After Garnering 60 Medals From The Prestigious San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition, Shadowbrook Winery Opens State-of-the-Art Winery in Walnut Creek
For just a minute forget everything you know about Napa Valley’s wine scene, and picture a large-scale modern winery, vineyards and tasting room in the Bay Area instead. No crowds filling Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail to slow you down. This new premier winery destination in the east bay just may be closer to your home yet far from the maddening crowd.
Their tagline is, “Shadowbrook Winery – Close to home. Far from ordinary.”
Welcome to the shiny new Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County. These folks didn’t just “build it and they will come” – these people took their time piling up their competition medals, and waited nearly ten years to build their crowning jewel.
Vintner Tim Jochner comments, “Our goal has always been to make world class wines from grapes grown at the base of Mt. Diablo in Walnut Creek, the awards are proving that we are, and now we have a world class tasting room and facility to share with our members and our entire community.”
While being the most decorated winery in Contra Costa for the past eight years – Five Double Gold, Nine Gold, 31 Silver and 15 Bronze – they are now welcoming guests to their new winery and tasting room in the foothills on Mt. Diablo, the same Mt. Diablo where they grow and farm their wine grape varietals.
The Walnut Creek area was “the Napa Valley of today” prior to Prohibition. Jochner plans to bring history back to life.
The first winery to be built in the area, Shadowbrook boasts a state of the art facility to pair perfectly with their award winning wines. Only catch: for now you must reserve an appointment to see all that they have to offer in their “tasting experience.”
And unlike a garage winery, Shadowbrook is first class all the way. From their front entrance guests will see a two-story well lit reception area, flanked on both sides with warm wood and stone touches. Ample parking, vineyard views and golf course cut lawns greet them. Once inside a guest can choose armchair seatings, table seating, private barrel room tastings or belly up at The Tasting Bar for their personalized and reserved experience.
Current and library small lot estate wines include Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rhônes and Bordeaux blends. Winery consultant Rick Tracy has a Masters in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis and has over 25 years of experience making wine from Argentina to Napa. According to Tracy, “Tim is doing a stellar job reintroducing this important historical appellation to the public. Shadowbrook wines are approachable, supple, unstuffy, and can stand up easily in quality to their Napa Valley counterparts.
So what are you waiting for? It’s now the time to discover great wines away from the crowds – only at Shadowbrook Winery.
Article By: Eve Bushman
