3 Wineries to Add to Your List

If you're tired of visiting wineries that are overcrowded and overpriced,
it may be time to seek out a new wine region.
Here are 3 wineries you can add to your Spring wine jaunt!

Rucksack Cellars

The Camino wine region may not be the most popular destination in wine magazines, but it's definitely worth a look! Rucksack Cellars' owners, Maggie and Paul Bush, keep busy crafting wines from local fruit. Rucksack's sister winery, Madronia Vineyards, is just up the road.

Paul is winemaker for the two wineries. It sounds like a big job, but it has its advantages. Sometimes, as people, there are two side to us. The loud and the quiet. The zany and the thoughtful. At Rucksack, Paul has more room to explore, be adventurous and experimental. At Madronia, the wines are made with a focus on tradition and consistency. He has the best of both worlds!

The Rucksack tasting room (Link) is heading into its third year and open seasonally. Assistant winemaker, Ryan Wright, told me that with over 70 wineries in the area, it's a fun wine region to explore. Local touches can be seen around the winery.

• The wagon decorating the outside garden was painted by a local artist in downtown Placerville.
• Look for the rabbit. Maggie, and daughter, were a part of a local production of “Spam a Lot” which featured a huge wooden rabbit instead of the Trojan horse. Keeping it fun.
• The Port style dessert Seco wine is crafted to be dry, in the Portuguese style.
• Look for a Barbera Rose', Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Portuguese blend of varietals.
  
                                                             -------------------------------
  
  

Holly's Hill Vineyards

As my car climbed the hill to the vineyard, I could feel a sense of anticipation. This Placerville winery was higher in elevation than I'd expected. Holly's Hill Vineyards grows and produces Rhone style wines. The lean wines and hilltop vistas made me feel as if I was tasting in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Here you'll find Roussanne, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Viognier, and their signature wine, Patriarche, to name a few. Carrie and Josh Bendick are the winemakers, producing wines from their 24 acres of grapes for their club members and tasters from the Tahoe and Sacramento areas. The winery (LInk) has been crafting wines, and participating in the El Dorado's annual Passport weekend for 17 years.

With their penchant for Rhone wines, Holly's Hill is part of the El Dorado Rhone Rangers; a collective of vintners who promote Rhone varietals. There's a niche here. The winery's higher elevation allows local and visiting fans to enjoy Rhone style wines—which typically aren't found in the Foothills.

The wines were paired with flavorful small bites.

• The 100% Roussane was paired with seasoned rice bites.
• The Petite Sirah with poured along side a BLT bruchetta.
• A tasting of their 2016 Patriarch was offered for guests interested in Futures (pre-buying a wine before release.)
• The end cap was their Port: sweet with a dry finish, and hints of cocoa and dark berry.
• Bring a picnic and enjoy your visit under shady, sprawling oak trees, or vistas of the vineyards.
  

                                    
                                                                          ---------------------------------------

Lava Cap Winery

Lava Cap is iconic. Each time I've tasted in the California foothills, people say, “Have you been to Lava Cap? While Lava Cap makes notable wines, they also are home to a very special geological site.

Emmett Jones, part of the vineyard team, spoke about the land. Lava Cap sits on one of the few areas in the Sierra Nevada Foothills with volcanic soils. Bedrock runs along the contours of the ridge of the vineyards (Link.)

This makes for organic, highly nutritious soil. From erosion comes fine wines. Beautiful things can come from struggle.

It takes a team to produce Lava Cap's smooth wines, from soil to bottle. Jean Jones is the founder of Lava Cap Winery, and the Grandmother. She daily walks to the tasting room and enjoys a glass of wine. She's a warm and charming woman, and looking at her, she's an example to me. Pioneering a winery, and still daily making time for people and a touch of wine.

Charlie Jones, vineyard manager, focuses on sustainable vineyard applications. Being a family business, Noreen, wife to Charlie, was chatting with guests during my visit. Winemaker, Joe Norman, has been at Lava Cap over five years. He's the one to thank for the style of the wines—artfully fruit forward, layers of flavor, and gracious.

Emmett shared how his grandfather was a geologist and his grandmother was an avid bird watcher. The Lava Cap name and logo is a winsome merging of their interests.

• On top of the pleasing wines, Lava Cap was offering small bites. Curried orzo with feta, olives, and fresh herbs. Chevre, dill, and salmon lox on garlic crostini.
  
• Their Merlot won Double Gold, San Francisco Chronicle in 2018.
• Stay local and drink Lava Cap's California Sauvignon Blanc. This was fermented in a stainless steel tank (New Zealand style) and has pleasing flavors of tangy apple.
• Enjoy: Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Merlot, Muscat Canelli, a local Sierra Foothills Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and more.
• Try the 2013 Vine Hill Pinot Noir, from El Dorado. I especially enjoyed tasting a Pinot Noir from their area. It was smooth, with sound flavors.

These are the kind of wines that deserve sitting down with a glass,
giving them my full attention.
------------------------------

It's a great time to plan a few Spring wine jaunts.
These wineries are off the beaten path, and may be your next favorite.

Here's to your next discovery,
Shondra Savadkohi

Wine tasting in Corralitos?
Nicholson Vineyards serves wine among the apple & oak trees...read about my visit.