Amador Wine Country

Amador Wine Country

Lusso Della Terra Cellars

Lusso Della Terra Cellars is a boutique winery situated in the Fiddletown AVA, nestled in the picturesque rolling hills of Fiddletown, California. Known for its small-lot specialty wines, the winery consistently wins competitions across the country and delights wine connoisseurs from around the globe. Lusso Della Terra focuses on high-quality, handcrafted, ultra-premium wines, released in limited quantities and designed to be shared with loved ones.

Luxury
The winery offers a luxurious experience for visitors, featuring a beautiful space for private events and stunning vineyard backdrops for small, intimate weddings.

Craftsmanship
Lusso Della Terra also provides full-service Custom Crush for a variety of clients, collaborating with winemakers from around the world, both large and small. Guests can experience true wine craftsmanship with the winery’s award-winning winemaker.

Bella Piazza Winery

harvest grapes being gathered to bins

The wines produced from the vineyards in the Shenandoah Valley, home to some of the oldest vines in California and are renowned for their intense fruit and deep color. Winemakers, George Bursick and Susan Farrington have added their extensive experience and discerning palates to create wines of intensity with elegance. Starting with rich, mature fruit, he creates Bella Piazza Winery wines in a style that displays both richness and balance. Image - courtesy Randy Caparoso

Drytown Cellars

glass of wine

Drytown Cellars is a must go to spot when you are in the Plymouth area doing some winetasting.This sweet little find because the people are the most casual and friendly folks.The owner & winemaker, Allen and his wife Suzanne are such a pleasure.The wines are some of the best out there for the price. Especially fond of the Reserve Zin,Cab Franc,Red on Red and Primitivo

Wilderotter Vineyard & Winery

wine grapes

In June 2023, Teneral Cellars acquired Wilderotter Vineyard, establishing a new home to share our passion for wine, community, and a sense of place. Thus, Teneral Cellars at Wilderotter Vineyard was born! Our 40-acre estate, nestled in the heart of the Sierra Foothills AVA in Plymouth, CA, Amador County, offers stunning scenery, outdoor seating perfect for picnics, and an exceptional bottle of wine. Our beautiful tasting room boasts a wonderful selection of wines. White wine enthusiasts will delight in our viognier, sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay, while red wine lovers can savor our tempranillo, barbera, syrah, mourvedre, and zinfandel.

Krissie Vineyards

grape clusters

This is a small vineyard making only 3500-4000 cases a year. A varitey for wines to choose from. Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, Barbera Rosato, Black Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Port, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Shiraz / Syrah, Tempranillo, Verdelho, Vinho Tinto, Viognier, Zinfandel

Photo courtesy of photographer Randy Caparoso

Cooper Vineyards

Ancient Zinfandel - Courtesy Randy Caparoso

Everyone working there was extremely friendly and generous with the servings. The tasting room has an open layout with a decent-sized counter and several tables. The tasting room is warm and inviting with a rustic feel. Barrels line the walls and serve as the base of the tables.  Ancient Zinfandel - Courtesy Randy Caparoso

Amador Cellars

two women at table with wine Amador Cellars: A Family Tradition in Winemaking Amador Cellars is a small, quality-driven, family-oriented winery owned and operated by the Long Family. In 2000, the Longs acquired a 22-acre parcel that included a 20-acre Zinfandel vineyard in Amador County, an area they had previously sourced grapes from for their home winemaking endeavors. The family began constructing winery facilities, and by 2004, Amador Cellars was officially established. Today, this family-run winery thr

Amador Cellars: A Family Tradition in Winemaking

Amador Cellars is a small, quality-driven, family-oriented winery owned and operated by the Long Family. In 2000, the Longs acquired a 22-acre parcel that included a 20-acre Zinfandel vineyard in Amador County, an area they had previously sourced grapes from for their home winemaking endeavors. The family began constructing winery facilities, and by 2004, Amador Cellars was officially established. Today, this family-run winery thrives in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley.

Larry Long, Founder and General Manager
Though winemaking was not his first passion, Larry Long eventually found his calling in the craft, a decision that transformed the course of his life. After earning a bachelor's degree in biological science with a minor in chemistry from UC Davis, he pursued two master's degrees—one in biochemistry from Ohio State University and another in healthcare administration from George Washington University. Larry spent 20 years as a hospital administrator, including 13 years as CEO of Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, California. After settling in Truckee with his wife, Linda, Larry discovered the joy of home winemaking. “I loved the idea of taking grapes and making wine, then enjoying the fruits of our labor. It was a great adventure for the whole family.” His enthusiasm for the hobby led him to take viticulture and winemaking classes through the UC Davis Extension, ultimately inspiring him to retire early from healthcare to pursue his passion.

