Westover Winery in Castro Valley is Closed
Westover Winery
Westover Winery was a small, family-run business in Castro Valley, operated alongside Palomares Vineyards. Both wineries were active for 37 years, beginning in the mid 1980s when Bill Smyth purchased the 10-acre property in scenic Palomares Canyon. In addition to vineyards, the parcel included a 6,000 square foot Mediterranean-style home. The estate was surrounded by thousands of acres of East Bay Regional Park District open space, contributing to its rural, secluded feel.
Westover was known for its hands-on, innovative approach to winemaking and for keeping alive Castro Valley's modest wine heritage. The area had commercial wineries as far back as the 1800s, though most had long since disappeared. It was a hobby-scale operation for the owner, who produced a range of wines, including notable port-style wines. The tasting room was open about 10 hours per week, generating modest profits while serving as a peaceful, low-key destination for locals and visitors who enjoyed the rustic canyon setting, picnics, and events.
The winery was forced to close in 2014 after the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement issued heavy fines for using unpaid volunteer labor during the harvest. With no prior warnings or cease-and-desist order cited by the owners, the fines (reportedly up to $130,000) made continued operation of their small-scale business impossible.
The property is no longer operating as a winery, and the tasting room and vineyard activities have ceased. It remains a footnote in East Bay wine history as an example of regulatory challenges faced by small, hobbyist producers.
Westover Winery Photo Gallery
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| Westover Winery Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
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| Westover Winery Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
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| Westover Winery Photographed by Kim Giancaterino |
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