Travel to California’s Gold Rush Wine Country

Starfield Vineyards

Courtesy of Amador Wine Country

Travel to California’s Gold Rush Wine Country
September 21, 2025

September is California Wine Month, and in honor of that, I explored a lesser known wine region earlier this year, the Gold Rush country of El Dorado and Amador counties, along with a group of wine writers. Steeped in history, and considered the “Heart of the Mother Lode”, quaint towns nestled among the rolling hills at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains yield a multitude of riches, along with some pretty spectacular scenery. El Dorado County is one of the most visited agritourism spots in the world, attracting over 1.2 million visitors every year, offering apple orchards, U-pick and Christmas tree farms, and lots of outdoor activities. Amador County was considered Ground Zero for the 1849 Gold Rush, but today’s coin of the area is its tourism, offering idyllic getaways and wine tasting, you can even explore historic gold mines where you can try your hand at panning for gold.

Historic Placerville

Cary House Hotel Lobby

About an hour drive northeast of Sacramento, on the road to Lake Tahoe, is the town of Placerville. Originally named “Dry Diggins” for its lack of water, it came to be known as “Hangtown” at the beginning of the Gold Rush, for seven hangings that took place before California became a state. Eventually the name was changed to Placerville, to acknowledge its place as a mining town, but The Hangman’s Tree historic spot still swings a dummy where the hangings happened. The Cary House Hotel, directly across the street, was established in 1857. Originally a stagecoach stop, this historic hotel was a gambling hall back in its heyday. Many famous people have stayed here, from Mark Twain to Elvis Presley. Antiques and period pieces dating back 168 years can be found in the lobby, an old time elevator leads to four floors of what some say are “haunted” rooms, named for local mines, grape varieties or historical figures. Centrally located, it’s an easy walk to all that Placerville offers, with historic Main Street as the backdrop. Antique shops, craft stores, and the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi, Placerville Hardware, connect to its colorful past. The Placerville Bell Tower Plaza is an iconic landmark, once used to alert its volunteer firefighters. And for further exploration of Gold Rush life, there is the El Dorado County Historical Museum.

Marco Cappelli with Angelica Wine at his Cappelli Wines tasting room

For a fascinating wine tasting experience in Placerville, you can’t miss a visit to Cappelli wines. With its tasting room’s Old West charm and rotating selection of local wines on tap, crafted by the renowned Marco Cappelli, all are meant to be drunk young. A $11 tasting flight of 6-8 wines are poured, and if you like what you taste, you can purchase reusable bottles with glass corks, filled from 15-gallon kegs, part of Marco’s dedication to sustainability. And for the true nod to the past, you can taste Angelica, a historic style of fortified wine from California’s Mission era, a holy smokes moment!

Cuppa Coffee & More

Adrian of Franny's Farm Table

Franny's Farm Table, Combination Tacos

Smith Flat House

The Independent Restaurant and Bar

The Independent Restaurant and Bar, Ahi Nicoise Salad

There are several restaurants in town, my favorite morning spot was Cuppa Coffee & More, I was addicted to the excellent Espresso Macchiato and Lemon Rosemary Scone, so delicious. But if you want a more traditional breakfast, the Buttercup Pantry offers a nostalgic diner experience, with home made pies. Franny’s Farm Table serves a creative menu made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients, in a historic building from the 1880’s that was once a brothel. Smith Flat House, established in 1861, is built on top of a gold mine, you can dine and/or drink among the mine entrances in the cellar, in addition to their outside patio and cozy rooms inside. They serve fine dining dishes in a casual atmosphere, accompanied by live music and host to many local events, such as comedy shows. The Independent Restaurant and Bar offers an American fusion menu, along with craft cocktails, wines and rotating beers on tap, good for large groups.

Delfino Farms

Boeger Winery

Starfield Vineyards

Skinner Vineyards

Wine tasting in El Dorado County is a joy, and so very affordable. Most wineries charge $15 for a tasting of five wines, and you will taste so many incredible wines. Highly recommended wineries to visit are Delfino Farms, Boeger Winery, Starfield Vineyards, and Skinner Vineyards, to mention just a few. For more in-depth exploration, please see my article, “The Vibrant Wines of El Dorado County, A Mother Lode of Liquid Gold”. But be aware that many of these wineries are spread out among the Camino and Fair Play AVAs, and planning will be essential to maximize your time and experience.

