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Zinfully Delicious!
Wine Tasting the Amador Way
By Christina Barr
CN Editor-in-Chief
One particular part of California comes to mind when I think of wine tasting – why, the lush Napa Valley, of course! Isn’t this the most famous destination on this side of the country for those who wish to sip the fermented juices of grapes? Ah, but alas, though Napa is quite amazing and scenic, I have another vision for wine-tasting adventures: the picturesque, tucked-away county of Amador. The wines are as tasty, the views as stunning, and the prices incomparable!
As I head out east on Highway 16, I follow a meandering road that leads me into a time almost forgotten when I’m surrounded by the daily hubbub of city life. Amador County is serene and inviting, a step back from the city pace, with country charm and hospitality. I find about twenty wineries happily pouring wine (free of the tasting fees now commonplace in more popular destinations), and engage in delightful conversation with the other guests. Most of the wineries in this area are small, family-owned operations that live for their customers and their product they so proudly display and offer my empty glass.
 You might be pondering which variety is local to this area. When you think of places like Napa, you think The Napa Valley, however Amador is no valley. It is The Foothills, and here the wine to boast is Zinfandel. Rich, robust, zesty, spicy, fruity and smooth, this type of wine makes mouths water, and me smile! It happens to be my favorite, so naturally I jumped at the chance to revisit my preferred outskirt of Sacramento. Other varietals claiming some fame in this area are Chardonnay, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Orange Muscat, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Petite Syrah, Sangiovese and Tempranillo, to name a few.
 Zinfandel
is grown throughout California, however there is something
special about the particularly tasty Zins that hail
from this locale. Maybe it’s the combination of the
warm climate and rocky, fertile soil that makes growing
conditions ideal. Perhaps old vines and inherent winemaking
talent give these wines that extra zest. Whatever the
case, they remind me of my grandmother, who drank a
hearty Zin most nights after dinner, playing cards with
her friends, letting me have a sip here and there. What
she came to realize after I was tall enough to reach
the table was that I was a sneaky culprit who would,
after meekly asking for a mere taste, grab her glass
and chug-a-lug the whole thing when her attention was
turned towards her guests. Being from Spain, my grandparents
saw nothing wrong with giving us little ones a taste
of their vino, and though I would annex her ruby red
liquid from time to time, she would simply gasp with
surprise and heartilx gently as I proceeded to run amok
throughout the house, rosy-cheeked, until I passed out
quietly on the couch. It actually worked better than
warm milk to get me to bed, and to this day I adore
a full glass of Zinfandel to snuggle up with when it’s
cold outside and I want to unwind.
 As the road twists and I head through lush forests and sprawling hills, Amador nestles me into her bosom, leading me to one of California’s oldest wineries: Sobon Estate. It is a Registered Historical Landmark, having been founded in 1856. Here the vintners can assure you that their grapes are grown organically, and their wines bottled with utmost care. It is a beautiful winery tucked into the hillside, with a picnic area, a museum and even art exhibits seasonally. In the tasting room, I find that the people are friendly, the wine superb, and there are enough trinkets, gifts and books to attract my attention for more than a few minutes. I engage in conversation with the lovely gentleman pouring seemingly endless tastings into my frequently emptied glass, and though I am not the connoisseur I would like to be, I find myself holding my own in a casual comparison with the couple next to me.
I find that most of the wineries in the area are as
comfortable as Sobon. All of their wines are reasonably
priced, and I end up carrying one or two out to the
car like a giddy little girl with a new doll. Generally,
the wineries are open daily until five p.m., though
the weekends are usually the busiest yet most practical
times to visit. If you can take a mid-week trip, you
might want to double-check that the wineries are open
(some of the smaller operations might be closed during
the week). And be sure to meander through the hills,
as often the roads are narrow and the wineries marked
with little else than a humble sign hung on a tree.
Since we are drinking alcohol, most wineries offer water
as well as cheese and crackers or some other snack –
both to cleanse the palate and to help avoid dehydration
(and possible drunkenness!). You may also want to pack
a picnic lunch, as there are many inviting places to
set up a sprawling afternoon lunch. Visit www.amadorwine.com
for links to the area’s wineries, directions, hours
of operation and more information.
I do advise if you plan to embark on a tasting trip that you designate a driver, or better yet hire a chauffeur. Capitol City Limo is preferred for Amador wine touring when traveling from the Sacramento area. Their rates start at $399 for six hours for a limo holding eight passengers comfortably, with water, sodas, and a bottle of champagne to kick off the day. Their drivers know all the Amador wineries, and they are happy to put together a tour for you if you don’t know where to start. Call them at 1-877-784-LIMO or visit www.capitolcitylimo.net for further details or to schedule a group outing!
 If wine tasting is not your recreational forte, there are plenty of other things to do and see in Amador County. Amador Flower Farms (www.amadorflowerfarm.com) is a vast, impressive nursery that is fun to visit even if you’re not in the gardening mood. With twelve acres of well-kept grounds, 800 varieties of daylilies, picnic areas, and a wonderful bed and breakfast nearby, this farm is a destination in and of itself! I could spend (and have spent) a few hours just wandering through the fertile gardens, watching the ducks in the pond, strolling through the gift shop, and chatting with other passersby.
Also find these points of interest and places to indulge
and relax: Indian Grinding Rocks State Historic Park
(www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=553),
Black Chasm Caverns (www.caverntours.com/BlackRt.htm),
Sutter Gold Mine (www.caverntours.com/sgmt.html),
Kennedy Gold Mine (www.kennedygoldmine.com),
Historic Sutter Creek (www.suttercreek.org),
quaint bed and breakfasts (www.amadorinns.com),
and a bevy of local restaurants. Visit www.amadorcountychamber.com
for further details. For a quick local tasting, if you
don’t have time to tour Amador, visit Clarksburg, a
small delta town just south of Sacramento on Highway
160. There you will find one of the area’s best wineries,
Bogle. There is a lovely tasting room overlooking the
Bogle family ranch, and the employees are always fun
and charming. It’s another great picnic destination.
The road into the winery becomes a narrow, winding way
overlooking a tributary of the Sacramento River. Visit
www.boglewinery.com
for precise directions.
For more information, contact Christina Barr at
CBarr@ConnectedNow.com
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