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Goosecross Cellars

vineyard at sunset - Pixabay

All of the wines are delicious. They off certain wines to try with chocolates and crackers for your pleasure. They educate you on what you tasting and give you time to make up your mind if your satisfied or not. They recommended other wineries we should try, as well as great nearby foods places. The "Napa Valley AmerItal Red Wine" (750ml) Goosecross Wines is truly one of my favorites. 1. First of all, Make a reservation! Make a RESERVATION! or else! The place is hidden, small, and worth visiting but dropping by isn't going to work. 2. The place is family run, which makes it personal and incredible.

Terre Rouge & Easton Wines

cluster of grapes

Discover the Charm of Terre Rouge and Easton Wines: A Journey Through California's Rhône Varietals

Located in the heart of Amador County, Terre Rouge and Easton Wines is a captivating story of passion and dedication, brought to life by the dynamic husband-and-wife duo, Bill Easton and Jane O’Riordan. Established in the late 1980s, this winery is a must-visit for any California wine lover eager to explore the unique flavors of the Sierra Foothills.

A Winemaker’s Journey

Bill Easton’s winemaking adventure began in the 1970s when he founded Solano Cellars, a Berkeley wine shop specializing in artisanal wines from around the globe. His experiences in the shop and extensive travels through Europe shaped his refined palate and distinctive winemaking style. Bill's approach celebrates balance and elegance, creating wines that evolve beautifully over time—a practice the French call élevage, or "raising" the wine in the bottle. Each bottle not only offers immediate enjoyment but also hints at its potential for further aging.

In 1986, Bill crafted his first Rhône red blend, marking the start of his serious winemaking journey. By 1994, the couple had moved to their current winery and expanded their portfolio, with Bill earning recognition as one of the original Rhône Rangers and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 for his pioneering efforts in bringing Rhône varietals to the Sierra Foothills.

Culinary Creativity

Jane O’Riordan’s entrepreneurial spirit shines brightly alongside Bill’s winemaking. She launched her first business, Cottonfield, in 1975, a fabric shop that inspired creativity through quilting and garment making. When the opportunity arose to expand Solano Cellars, Jane took on the role of chef at their Bistro, where she crafted a rotating menu that perfectly paired with Bill’s wine selections. Today, Jane continues to bring her culinary expertise to Terre Rouge and Easton events, delighting guests with her delicious creations.

The Terroir of Terre Rouge

The name Terre Rouge, meaning "Red Earth," beautifully reflects the region's distinctive vermillion soil, a defining characteristic of their vineyards. The land, rich in granite and volcanic minerals, nurtures a diverse array of Rhône varietals, including Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne. The high elevation of their vineyards—reaching up to 3,200 feet—adds complexity and depth to each bottle.

Easton Wines: A Tribute to Tradition

Bill's family name graces the Easton label, which showcases non-Rhône varietals that thrive in the Sierra Foothills. Here, ancient and old-vine Zinfandel, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc shine, alongside emerging varietals like Grenache Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. Each wine is crafted with a deep respect for the region's history and potential.

Visit Terre Rouge and Easton Wines

For wine enthusiasts seeking an unforgettable experience, Terre Rouge and Easton Wines offers more than just tastings; it’s an invitation to explore the artistry of winemaking in one of California’s most beautiful regions. Join Bill and Jane for a sip of their exceptional wines, paired with delightful culinary creations, and immerse yourself in the vibrant spirit of Amador County’s wine country.

Fresno State Winery

grapes - Pixabay

The Fresno State Winery produces a wide variety of wines from the most popular and well-known of wines such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to up-and-coming varieties like Syrah to lesser-known wines that are made in small batches. The complete line of Fresno State wines is available at this web site and the Farm Market at the southeast corner of Barstow and Chestnut. At the Fresno State Winery we strive to engage our students in all aspects of the winemaking profession.

Paul Mathew Vineyards

wine by the fireplace - Pixabay

Mat Gustafson, the former winemaker at Sebastopol-Dutton Estate Winery and current co-winemaker at Moshin Vineyards, crafts small lots of Pinot Noir and other varietals from the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast under his personal label. Prior to starting his own label, he had worked for twenty years in the restaurant business and in retail sales. Along with business partner, Paul Sloan, he launched the label in 1999, but by 2001 had assumed full control and began to concentrate on Pinot Noir.

