Occasio Winery
2245 S Vasco Rd B, Livermore, CA 94550
Website: https://occasiowinery.com/
Occasio Winery’s tasting room is the neighbor to Nottingham Cellars. The two rooms are quite different. Whereas Nottingham Cellars has the atmosphere of a casual hangout spot, Occasio feels quiet and elegant. The space is small with soft lighting and a marble top tasting bar. The space is mostly standing room around the bar for 6-8 people. There was one small table off to the side for two guests.
The tasting bar at Occasio Winery
Occasio was founded in 2007 by owner John Kinney. Before John became a winery owner he had a career in biomedical research at UC Berkeley. He named Occasio after the Roman Goddess of Opportunity. Since he started he has been dedicated to the history and terroir of Livermore, focusing on heritage varietals from the valley. This winery only produces small lots of handcrafted wines putting out less than 150 cases per varietal or around 1500 total cases per year. I really love their cool label of a vintage pocket watch that has wings on top. Inside the watch pieces consist of winery tools like a corkscrew, wine thief, and glass siphon. The label was created by John’s son who was 14 years old at the time.
Occasio Winery Tasting Room
Occasio accepts walk-in tastings on Thursdays through Sundays. They also offer tastings in their Library Room or tours by prior reservation. Guests may also be able to set up a private appointment on other days of the week with advance notice. The prices of the wines are very reasonably priced considering they are all small lot falling within the $20-$40 range. I sampled five different wines, including Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a red blend called Telos. The Chardonnay had notes of pears, brioche, and caramel. The Zinfandel was rich in fruit and dark chocolate flavor. My favorites were the well balanced 2014 Telos made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petit Verdot; and the smooth 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery also produces Vermouth.
I always feel lucky to try wines from a place like this that has small production and lesser known wines. That’s the best way to find hidden gems. I love that this winery is so committed to preserving Livermore’s history.