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Gold Country: Sierra Foothills
Five stops through Gold Rush country, cave tasting to hilltop Rhone
The route
7 stops·5 wineries · 2 activities
- 01WinerySierra Foothills
Bella Grace Vineyards
Start your Gold Country morning here — cave tastings, beautiful architecture, and a family-run operation that pours some of the most expressive Amador reds you'll find anywhere. The cellar alone is worth the detour.
- 02WineryCalifornia Shenandoah Valley
Deaver Vineyards
Few families have more history in these hills than the Deavers — their old-vine zinfandel has been growing in this same Shenandoah Valley soil for generations, and one sip makes that legacy completely obvious. Cozy, genuine, and utterly unforgettable.
- 03Activity
Sutter Creek Main Street
One of the best-preserved Gold Rush downtowns in the Sierra — browse the antique shops, grab lunch at a local deli, and soak up the 1850s charm between your morning and afternoon pours.
- 04WineryCalifornia Shenandoah Valley
Vino Noceto
Vino Noceto built its reputation on Sangiovese in a sea of zinfandel, and the result is one of California's most joyful surprises — pair a pour with their food pairings on the patio and prepare to linger way longer than planned.
- 05WineryFair Play
Element 79 Vineyards
Tucked into the rolling Fair Play AVA, Element 79 is exactly the kind of hidden gem this road trip is built around — quiet, scenic, and pouring wines that reward anyone willing to venture just a little off the main drag.
- 06Activity
Placerville Historic Downtown (Old Hangtown)
Placerville's gritty, characterful downtown is the perfect midday fuel stop — grab lunch at Heyday Café or poke around the gold-rush-era storefronts before heading up into the El Dorado vineyards.
- 07WineryEl Dorado
Holly's Hill Vineyards
Holly's Hill is El Dorado County's Rhône headquarters — rare Grenache, Roussanne, and Viognier grown at elevation with mountain views to match. This is the discovery moment your whole trip has been building toward.
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