Karmere is a good gateway winery. It has light, fruity champagnes almond, raspberry, and regular. They offer a wide range of Zinfandels and other reds here too. The wines are named after the female members of the family. Could the the place for a wedding or special occasion, beautifully designed for events. Spent quite a while there, tasting at the counter and barrel-tasting as well.
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
Dobra Zemlja means "Good Earth" in Croatian. The winery was founded in 1997 and is situated in Amador County's historic Shenandoah Valley just off Hwy 49 and Hwy 16. The winery and tasting room are housed in a restored late-19th century facility with wine cave. The cave provides a perfect environment for storing wine barrels and tasting our wines. Visitors are always welcome to enjoy a picnic lunch, sip a bit of wine, or just sit and listen to the birds in our lovely, shaded picnic area. Dobra Zemlja specializes in Zinfandel, Syrah, Sangiovese, Barbera and Viognier.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
