Sierra Vintners wineries that won medals included Avanguardia Wines, Lucchesi Vineyards, Montoliva Vineyard, Naggiar Vineyards and Pilot Peak Winery.

Montoliva won “Best of Class” for its 2008 Sierra Bella. “Now try to tell me this isn’t the best $15 bottle of wine on the planet,” says Winemaker/Owner Mark Henry, known for his effervescence.

Pilot Peak won three Golds (Petite Sirah, Syrah and Tempranillo, all from 2009). Naggiar won two Golds (for its 2009 Mistero and its 2008 Il Nonno), as well as two other medals (Silvers for Malbec and Syrah). Avanguardia won three medals (a Silver for 2007 Cristallo, and Bronzes for Premiato and
Sangineto).

In Placer County, Casque Wines, Ciotti Cellars, Fawnridge Winery, Lone Buffalo Vineyard, Mt. Vernon Winery, Pescatore, Popie Wines and Wise Villa all won medals.

Casque won a Gold for its Malbec and a Silver for its Calotte. Popie won a Silver for a dry Rosé and other medals. Ciotti won medals for its old-vine Zinfandel and Barbara. For a full list of winners, go to WineJudging.com.

LOCAL WINE ON TOP OF MT. KILIMANJARO
In December Brigitte Wilson and her son, Brian, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest free-standing mountain. The two carried wine labels from Pilot Peak Winery, pinned to their jackets, to the top. (A bottle weighed too much). Sierra Vintners’ wine reaching new heights. Brigitte is the sister-in-law of Lynn Wilson, co-owner and winemaker of Pilot Peak.

ART & WINE
The area’s wine tasting rooms are becoming art galleries in their own right, showcasing talented artists. Smith Vineyards is featuring colorful horses from Leslie Ann Webb (LAWebb.com) in its Grass Valley tasting room. “My work reflects the deep connection I have for these majestic animals” says Leslie.

The Grass Valley Wine Company in Grass Valley (Solune, Bent Metal and Pilot Peak) is showcasing the photography of Joseph Howard. “My wife says I see things other people don’t or can’t see,” says
Howard (Archive.JSHowardPhotography.com).

Popie Wines’ new tasting room at the High Hand Fruit Sheds in Loomis features “Vineyard Picnic” by Unni Stevens, whose artwork appears at the High Hand Gallery, HighHandGallery.wordpress.com. “My art is inspired by the mystery of nature and its seasons.”

WINEMAKER DINNER
151 Union Square in Grass Valley is planning a winemaker dinner on Valentine’s Day featuring Naggiar Wines and catering by Jim Eckardt’s Club 141. The menu will feature tapas courses and dessert, plus a fresh rose in a bud vase (151UnionSquare.com.)

(Photo: Naggiar Vineyards, by Dan Senkbeil)

Nowhere is this more evident than at Sierra Starr Vineyard & Winery in Grass Valley, which just built a new wine processing facility. “It’s among the newest, biggest and most energy efficient in the foothills,” says owner/winemaker Phil Starr.

The state-of-the-art winery epitomizes the can-do spirit of Sierra Vintners to make their wines stand out amid the competition.

Sierra Starr, a “rising star” in its own right since acquiring a vineyard in 1995, has hardly sat idle during the recession. It also bought a new, bigger tasting room in the
historic downtown to showcase its wines.

The new winery is designed to maintain a 58-65º ambient temperature all year, ideal for winemaking and storage. This was accomplished by burying part of the building underground and using structural insulated panels (or SIP panels).

The 4,900-square-foot building features energy-efficient lighting, as well as 15 skylights.

The crush pad area of the roof is designed for the weight of a forklift. The grapes benefit from a “gravity flow” system to the wine tanks below, minimizing the use of pumps.

The new crush pad also provides a spectacular view of the vineyard, terraced lawns, heritage oaks and a stage for summer concerts, adds assistant winemaker/vineyard manager Jackson Starr.

All told, the new winery can handle five times the current production at Sierra Starr. Best of all, it will help produce more award- winning wines.

