Welcome
Whether you’re joining us for a chocolate and wine pairing, barrel tasting, or simply a glass of wine—we welcome you to our small slice of heaven in Yolo County.
To provide you with the best possible experience, we highly recommend all wine tastings are reserved in advance via the reservations & shop link. While we do allow children on property, our space and staff are limited and everyone under the age 21 will require a $10 entrance fee. Thank you for your understanding.
We are constantly updating our calendar of events in the Reservations & Shop page, so please check back often. Or feel free to reach out by phone on 530-574-1516 or email us at greatbearvineyards@gmail.com.
We look forward to sharing a glass with you!
Winery experiences
Tastings & Pairings
Wine Tasting
Glass of Wine
Reserve Wine & Barrel Tasting
Cheese & Wine Pairing
Chocolate & Wine Pairing
Year-Round Winery Events
Vineyard & Winery Tours
Music, Concerts & Wine
Yoga & Wine
Lavender Picking & Flower Arranging
Grape Harvest & Winemaking
Wine Connoisseurs & Vintners Series
Great wines originate in the vineyard, are created in the winery, and aged to perfection in the cellar. Our Wine Connoisseurs & Vintners series will take you through the whole process from grape growing, through wine making to wine appreciation.
These events are designed for anyone from wine connoisseurs to keen enthusiasts looking to learn more about wine through a series of fun and educational hands-on experiences. The harvest day is simply a great day for anyone who has ever wondered where and how their wine is made. It is a fun day for a complete novice or makes for a great corporate team building event. There are 5 events in this series, each one starts in the morning and finishes with a light lunch at noon:
Blending In the vineyard: Pruning. In the winery: wine blending & make your own blend
Vertical flight In the vineyard: flowering & shoot thinning. In the cellar: vertical flight from barrel tasting to bottle - Cabernet Sauvignon from each year from 2016-2022
Whites & Rose In the vineyard: taste the grapes for our white and rose wines. In the cellar: white & rose tasting
Reds In the vineyard: taste the grapes for our red wines. In the cellar: taste the grapes alongside 4 of our reds –Petite Sirah, Malbec, Tempranillo & Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest In the vineyard: harvest & foot stomp the grapes. In the winery: crush & destem, punchdown. In the tasting room: harvest lunch with wine
Farm-to-Fork Dinners
Farm-to-fork meals using seasonal ingredients from local farms
Wine Club Dinners
Lobster Boil
…all paired with wines!
Private Parties
Weddings, showers, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, & more
Company: team building, celebrations, client appreciation, & staff parties
Design your own special party and winery experience.
reserve wine & barrel tasting
This unique winery experience combines barrel tasting and a seat tasting of some of our reserve and limited-edition wines. We will start with a short introduction to the vineyard and our philosophy on growing premium grapes. We will tell you how we use traditional wine making techniques to create our award-winning wines. We will serve the wines with a hearty charcuterie board, with local and international cheeses, salami, and our estate grown olives and olive oil. The tasting is held in our small barrel room, surrounded by wine aging to perfection.
Please come enjoy with us! Email for details of the next special event…or we can organize for your group of 6 or more people during our regular opening times.
Various dates available in store - or email to arrange a date that works for you (minimum 6 people) greatbearvineyards@gmail.com
Wine tasting
Come to our award-wining winery and taste a flight of five superb wines. We are usually hold the tasting on the Great Barn terrace and picnic lawn. You will enjoy a selection of wines chosen by our winemaker. We grow and make eleven varietals! Four whites: Alberino, Chardonnay, Roussanne, & Sauvignon Blanc. Seven reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Primitivo, and Tempranillo. And, we even make four distinctive styles of Rose!
We occasionally have charcuterie boards or a food truck to complement the wines, and on days we don’t have food available you are welcome to bring your own picnic!
