I’ve been thinking a lot about taking a summer wine trip to El Dorado County. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the setting is nothing short of spectacular. Now I know that it will be hot, hot, hot in the summer, with temperatures getting well into the 100s. But this year, it feels like the best time to go.
My friend Charlotte Monte, who has written several guest blogs for me over the years, is a big fan of El Dorado County, and she’s been encouraging me to visit the area for a long time. Another friend Len Walther is a big fan of the Fair Play appellation and the winery Toogood. He would be thrilled if I would visit. In fact, he and his wife might join me.
Summer Wine Trip 2016 – Background
Before planning, I looked at some articles I had written about El Dorado County over the last few years:
The Wines of El Dorado County – This article highlights the uniqueness of El Dorado County’s terroir, the advanced technology the region uses for wine making, and the four wine regions that make up El Dorado County: Fair Play, Pleasant Valley, Greater El Dorado and Apple Hill/Camino. Should I spend a day in each region?
Exploring Fair Play and Pleasant Valley – I know that want to spend at least a day in each of these areas. Will one day be enough?
Summer Wine Trip 2016 – Let’s Get Started
The big question is how to navigate the best possible wine trip in a four-day weekend. I talked to Charlotte and Len who made the following suggestions:
- Spend the most time in Pleasant Valley and Fair Play. These regions are the most picturesque and tend to be cooler.
- Enjoy exploring. Don’t get bogged down with only going to the highest rated wineries. They all have something to offer, and they are all fun.
- Pace yourself. I know this lesson very well from previous summer wine trips, where I overdid it in the beginning so was pretty burnt out in the end. I know that I won’t do more than three wineries per day. And in some cases it might only be two.
Charlotte recommended staying at Camino Hotel B&B.
So there you have it. My summer wine trip. I will go sometime between mid August and mid September, perhaps as late as early October, when it’s a little cooler.
If you decide to visit El Dorado County this summer, please let me know. If you go before I do, I would love to hear your recommendations. If you go when I go, I would love to WINE with you.
As an independent wine consultant with WineShop At Home, I absolutely enjoy bringing a taste of the Napa wine country home to you one sip at a time. Whether you simply love to drink wine, would like to host a tasting, seek a special gift, or are in search of a new wine jobs opportunity as a wine consultant, feel free to contact me for a truly unique wine tasting experience!
Cheers,
Betty Kaufman, WineShop At Home