Vineyard of Pasterick

wine and cheese - Pixabay

This is a very small, private winery. The Pastericks are super friendly and will share the history of the property and their wine with you. They grow all of their own grapes and only produce one type of wine, Syrah, which is pretty tasty. Tasting is $10. They basically just pour you a glass of wine to drink while you walk around and tour the grounds.

McManis Family Vineyards

chardonnay grapes - photographer Randy Caparoso

Founded in 1990, McManis Family Vineyards is owned and managed by Ron and Jamie McManis, fourth generation winegrowers, and is located in the rich agricultural region of the northern California interior. Currently, the family grows a wide selection of grape varieties on 2600 acres of premium vineyard land.

Image - chardonnay grapes - photographer Randy Caparoso

Cedarville Vineyard

people sharing wine

In 1995, Jonathan Lachs & Susan Marks found the perfectly situated 20 acre property at 2,500 ft. elevation, located 1/2 mile up a dirt road from Fair Play Road, which would become Cedarville Vineyard. With Cedarville Vineryard 15 acres of vineyard coming into maturity, in 2000 Jonathan & Susan built the winery here on the estate. The panoramic views from the top of our vineyard spread from Mount St. Helena to the west to Pyramid Peak in the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada to the east. Jonathan and Susan chose the name, Cedarville, in honor of a nearby ghost town (founded in 1852) that boomed for ten years during the Gold Rush. Now, 150 years later, little remains of the original town, but the winemakers feel connected to the spirit of the pioneers of this historic area.

Idle Hour Winery Oakhurst

Idle Hour Winery logo

A hobby gone wild! That is how Idle Hour Winery, formerly Panoche Valley Vineyards, got its start. Winemaker Anna Marie dos Remedios began making wine as a hobby to relieve the stress of her day job as a newspaper journalist/business owner.  Anna Marie is focused on small lot, single-vineyard designated wines from some of California's best wine-growing regions. Anna Marie learned traditional winemaking methods from mentor and renowned Pinot Noir producer Josh Jensen at Calera Wine Company. At Idle Hour Winery the focus is on these traditional methods: native yeast fermentation, gravity flow racking and the use of neutral French Oak; all very gentle in nature, applying these to all the varieties Anna Marie ferments. While you will find all of the wines at Idle Hour Winery delightful, be sure to try the Reserve Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc and the Tannat Idle Hour Winery is located in Oakhurst, CA the gateway to Yosemite Park. Idle Hour was include in a short video we did featuring several Central Valley wineries you can view HERE *

Hours:

Mon-    11:00AM-6:00PM
Tues-   11:00AM-6:00PM
Weds-   11:00AM-6:00PM
Thurs-  11:00AM-6:00PM
Fri -      11:00AM-6:00PM
Sat -     11:00AM-6:00PM
Sun -    11:00AM-6:00PM

Rasmussen Vineyards and Winery

bottles of wine and grapes with vineyard in background

Larry and Elaine Rasmussen met at Cal Poly in the early 1960’s. Elaine is a native of San Luis Obispo, as were her mother and grandmother, so bringing their children to the Paso Robles area to visit family was a regular occurrence.

Larry grew to love and appreciate the local wines and one day (literally, just one day) decided to buy property for a vineyard. The vines were planted in 1995 and since the first harvest the vineyard has supplied fruit to other local wineries. Larry and Elaine with son Niles, his wife Wendy, and their daughter Kristin wanted to showcase the vineyard’s sought-after fruit in their own wines so in 2009 Rasmussen Family Vineyards and Winery was born.

Open on weekends 11-5 or by appointment

Russian Hill Winery/Talawind Ranch

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Patrick Melley is Winemaker and Co-Founder of Russian Hill and Talawind Ranch wineries.

Patrick’s path to becoming Russian Hill’s Winemaker was fueled by a love of food and wine. A self-taught winemaker, Patrick developed his love of wine through attending FIU, a leading food and beverage college in Florida, coupled with many years of working in the restaurant business. He became a restaurant manager for an international affiliation of restaurants and one of his favorite responsibilities was developing their wine lists. This diverse exposure to wines from around the world refined his palate and sparked a life-long passion for wine and wine and food pairing.

The natural next step was for Patrick to make wine himself. In 1989 he started making wine at home and in 1993, he-co-founded Benicia Cellars Winery, where he was responsible for the general development of the company, grape acquisition and winemaking.

In 1997, Patrick and his partners moved to the Russian River Valley and founded Russian Hill Estate Winery. Here, Patrick could pursue his passion for Pinot noir and other cool climate varietals and make wine from the surrounding estate vineyards.

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