Wines & Wineries
The wines that really stand out here are the
deep, flavorful red wines. Zinfandel originated here, and most of the wineries make a
super tasty "Big" type of Zin. Likewise with Syrah and, increasingly, Petite
Syrah. Italian and Rhone varietals and blends
are bottled here as well, and have achieved
acclaim, here and in Europe and Asia.
Visit our winery
pages, and plan your visit to the scenic
foothills of California.
Wine Events
Check out the many wine
events that take place in the Sierra foothills, including wine
weekends, indvidual winery events, regional
festivals, concerts, and special wine tastings.
Recipes
Our Foothill Kitchen offers recipes using wine, from soup to meat and chicken, and slow
cooker dishes. The latest entries include Coq Au
Vin (slow cooker version), and Mushroom Soup with
Port.
Sierra Foothills Wine Region
As a growing number of wine grape species are
being grown, the wine region has grown. It now
stretches from Nevada County -- Grass Valley and Nevada City -- in the northern reaches of California's Gold Country -- south through Eldorado
County where you'll find the small city
of Placerville, and the hamlets of
Fair Play and Camino.
Further south is Amador
County and its famous Shenendoah Valley--
near Plymouth, with other wineries near Sutter Creek and Ione, and then Calaveras
County, yet farther south. Here, the towns
are Murphys (wine-central for Calaveras), San
Andreas, and Angel's Camp. Most of the wineyards in the foothills are at
an elevation of about 1,500 feet.
The
Sierra Foothills wine region has, for
many years, been California's best kept wine secret
-- but no longer! Thousands of visitors explore the
small and distinctive wineries of the Western
Sierra Foothills that specialize in full-bodied
reds and distinctive white wines including
Rhone-style varietals.