About Sierra Foothills Wine Country
The Sierra Foothills wine region stretches 160 miles along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, the Mother Lode country that drew Gold Rush miners in 1849 and now draws wine travelers seeking California's most authentic and unselfconscious wine culture.
Amador County, particularly the Shenandoah Valley, anchors the region with a concentration of Italian-variety specialists, Barbera, Sangiovese, and Nebbiolo planted in well-drained, low-fertility soils that produce wines of remarkable richness. El Dorado County, at elevations of 1,200 to 3,500 feet, grows Zinfandel, Rhône varieties, and Burgundian grapes with the intensity that comes from long days, cool nights, and dramatic elevation.
Calaveras County and the historic town of Murphys offer a more rustic experience, old vine Zinfandel, limestone soils, and tasting rooms in 1850s-era stone buildings. Nevada County and Tuolumne County round out the region with smaller-scale production and an artisan character that feels far removed from Napa's polished estate culture.
