Butte Wines and Wineries

Butte Wines and Wineries

Butte County is only partially located in the Sierra Nevada AVA. Located at about the valley floor and up to 800 feet, this is a fairly warm growing region that benefits greatly from the cooling breeze off the mountains in the evening for good grape maturation. It is also part of the Central Valley AVA and larger California State AVA.

Grey Fox Vineyards   (530)589-3910

• 90 Grey Fox Lane
• Oroville, California 95966
• Winemaker: Bruce Arrigoni & Gary Cecchi
• Days/Hours: Saturday & Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 pm
• Picnic Facilities: YES
• Red Wines: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Dolcetto, and Port Style Wines
• White Wines: Moscato Dolce, Chardonnay, Malvasia Bianca, Rose, Sangiovese, and Viognier

The Winery
It is a quirk of the region that the Grey Fox Vineyards are partially in the Sierra Foothills area and the Central Valley region of California. The winery building is built into the side of the hill with whimsically painted doors. The walls of the tasting room are covered with great historical articles regarding the local wine growing region. The grounds are incredibly beautiful.

The Winemaker
Winemaking duties are shared by partners Bruce Arrigoni and Gary Cecchi. Both have taken classes at Davis, but bring a different interpretation to the winemaking process; Gary is the chemist and Bruce has a farming background.

La Rocca Vineyards (530)889-9463

• Highway 32
• Forest Ranch, California 95942   
• Winemaker: Philip La Rocca
• Days/Hours: Friday 1:30 to 6 pm, Sat & Sun 12 to 6 pm
• Picnic Facilities: N/A
• Red Wines: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Zinfandel, Lush Zinfandel – Port Style
• White Wines: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, White Zinfandel

The Winery
La Rocca is a family owned and operated business with two generations working in various phases of the process. The tasting room is located in wonderfully eclectic downtown Forest Ranch, on the road to Mt. Lassen National Park, 16 miles east of Chico. The winery is 4.1 miles from the tasting room (further east on highway 32).

The Winemaker
Philip La Rocca is a dedicated organic vintner. He prides himself on the production of certified organic grapes used to produce wines with no sulfites or chemicals of any kind.  

Long Creek Winery  (530)589-3415

• 233 Ward Blvd
• Oroville, California 95966

 

• Winemaker: Lou Cecchi
• Days/Hours: Sat 11:00 to 5:00 and by appointment
• Picnic Facilities: Picnic Tables & Small Events
• Red Wines: Barbera, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Syrah Port, Zinfandel Port, Red Wine Blend
• White Wines: Chardonnay, Moscato
• Production: 2500 cases

The Winery
The Long Creek Winery is located at the 800 foot elevation in the far northern Sierra Nevada Foothills just east of Oroville. The tasting room is beautifully done in an Italian Villa style with stone floors, great wine theme artwork and a small, but inviting oak tasting bar. A great deal of care went into the design of the Winery building to minimize the use of any power for cooling and the…

The Winemaker
Lou and Yola pride themselves on an old-world Italian style achieved with new world technology. Lou started as a home winemaker and has been making wine for 12 years; commercially since 2000.

New Clairvaux Vineyards (530)839-2200

• 7th & C St
• Vina, California 96092

 

• Winemaker: Aimee Sunseri
• Days/Hours: Sat & Sun, 11:00 to 5:00
• Picnic Facilities: Picnic tables available
• Red Wines: Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Barbera, Petite Sirah, Syrah
• White Wines: Albariño, Trebbiano

 

The Winery
Although actually in Tehama County, New Clairvaux is closer to Chico than to Red Bluff or Redding, and is close enough to be included in a Butte County adventure. This is the only Monastic Winery in the Americas and a nexus of California and European wine history. This small estate is the juncture of centuries of monastic wine history, a railroad magnate and one of California’s most colorful.

The Winemaker
The winemaker at New Clairvaux, Aimee Sunseri, is a UC Davis graduate and a fifth generation California winemaker. She is descended from the founder of Nicolini Winery in the Napa Valley, the second oldest winery in California still operating under the same family and is a cousin of the Boeger family of Boeger Winery in El Dorado County.

Odyssey Winery and Vineyards (530)891-9463

• 6237 Cohasset Road
• Chico, California 95966

 

• Winemaker:
• Days/Hours:
• Picnic Facilities:  Picnic Area & Special Event Facilities
• Red Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon
• White Wines: Symphony
• Production: 500 cases

The Winery
The beautiful Greek style designed Odyssey Winery is set amongst rolling vineyards in a gentle sloping valley just north east of Chico. This winery has the distinction of being built by the owners without much in the way of outside help. The tasting room is decorated with some unique art, giving it a modern, upscale feel. The winemaker believes in a minimalist approach to winemaking, using…

The Winemaker
Norm Rosene is the winemaker at Odyssey. He is a dentist by trade, but was bitten by the winemaking bug early on. He practiced as a hobby vintner for several years prior to deciding to take his skills commercial.

Quilici Vineyard (530)589-5088

• 72 Quail Hill Place
• Oroville, California 95966

 

• Winemaker: Gary Quilici
• Days/Hours: By Appointment Only
• Picnic Facilities: N/A
• Red Wines: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel

The Winery
The winery, located in the beautiful rolling Sierra Nevada Foothills just east of Oroville, has breathtaking views of the Northern Sacramento Valley. All tasting is by appointment only, so call ahead.

The Winemaker
Gary Quilici, the winemaker, was a successful restaurateur for 30 years who had a passion for winemaking. He began making wine as a hobby over 20 years ago and began making them commercially in 2001.