Where the Vines Meet the Pines: May 14 begins Wine Trail Adventures with Sierra Vintners

“No crowds.  No pretense.  Simply Amazing Wines!”

That’s the introduction to the message on the website for Sierra Vintners, a group of wineries that includes those in and near the Gold Rush towns of Auburn, Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Marysville.

Teena Wilkins at the door of
Vina Castellano's tasting room

On May 14, the Sierra Vintners inaugurates its 2016 wine trail program.  I’ll be at the tasting room of Viña Castellano in Auburn to greet visitors and sign books, but visitors to this first wine trail will want to check the offerings at the other wineries featured that day.  You can get tickets at the association website:  click here 

The Sierra Vintners has one of the best descriptions of the foothills wine adventure of any I’ve seen.  So I am quoting the website below.

“Experience wine country the way it was meant to be – along country roads through foothill towns where you can still feel the Old West.  Continue into the rolling hills and vineyards, where friendly vintners welcome you to the classic California wine tasting experience.

“The Sierra Vintners wine region is relaxed and rich in history, nestled within the beauty of the mountains.  Drive past ranches to hillside vineyards – or walk from tasting room to tasting room within a few downtown blocks.  All roads lead you to award-winning wines and an eclectic mix of winemakers who talk about wine without the “wine speak.”  There’s no pretense here, just smiles, hospitality and loads of enthusiasm for their vineyards and their wines.  And they love sharing it all with their new friends.”

Here are the wineries featured on the May 14^th wine trail:

Amour Privé, 9630 Miracle Dr., Auburn CA 95602   www.AmourPrive.com

Bear River Winery, 2751 Combie Rd., Meadow Vista CA 95722   www.BearRiverWinery.com

Bonitata Boutique Wine, 291 Auburn-Folsom Rd., Auburn CA  95603   www.WinesbyMark.com

Fawnridge Winery, 5560 Fawnridge Rd., Auburn CA  95602   www.FawnridgeWine.com

Lone Buffalo Vineyards, 7505 Wise Rd., Auburn CA  95603  www.LoneBuffaloVineyards.com

Mt. Vernon Winery, 10850 Mt Vernon Rd., Auburn  CA 95603   www.MtVernonWinery.com

Naggiar Vineyards, 18125 Rosemary Lane, Grass Valley CA 95949   www.NaggiarVineyards.com

Sierra Knolls Vineyard & Winery, 19635 Kingwood Ct., Grass Valley CA 95949   www.SierraKnollsWinery.com

Viña Castellano, 4590 Bell Rd., Auburn CA 95603   www.VinaCastellano.com

Sierra Vintners region map

Three of these wineries (Lone Buffalo, Mt. Vernon, Viña Castellano) have chapters about their origin, history and risks they took to be in the wine business in my book, Wineries of The Sierra Foothills.