Fall, spring and summer is an ideal time to visit this historic, picturesque region. Enjoy new downtown tasting rooms or experience wine, food and music at “destination” wineries—for tasting, meeting the winemakers, barbecues, picnicking and outdoor movies and concerts. Here’s a rundown on some of the wineries from Sierra Vintners.com, the new website of the Nevada County Winery Association:

AVANGUARDIA WINES
Premium blends of exotic and regional grape varieties: Italian, French, Georgian and Californian, all grown in an estate vineyard. Flavor profiles of their designer wines will complement your cuisine and offer new and unique tastes. Tasting room in downtown Grass Valley. AvanguardiaWines.com

BENT METAL WINERY
Owners Scott and Judy Brown, along with a supporting cast, have taken a contemporary approach to create fine wines in the Sierra foothills. Casual and friendly, beautiful Sierra views. BentMetalWinery.com

GRASS VALLEY WINE CO.
The Grass Valley Wine Co. is a place where you can taste wines from three local wineries—Bent Metal, Pilot Peak and Solune. They offer wines by the flight, glass and bottle. Come sit and relax with a “nibble.” Special events welcome. GVWineCo.com

INDIAN SPRINGS VINEYARDS
Established in 1985, Indian Springs offers a wide array of rich varietals and produces 18 award-winning wines. The tasting room is a favorite downtown Nevada City destination. Indian SpringsWines.com

MONTOLIVA VINEYARD & WINERY
Creating Tuscan-inspired quality wines. Located in scenic Chicago Park, Montoliva Vineyard & Winery bottlings include Sangiovese, Barbera, Pinot Grigio, Aglianico, Teroldego, Primitivo, as well as several proprietary blends. Owner Mark Henry is “entertaining and educational.” Montoliva.com

NAGGIAR VINEYARDS
Sample delicious small-lot hand-crafted estate grown wines, produced from the 60 acre family vineyards. With a signature style that is always rich and flavorful, it’s easy to love each member of the Naggiar family of fine wines. NaggiarVineyards.com

PILOT PEAK VINEYARD & WINERY
Complimentary “Comparative” Wine Tasting served while seated on the terraces. Pilot Peak believes wine should be enjoyed sitting down, with food, family and friends. Enjoy flights of four wines served with food pairings. Come try this new tasting method. PilotPeak.com

SIERRA KNOLLS VINEYARDS & WINERY
Four longtime friends having fun and producing award-winning small lot Estate and locally grown
wines. Their wines boast big noses, fruit-forward complexity and long finishes. Visiting the properties will be an experience you’ll remember. Bring a picnic. SierraKnollsWinery.com

SIERRA STARR VINEYARD
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnays, Zinfandels (including Zinjolais), Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Bubblies, Proprietary Red blends and Port make up the award-winning wines. Events are hosted at their landscaped vineyard just two miles from Grass Valley. Visit their downtown Grass Valley tasting room. SierraStarrWine.com

SMITH VINEYARD
Smith Vineyard is a family owned winery and vineyard, with a tasting room in downtown Grass Valley. The Smiths handcraft small lots of classic varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Primitivo and Chardonnay. “Organically Grown…Three Generations Strong.” SmithVineyard.com

SOLUNE WINEGROWERS
Distinctive wines with balance, intensity, complexity and varietal clarity. Their small-lot production includes Barbera, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Zinfan- del and Port. Visit their beautiful setting, chat with the winemaker and enjoy the picnic area. SoluneWinery.com

PLANNING A TRIP
To help plan a wine tasting getaway, visit our magazine’s website at SierraCulture.com, which now includes wine tasting, dining and art-walk itineraries in historic Grass Valley and Nevada City, complete with Google maps for directions.

All our articles about the wineries, dining and lodging, are archived there, along with winery and city maps. A mobile app, SierraCulture.com/mobile lists events at the wineries.

Also visit SierraVintners.com a brand new website for the county’s winery association. It is a one-stop-shop for information about Nevada County’s wineries, including maps and events.

