Located in
the heart of the Sierra Foothills, El Dorado
(Spanish for “the gilded one”) lies near the Gold Rush city of Placerville, and was designated an AVA in
1983.Vineyard land is situated between 1,200 and
3,500 feet in elevation, and vineyards above 2,000 feet find root in high-acid,
magma-based soils.About 50 winegrape
varieties are grown by the dedicated artisan winemakers of the area.
The El
Dorado AVA is home to more than 60 wineries. While the dominate grape is Zinfandel, many
wineries have achieved success with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; still others
are working with small quantities of Italian and Rhône varietal wines.
Located in
the heart of the Sierra Foothills, 
