Advice Needed on Visiting Amador Wineries

Next week I will have some business to conduct in Sonora and will be left with spare time for a couple of days, but I haven't been to Amador County or its environs in years and have limited experience with the region's wines, so I would appreciate advice. My companion on the trip doesn't share my geeky enthusiasm for wine, so a half-dozen or so wineries would be as much as I would want to visit. We will be driving to and from Sonora from the Sacramento airport.

Ideas also would be much appreciated on places to eat as my perusal of the Triple A Tour Book doesn't reveal much of anything in the way of promising restaurants.

(For those who are at least somewhat familiar with the area but don't know where the little town of Sonora is, here are directions for the shortest route from the Sacramento airport, which I took years ago. Drive east on Highway 16 and then south on Highway 49, passing through Amador City, Sutter Creek, Jackson, San Andreas and Angels Camp and then arriving at Sonora.)

Clint-

As always, it depends a bit on what you want and exactly when you'll be there. A lot of the wineries aren't open Monday through Wednesday, so you'll have more to choose from if you're there late in the week or on a weekend.

If you stay in the Shenandoah Valley area, then I'd recommend getting to Vino Noceto and Terre Rouge if you don't go anywhere else. I find their wines to be consistently excellent. They're also right next door to each other, and the Terre Rouge winery has nice picnic grounds. Cooper would also be on my "must-visit" list for their wide range of extremely well-made wines and friendly people. I also like Amador Foothill, both for the wine and the experience. Going there hearkens back to Amador when it was just getting established as a place to go for tasting. Dobra Zemlja (across the way from Amador Foothill) is an interesting place that reflects the quirky character of the owner-winemaker. I find the wines to be a bit big and alcoholic for my tastes, but it's a fun place to visit.

If you can get to Fairplay, then make sure to go see Jonathan and Susan at Cedarville. You'll need to call ahead, but they're very accomodating. They're a bit further away than the Shenandoah wineries but well worth the time if you can spare it. Tell them hi from me if you drop in. A couple of others to try if you're going that route would include Mt. Aukum winery, Sierra Vista, and Holly's Hill (although the last two will make for quite a drive). All good places. And I'm sure others will chime in with their favorites as well.

As far as food goes, the options are somewhat limited. There's a restaurant in Plymouth called Taste that is reportedly fantastic. Their website is here. The Pokerville Market, also in Plymouth, is a grocery store/deli where you can stock up with picnic supplies and such if you want to go that route. I believe a new place has also opened up in Fairplay, but I can't remember any details. (And if you're planning on stopping to eat in Sacto on the way in or out, let me know. )

You will hit the place in a real sweet spot in terms of how beautiful it will be. It should be stunning. Enjoy, and please report back!

Clint,
Everything that Mike said. In Plymouth there is better than average pizza place called Incahoots.The deli in Plymouth is still called The Amador Vintage Market. It is really nice place to stock up on picnic supplies. Also, Karly in Amador is a fine stop. It is not far from Vino Noceto and Terre Rouge.
Shaji

Clint,
Everything that Mike said. In Plymouth there is better than average pizza place called Incahoots.The deli in Plymouth is still called The Amador Vintage Market. It is really nice place to stock up on picnic supplies. Also, Karly in Amador is a fine stop. It is not far from Vino Noceto and Terre Rouge.

Great recommendations so far. One additional place in the Shenandoah Valley is Amador Foothill Winery, run by a very nice couple and making some interesting wines.

Mark Lipton

If you stay in the Shenandoah Valley area, then I'd recommend getting to Vino Noceto and Terre Rouge if you don't go anywhere else. I find their wines to be consistently excellent. They're also right next door to each other, and the Terre Rouge winery has nice picnic grounds. Cooper would also be on my "must-visit" list for their wide range of extremely well-made wines and friendly people. I also like Amador Foothill, both for the wine and the experience. Going there hearkens back to Amador when it was just getting established as a place to go for tasting. Dobra Zemlja (across the way from Amador Foothill) is an interesting place that reflects the quirky character of the owner-winemaker. I find the wines to be a bit big and alcoholic for my tastes, but it's a fun place to visit.

I second Mike's recommendations of Terre Rouge and Noceto, especially the former. I was in Amador last weekend and bought a case of their 2000 Zinfandel (which they bottle under the label Easton); their Syrahs are consistently excellent as well. Another winery in the Shenandoah with a top-to-bottom excellent collection is Bella Piazza- be sure to try the Shiraz and Primitivo.

My one visit to Dobra Zemlja left me a bit turned off. It was December, and the whole place was covered in the tackiest Christmas decorations possible, with (loud) holiday music piped in to match. While it wasn't quite as annoying as the tasting room at Stonehouse (an artistic sinkhole wallpapered with Thomas Kinkade originals, I kid you not), it was close.

