The Friendly Wine Country
Updated 4/2021
For those of you who
would rather shop during the holidays than enjoy beautiful country views,
friendly, knowledgeable people, and delicious wine, this article is probably not
for you. My husband and I decided that the day after Thanksgiving would be
a wonderful time to venture into the Amador wine country. I’m sure he was heartbroken that I didn’t want to shop, but he
didn’t show it. And, as it turned out, it was an exceptionally
good decision.
Note: Please check the CA
Covid map and business's websites before visiting.
Amador County has some
of the oldest vineyards in California and is known for award-winning wines
and not just the full-bodied zinfandels we tend to automatically associate with
the region, but also the amazing Rhône and Italian varietals—imagine a lush Syrah
or a spicy Sangiovese One of the special aspects of visiting wineries
in this unique wine country is the opportunity to taste with the winemakers.
Many times, the winemaker is the one who is pouring. This allows for a wonderful learning experience, besides being
just plain fun.
And because food
and wine go together, fortunately for us we find a variety of eateries from
quaint diners to a deli with gourmet picnic baskets to go. Many more fine dining establishments are coming soon.
For this trip, we
decided against gourmet and began our journey at the Marlene & Glenn’s
diner in Plymouth. If we were to taste several
wines, it seemed best to have some hearty fare to balance the alcohol. This quaint diner serves simple, hearty food.
If you visit this
popular family-owned and operated diner, try sitting at the counter. This
affords you the opportunity to watch two sisters team cook. Watching the
sisters and all the friendly wait-staff running back and forth reminded me of
the movie Stuck on You. Their banter and homey
style made this stop even more special, especially when mom showed up and started
bussing tables.
This and so many small
moments created a feeling of being a part of the family. I heartily recommend
this stop for all who enjoy good old fashion diner food and people who treat
you as special.
Note: Still open but call for
updates. Wear a mask.
Yes, this was to be an
Amador County wine trip, but we decided to wander the Shenandoah Road a bit
farther into Fair Play wine country—just a bit. One of our absolute best
friends is a wine club member of Latcham
Vineyards and raves about the winery, wine, and the people who work there. So,
of course, we had to assess this for ourselves.
Note: Due to Covid, please
contact the winery for hours.
Yep. It was an experience and one we will not soon forget. The winery
is located on a hill overlooking part of the vineyard. Walking up to the tasting room, which is a warm inviting blue
barn, we met the official greeter of the day, a large, sweet-natured dog that
looks more like a polar bear than a puppy.
Inside the charming
tasting room, we were amazed at our good fortune for stumbling upon an
after-Thanksgiving tradition. Every year the winery owners offer barrel
tastings, homemade soup, other goodies, and generous pours of their award-winning
wines. Everyone from the lady who greeted us, to the winemaker, who blushed
when I thanked him for making such wonderful wines, was warm, genuine, and
pleasant.
Note: All of the wines
were amazing, but my favorite was the Petite Syrah. They also make some of the best Barbera I’ve ever tasted and their
special port paired with homemade brownies almost had me begging to stay
longer. But we had other wineries to visit.
Continue: Karmere &
Domaine de la Terre Rouge and Easton Wines
Sonoma California: Touring Creameries
Sonoma, California:DoubleTree Sonoma
Sonoma, California: Visiting Kendall-Jackson
I'm not a big wine drinker but I love going to wineries and tasting the different varieties. I've done this a few ties with family members but have never heard of a Sangiovese. Is that specific to California?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment! No, it isn't really. It's an Italian grape used in Chianti. It's great on its own those. Very yummy.
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