As you arrive at this impressive facility that is set among the 600 acres of its undulating estate vineyard, you get the sense that this is someplace special. It’s hard to imagine now, but this entire region that numbered over a hundred wineries before Prohibition was basically lying dormant until 1970 when Cary Gott committed to building this winery – the region’s first winery since Prohibition. The first Terra d’Oro wines were released in 1973 and the winery has become a standard for the Sierra Foothills in general. Winemaker Emily Haines and viticulturist, Melissa Bordi are two ladies on their A game who are taking full advantage of the estate vineyards to produce some of the best red, and white, wines in the Sierra Foothills.
In 1988 the Trinchero family of Napa Valley fame who had long known of the quality and value of Amador took over the estate where it has become a foundational and leading producer of the region sourcing from a total of 800 estate vineyard acres.
Impressive for its sustainable estate farming and its state of the art winery, you will want to take the short stroll back to the tasting room, expansive gardens, and trellised tasting patio where you can relax and delve into a tasting of the winery’s diverse lineup. The ringer to look for here of course is the Terra ‘d Oro’s Zinfandel from the legendary Deaver Vineyard whose vine ages stretch back to the gold-hungry horse and wagon days of pioneers and prospectors. The estate Home Vineyard from a four acre block is not to be overlooked. Both Zins are slam dunk values and highly worthy of space in the trunk on your shopping trip through the Sierra Foothills.
