Clesi Wines

Clesi is a small winery in the Templeton Gap area that makes Italian-varietal wines from California grapes, including Aglianico, Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Montepulciano and Malvasia Bianca. Winemaker Chris Ferrara focuses on rare heirloom varieties with a food-focused, elegant style, and the estate vineyard is planted to Dolcetto, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Sagrantino.

The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday, where guests sit at a long redwood slab table and taste with the winemaker and other visitors. The winery is family-friendly and dog-friendly, and the property also keeps sheep, chickens and an organic garden. Clesi also runs a wine club with shipments in the spring and fall, and hosts events such as wine club pickup parties.