that the kids are older and are able to help me. They can be very useful at the winery.”
Expose Your Kids to Your Work
Ashley has been bringing her kids to work with her since she started at Amista Vineyards in 2011. In the early years she could be seen walking the vineyard rows, inspecting the vines with her son in a baby sling and her daughter toddling beside her.
As they grew older, her children made a habit of tasting the grapes just before harvest and giving her their opinion on whether they were ready to pick or not. Now they help with the harvest, arriving at dawn to climb up on the bins behind the tractor and remove the leaves and the grape clusters that aren’t perfect.
When her daughter was only 2 years old, Ashley started taking her to the winery as she sampled the wines fermenting in the barrel, sipping and spitting the wine in the floor drain as is the routine for winemakers. Her daughter “…was a very observant 2-year-old and had seen me do that countless times,” Ashley explains.
“One day I picked her up from preschool and the teacher said my daughter took sips of juice from her sippy cup that day and then spit them out on the floor. She wasn’t able to talk much then, so she couldn’t explain why she was doing it. But she had watched me spit out wine over and over.”
Roll Together Family Life and Winemaking
Winemaking is not always a predictable role. It involves Mother Nature which provides different challenges every year. “So, you can’t just walk away from it, and I can’t ask anyone else to take care of it for me. There can be long hours, and that’s a lot of hours away from home,” explains Ashley.
“On the flip side, I get to bring my children with me to work frequently, and we get some bonding time, enjoying how beautiful it is to be in the vineyards, and watching the ebb and flow of farming. It’s good for my kids to see that I’m working and that I can provide for us. I work really hard.”
Read the stories of four Sonoma winemakers in Winemaker Moms by Jean Saylor Doppenberg in NorthBay Biz.
Want to taste discover the wines Ashley makes with a little help from her kids? Come Taste with Us at Amista Vineyards!
Mar 1, 2022 at 7:00 AM
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Dog Friendly Wine Tasting in Sonoma
Amista is Dog Friendly!
The best part of my daily walk around our vineyards with my two Shelties is our stop at the tasting room. Torin (on the left) and Dylan (on the right) especially love it when there are visiting dogs to meet.
Yes, Amista Vineyards is dog friendly, and our guests are so excited when they find out they can bring their best friends to hang out while they taste our red, white, and sparkling wines.
Amista Has Gorgeous Views
I never get tired of gazing out over the vines or at the tree studded hillsides. You can choose your spot under our solar covered patio or beneath our Mulberry tree surrounded by our vineyards and breathtaking Dry Creek Valley views.
If it’s too hot or too cold, you’ll be welcomed inside our spacious, colorful tasting room where you can sit at high top tables or in the “living room” with cushy chairs.
Amista Has the Perfect Dog Walk
Dogs would rather be out walking than hanging out on the patio. They love their walks, and we have something that will be fun for your four-legged friends and for you.
We’ve had seven Shelties over the years who looked forward to their vineyard walks every day. After years of testing they can guarantee that you and your canines will adore a walk through our vineyard.
Our Vineyard Adventure Walk is a self-guided tour around our estate vineyards. You can learn about the grapes we grow, stand under the vast branches of our 200-year-old oak tree and check out the habitat restoration that includes a backwater pond on Dry Creek.
The backwater pond is part of our partnership with Sonoma County Water Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to restore the natural habitat for the Coho salmon and Steelhead trout in the creek.
Your dogs can sniff out all the dogs that have traveled the path before, along with the scents of the coyotes, foxes and jack rabbits that frequent the vineyards at night. You may catch a glimpse of the blue heron bounding into flight or the white egrets gliding over the creek.
Amista Has Unique Sparkling Wines
After a romp in the vineyards, your pups will appreciate a bowl of fresh water – always the latest vintage – and a dog biscuit. But we hope your visit is more than taking in the views and entertaining your dogs.
We hope you will enjoy exploring our wines. In their blog post, Love Pets says, “Amista is a relatively recent but prolific venture, focusing on developing the essential flavors of unique varietals.” That is the job of our amazing winemaker, Ashley Herzberg.
We focus on estate grown Rhône varieties – Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre – which we bottle as single varieties and craft into a blend of all three we call Tres. Plus, we have un-oaked Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel and Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon.
The post in Love Pets goes on to say that you can “taste a wide variety of reds, whites, rosés and innovative sparkling wines.”
I must admit that both Ashley and I love bubbles, which might explain why we make six estate grown sparkling wines.
We've even convinced my husband Mike that a sparkling wine is a delicious aperitif or the perfect accompaniment to a meal.
Our sparkling wines are innovative because they are made from non-traditional varieties and yet they are made in the traditional Methode Champenoise.
My go-to sparkler is our Blanc de Blanc made from our estate grown Chardonnay. Although it’s hard not to love the cult favorite, our Sparkling Syrah, that I call “joy in a bottle”. Plus, we have a wonderful collection of estate grown sparkling rosés made from non-traditional Rhône varieties.
Amista Means Making Friends
Amista means “it makes friends” in Spanish and in addition to being dog-friendly, we are known as being just plain friendly! We have always believed that wine is better with friends and our friends have been a treasured part of our journey into wine. We want you to have the same friendly, engaging, and joyful experience when you visit.
Come Taste with Us and feel free to bring your friendly dogs.
Jan 22, 2022 at 8:00 AM
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