THE BROAD STREET INN, NEVADA CITY
The inn, originally built in 1870, is a beautiful Victorian at the top of Broad Street, a short walk to shopping, dining, theater and wine tasting. Some travelers find Victorian inns too “dated” inside—but not the Broad Street Inn. It’s fresh, bright and cheerful, with all the modern amenities, including flat-screen TVs and wi-fi. The outdoor space includes a backyard patio with a fire pit and an old-fashioned front porch. The inn is eco-friendly.
517 W. Broad St., Nevada City
530-265-2239, BroadStreetInn.com

GRASS VALLEY COURTYARD SUITES
Tucked in a quiet neighborhood a block from the charming downtown, Grass Valley Courtyard Suites is an ideal spot for a getaway. Courtyard Suites features luxurious, spacious rooms on lovely landscaped grounds with a heated swimming pool, sauna and fitness center. It also has a new day spa. Some of the suites include fully equipped kitchens. In addition, the hotel just added a 6,000 sq. ft. conference center for retreats, wine tastings and other events.
210 N. Auburn St., Grass Valley
530-272-7696 GVCourtyardSuites.com

GOLD MINERS INN, GRASS VALLEY
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HOTEL & SUITES
The adage “if you build it, they will come” is ringing true for the Gold Miners Inn in Grass Valley, the newest full service hotel in the region. This Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel provides premium amenities for the traveling families and business travelers. It is within walking distance to downtown. Guest amenities include free wi-fi, fitness center, free breakfast and nightly wine reception. The hotel offers an event patio, four conference rooms and, at 7,000 square feet, the largest conference space in the foothills.
121 Bank St., Grass Valley 530-477-1700
TheGoldMinersInn.com

In addition, all our articles about the wineries, dining and lodging, are archived online, along with winery and city maps, to help plan your trip. A mobile app, SierraCulture.com/mobile lists events at the wineries.

Also visit SierraVintners.com a brand new website for the county’s winery association.

It is a one-stop-shop for information about Nevada County’s wineries, including maps and events.

On August 6, Sierra Vintners and the Nevada City Chamber will present the inaugural Nevada City Uncorked, a wine and food walk.

Local wineries and restaurants will participate, making this an ideal weekend for a getaway.

They have also released six new vintages to enjoy: 2010 Bellissima, 2008 Cabernet Franc, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 Grand Pere, 2009 Late Harvest Viognier and 2009 Sangiovese.

Naggiar’s Mediterranean-style tasting room is open noon- 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays.

A Summerfest lets guests celebrate on the patio with wine, music and appetizers from its gourmet kitchen. It’s on most Fridays and Saturdays, 6-9 p.m. There’s no cover charge and wine and food is available for purchase.

Special tribute shows are presented on August 20 and October 1. Tickets include a meal (such as barbequed ball-tip roast or chicken, red potatoes and salad) as well as the show.

July 16 Billy Bensing & Kellie GarmireClassics
July 22 Midnight SunRock, Classics
July 23 Double Shots Blues, Country and Rock and Roll
July 29 Nevada County Regulators, Original and Classic Rock
July 30 Ivan NajeraSpanish, Brazilian and Jazz
Aug. 5 Jazz Gitan, Gypsy Jazz
Aug. 6 Midnight Sun, Rock, Classics
Aug. 13 Billy Bensing & Kellie GarmireClassics
Aug. 19 Lindsay Erin ProjectR&B, Rock, Folk
Aug. 20 Chicago Tribute Authority, Tickets Required
Aug. 26 Nevada County Regulators,Original and Classic Rock
Aug. 27 Midnight SunRock, Classics
Sept. 2 Lindsay Erin Project, R&B, Rock, Folk
Sept. 3 Midnight SunRock, Classics
Sept. 9 Steve HollandFolk and Brazilian
Sept. 10 Harvest Celebration
Sept. 16 Double Shots Blues, Country and Rock and Roll
Sept. 17 Nevada County Regulators, Original and Classic Rock
Sept. 23 Billy Bensing & Kellie Garmire, Classics
Sept. 24 Midnight Sun, Rock, Classics
Oct. 1 Steelin’ Dan, Tickets Required

For more information 530-268-9059 or NaggiarVineyards.com

(credit: Dan Senkbeil)

Winemaker and Owner Phil Maddux has more than 40 years of winemaking experience. He and his wife, Jill, welcome visitors to the tasting room as if they were house guests.

The Maddux’s pride themselves on educating customers on the varietals being poured, answering questions and leading vineyard tours.

