Placer County Wine

In 1848 wine grapes were first introduced in Placer County, the same year James Marshall discovered gold. The Frenchman, Claude Chana, who discovered gold in Auburn Ravine, planted the first grape vines. Along with the miners, the Gold Rush of 1848 brought European winemakers who established larger vineyards and started producing increasing quantities and varieties of wine. In the 1860s winemaking became a thriving industry and many miners became winemakers, giving Placer County more vineyards and wineries than Sonoma and Napa combined. Then, in 1920 Prohibition made alcohol illegal and most vineyards were converted to pear, apple and citrus orchards. In the 1970s local winemakers began to establish new vineyards and returned the land to its winemaking roots.

With fifteen wineries and counting, Placer County re-embraces its heritage as a viable California wine-producing region. Placer County wineries, classified with the “Sierra Foothills” appellation, offer a refreshing change from the more commercialized and less personal wine tasting experiences of larger wine regions. Most Placer wineries are family-owned and operated, have small vineyards and the winemakers themselves are part of the charm, making Placer County a newly sought-after destination for a more personalized and unique wine-tasting experience.

Placer County’s Mediterranean-like warm days and cool nights comprise an ideal climate for producing superior wine grapes similar to those of France’s Rhone Valley. The result is wine that is dense with ripe fruit and plentiful in structure. You’ll find everything from traditional Rhone-varietals like Syrah, Petite Sirah and Viognier to the Spanish Tempranillo and those California favorites like Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Pescatore Vineyard & Winery

Pescatore is dedicated to growing and producing excellent grapes and wines in our boutique setting. Each of the varietals yields the distinct characteristics of its unique micro- terroir.

Our estate is at an elevation of approximately 900 feet. It is located in Newcastle California, in the Sierra Foothill appellation. We produce four varietals: Barbera, Petit Sirah, Syrah, and Zinfandel. These varietals were selected on the basis of best matching our terroir for optimal quality. All of their wines are estate bottled.

Family and friends participate in harvesting the grapes, with harvest usually occurring in September.

After the crush, careful attention is paid to yeast selection for the primary fermentation. This step helps to bring out the best characteristics of each varietal.
After the primary fermentation is complete, friends and family are again enlisted to help press the grapes in a traditional basket press. The wine is then aged in American and European oak barrels. Each type of barrel is selected based on the distinct flavors it will impart to the wine.

Lone Buffalo VineyardsLone Buffalo Vineyards

Although Lone Buffalo Vineyards is a new commercial venture, Phil Maddux has been making wine since 1971. Born and raised in Sonoma County, Phil became interested in wine making in the early ‘70s when Napa and Sonoma were just getting started. He has combined over thirty years of home wine making experience with wine making, wine chemistry and viticulture courses at Sonoma State University, UC Davis and Consumnes River Community College from 1971 to the present and considers well known California winemakers Dick Arrowood (Chateau St. Jean, Arrowood Vineyards) and Cecil DeLoach (DeLoach Vineyards and Hook & Ladder) among his "mentors."

Viña Castellano Winery

When longtime Placer County residents, the Mendez Family, broke-ground on their Auburn vineyard in 1999, they had no illusions of simplicity. "We had complete knowledge when we started Viña Castellano, that it was going to be a labor of love, with a strong emphasis on "labor"" said Teena Wilkins, the Vineyard and Winery Manager, and the youngest of Gabe and Carolyn Mendez' four children.

The family's love of wine is directly linked to some of the strong Mediterranean traditions that they were raised withMendez family of Viña Castellano. “My Paternal grandparents, Mercedes and Frank Mendez were both born and raised in Spain, and although they immigrated to this country as young adults, they never let go of their strong Spanish customs, of which winemaking and enjoying that wine with food was a large part”, says Wilkins. “In Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Greece wine is on the lunch and dinner table to be enjoyed in moderation with food. Although my mother is not a Spaniard, (she is of Irish and American-Indian decent) she and my father married in their late teens and early on agreed to raise us with a strong since of tradition from both heritages.

It is that link with wine and family heritage that has steered the direction of the 8-acre 2000 case boutique vineyard & winery, lovingly named Viña Castellano. "Viña" is the Spanish word for vineyard and Castile is the region in Spain where our grandparents are from and where we still have family today. "Castellano" is what you would call a man from that region, and so we choose that in honor of my father, whose vision inspired the project. Wilkins is quick to mention, however, that they strongly considered "Castellana" to honor Abuelita, at 99 years old lives at the vineyard.

In keeping with the Mediterranean-Niche, the Mendez Family has planted three of the most popular varietals used in Spanish winemaking, Tempranillo, their flagship grape, Mourvedre (known as Monastrell in Spain) and Grenache. In addition to those grapes, they also have planted the Rhone varietal, Syrah, and the Bordeaux varietal, Cabernet Franc.

Benefits of our private wine tours: