Free Grass Valley wine tasting event on May 2 features new releases

It’s time for another Friday Wine Event in downtown Grass Valley on Friday, May 2, from 4-7p.m. All four of the winery’s downtown tasting rooms will be releasing a new wine for you to taste: •Sierra Starr will be releasing our first ever Syrah. This 2011 vintage is full of rich ripe fruit. •Smith will […]

Tasting notes: Wine tasting in Grass Valley, Fawnridge and Van Howd and more

FOOTHILLS CELEBRATION The Foothills Celebration in Grass Valley on Saturday, March 1, is one of the region’s premier wine and food pairing events. Spend the afternoon, from 1-4 p.m., strolling the shops and sites of historic downtown Grass Valley. Tickets are $35 until February 22 and $45 afterward. The ticket includes unlimited wine tasting from […]

Sierra Starr’s “Starr Bright” Champagne on Christmas

Surprisingly, a Sierra Foothills winery sells a champagne — Sierra Starr Vineyard in Grass Valley. We’re going to drink Sierra Starr’s “Starr Bright” Champagne on Christmas. It’s a “bright sparkler with delightful melon flavors. It’s fresh, fruity and slightly sweet.” Sierra Starr’s motto with its sparkler: “We guarantee 68 million bubbles per bottle.” We’ve enjoyed […]

Top 10 wine stories of 2013

Editor’s note: This is from Wine Enthusiast magazine. We have added our own commentary to the list, focusing on our local region. “1. Wine, Wine Everywhere. Amazon and Facebook acted as third–party marketers for wine sales in 2013, and Starbucks, 7–11, Frontgate and Burger King, among other surprising outlets, either launched or were testing wine […]

Fresh Dungeness crab lands in the Foothills

The much-anticipated Dungeness crab season opened Friday, with optimism for a crab bounty. Last year was one of the best hauls on record. Restaurants and fish markets were busy placing orders for the tasty crustacean, popular from Thanksgiving to Christmas and into the New Year. Sierra Foothills crab connoisseurs can begin purchasing the fresh crustacean […]

Foothills wine grape growers remain bullish about harvest

We’ve been in touch with the wine grape growers in the foothills throughout the harvest, including during the recent rains. The growers remain optimistic that we’re headed for one of the best harvests in years, particularly when it comes to the quality. We checked with Jackson Starr, assistant winemaker/vineyard manager of Sierra Starr Vineyard and […]

Nevada County wine tours

SIERRA VINTNERS is in Nevada County, halfway between Sacramento and Reno, with easy access off Interstate 80. The 15 wineries and 10 tasting rooms are located throughout the Sierra foothills and within the towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City. Sierra Vintners produces an unusually wide variety of vines, boasting over 45 planted varietals, ranging […]

Foothill wineries win at California State Fair

Here are some foothill wineries that won awards at the California State Fair Wine Competition: Avanguardia won a bronze for Due Fiore (a red varietal blend). Clavey Vineyards & Winery won a bronze (Syrah). Lucchesi won a gold for its Sauvignon Blanc. Montoliva won two silvers (Sierra Bella, red varietal blend; and Teroldego). Nevada City […]

Food, wine & music at Sierra Vintners starts in May

Naggiar, Pilot Peak, Sierra Knolls’ Bear River Tasting Room, Sierra Starr and others celebrate wine, food and music with regular festivities throughout spring and summer. Along with others, Bent Metal, just past the county fairgrounds in Grass Valley, and Solune and Montoliva along pastoral Hwy. 174, offer idyllic picnic spots. You’ll find picnic tables and […]

Winery dogs: “You can’t make a good wine without a dog”

DOGS ARE A WINEMAKER’S BEST FRIEND, providing companionship in the vineyard and at the winery. They romp among the vines, chasing balls and snacking on grapes. Many of them greet guests at the winery, as much a part of the experience as tasting wine. There’s also a deeper connection. “Just like drinking wine, or pruning […]

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