Ficklin Vineyards

We bought tickets for this specific winery, although once we got to the winery we were told we could not enter since we had a baby with us. After asking the owner how to get our money back since we could not go in, even though we had called ahead to ask (we attend every year, and since this was the first time with a baby we called before hand) he went on a rampage. He gave me a pamphlet with a phone to call, which ended up having the wrong number (Later noticed the number on the front and the back of the flyer was slightly off) we asked him for a different number at which point he just totally lost it. He told us that he owned «The Best Winery» in central California and donated a lot of money to the Sheriff’s department to have to explain himself, as he put it he could change the rules all day for all he cared he had plenty of customers. We were not interested in arguing so we left however he followed us out saying that he would call police on us for drunk driving. We did not really care as being rejected entry to his winery we were as sober as could be. The do make great wine however it seems as if the owner looses it any time he thinks people are undermining his authority, apparently its been know to happen many times.
Long story short good wine, but stay away from the owner as he will explode you if you do anything that he deems is disrespectful even though it may not be to anyone else.

If you plan on going here keep in mind they are not welcomed to children. I have been to tons of wineries in California with my daughter (I have seen many families at wineries) and I have NEVER had a problem. They said that that a child is a liability because people are consuming alcohol… Makes no sense since many businesses cater to families and serve alcohol. This was one of my favorite wineries but I will NEVER go there again. Owners were rude and asked us to leave the property…

Without a doubt the best port winery in the USA. I recently ordered some port for my parents and found Ficklin’s ordering process very easy to navigate. My parents called and said the port arrived in perfect condition!
Thank you Ficklin Vineyards! We will be back to visit you again!

This is a great place to do a little wine tasting, the atmosphere is very cool, it’s been around for some time, it’s a must if you do the wine trail.

Love this old winery. Their Port is the best around. We drive from Central Coast just to get their Port.

Great service today. Good wine and chocolate samples. Fun place to go with a group.

Best port winery in the world. In the central valley anyway. Awesome party’s social events. Come see Kenny in the store great guy. Awesome people. Peter frickin great host. my hats off to you all.

Never again! We had our tour scheduled. Called twice to confirm. Was told no problem… but that they would call back if therer was any problem. Pulled in, unloaded a group of 90 year old WWII Marines, and was told they couldn’t do our tasting.
Shame on you Ficklin! Not only is that a crappy way to do business, but a terrible way to treat a group of men that fought for your freedom and ability to run your shitty little winery!
Bad bad bad!!!

A great experience! Friendly staff that is very knowledgeable.
Great place for the port lover! I loved the new table wine they offered.
The tasting room is in located in their barrel room too, fun!

Excellent 10 year old Tawny Port. Definitely worth the price, which is generally less than many comparable ports. Interesting, four of us that have enjoyed a good port for many years did a «blind taste test». Ficklin, Graham’s and Taylor Fladgate. All three were the 10 year old variety. We agreed unanimously — Ficklin was clearly the best. Just to be on the safe side, we repeated the test several times. Again, Ficklin came out on top (best I can remember).

I hesitate to write a review, because I’m afraid that the general public will discover this hidden jewel! We enjoy the tasting room because of the excellent port, the «growler» program, the barrel tasting, and the staff – Dez knows his port, and is fun to taste with, too. The fact that they are dog-​friendly makes them even better – and a perfect spot for an afternoon of port/​wine tasting.

I’m not knowledgeable when it comes to port and I don’t really care for them but I decided to stop by and um really glad we did. Everyone was extremely informative, helpful and funny. I didn’t care for anything but I bought a bottle for a gift because they were so good to us. Definitely worth going to! They ended the free tasting with their specialty, a chocolate raspberry truffle drink which was pretty damn delish!

Ficklin is a real gem of a winery and tasting room, an oasis just a few miles off Highway 99. The ports are outstanding and great value at every price point, and they are very approachable if you’re a port neophyte.
Other than the port itself, tasting room host Jim is worth making the trip all on his own. He’s tremendously knowledgeable, full of fun facts, and a great conversationalist. Leaving Ficklin without buying a bunch of port would be a real accomplishment, but it’s never happened for me.

