Wine of the Month

Our latest wine of the month is Sanford Winery 2004 Chardonnay Santa Barbara. This wine is characterized with aromas of tropical fruit. Enjoy flavors of apples, pear and melon. This complex and creamy Chardonnay has hints of oak that complements rather than overpowering the flavors of the fruit. This perfect balance of oak was created by storing partly in tanks and partly in oak barrels. You will enjoy this nicely balanced Chardonnay. ($21)

Established in 1971, this Santa Barbara winery focuses on making excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The handmade adobe winery facility was completed in 2001. The 30 inch thick adobe walls keep the cellar temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees without the use of heating or air conditioning. The tasting room, located at 7250 Santa Rosa Rd, Buellton, California, is open daily from 11 AM - 4:00 PM daily. Call (805) (805) 688-3300 for more information.

Discover Amador County Wine Country

Amador County is a pleasing alternative to the crowds and high prices of Napa Valley. Located in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, Amador County has much to offer. The rural roads, mountain air, and beautiful scenery make it the perfect setting for a California Wine Tour.
Most wineries offer complimentary wine tasting. An added bonus: the wines are much cheaper than those you’ll find for sale in Napa. You can sample a variety of great wines and you’ll be able to afford to bring some bottles of wine home to enjoy later.
Amador County has a high percentage of old Zinfandel vines. Some of the Zinfandel vineyards are more than 125 years old. These old Zinfandel vines produce intense flavors, allowing wine makers to make the outstanding Zinfandel for which the area is famous.
Amador is recognized for its world class Zinfandel, but you will find many other varietals being produced here as well. More than 35 wineries have wine tasting rooms in Amador.
The majority of Amador wineries are located in the northern part of the county in the Shenandoah Valley near the small town of Plymouth. As you turn onto Shenandoah Road from Plymouth, the first winery you come to is Young’s Vineyard. This winery offers premium red wines in a lovely setting. Every wine we taste here is wonderful. It’s definitely worth a stop.
Vino Noceto, also on Shenandoah Road, is the place to go if you enjoy Sangiovese. This winery specializes in Sangiovese. Sweet wine lovers will like their Moscato Frivolo, a light Muscat.
Turn onto Steiner Road, where many more wineries are located. Renwood Winery is a must stop for Zinfandel lovers. Their award winning Zinfandel will please even the most discriminating Zin enthusiast. Amador Foothill Winery is a small family winery with wonderful Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Barbera. The owner is usually serving the wine and is both friendly and knowledgeable.
If you pack your own lunch, Deaver Vineyards (next door to Renwood) is a lovely place to have a picnic. This winery has an expansive lawn area, a small lake, and picnic tables scattered under the trees. After enjoying your lunch, you can wander into the tasting room and sample some of their outstanding California style Port.
Story Winery on Bell Road would be another choice for a picnic. This winery provides a breathtaking view of the Consumnes River Canyon. Story is also known for their great Zinfandels and friendly staff.
The Bistro at Villa Toscano (back on Shenandoah Road) has scrumptious salads, sandwiches, and soups for sale. The lovely Tuscan style winery has tables outside where you can enjoy the fountains and vineyard views as you enjoy your lunch. Villa Toscano has wonderful Barbera and Old Vine Zinfandel. There’s always barrel tasting with futures available for sale. The gift shop has unique and tasteful home décor items as well.
When the wineries have closed for the day, there’s a new restaurant called Taste located in downtown Plymouth. This small restaurant, opened only for dinner on Thursdays-Mondays, offers fine dining that is both tasty and creative. Reservations are recommended, (209) 245-3463. This restaurant is owned by Mark and Tracey Barkner, former owners of the St. George Hotel in Volcano. The opening of Taste was eagerly anticipated and has been a popular dining choice since its opening.
If you’re lucky enough to spend more than a day in Amador County, you might want to explore some of the other things to do. Possibilities include hiking, horseback riding, golf, water sports, white water rafting, boating, fishing, snow skiing, golf panning, cave exploration, and antique shopping.
Amador County Wine Country has wine tasting opportunities and much more. Plan a visit soon to one of California’s great wine regions.

Be Healthy. . .Drink Wine

Is wine good for you? The answer is, “Yes!” There’s lots of research providing proof that there really are health benefits from drinking wine.

Flavonoids from the skins and seeds of red grapes are the key to wine being good for you. These flavonoids lower your risk of coronary heart disease by reducing your LDL or bad cholesterol levels. At the same time these flavonoids actually increase your HDL or good cholesterol levels and decrease the likelihood of blood clotting.

Scientists believe that there may be other health benefits from red wine. A recent study discovered that an antioxidant in the skins of red grapes, called resveratrol, may inhibit the growth of tumors in some cancers. It’s possible that resveratrol can help treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well and new studies are on the way.

Are some wines better for you than others? Again, the answer is, “Yes!” Researchers at University of California at Davis have concluded that full-bodied dry red wines contain the highest levels of flavonoids and provide the greatest benefits. The number one wine for supplying the most flavonoids is Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir also ranking highly. Sweeter wines and white wines have less flavonoids and are less beneficial.

How much should you drink? Moderation is the key. Women should drink 4 ounces of red wine daily with a meal and men 4-8 ounces.

Pour yourself a glass of red wine and drink to your health. Cheers!