Why The Micro-Winery Guild (MWG) exists

to protect and elevate something no marketing department can manufacture:
authentic wine experiences rooted in family, craftsmanship, and genuine hospitality.

 

Micro-Wineries are not defined by scale or spectacle.
They are defined by who they are.

 

Every bottle, every visit, every conversation reflects a family’s livelihood, land, and legacy — shared across a table, not behind a counter.

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The TASTE™ Experience

Every micro-winery backed by the MWG delivers hospitality through a TASTE™ Experience:

"T" stands for Terroir

Vineyard-driven, place-based experiences

"A" stands for Artisan

Led by the people who farm & make the wine

"S" stands for Small-Scale

Intentionally limited, appointment-only

"T" stands for Trust

No scripts, no upsell, no spectacle

"E" stands for Engagement 

Real connections, not tourism

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Approved TASTE™ Experiences 

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Each Verified Micro-Producer offers one or more of the following experience, all governed by the same TASTE™ standards: 

 

• TASTE | Terroir Walk — Vineyard walk, soil & farming

• TASTE | Cellar Session — Barrel tasting, small-lot winemaking

• TASTE | Library & Legacy — Vertical, site-focused tastings

• TASTE | Grower’s Table — Seated tasting with the producer

• TASTE | Harvest Insight — Seasonal agricultural learning​

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These formats replace conventional tasting rooms with authentic agricultural encounters.

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What the TASTE Seal Means

The TASTE designation is inspired by historic European guilds and origin systems, not as a copy, but as a modern California expression of the same ideals:

• Independent, family ownership

• Small-lot wine production under 5,000 cases

• Direct connection with the grower, winemaker, or owner - always 

• Hospitality that feels like entering someone’s home

• Experiences that cannot be replicated at scale

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When you see the TASTE seal, you know exactly what you’re walking into — and who you’ll meet.