If you have time, I'd also suggest checking out TKC (if they still have any bottles of their 2000 Mourvedre lying around snap one up), and Shenandoah Vineyards (especially the Rezerve(sic) Barbera).

Thank you, and please keep the advice coming. I'm out of touch with the area, so if you would mention what towns the recommended wineries are near that would be a big help.

As I mentioned, my base of operations will be SONORA, up in the foothills, 96 miles from Sacramento by way of highways 16 and 49. But in view of your suggestions maybe we could spend one night in the general vicinity of Plymouth which appears to be about fourty miles from Sacramento. Or maybe we should spend that night instead in one of the other towns in that general area if there are better restaurants and places to stay.

Yes, the Plymouth wine area is a bit north of Sonora. It would make a really pleasant day trip, however. Go north from Sonora on 49. Stop in Jackson, head off to Columbia (the Gold Rush State Park), and on up toward Plymouth. The gold country is a beautiful drive. You don't have to stop going up - you can also stop coming back.
The roads aren't fast driving. Figure you'll be driving 40-45 MPH, and take off about 5 MPH for your stops.

I don't know a whole lot about the hotels and such in the area, Clint. I know that Sutter Creek has several B&B's and there's the very rustic Volcano Hotel in Volcano (of all places). Jackson has the National Hotel that must be about 200 years old. IIRC, the one time I stayed there (about 20 years ago) I slept in a bed that also seemed to be about 200 years old. I do think you'll have an easier time getting to the wineries of Amador and Fairplay from someplace like Plymouth or Sutter Creek, though.

Thank you, and please keep the advice coming. I'm out of touch with the area, so if you would mention what towns the recommended wineries are near that would be a big help.

As I mentioned, my base of operations will be SONORA, up in the foothills, 96 miles from Sacramento by way of highways 16 and 49. But in view of your suggestions maybe we could spend one night in the general vicinity of Plymouth which appears to be about fourty miles from Sacramento. Or maybe we should spend that night instead in one of the other towns in that general area if there are better restaurants and places to stay.

The drive by Hwy 49 is quite pretty, as long as you aren't averse to driving curvy, two-lane mountain roads and is less than an hour each way. If that's not your cup of tea, then staying in Plymouth probably makes a lot of sense. I'll leave it to others to suggest lodgings, though. Although it's been years since we've eaten there, the City Hotel in Columbia used to be run by a college Hospitality department, and was a fine place for dinner with a good wine list.

Mark Lipton

Thanks, all. I now have dinner reservations tomorrow night in Plymouth at Taste (thanks, Mike) and the next day plan to start winery hopping with Vino Noceto and Terre Rouge since your guys all like them. And then I'll try to get to the others. Let's hope somebody is open.

Most of them will be open, and the majority are on a sort of loop road that's well signposted. Last time I was there there were several places I'd never heard of. Those are always fun!

This is my trip report, a short one befitting a brief visit as we were able to be in the Shenandoah Valley only for an overnight and a couple of hours Tuesday morning, so of course few of the wineries were open. We visited only two, Montevina and Renwood.

Here are six memorable local wines we tasted among the twenty-some we tried at the two vineyards plus one at Taste:

2004 WINDWALKER BARBERA AMADOR COUNTY COOPER VINEYARD Served at Taste restaurant, this otherwise very promising fruity Barbera was swamped by Leonetti style sweet oak. What a waste of good fruit.

2005 MONTEVINA TERRA D'ORO ZINFANDEL AMADOR COUNTY HOME VINEYARD A lovely Zinfandel that should match well with food. Apparently Amador has come a long way since I last visited two decades ago when the rage was big over-extracted, plummy, oaky, alcoholic wines. This elegant sipper carried its 15 percent alcohol unobtrusively and is reserved for the winery's club members, but I begged and paid a few extra bucks for a bottle.

2005 MONTEVINA TERRA D'ORO ZINFANDEL AMADOR COUNTY SHR FIELD BLEND. Co-fermented and also intended only for club members this was as delicious as the Home Vineyard.

2000 MONTEVINA TERRA D'ORO AMADOR COUNTY DEAVER VINEYARD From vines supposedly planted in 1882, its tannins are a little rougher than the Home Vineyard and Field Blend's but there's a lot of good things going on in this wine.

2005 RENWOOD ZINFANDEL AMADOR COUNTY "GRANDMERE" Another Zin with a scrumptious nose and a lot of busy stuff on the palate and finish. White pepper graces the nose without dominating it. The midpalate and finish are luscious. Maybe my wine of the morning.

By far the most delicious meal we had during the entire three-day trip was dinner at Taste in Plymouth. Thanks, Mike, for the recommendation. And thanks, everyone, for all your advice.

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself and that Taste was up to the challenge. I've really got to get out there myself, and soon!