Winery of the Month
June 2022
Great Bear Vineyards | Davis, CA
One of the more recent additions to Yolo County, Great Bear Vineyards is an idyllic Tuscan-inspired escape tucked into the Davis countryside. The estate vineyard was planted in 2014, with the tasting room opening to the public in 2018 and located just 2 miles from downtown Davis. However, when owners, Marcus and Jenny, first purchased the land in 2008, they knew that this little “slice of heaven in Yolo County” was truly something special. Although the husband and wife duo have only been farming the land for a few years, the fertile soil was no stranger to crops of all sorts. The previous owners had settled the land in 1860 and visitors today can enjoy their wine tasting next to the grandeur of the historic 1860’s barn.
Marcus and Jenny now farm a total of 14.3 acres, of which just over 9 are wine grapes. They also grow a few acres of fruit trees, an olive grove, and the most fragrant crop of them all: a lavender field! Late May to early July is lavender season here in Northern California, and the blossoms make their appearance the moment you step foot on the winery property. These picturesque purple plants fill the air with their enticing aromas. If you’re lucky enough to visit the winery during lavender season, the winery offers special “Lavender Picking” winery experiences where guests can pick their own bunch of lavender during their visit. The best part—all proceeds from the lavender sales go to a local charity.
Since its inception, Great Bear Vineyards has certainly made its mark in the Yolo County wine scene. “Our specialty is putting flair, passion, and a certain style into each bottle,” states winemaker, Jenny Meadows-Smith, “Our Chardonnay is more like a Chablis from France; our Malbec reminiscent of those from the Mendoza region of Argentina; some are uniquely us, such as “The Duet,” a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and late season Zinfandel; and we think our Cabernet Sauvignons are simply some of the best in the world!”
Q&A with Great Bear Vineyards
Q: What wine varietals do you specialize in?
A: We grow four white varietals (Chardonnay, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, & Albariño) and seven reds (Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, & Primitevo, a cousin of Zinfandel). We also produce ten different styles of Cabernet Sauvignon, each with its own character. From the fruit forward “Graduate”, with smooth tannins, to the big, bold, and oaked “Admiral Benbow”, our Cabernet’s are each unique in their own ways.
Our wines have won double gold and gold medals. We have also received 91-Points for our Chardonnay and Roussanne, 93-Points for our Cabernet Sauvignon, and 96-Points for our Albariño.
Q: What is a unique characteristic that makes your winery stand out?
A: Visiting Great Bear Vineyards is to be transported somewhere in the Mediterranean, maybe even Tuscany. From the Spanish colonial architecture to the clay tiles, arches and woodwork, palms, vines and olives you will truly feel like you are on holiday. This is our happy place.
We hand-tend and hand-harvest our grapes, growing sustainably and using organic practices, as a result we grow premium grapes. We also have an abundance of wildflowers, birds, and animals throughout the vineyard. We produce our wines in small batches using traditional techniques with minimal intervention.
Our vineyard and wine making was established with the help and guidance from several of the Viticulture and Enology professors at UC Davis. The soil, climate and community of wine expertise in Davis makes for a very special terroir, and you can taste the difference in our wines.
While we do produce award-winning wines, we are a community winery encouraging everyone to come and enjoy fine wine in a relaxed and casual setting, whether you are a wine connoisseur or someone who is wine tasting for the first time. Most days we welcome people to bring their own picnic foods to enjoy at their tastings. On other occasions we offer cheese or chocolate pairings, and some amazing Farm-to-Fork meals prepared by local chefs and using local produce (including our own fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs and olive oil).
As you walk around the vineyard, you will see our Spanish-style winery surrounded by lavender, palm trees, and fruit trees. Our wines can be enjoyed either in the rustic setting of the 1860 barn overhang and picnic lawn, or in the more formal Palm Garden with the Spanish (or California mission) style architecture.
We encourage you to visit in May, June & July when the lavender is in bloom – it looks and smells idyllic!
Q: Any other information you would like to share about your winery?
A: Our winery is family run. The environment, agriculture, food and winemaking is a shared passion of ours. Jenny studied viticulture and winemaking via the extension service at UC Davis – and so was taught by the best. Our four children all participate in different aspects of the winemaking and vineyard management process.
We only produce 2,000 cases and have no plans to grow bigger. We do run out of some of our wines before the end of the year, and most events sell out, so early ordering and reservations are highly recommended!
We look forward to welcoming you to Great Bear Vineyards.
Follow along with Great Bear Vineyards at greatbearvineyards.com or @greatbearvineyards