9 Best Sights in Sacramento and the Gold Country, California

Taking a cue from European shops selling everyday wines by the tap, Marco Cappelli, a respected winemaker and consultant, opened this downtown Placerville winery and tasting room in 2023. Although his wines are inexpensive, Cappelli knows where the best Northern California grapes grow. A Clarksburg Chenin Blanc and a Fair Play Barbera ranked among his early coups, all the more so given their price: less than $15 a bottle.

Apple growers since 1964, the Delfino family occupies one of El Dorado County's most idyllic sites. Joan Delfino's apple pies and fun farm events gained the clan early notice. In the 2010s, her grandchildren started a winery named for her husband, local agricultural icon Edio Delfino. They pour their superb whites and reds in a gleaming-silver contemporary space whose patio perches over apple trees surrounded by grapevines ringed by a forest. Wine tasting takes place year-round; bakery visits, apple events, and indie concerts occur seasonally.

The founders of this woodsy hilltop winery 7 miles south of Apple Hill tasted Châteauneuf-du-Pape on their honeymoon, sparking a lifetime passion for Rhône wines made in classic French style. Mourvèdre is a specialty, by itself and in blends with Grenache, Syrah, or both. Carignane, Counoise, and other Rhône reds are also made, along with whites that include the Roussanne-dominant Patriarche Blanc blend. Taste these estate wines in a space with views extending 75 miles on a clear day.

Nineteenth-century miners knew that gold was nearby if they found the type of volcanic rocks visible everywhere on this winery's property. The rocky soils and vineyard elevations as high as 2,800 feet play pivotal roles in creating Lava Cap's fruit-forward yet elegant wines. Zinfandel, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah star among the reds, Chardonnay and Viognier among the whites. After a tasting you can picnic on the patio and enjoy Sierra foothills vistas.

Its many microclimates inspired owner-winemaker Tom Sinton to purchase a 67-acre hillside property he transformed into a showcase for wines from mostly Rhône and Italian varietals. With a nature trail, a 300-foot-long rose arbor, an events amphitheater, a lakeside pavilion, and an upper patio with views of trees near and far, the wines could have taken a back seat, but Sinton crafts them with such grace and precision that they more than match the setting and hospitality.

From July to late December, Apple Hill Growers Association members open their orchards and vineyards for apple and berry picking; picnicking; and wine, cider, pressed-juice, and other tastings. Treasure hunts, pond fishing, pie making, and other activities attract families. On autumn weekends, take U.S. 50's Camino exit to avoid some of the traffic congestion.

In 1972, Greg Boeger revived a gold rush–era farm that once supported fruit and nut orchards, a winery, and a distillery. These days Boeger produces estate wines from 30 varietals grown on two parcels totaling 100 acres, with Sauvignon Blanc and Barbera the best sellers and Zinfandel and Primitivo also worth seeking out. The creek-side picnic area fronting the tasting room hosts bands on Friday evenings in summer (reserve space well ahead).

This winery's owner envisioned his sleek hospitality space as "a country club" for experiencing wines by the glass or flight, with or without the charcuterie and cheese sold on-site (tapas on Friday and weekends). The tasting room and adjoining patio edge the 32-acre estate vineyard, which you can hike. Winemaker Scott Johnson's red blends and Cabernets stand out, as does the unconventional, canned, dry-hopped Viognier sparkler (Johnson also brews beer).

Take a self-guided tour of this fully lighted mine shaft within a park owned by the City of Placerville. The worthwhile audio tour (included) makes clear what you're seeing. A shaded stream runs through the park, and there are picnic facilities.