WineLovers Discussion Group

Broc Cellars has opened a tasting room in the "industrial" part of Berkeley near the freeway (and near one of my faves, Donkey and Goat). Chris, the owner, was pouring in the TINY tasting room.

The highlights were a lovely bright, amazingly zippy Zinfandel...one of my faves, an also bright Code-du-Rhonish blend (which I picked up), and the new El Dorado Syrah Cuvee, which was brilliantly herbal and delicious.

BRIGHT is a great descriptor. My favorite "Urban Berkeley Winery" remains Donkey and Goat, but Broc Cellars is right up there! A fun way to end the evening.

Brian K Miller wrote:Broc Cellars has opened a tasting room in the "industrial" part of Berkeley near the freeway (and near one of my faves, Donkey and Goat). Chris, the owner, was pouring in the TINY tasting room.

The highlights were a lovely bright, amazingly zippy Zinfandel...one of my faves, an also bright Code-du-Rhonish blend (which I picked up), and the new El Dorado Syrah Cuvee, which was brilliantly herbal and delicious.

BRIGHT is a great descriptor. My favorite "Urban Berkeley Winery" remains Donkey and Goat, but Broc Cellars is right up there! A fun way to end the evening.

Damn! I wish I'd known that when I was out there last week. I've got a bottle of whole cluster Cab Franc from Broc Cellars (courtesy of our friends at Selection Massale, who I did visit last week), but have yet to try it.

Next time!
Mark Lipton

I've tasted that wine Mark, at another location. My tasting was definitely the "greener" varietally correct side of Cab Franc. Very fresh.

Chris Brockway's wines are excellent, and he is from my hometown of Omaha, NE! He is one of a handful of California winemakers showing restraint in the cellar, and buying fruit that isn't overripe and flabby. His Zin is great, and see if you can try his Dry Stack Vineyard Grenache and Syrah - they are both very Rhone-styled. The Antic Pinot Gris is lovely, but I've heard he isn't making it anymore.

Joy Lindholm wrote:Chris Brockway's wines are excellent, and he is from my hometown of Omaha, NE! He is one of a handful of California winemakers showing restraint in the cellar, and buying fruit that isn't overripe and flabby. His Zin is great, and see if you can try his Dry Stack Vineyard Grenache and Syrah - they are both very Rhone-styled. The Antic Pinot Gris is lovely, but I've heard he isn't making it anymore.

It was a tough choice between his Rhonesque blend and the current release Syrah, Joy. I chose the blend, but the syrah was lovely.

If you ever get to Berkeley, his tasting room is well worth a visit! Plus, you can then visit Donkey and Goat...and Urbano Cellars (a somewhat more standard school of wine) are literally down the street! With Dashe/J.C. Cellars a short drive away, it's a veritable East Bay Urban Wine Trail!