Ayrael Vieux

Truly a hidden gem! The wine is superb, the grounds are gorgeous and well maintained, and the owner was incredibly kind and generous with his time. Tip: the winery can be hard to find and most map apps can’t find the address. Dont get discouraged — its worth searching for! The owner puts a sign out when he’s open at the corner of Monge Ranch Road and Highway 4, so keep an eye out!
My husband and I received a warm welcome when we arrived, and offered a tour if the vineyard. We learned about his grapes and his philosophy on maintaining the vines. It was a great way to start the visit. We then tasted his wines which were delicious.
We left with a case of the 2007 Sangiovese half bottles, and 2 bottles of his 2009 Sangiovese, 2009 Montepulciano, 2008 Zinfandel, and 2009 Rose.
We will definitely visit Ayraek Vieux the next time we head up to Murphy’s, and recommend this place to anyone in the area.
One more thing: Not sure if they offer it, but it would be the perfect location for a wedding :)

To paraphrase Robert Frost, if you take the road less traveled, it can make a difference in your life. Ayrael Vieux is a very small privately owned winery and tasting room located on a little gravel road off of Highway 4 just outside of Murphys. On my travels to Murphys I have often seen a sandwich board next to the highway advertising this winery. I had the opportunity of visiting it for the first time recently. As you pull in the driveway and park your car, the owner and Ollie (the vineyard dog) come out to greet you. A tour of the vineyard was given which was much appreciated. I learned that the winery is operated by the owner and his wife. The vines are young in that they were planted in 2004. Red wines are the only wines produced, which for me was perfect as I am not a fan of white wine in general. The owner was delightful and took great pride in his wines. I enjoyed the Cabernet Savignon which was actually produced from grapes grown in the Napa Valley region. Keep in mind that this tasting room is quite small (only room for a few tasters), is off the beaten path, and is only open on select weekends. All in all, I am very glad I had the opportunity to visit.