Lightheart Cellars

Came by here for my birthday, and was pleasantly surprised. Keep in mind it’s in their backyard, but it is just the cutest! I’ve been to many, many wineries, all over the US, and at this place the customer is number one! They were just above and beyond. As far as the wine, I haven’t had a good Pinot Noir in a long time, and their Dijon Clone was amazing! I came home with three bottles!

Me and my fiancé were in to do some wine tasting for our wedding this year in summer and they went above and beyond to help us on finding the right wine and even helped us giveing some feedback on some wedding venues locally. I honestly feel like Ive made new friends, customer service is absolutely above and beyond. I recommend this place to anyone that loves wine.

Such sweet guys, very informative, generous sampling, and cozy casual environment. I want to see them continue to do well and grow in popularity!

Enjoyed the wine and the company. Sheldon was a gracious host. He is in the middle of come renovations but when the wine is good, who cares about the dust? (Just to clarify… there was no dust, and the renovations didn’t alter our first experience. Left with a bottle of Chardonnay and Sangiovese).

Stopped by to join Sheldon for a glass of wine to get out of the 103 degree heat on Sunday. We had a very nice time tasting his wine and chatting about everything from winemaking to foreign policy. I almost called him Uncle Sheldon when I left … Stop by when you have time to enjoy a visit with family ;)

Very informal location in the backyard of a private residence. The wine was descent, not amazing. Very new winery though and I can’t wait to try their wines as they grow and learn.

One of the best LivingSocial vouchers I’ve bought. A more personable visit to a winery I’ve not had. You’re basically sitting and drinking in the backyard of two wine lovers who want to tell you about their love for wine, and take you through a tour of their offerings. The viognier and sangria were terrific.
Plus, their son’s mead is pretty awesome.

I decided to explore Gilroy on a good weekend since this is another one that is only open the first and third full weekends of every month. Although I didn’t select anything, they still sent me home with a commemorative two year anniversary glass.

Very cute, intimate venue in the backyard. But they have a good bar set up with seating. $ 5/​person unless you buy a bottle. They have mead! First time tasting at a vineyard, pretty cool. Women were friendly and knowledgeable. Dog friendly. The wine wasn’t my favorite (but pretty good) but the 4 star rating goes for the whole experience.

We came in blind on this one after buying a Groupon-​type deal. Fortunately, it was exactly the kind of wine tasting experience we want but never seem to find. Super-​intimate and informative, it was like having a great chat about wine with new friends. The wines themselves were very delightful (hat tip to the Viognier) and we also got to try the tasty house sangria and several varieties of mead. We came home laden with bottles.
Absolutely give this place a try if you’re looking to learn more about small wineries or simply to pass a pleasant hour with nice people and good wine.

A light heart lives long — William Shakespeare
Easy mind, light heart. A mind that is too easy hides a heart that is too heavy — Franz Schubert
Sidney Gets Caught Up On Winery Reviews Part VII
Techie opens winery is a common theme up here and this vintner is another solid example that a second career in farming can be as rewarding as the first career. Sheldon Haynie and Jane Mika-​Haynie opened up this winery a couple of years ago and are already seeing success with, for example, their 2010 Carneros Pinot won a Gold Medal at the 2012 California State Fair.
I stopped in near the end of a fun day of hiking and wine tasting. The tasting room is located in the back of their San Martin house with a lovely view of one of the vineyards planted by Jane and a wind mill that actually does provide some power. Sheldon is very passionate about his wines and insists that you try everything which I did.
There were a variety of whites to start off with including a Viognier ($ 22), Chardonnay ($ 27) and a rare Colombard ($ 19). Colombard is a white French wine grape variety that is the offspring of Gouais blanc and Chenin blanc The version here was light and crisp that will make it a nice summer sipper or pair well with spicy food. That was the wine I bought. The other two whites were good but I already own enough Viognier and Chardonnay.
The reds did not interest me as much as the whites. A basic cabernet and merlot that were a bit pricey for what was in the bottle at $ 34 and $ 27 respectively. However, that award winning Pinot was outstanding! A very nice Carneros Pinot with just a pefect balance of fruit, acidity and structure. I balked at paying $ 38 on this day and in hindsight I should have bit the bullet and paid the fare. It was that good.
They also sell mead and various accessories. As a newer winery they have proven rather quickly (with the Colombard and Pinot), that they have the knowledge and wherewithal to make distinctive, outstanding wines. It will be very interesting to see how this winery progresses in the future.
Good wine made with passion by good people! That’s the way it is supposed to be. I’ll spare you the obligatory comparison to The Winery That Shall Not Be Named.
Highly recommended!

After reading an article in the local Gilroy paper about how they sell mead at Lightheart Cellars, I was really interested in checking this place out. The tasting area is located on the back patio of a private residence but they have a nice set up with plenty of room at the tasting bar. The tastings were free and we got to taste about 5 wines and 3 meads. I really enjoyed the tastings here but the best part was the service. These people really love what they do, and they take their time to share their story and passion for wine making with you. Definitely a must stop when wine tasting in the area.

Lightheart participated in a barrel tasting tour, and they were one of our stops. It’s not a typical tasting room; held in the back of a private residence, this is a much more ‘backyard style’ location. They have a bar set up with chairs and heaters, so that was nice. The people were also really friendly and welcoming. Check it out!

Great wine, friendly service… what more can you ask for?

It is a truism that some people just know how to live. What do you do when you move here from the East Coast, you are smart, you love life, and you re-​discover your love of great wine? Well, if you have the energy these people do, you work like a dog and you might decide to learn how to make good wine.
And good wine it is. From the softness of the chard and merlot, to the layers of the cab, Lightheart Cellars learned their lessons well. From their expanse of knowledge, their hospitality, their love of life and friend, but most of all, their wonderful wine will keep me going back each first and third Saturday from 12 to 5, to sample their wines and to sit back and enjoy this great place we call Northern California.