Skip the digital navigation and follow Lone Buffalo’s website (LoneBuffaloVineyards.com) for directions to the tasting room, just off the Newcastle exit on I-80.

The tasting room is open on weekends year-round. Wine connoisseurs can sample Lone Buffalo’s estate-grown Tempranillo during the Placer Wine Trail’s Grape Days of Summer in August.

July 16
Summer Wine Stroll at the Fountains Shopping Center, Roseville.
For more information and tickets, go to PlacerWine.com.

August 6-7
Grape Days of Summer on the Placer County Wine Trail
A Mediterranean Sojourn
Wine, food and music at Lone Buffalo, Casque Wines, Dono dal Cielo, Fawnridge, Mt. Vernon, Vina Castellano and Wise Villa wineries.
For tickets, go to PlacerWine.com.

October 8
9th Annual Auburn Wine & Food Festival
For more information and tickets, go to AuburnWineandFood.com.

(photo credit: Barry Walton)

The vineyard and winery became a dream come true, providing a lifestyle for creating fine wine, food and wine pairing, social activities and sustainable farming.

“We have won many awards for our wines—Best of Region for Sangiovese, gold medals for Cabernet and others—but our main focus is that our customers enjoy them,” says John Chase. “We strive to create wines that respect the unique varietal characteristics, are good values and make people smile.”

The new tasting room just off Hyw. 49 – Bear River Wine Tasting- will help announce Nevada County as a wine-growing region.

As for its winemaking philosophy, Sierra Knolls is a traditionalist. Most of its wines are pure to the varietal. Oak wine barrels are used. Wines are made in small lots, allowing attention to detail.

Sierra Knolls’ dozen or so wines, ranging from a crisp Chardonnay to a Sangiovese Rosé to a rich Cabernet Sauvignon, are sold mainly from the tasting rooms. The owners chat with their visitors, providing a friendly, interactive tasting experience.

The winery and cozy tasting room on Kingswood Ct. in Grass Valley, located along a bucolic country road, is open weekends (and weekdays by appointment). It is a venue for seasonal events, dance parties, barrel tasting and wine club parties.

The owners enjoy creating recipes incorporating their wine, such as a cedar plank salmon, mustard tarragon chicken and dark chocolate cherry bars, among others.

They go all out for events, with a motto “fine wine & great times.” “We embarked on this journey to have fun,” says Brenda Taylor. “It truly is more than just a business to us.”

Sierra Knolls Vineyard & Winery
19635 Kingswood Ct. Grass Valley
268-9225 SierraKnollsWinery.com

Bear River Wine Tasting

Sierra Knolls’ new Bear River Wine Tasting room is a 2,400 sq.-ft. craftsman style building with 30 feet of bar space, pub tables and casual seating. It opens onto a wine tasting garden, picnic grounds, ponds and waterfalls. A gift shop offers a unique and varied array of wine-related items.

10024 Linnet Lane, adjacent to Hwy. 49
Open Thursday-Monday

Ciotti Cellars, Cristaldi Vineyards, Fortezza Winery and Popie by Duarte Family Vineyards are the four family-run wineries that share Villa Fiorente, a beautiful Tuscan-style wine villa.

“We offer a unique, personalized and engaging wine tasting experience,” says Lisa Mann, owner of Fortezza Winery, the site of the Villa Fiorente tasting room. “It’s an intimate perspective on the art of wine.”

Villa Fiorente is Placer County’s newest tasting room. The county has over 18 wineries, more than a dozen tasting rooms with regular hours and nearly 250 acres of vineyards. Most began operations in the past 10 years.

Like an Italian meal, wine tasting at “the Villa” is savored at a leisurely pace. A $10 tasting fee gains you access to all four wineries, as well as $8 in “VillaCash” that can be used as credit toward a wine purchase. Tasting is free on the weekend of your birthday.

Plenty of seating and the likelihood of visiting for several hours make it a natural destination for a picnic.

Villa Fiorente also offers a premier wine club that provides complimentary tasting for members and a guest, 15 percent bottle discounts, special events and four bottles from each winery three times a year.

CIOTTI CELLARS
“Benvenuti Amici,” or welcome friends, is the spirit of the Ciotti family. Generations of
winemakers have been born into the Ciotti family. “Wine has been in my heritage forever,” says owner Joe Ciotti.