Reservations are required: you can purchase tickets for the specific date in our website shop
Thursday 5-8pm
Friday noon-8PM with Food Truck 5-8pm & Live Music 6.30-7.30pm
Saturday 11AM-5PM (October-March noon-5PM)
Sunday 11AM-3PM (October-March noon-3PM)
Or email us, if you would like to bring a group wine tasting on alternative days and times. greatbearvineyards@gmail.com
Glass of Wine
On Friday evenings from 5-8PM, you are welcome to come along and have a glass of your favorite wine. We will often have some mellow live music range from jazz and swing bands to classical solo piano.
Friday evenings from 5-8PM. Buy tickets in the shop for the specific date you wish to come
We sometimes offer glass of wine option on the Saturday noon-4PM and Sunday noon-3PM openings too. Please check the store for details.
vineyard & winery tours
We are happy to walk guests around the vineyard & winery explaining our sustainable growing practices to produce premium quality grapes, and our traditional wine production practices. It is best to request a tour in advance of your visit to ensure that we have staff available to devote to your experience.
Farm to fork dinners
We work with local chefs and growers to throw sumptuous farm-to-fork dinners for our special Wine Club members. Please check the website store for the forthcoming dinners and events - new dates announced throughout the year.
Ask about our creating a personalized culinary event for your special occasion such as a work gathering, birthday or holiday party. Enjoy dining “winery style” with an elegant Mediterranean themed three-course dinner in our tasting room for 10-14 people or al fresco dining for up to 50 people (or more buffet style).
Lobster boil
We cannot wait for this event each year! It is truly spectacular!
Chocolate & Wine Pairing
There is no greater luxury than the melding of rich chocolates and fine wine.
Upon arrival, we will welcome you with a glass of bubbly and you'll enjoy a flight of 4 chocolates perfectly paired with 4 of our wines. A fun event where your taste buds are stimulated, and you learn a lot about wine and chocolate….and how they can pair (and clash)!
Please check the website store for the forthcoming chocolate pairings and other events - new dates announced throughout the year.
Cheese & Wine Pairing
A wonderful introduction to the world of wine and cheese pairing. We have chosen a selection of local and international cheeses that pair with a range of our wines.
Upon arrival, we will welcome you with a glass of bubbly, and then we will walk you through the tasting as a group. It is a fun and filling event.
Please check the website store for the forthcoming cheese pairings and other events - new dates announced throughout the year.
Or email us if you would like to set up a tasting for your group: greatbearvineyards@gmail.com
Yoga & Wine
The prefect way to relax…a yoga session followed by a glass of wine or two. Meet new people or bring your friends and make it a special evening out.
Please check the website store for the forthcoming yoga and other events - new dates announced throughout the year.
Paint & Sip
A fun event! You don’t need any previous skill, just a love of life and art…or simply enjoy a good time with friends. Sip on our wonderful wines as you paint! What could be more fun?
Please check the website store for the next Paint & Sip, and other events - new dates announced throughout the year.
2023 Series: The Changing Seasons at Great Bear Vineyards
February 11 - Blossom & Valentines; May 13 - Lavender Fields; June 25 - Sunflowers; September 24 - Grape & Pumkin Harvest; December 3 - Holiday Theme
Wine & Music
Join us for special Wine Club evenings of music. A selection throughout the year from Beatles cover band “Ticket to Ride” to Brazilian samba by Boca do Rio and Jazz by David Kyle.
Please check the website store for the forthcoming music and musicians - new dates announced throughout the year.
Private Parties
If you love wine, then why not celebrate your special occasion with us? Birthdays, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, bridal or baby showers, and even a great place for a company retreat! Perfect for small groups and we can accommodate up to 150 people.
Email us with your preferred date, time & numbers of people…and a few details on the type of celebration you are planning. We would love to host your party. Email: greatbearvineyards@gmail.com
Graduation Parties
Of course, our town is the home of the University of California Davis! …so come and celebrate your amazing achievement!
Lavender picking
Ask about joining our lavender harvest…or just picking a bunch for yourself…proceeds from fresh lavender sales go to local charities.
Grape harvest & wine making
Join our harvest, pick grapes, crush & stem, watch the pitching of the yeast, and start the wonderful process of wine making. You will also be able to barrel taste and learn how a wine progresses from harvest through aging to bottling. And, join us for a traditional harvest lunch with wine of course!
