Winery Gems in Sierra Foothills
Napa this..! Sonoma that..! Man, they get all the attention.
It just so happens that there are some truly excellent wineries in California outside of that famous sphere of influence. Today we are talking about the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley – an hour or two drive east of Napa along Hwy 50. Zinfandel and other hearty varieties grow very well in this region, and wine aficionados are starting to notice. With a relaxed and rustic feel to the area, we think you would enjoy a weekend of grape exploration.
Here are a couple of boutique wineries that the Connoisseur highly recommends:
C.G. Di Arie - With the winery only in existence since 2000, Chaim Gur-Arieh is crafting some excellent Zinfandels and Syrahs and starting to branch out to lesser known varietals as well. All of the wines are of very good and consistent quality, our favorite of which is the Zinfandel “Southern Exposure”.
Young’s Vineyards - Famous for their packed release parties, Young’s began crafting wines in the early nineties and now produces over 6,000 cases annually. Their Zinfandel, Syrah, Sangiovese and Estate Cabernet are all of high quality, but our favorite is the Barbera. They have even begun producing their first white varietal, a Roussanne.
It just so happens that there are some truly excellent wineries in California outside of that famous sphere of influence. Today we are talking about the rolling hills of the Shenandoah Valley – an hour or two drive east of Napa along Hwy 50. Zinfandel and other hearty varieties grow very well in this region, and wine aficionados are starting to notice. With a relaxed and rustic feel to the area, we think you would enjoy a weekend of grape exploration.
Here are a couple of boutique wineries that the Connoisseur highly recommends:
C.G. Di Arie - With the winery only in existence since 2000, Chaim Gur-Arieh is crafting some excellent Zinfandels and Syrahs and starting to branch out to lesser known varietals as well. All of the wines are of very good and consistent quality, our favorite of which is the Zinfandel “Southern Exposure”.
Young’s Vineyards - Famous for their packed release parties, Young’s began crafting wines in the early nineties and now produces over 6,000 cases annually. Their Zinfandel, Syrah, Sangiovese and Estate Cabernet are all of high quality, but our favorite is the Barbera. They have even begun producing their first white varietal, a Roussanne.