I have been into port since the time I made French Onion Soup. For those of you who don’t know what I mean, the recipe calls for port. I personally favor Prager’s Port in Napa Valley but on the way from UCLA up to the Bay, I decided to hit Madera Wine Trail. I wanted to find something unique that makes you go wow and have a secret weapon to bring out at parties. I bought a bottle of the Tinta port for Valentines Day. SO sad to see that they were out of the white port but I will visit this little gem again. A bonus is that the tasting is free. Promise that your taste buds will tap dance once a drop of this delicious port reaches your tongue.

Took a little port detour on our way to LA and left with about 10 bottles.
Ficklin does FREE wine tastings, and since my bf is a club member, we got to try a lot of extras. By the end, we were definitely feeling it! The highlight was the 1991 Vintage Port, but I especially love the 10 yr Tawny Port and the Chocolate Passport (the chocolate one is only 10 bucks and a great little gift or stocking stuffer). Denise (I think that was her name?) poured the tastings for us, and she was very knowledgeable and friendly.
We LOVE Ficklin, and this is where we always stock up on Port if we’re driving to LA or Fresno. Highly recommended.

My name is Wendy, and I am a port drinker.
Most wines are not for me. But then there is Ficklin. And Ficklin exceeds my expectations. They dabble (maybe dabble is a poor choice of words) in a large variety of ports. Using the old solera process, they create beautifully mellow ones all the way up to full bodied ports, ranging in price from $ 10 up to $ 360 for the 1957 Vintage Port. And plenty of well deserved awards to show for them.
Their ports are wonderful, all special. But, my favorites? Tawny Port Reserve and Ruby Port Reserve. Both so smooth. The gotcha for those two? We have to become PORTfolio Society members to buy them. At least we can taste them first. I am secretly working out a plan to convince Mr. B we should become members.
And there goes that angel chorus ringing in my ears again. To me, a good port has a special connection with the heavenly bodies.
So, did you know Ficklin is featured as part of the Madera Wine Trails? Who knew there was such a thing in the middle of dry, dusty Central California? Everyone knows about Napa/​Sonoma, Santa Ynez, and Temecula. But now we know about Madera.
And Ficklin is an old winery, established around 1946. Interesting history, interesting family, historic adobe brick winery. The tasting room is right there, in full view of the stacked old oak barrels, full and waiting for the next bottling. Well worth looking at their website and reading all about them.
And as my friends all know, finding the Madera Wine Trails means there is yet another exciting new adventure ahead for Mr. B and I. And, ha ha, maybe a new membership.

If you like ports, then you have to check this place out. Its in Madera and easy to get to from the Freeway for all the out of town people.
Ficklin is a big time wine maker and its right here!
They have a number of diffrent ports. Its a great place to do some tasting as its in an working vinyard, with huge wooden casks all around. Its great for tasting or groups. Its not at all stuffy or trendy, you taste in a working enviroment which add to the experiance.
Some really high quality stuff. This is also on the Madera Wine Trail, so check it out.

Since I moved to Fresno, I give all my wine lover friends in the Bay Area and all over the US a bottle of Ficklin Port, when I visit them.
heck, i didn’t even know Madera was a wine county. and Ficklin makes pretty damn good port, and i love their chcolate port.
Funny thing, neither do my friends knew that too.
Ficklin and Central California– i am spreading the word.

This is a great winery/​tasting room, particularly if you’re a fan of port.
The tasting room/​warehouse is very industrial-​looking, with exposed metal beams and walls. Also, there are hundreds of wooden barrels filling up the majority of the space. It’s not a run-​of-​the-​mill pretty tasting room, and the change is refreshing.
Now to the wines– There was a (free) tasting of about a half dozen ports, and there was not one we did not like. Additionally, the tasting room manager was very friendly and informative about the port-​making process. If you’re in Madera, I highly recommend a stop at Ficklin. Bonus– they are open every day!

I’ve had Ficklin on my wine lists for over 20 years and these guys or should I say guy — Peter Ficklin makes the best American style port in America.
I definitely think he competes with the big boys in Portugal and he should. They’ve started making port in 1940. Everything you buy is reasonably priced because so much care has gone into these wines — traditional grape varietals are used, they are not over sweet like some other producers. if you’re ever even close to Madera /​Fresno — Modesto — head into Ficklin and try some — you will be a fan.