Raven Starr of The Extraordinary Camino Hotel

A wine tasting with winemaker Brian Darwazeh of 1850 Wine Cellars and Myka Estates

German food at the Forester Pub & Grill

In the Camino area, a new boutique hotel has opened, owned and renovated by the fascinating Raven Starr. Ten rooms, creatively imagined and themed, offer a great launching pad for wineries in the Apple Hill area. This historic 1888 hotel, with its stamped tin ceilings and colorful decor, offers all the comforts of home, with a communal kitchen and wine and beer lounge. Such a fun vibe! The night our group toured the hotel, Raven had invited a local winemaker, Brian Darwazeh of 1850 Wine Cellars and Myka Estates, for a wine tasting, that continued over dinner. We crossed the street to the Forester Pub & Grill, for some of the best German comfort food I’ve had in a long time. Homemade, with love, especially if you’re hungry, the plates are huge but deeply satisfying.

Hotel Sutter happy hour

Gold Rush fever in local shops

Bella Grace tasting room

Yorba Wines

Andis Wines tasting flight

Oysters and bubbles at Andis Wines on a Saturday

Moving on to Amador County, for us, a brief exploration, but oh so sweet! Sutter Creek, considered the “Jewel of the Mother Lode”, is a well-preserved mining town, teeming with boutique shops, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, cafés and hotels. Extremely walkable, it’s enchanting in its Gold Rush nostalgia, it’s almost like going back in time, except with modern conveniences. Hotel Sutter channels the Old West with a modern spin, its twenty-one rooms are centrally located on Main Street. Inside, the Sutter Restaurant and Lobby Bar are lively and bustling, with a great weekend Brunch, cooked to order. From here, you can browse the shops, and walk to a few wine tasting rooms, highly recommended are Bella Grace Vineyards and Yorba Wines. For more tips on Amador County wineries, please see my article, “The Wines of Amador County, Mining the Gold Rush Legacy of Old Vines for Today’s World Class Wines”.

Courtesy of Kennedy Gold Mine

Courtesy of Roaring Camp Mining Company

We didn’t have time to check out the gold mining experiences in Amador County, but the Kennedy Gold Mine in Jackson was recommended for its underground mine tour. Accordingly, you can pan for gold at Roaring Camp Mining Company in Pine Grove, not only can you try your hand at panning as part of an all day guided tour, but there are options for camping and cookouts during the summer season, along with rafting, swimming, fishing and hiking, all in the beautiful Mokelumne River high country.

Chef Micah welcomes us to Taste Restaurant & Bar

Chef Micah Malcolm of Taste Restaurant & Bar

To cap off the day, travel to Taste Restaurant & Wine Bar in the town of Plymouth for dinner. Dedicated to seasonal and creative food menus, sourced from the best of the local scene, Taste has been rated by ZAGAT as one of the Top Restaurants in America, it is truly one of the best meals you will ever have, unforgettable in every way! Warm and inviting, the service is spectacular and Chef Micah is a gem! Dinner is Prix Fixe, an ode to the seasons, either three or five courses, and several local wines populate the list, along with classic French wines. Taste offers lunch Friday through Sunday, along with a bar and cocktail menu during the week.

Courtesy of SutterCreek.org

Courtesy of Visit El Dorado, Fair Play vineyards

Gold Rush wine country is for all types of travelers, from the adventurous and outdoorsy, to the casual and laid back, it’s a feast for the senses, beautiful scenery, delicious food, excellent wine, all made more interesting served with a side of California history. Autumn is an excellent time to visit, with apple and grape harvests, and moderate weather, it’s a perfect short getaway, away from the crowds where you can breathe in its historic charm, and encounter its mother lode of Old West hospitality.

Visit El Dorado, https://visit-eldorado.com/
Visit Amador, https://www.visitamador.com/
Cary House Hotel, http://www.caryhousehotel.com/#/
Cappelli Wine, https://www.cappelliwine.com/
Smith Flat House, https://www.smithflathouse.com/
The Extraordinary Camino Hotel, https://www.theextraordinarycaminohotel.com/
1850 Wine Cellars, https://1850winecellars.com/
Myka Estates, https://www.mykaestates.com/
Forester Pub and Grill, https://foresterpubandgrill.com/
Hotel Sutter, https://www.hotelsutter.com/
Taste Restaurant & Bar, https://www.restauranttaste.com/

*** In the spirit of full disclosure, I was hosted by Visit El Dorado and Visit Amador tourism organizations, and the wineries, restaurants and hotels that our group, the LA Wine Writers, visited were part of our itinerary for the week, just a highlight of what the region has to offer ***