Between the Vines is a biweekly column on wine and wine making in the Livermore Valley region. This column was contributed by Mike Eckert, co-owner of Eckert Estate Winery.

Winery name: Eckert Estate Winery

Owners: Mike and Vickie Eckert

About us: I came to the Livermore Valley in 1986 to raise horses. However, after an evening at a winemaker's dinner I had a change of heart and planted cabernet sauvignon cuttings obtained from a local winery.

My wife, Vickie, and I opened the Eckert Estate Winery tasting room in December 2001. After 11 years at our Arroyo Road address, we have recently moved. Eckert Estate Winery is now located in the Graham Court Business Park off South Vasco Road. The tasting area is in the barrel room that is nearly 1,000 square feet. In addition to 30 feet of U-shaped counter space, there are tables where customers can retreat and taste at a more relaxed pace, or enjoy a full glass of their favorite wine. Local artist Loni Frankland has painted two murals that grace the winery walls.

Our wines: We produce an eclectic array of handcrafted wines from Italian, Portuguese, and French varietals -- many that you don't customarily find in a tasting room.

In addition to celebrating our new location, we are releasing seven new wines this year: a Livermore Valley petite sirah, a reserve bottling viognier,

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carignane, pinot noir and a Portuguese-style port. I am also delving deeper into blended wines, adding two new Rhone-style blends: a medium-bodied blend of Grenache, carignane, syrah and petite sirah and a bold blend of syrah and petite sirah.

Eckert Estate Winery is known for big red wines that are smooth, but with lots of flavor and long-lasting mouth-feel. Our least expensive wines are ensemble, our red table wine, and our chardonnay at $10.99. Our most expensive wines are the reserve wines that sell for $22. Most of our wines are in the $15-to-$18 range. We also offer homemade mustards from Noyo Reserve and truffles.

Hours & tasting fee: Our new tasting room is open Friday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.; special tours and other tasting hours are available by appointment. Tasting is $5 per person, refundable with wine purchase. Please contact us to arrange special tastings for groups or to reserve the private tasting room for a special occasion.

Where is the winery? Eckert Estate Winery is located at 5963 Graham Court, Suite D in Livermore.

Other contact information: 925-371-8606; www.eckertestate.com.

Wine country events:

  • Wood Family Vineyards release party -- noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Releasing our 2011 chardonnay, 2010 cabernet sauvignon, 2010 50-50 and 2010 Big Wood zin. Additional tasting of Wood Family favorites and wines paired with gourmet cheeses. Live music by "Patty & Abigail" on Saturday and "The Mundaze" on Sunday; 20 percent off on case sales this weekend only. Cost is $10. Wood Family Vineyards, 7702 Cedar Mountain Drive, Livermore, CA 94550; www.woodfamilyvineyards.com

  • Occasio Winery harvest train -- 6 p.m. Aug. 25. Celebrate the third anniversary of Occasio Winery in the first-class comfort of the Golden Gate Railway Museum's Pullman Club Lounge Car. Built for the Southern Pacific Railway in 1914, this lounge car was used on premier passenger trains such as the Cascade. We will feature a four-course meal with special wine pairings, all enjoyed while cruising comfortably along the beautiful Niles Canyon corridor. Cost is $95. Niles Canyon Railway, 5550 Niles Canyon Road in Sunol; www.occasiowinery.com.