Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill is one of those resourceful wineries that also makes olive oil and olive oil products. Pop in on any day they are open, and they’ll be happy to give you a tour of the winemaking facility as well as their olive oil milling equipment. Yes, they have a Millmaster who makes all kinds of olive oils, flavored olive oils, and bars of healthy soaps for your body and hair.  They recommend pouring blood orange or meyer lemon olive oil over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and I have to admit it was quite tasty. I’d add a sprinkle of really good sea salt.

The wine is another reason to visit. Their Sauvignon Blanc has a nice crisp citrus flavor, probably the most citrus I’ve found in Lake County. But it’s not overwhelmingly harsh citrus because it is wrapped in a blanket of green apple and a very long finish. Their 50/50 Chardonnay has seen some stainless steel and some oak, giving it that wonderful lemon curd fruit flavor with a long vanilla and crème brulee finish. A usually tannic wine, Petite Verdot rarely stands on its own. But, theirs is done in 100% French oak so the soft silky tannins make way for a ripe berry cherry body. Their Oh Eight Headaches has ripe blueberries from Petite Sirah with a bit of smoke from Malbec and a light finish.

More appellation adventures from my month in this region.