Narrow Gate Vineyards#
(4282 Pleasant Valley Rd, Placerville, CA 95667)
Narrow Gate Vineyards is truly something special. Their 13-acre estate is certified as biodynamic and focuses on regenerative organic farming. Rather than trying to discourage local wildlife, the way that Narrow Gate Farms keeps in mind biodiversity. What does this mean? Simply translated, it means that the wine is delicious and the process is not hurting the earth. They specialize in Bordeaux-style wines that are very smooth and drinkable. They also have some great blends. If you’re a chocolate lover, try their Chocolate Splash port. If you’d prefer something more traditional, try their Rhone varietals. Keep an eye out for Narrow Gate’s wine and food pairing events because they also have fantastic food! If you love Narrow Gate as much as we do, join their wine club, Splash, to receive special limited-release wines.
Gwinllan Estates#
(7060 Fairplay Rd, Fair Play, CA 95684)
Located in the Fairplay Wine Region of the scenic Sierra Foothills in El Dorado County, Gwinllan Estates’ ridgetop vineyard boasts outstanding views in all directions. It has a diverse collection of hand-crafted wines made from grapes grown on the property. Discover a range of wines to please everyone’s palate, including the best California Champagne in its four Champagnes, four white wines, a fruity Rosé, six red wines, and a must-try Port.
Mastroserio Winery#
(7351 Fairplay Road, Somerset, CA 95684)
Before we get into how great the wine is at Mastroserio, let’s talk about how amazing the owner and winemaker, Ruggero, is. He is not only super friendly but nine times out of 10, he will even pull out his saxophone and show off some jazz for you. He’s quite good; he’s even been invited to local weddings. Mastroserio has a very small tasting room, but it’s full of big, bold, Italian-style wines. Ruggero has won hundreds of awards both domestically and internationally, his most recent award being Gold and Silver medals in the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Definitely give the Old Vine Zin and the Teroldego a try, they are fantastic! They also have great Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot. Keep an eye on their events calendar for live music and join their wine club to receive 15% off bottles in their tasting room.
Each year, El Dorado County is becoming more developed as a wine region. Don’t just focus on big names, take the time to really explore. You will find incredible hosts and even better wine. Enjoy!
Learn more about El Dorado County wineries.
