Wine Tour

What a beautiful day! We went out to Amador County and did a mini-winery tour today. It was such a pretty day and everything is still very green that we wanted to get out of town and see something other than home or work. Here's some pictures.



Do you see the green everywhere? Here in Northern California most vegetation turns brown after May, so we really appreciate the greenery while it lasts. Everything is so pretty now - green grass with amazing Spring flowers.

This is a general picture of what the area is like this time of year, from the first winery we visited, Young's Vineyards on Shenandoah Road in Plymouth, CA. Not only were the vineyards immaculate, but the landscaping was absolutely stunning.

I've found that while vintners are usually pretty down-to-earth, they also have a quirky side. They tend to include lots of local art in their showcase. These are sculpture from a local artist (I didn't catch his name, but he is supposed to live over in Sutter Creek). I love how the sculpture fits in with the yard and building.

Even though we were in the foothills of California doesn't mean you can't park your boat! Yes, this is a real boat. The pond end about 4 feet left of the picture.

This is Zinfandel country, but they also have some fantastic Barbera and Sangiovese.

Our next stop was Bray Vineyards right next door. Yummy wines and knowledgeable sales staff. I picked up a bottle of Brayzin Hussy Red (a blend of Zinfandel and Sangiovese - I think) that was too much fun to pass up. I also got a bottle of the Sangiovese that is really, really good. (I was told that this is one of the four grape blend that makes up Chianti. Didn't know that...) This is the sign that caught our attention from the side of the road:

A couple of other places we visited had some sites to see, too. The rattlesnake sign is for real - remember that this is their territory and they will win. Just watch where you step and you'll be OK. Not sure what the architect was on when he/she designed this house.

For the record, I love chicken sculptures. They're just fun. And please don't throw gravel at the frogs.

I had a blast, and since I wasn't the designated driver I was able to sample all kinds of wines and knit in between stops. (Not too sure how well that knitting will turn out, but...)