Amador Vintner's Association Frequently Asked Questions

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	Where is Amador County? Amador is in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in central California. It’s roughly 100 miles east of both San Francisco and Napa Valley and 40 miles east of the state capitol of Sacramento.

	How long does it take to get to Amador from the Bay Area? Approximately two hours.

	How do you get there? From the Bay Area, take Highway 80 towards Sacramento, then Highway 50 toward South Lake Tahoe, and Highway 16 to Plymouth. See Directions for specifics.

	How close is it to Lake Tahoe? About one hour’s drive.

	When were wineries in Amador first established? The first wineries in Amador arose shortly after the discovery of gold in 1849.

	What’s the connection to the Gold Rush? Many of the early vintners were originally gold miners, many of them from Europe.

	How many wineries are there today? 40, most in the northern part of the county near the town of Plymouth.

	How many acres are planted to wine grapes? 3,700 acres

	What’s the climate like? Amador is a warm region similar to St. Helena and Calistoga in northern Napa Valley; however, breezes from the Sierra Nevada mountains cause temperatures to drop 30-35 degrees at night, which helps maintain high acidity in the grapes.

	What’s Amador’s terroir? Amador’s vineyards are planted on hillsides ranging between 500 and 2,300 feet, with most between 1,200 and 2,000. The vines are planted in well-drained, volcanic, decomposed granite soils, which limit vegetative growth and result in small crops of intensely flavored grapes. The region’s high degree of solar luminosity also ensures full ripening.

	Are there many organically grown grapes in Amador? Yes, a higher percentage of grapes are farmed organically in Amador than in any other California wine region.

	What are Amador’s leading wines? Zinfandel is the leading variety, with over two-thirds of the vine acreage, but barbera, sangiovese, syrah and sauvignon blanc also are prominent. Click here for detailed acreage information.

	How does Amador differ from El Dorado County? Amador is warmer, at a lower elevation, and makes bigger, bolder red wines.

	What makes Amador zinfandels special? Many are produced from old vines – i.e., 50 years or older – which results in especially concentrated grape and wine flavors.

	What are Amador’s best-known wineries? Because they have national distribution, the following wineries are well-known to wine aficionados: Domaine de la Terre Rouge, Karly, Montevina, Renwood, Shenandoah Vineyards, Sobon Estate and Vino Noceto.