Linda Long, Co-founder
Linda Long met her future husband, Larry, while attending UC Davis. She raised their three children in Truckee while running her private clinical social practice. For nearly a decade, Linda balanced her work in Truckee with the establishment of the winery, finally retiring in 2012. At Amador Cellars, she plays a vital role in various aspects of the business, managing the tasting room, organizing club events, and coordinating private gatherings in the newly established barn.

Michael Long, Head Winemaker & Viticulturist
Michael Long, the son of Larry and Linda, discovered his passion for grape growing and winemaking while working alongside his father. After gaining hands-on experience, he attended Fresno State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Enology. Michael values every stage of the grape growing and winemaking process, dedicating his efforts to ensuring that the vineyards and fruit meet the highest standards. He prides himself on being a minimalist winemaker, intervening only when necessary to enhance the intrinsic qualities of the grapes, resulting in sensual, charismatic wines. Michael currently resides in Cameron Park, California, with his wife and college sweetheart, Michelle, their son James, and Oscar, the winery dog.

Amador Cellars offers a welcoming environment for wine lovers seeking quality and a personal touch, reflecting the Long Family's dedication to their craft and the land.

Vino Noceto

grape cluster

Established in 1987 by Suzy & Jim Gullett, Vino Noceto is a small, family-run vineyard and winery, renowned for premium Sangiovese wine. A pioneer in the renaissance of this noble Tuscan varietal, we now produce eight different Sangiovese wines Chianti, Brunello, and Super Tuscan styles, and have 25 acres of estate-grown grapes. Larger groups of 8 or more & limousines require appointments to ensure that Vino Noceto are staffed to provide the highest quality service and a memorable tasting experience.

Morse Wines

clusters of wine grapes

Unconventional by Nature - Winemaker Robert Morse

Terroir is everything, but so as they say is location, and sometimes those aren’t the same place. We have chosen to stay at our vineyard, winery and estate tasting room to allow our customers to experience our unigue terroir. Opposed to what might seem apparent by the concentration of valley wineries, the best vineyard sites are not necessarily alongside the pre-existing major thoroughfares.

In the Foothills, we can grow any warm climate varietals but focus on those that perform at their best in granitic soils. Italian and Rhone varietals benefit from our consistently ideal climate. Our vineyard and winery’s location straddles ridgelines above an elevation of 2000 ft, benefitting from cooling afternoon breezes, abundant sunshine and low yielding rocky soils resulting in our unique terroir.

The Il Gioiello, “the jewel,” name comes from the final home of famed astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei. Our 2 Roads brand name was inspired by my favorite Robert Frost poem and Morse is my name and most importantly the name of my parents. All three have inspired a slightly different approach to my choices and my respect for integrity, honesty and hard work.

Our wines and winery reflect these values; unpretentious, no concentrates or additives, just wine grapes and great value wines. In my life, the right wine has always been the wingman of a good meal, not the star of the meal. I recall great meals far better than other pleasures and that is why we make “food wines”.

As the French proverb says, “to have a great meal, one requires great hunger”. Having 17 unique estate varietals and clones allow us to create complexity and balance in our wines difficult to achieve with single varietals.

When asked about my favorite wine, the answer is always the same, “what are we eating”. If I’m having a glass of wine without the benefit of food, our 2 Roads blends Crossroad and La Strada are soft, fruity and complex.

photo - courtesy photographer Randy Caparoso

TKC Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

The tasting room that I like to visit. There is nothing touristy about it - it is simple and understated. And the wine? So good! A great little find. A campy tasting room that includes the aroma of wine laden wooden barrels ended up with some of the most aged wines.

Old Creek Ranch Winery's flagship wine is Zinfandel, a varietal that has been part of the winery's legacy since its inception in 1981. In 1993, the winery expanded its vineyard with the planting of Mourvèdre, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 7) shortly thereafter. By 2000, Syrah Noir was added to their diverse selection.

The winery specializes in boutique wines crafted from these varietals, along with exquisite blends and a unique Syrah Port. Old Creek Ranch Winery is open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays, welcoming walk-ins with open arms. For parties of six or more, reservations are requested. Appointments are available Monday through Friday for those looking to explore the winery's offerings further.

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