Ciotti is a boutique family winery near Rocklin. Focusing on hand crafted premium wines, it is able to spend extra attention to details, with wines that are rich and bold, soft and juicy, with velvety finishes.

Ciotti’s wines include Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Old Vine Zinfandel, Barbera and Malbec. Ciotti’s Old Vine Zinfandel won a Silver medal in the 2009 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

“Our Zin has a beautiful aroma of rich black fruits,” says Ciotti. “Aged in French and American oak for 16 months brings out a subtle but rich silky chocolate.”

CRISTALDI VINEYARDS
The Cristaldi Vineyards is located in the rolling hills of Loomis. The winery, surrounded by the estate’s vineyards and olive groves, are perched on a beautiful and rugged hillside overlooking the Loomis basin.

Cristaldi specializes in producing limited production single-vineyard and field-blended estate wines. About 15 different grape varietals grow on the estate.

Well-known varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grow alongside popular Italian varietals such as Sangiovese, Dolcetto and Barbera, among others.

“Harvest is based on touch and smell, taste and look, rather than lab reports,” says owner David Brockman. “The passion for traditional winemaking is evident in every bottle.”

The Loomis property also includes olive groves that produce extra virgin olive oils.

FORTEZZA WINERY
Fortezza has a long history of farming. Since 1979 fruit has been growing on its fertile soil. Now Fortezza’s vineyards are planted with Italian and French varieties of wine grapes.

“We grow Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Viognier and Primitivo,” says Mann. “With a climate that mirrors the southern Mediterranean, we can easily ripen our grapes to perfection.” Mann, who has studied viticulture at UC Davis, began planting the estate vineyard in 2006. The 2010 harvest provided Fortezza’s first full crop of estate wines.

POPIE BY DUARTE FAMILY VINEYARDS
Winemaking is a part of Popie Wines’ heritage. Owner Mike Duarte’s father was a longtime Napa Valley grower, helping to provide grapes for such high-quality wines as Martha’s Vineyard by Heitz Cellars and Cabernet Bosche by Freemark Abbey.

“He is the inspiration behind my label,” says Duarte, who grows grapes on two acres. “I am now taking my family heritage to the next step in producing what I hope to be well made, enjoyable wines.”

About 95 percent of Popie’s wine production is from Placer grown grapes, including Barbera and Zinfandel. A 2007 Barbera and Syrah blend called Basin Red, 2007 Barbera Reserve and 2008 Zinfandel won medals in the 2011 San Francisco Wine Competition. “Over the years I have learned that wine is truly made in the vineyard,” he says.

Villa Fiorente
10555 Harris Rd., Auburn
530-392-8044 VillaFiorente.com

Two Auburn wineries, Lone Buffalo and Viña Castellano, won Silver medals at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for their vintages of this full-bodied red wine.

Tempranillo, pronounced “tem-rah-nee-yo,” is from the Rioja region of Spain. Its name is derived from “temprano,” Spanish for early. The grape ripens several weeks earlier than most Spanish red grapes.

In the past century, Tempranillo has been planted from Mexico to South America to New Zealand. It has experienced a resurgence in the Sierra foothills, where the climate and soils are similar to Rioja in Spain.

“Tempranillo has real potential in the foothills,” says Lone Buffalo Vineyards’ owner and winemaker Phil Maddux. “It’s my favorite wine from this region, and I hope to see it take off as the varietal becomes better known locally.”

Tempranillo wines are ruby red in color, with aromas and flavors of berries, plum, tobacco, vanilla, leather and herb. Often displaying a “rustic” character, Tempranillo tends to be higher in acid and lower in alcohol, ideal for food pairing.

Lone Buffalo’s 2008 Tatonka Tempranillo can be matched with grilled pork or Viña Castellano’s Mercedes Block 2006 can be paired with tapas or paella, favorite Spanish dishes.

Lone Buffalo grows its Tempranillo in South Auburn near the Newcastle border, while Viña Castellano’s Tempranillo vineyard is in North Auburn.

Both wines sell for less than $25 and can be sampled at the wineries on the Placer County Wine Trail or at the Vino Velo Gala on May 15, before the Amgen Tour of California comes to Auburn.