No fancy fountains or manicured lawns at this boutique winery in Livermore - just a laid-back atmosphere and really great "wine nerds."
Big White House Winery and John Evan Cellars is a smaller venue in the Livermore Valley wine region, but one that should not be missed by vino aficionados (AKA: "wine nerds"), whether locals or visiting out-of-towners.
"We are HUGE wine nerds," said Jessica Carroll, the vineyard's winemaker and general manager. "We love everything that's involved in our craft: It starts in the vineyard, goes to harvest, on to cellaring, and finishes with sharing bottled wines."
Known for its Syrahs, Petite Sirahs and such uncommon varieties as Teroldego and Montepulciano, Big White House launched in 1998, after years as a backyard, grape-growing hobby of former Lawrence Livermore National Lab scientist and engineer John Marion II and his group of friends.