Vineyards & Estates

4900 Bartlett Springs Road - Nice, CA

In March of 2003, the owner Budge Brown found a permanent home for Tulip Hill Winery at the historic Bartlett Springs water bottling building built by Vittel Mineral Water Co in 1985. After many long days of clean up and renovation, this revamped location became home to Tulip Hill Winery and Visitor Center. Located on the North Shore of Clear Lake, the largest natural lake in California that rests at the base of Mount Konocti, a now dormant volcano, Tulip Hill Winery sits in a stunning and picturesque setting. During spring, the gardens at Tulip Hill feature more than 30,000 tulips in bloom.

Lake County is a wine region that is on-the-grow with currently 27 local wineries that host the Annual Lake County Wine Adventure, a two-day passport event offering stellar wines and the best local accompaniments that Lake County has to offer. Amazingly, many are just discovering this region and its five AVA’s (American Viticulture Area) which are Lake County; Benmore Valley, Clear Lake, Guenoc Valley, High Valley and Red Hills. Lake County has a history of vineyards and winemaking going back to the late 1800’s. Prohibition was the “kiss of death” for both the vineyards and wineries of Lake County.

The second hit on this region was the isolation and lack of development of the railroads prohibiting cost-effective transportation of grapes to market. During this time, grape growing in neighboring counties such as Napa and Mendocino were prospering. A post-prohibition revival of grape gowning began in the late 1960’s. A handful of vineyards and wineries were in Lake County from 1975-2000, leading us to today with a rapid expansion of wineries throughout the region.

This medium size production winery and tasting room borders the Bio Dynamic Ceago Vinegarden (world renowned proprietor Jim Fetzer). The parcel is approx 6.29 acres in size and includes a turnkey – fully equipped 20,000+ square foot wine production facility featuring; wine lab, barrel room, tank farm with over 110,000 gallons of stainless steel tanks, cased good storage, bottling line, euro press, crush pad, loading/unloading dock, gorgeous landscape and entertaining area for events and much more (see detailed equipment list). The tasting room is ideally located right on Highway 20 and generated over $203,000 in gross receipts in 2010. Custom crush demand is greater than ever in Lake county and can provide an additional revenue stream.