NEW: Read the Summer Issue!

Welcome to the summer issue of Sierra FoodWineArt, focusing on our thriving foothill wineries and the wealth of outdoor dining and cultural activities this time of year.

You can read an exact digital copy of the magazine here.

Despite the recession, many of our vintners are expanding, showing their bullishness about the future. “Baby boomers have enjoyed wine for decades and now millennials are showing an affinity for wine,” says Wine Institute President Bob Koch. California wineries shipped nearly 200 million cases to the U.S. wine market last year— up over the previous year despite the recession.

In the foothills, wineries are opening new tasting rooms to capture the demand. Last summer, Naggiar opened a $1.5 million tasting room at its vineyards. Since then, Sierra Starr, Smith and Avanguardia have popped the cork on tasting rooms in downtown Grass Valley, renovating historic buidings.

Now four wineries—Bent Metal, Montoliva, Pilot Peak and Solune—have teamed up to open the Grass Valley Wine Co. in a handsomely renovated downtown building. We profile the new venture, and the wineries, in this issue.

Summer and fall also are the time to enjoy the wealth of outdoor activities for food, wine and art in the region. We offer features on patio dining, picnicking, farmers markets and outdoor performing arts events—from the foothills to Tahoe/Truckee.

We also profile a favorite Sierra getaway—the Rainbow Lodge in Soda Springs. And we write about some “firsts”—the first Italian Festival in Grass Valley and the first day spa at a hotel in Grass Valley.

We will republish the articles on our new website SierraCulture.com, along with a blog, videos and an extensive events calendar.

Enjoy the warm weather season. As always, you can reach us at info@sierrafoodwineart.com or (530) 263-1843.

—Jeff and Shannon Pelline

(photo credit: Elizabeth Carmel)