Amador County -- Amador Vintners Association invites wine lovers “Behind the Cellar Door” to say “Vive Le Vin” on March 3-4. The Amador Vintners Association’s annual weekend wine extravaganza in the Sierra Foothills showcases classic Mediterranean-style wines, and more, at 36 Amador County wineries.
Jamie Lubenko, executive director of the Amador Vintners Association, said “fans of Amador County wines know they will not be fed a steady diet of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and other ‘mainstream’ varieties when they visit the historic region’s charming small family wineries.”
Lubenko said instead, they’re treated to a cornucopia of old-vine zinfandels, syrahs, sangioveses, barberas, viogniers and other “off-the-beaten-track” Mediterranean varieties, which flourish in Amador’s sun-bathed hillside vineyards.
The delicious, food-friendly wines will be showcased at the Amador Vintners’ annual “Behind the Cellar Door” weekend wine extravaganza Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features tasting from barrel and bottle at 36 Amador County wineries, along with a diverse array of entertaining seminars focused on Mediterranean grape types. ¶ Library and vertical tasting, live music, gourmet foods, numerous winemaker dinners on Friday and Saturday evening and a Sunday brunch fill out the weekend’s festivities.
“Amador is a classic, Mediterranean-style winegrowing region that supports a diverse array of varieties originating primarily in southern France and northern and central Italy,” Lubenko said. “Our winemakers have been crafting world-class wines from these varieties for many years, and each year they experiment with new ones, such as Tempranillo from Spain.”
Lubenko said for the adventurous wine lover and those seeking full-flavored wines to pair with hearty Mediterranean-style foods, Amador Wine Country is the ideal destination.
Tickets can be purchased at www.amadorwine.com or by calling (toll-free) 1-888-655-8614. Separate admission is required for the winemaker dinners.
Amador County is among California’s oldest premium grape-growing regions, dating back to the early days of the Gold Rush in the 1850s. Many of the prospectors were European immigrants whose love of wine inspired them to plant grapevines upon their arrival in Gold Country. Many of these old vines survive to this day and produce the intense zinfandels for which the region has long been celebrated.
Amador County also is renowned for wines made from Italian and Rhône Valley varieties, such as barbera, sangiovese, syrah, and viognier. Along with the region’s fabled zinfandels, they offer wine lovers tremendous quality and value.
Amador wineries are small, family-owned and operated operations known for their gracious hospitality. They offer visitors an intimate view of wine country often unavailable in the more heavily trafficked wine valleys of the North Coast.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
