Livermore is a thriving suburban city nestled along Interstate 580 in the heart of wine country. The Livermore Valley was mostly used as grazing land until gold prospectors arrived on their way out west during the 1840s California Gold Rush. Livermore’s first vineyards were planted during this period, and the area is now home to more than 50 wineries. Livermore’s charming historic downtown has grown into a hip commercial and entertainment hub with live music venues, great restaurants, theaters, and dozens of specialty boutiques. Livermore’s housing options mostly consist of single-family homes in a variety of established and newly-developed neighborhoods. Livermore also has sprawling ranch properties with impressive acreage.
Livermore has a lively downtown district centered on First Street with a good selection of shops and restaurants. A trendy new downtown area will add to the retail and entertainment options by transforming an 8-acre parking lot into a public park and commercial space. Popular dining choices include
Strizzi’s, which serves health-conscious Italian-style eats such as fresh fish, mouthwatering barbequed meats, and oven-roasted chicken.
Sauced BBQ & Spirits combines flavorful BBQ with a full-service bar and has live music on weekends.
The Wente Estate Tasting Room is the perfect place to get acquainted with Livermore’s rich vinicultural scene. In continuous operation since 1883, Wente Vineyards is the longest-running family-owned winery in the entire country.
First Street Ale House is another good choice for drinks, offering rotating craft beer taps and elevated gastropub fare.
Livermore’s many wineries can be enjoyed slowly one-by-one or sampled together through all-inclusive tours such as the
Livermore Wine Trolley. Along with
Wente Vineyards, Livermore is home to a number of California’s most historic wine producers.
Concannon Vineyard’s on-site museum provides a fascinating insight into the area’s wine-producing history, plus the chance to sample some of the varietals that make Livermore Valley wine so special.
Murietta’s Well is another estate that has produced wine since the 1800s. These long-established wine producers share the Livermore Valley wine country with dozens of newer vineyards that have also earned a well-deserved reputation for quality wines. Sample perfectly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon at
BoaVentura, savor mesmerizing valley views at
McGrail Vineyards, or head to
Bent Creek Winery for bold prize-winning reds and whites.
