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Top Shenandoah Valley
Wineries
The Shenandoah Valley |
Our home base in the Sierra Foothills is the town of
Sutter Creek. From Sutter Creek take Highway 49 towards Plymouth.
If you are planning on a picnic lunch, a good place to buy your
lunch is the Pokerville Market. It is located as you enter Plymouth
on Highway 49. Once in Plymouth, take a right turn off Highway
49 onto Shenandoah Road. Check our wine road map for details. Sierra
Winery Map |
Winery Descriptions, Driving Directions, Tasting Room Hours
TERRE ROUGE and
EASTON
Drive approximately 2.5 miles and look for Dickson Road on the
left. Turn left and you will come to the winery in about a quarter
of a mile. The winery began operation in the mid 1980s. This is
a small family winery, but it produces two series of wines. The
EASTON label features the more traditional California varietals,
while the Terra Rouge label features their Rhone varietals. The
winery is famous for its Syrah wines, producing four different
labels. Try the Zinfandels, they are also excellent. The tasting
room is new, having opened in the summer of 2002.
Tasting room open Friday to Sunday, 11 to 4 pm
(209) 245-4277, e-mail: terouge@volcano.net, Terre
Rouge and Easton
Amador Cellars
Just down Shenandoah Road from Terra Rouge is Amador Cellars. You will spot the
beautifully-designed winery on the left side of the road. The winery opened
its doors in 2004 with this unique winery and tasting room. The
facility is made of rice straw and concrete with two-foot thick walls. The
design meshes beautifully with the countryside of vineyards and oak trees.
The owner and winemaker is Larry Long. He and his wife Linda manage all the
duties of the winery, producing 2000 cases of wine annually. They produce
Zinfandel, Syrah, and Chardonnay, and some Sangiovese and Barbera. The tasting
room imparts a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere for visitors.
Tasting room open Friday thru Sunday, 12 to 5 pm
(209) 245-6150. email: larry@amadorcellars.com, Amador
Cellars
Karly Winery
Head back and, turn left on to Shenandoah Rd. Go just a short distance
and turn left on to Bell Road. Head down the narrow road about a
half-mile to Karly. Karly has developed a secret following of admirers,
especially for their Zinfandels. They produce several vineyard-designated
Zinfandels from their estate and nearby neighbors' vineyards. Our
favorite is the Warrior Fires Zinfandel. We also like the Sauvignon
Blanc very much and it’s a steal at $11 per bottle. The winery
also produces an interesting array of Rhone wines. This small winery,
11,000 cases per year is owned and operated by Bill Cobb and his
wife Karly. You definitely will feel that family atmosphere when
you visit this winery.
Tasting room open daily, 12 to 4 pm
(209) 245-3922, email: karly@karlywines.com, Karly
Winery
Renwood Winery
From Karly continue on Shenandoah Road a short distance
and turn left on Steiner Road. Look for Renwood Winery at about
three-quarters of mile on the left on Steiner. This winery oozes
Zinfandel. It produces six varieties of Zinfandel plus a dessert
Zinfandel made from grape juice squeezed from frozen grapes.
Although Renwood is well recognized for the quality of its Zinfandels,
it also produces other interesting wines. In addition to the
Zins, consider the Barbera, Syrah, or the Viognier.
Tasting room is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm
(209) 245-6979, e-mail: sales@renwood.com. Go
to Website
Shenandoah Vineyards
Almost directly across the highway is Shenandoah Winery. Drive up
the hill to this small family-owned winery. The scenery from the
parking area is very beautiful, especially in the fall. The tasting
room is new and spacious, with adjacent rooms with paintings and
other goodies for sale. The wines made at Shenandoah are from organically
grown vineyards. No irrigation takes place on these hillside vineyards.
They make several varietals of wines including a variety they call
Zingiovese. This wine is a mainly Sangiovese with a blend of Zinfandel.
The Sobon family owns this winery as well as the nearby Sobon Estate
Winery and Vineyards. Don’t let the term organic fool you,
these are very good and excellent tasting wines.
Tasting Room is open daily from 10 to 5 pm
(209) 245 4455, e-mail: info@sobonwine.com, Shenandoah
Vineyards
Deaver Winery
Continue driving along Steiner Road. Deaver Winery will be on the
left a short distance from Shenandoah Vineyards. This is a very
small family winery with some interesting wines. They produce a
dry white Zinfandel, and a very good Zinfandel from century old
vineyards. They also make four varieties of port. This is good spot
for lunch. Pick out some lunch snacks at the winery and a chilled
bottle of the Deaver Chardonnay or the the Sauvignon Blanc. Then
pick your spot on the winery’s spacious picnic grounds that
edge along a very pretty lake. Lunch here can be very tranquil.
The family also runs an inn that is adjacent to the winery.
Tasting room open Daily 11:00 to 5:00 pm
(209) 245-4099, e-mail:deaverwinery@deavervineyard.com, Deaver
Winery
Amador Foothill Winery
This winery is almost directly across the road from Deaver Winery
on Steiner Road. Turn into the entrance road and drive up the hill
to the Amador Foothill Winery. You will be treated to one of the
best views in the valley. The Amador Foothill Winery makes three
different Zinfandel wines. as well as a Syrah, and Sangiovese. We
think all these wines are excellent values. Our favorite wine is
a white, the Fume Blanc. It is a luscious and fruity wine, and a
bargain at the price of $10. We found the winery staff to be very
friendly and cordial. This winery is also a great choice for a picnic
lunch. You can grab a bottle of the Fume and sit on the picnic table
and take in the view of the valley below.
Tasting room open noon to 5 pm, Friday thru Sunday
(800)-778-WINE, e-mail:Info@AmadorFoothill.com,
Amador
Foothill Winery
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