Nina W.
Yelp
This is cute boutique winery that's up in the hills of Saratoga. I knew there were a couple of wineries in the area such as Picchetti and Ridge, but I have actually never been to House Family Vineyards and didn't realize how popular the place was.
Upon arriving the winery, there is a staff who will help direct traffic and signal you where to park, which is pretty nice. Although I think they ask you to back into the spot on a hill, so be prepared! It might be slightly challenging for those who don't usually back into parking spots.
Once you parked, there's a nice walk to the tasting room which takes about 3-5min. It's a bit hilly so I would recommend wearing comfortable shoes otherwise it may be slightly difficult to walk. Once you arrive to the tasting room, there is a staff who will greet you and ask if it's your first time. I already had friends who arrived earlier, so the staff just let me in. In general, it seems like a lot of their staffs are really young (maybe nearby high school students?), but they are all pretty friendly and nice.
There is a nice indoor and outdoor seating available at this winery. However, since it's not a huge place, it can get pretty crowded very quickly, so be prepared if are planning to go on a weekend (especially afternoon). We arrived around 1pm and it wasn't super busy, but by 3pm the winery was pretty packed.
The wines are pretty good here. However, I think wines can be pretty subjective and different people have different tastes, so I think people will have to make their own judgements about the wines. The cool part was that we were able to meet with the winemaker Jim. If you spend some time to talk to him, you'll really be able to see his passion and dedication to the arts. He is also extremely knowledgable about wines.
Overall, this place is a cozy and laid-back winery that has a great view of the Bay Area, so I would recommend checking it out if you've never been!