September is California Wine Month!

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tempranillo grapes on vine

Even though every month is technically wine month in California, September is the official California Wine Month. It occurs on this special month annually primarily to coincide with the harvest schedule, but it is also a great time for festivals (unless it is 2020), vineyard tours, dinners with winemakers, and other area events. September’s California Wine Month lets you savor the very best from the Golden State's award-winning, local favorites, and upcoming...

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What We’re Listening To!

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BottleRock in Napa with Rebecca and Ryan

Music for the Soul

What mood do you want to be in? Happy, relaxed, ready to party tunes, reflective, soulful, in love, chillin? Music has a magic way of taking us to far away places. It transforms us to a place we want to remember. And what road trip is complete without a stack of CDs, cassette tapes (yes, I still have mine!), and a never-ending playlist.

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Bird is the Word

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Birdwatching has been a pastime of people from all over the world for a very long time. But now, it is making a serious comeback, thanks to all the downtime we have as individuals, couples, and families. 2020 made it cool again to admit you're a bird nerd.

Top Tips

First, here are some tips if you're headed out to look for some feathered...

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Behind the Cellar Door

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Mustard in the Vineyards in Amador

Amador County's Annual Wine Event Returns in 2021

Springtime in the Sierra Foothills wineries is a beautiful sight! Picture green lush grasses on the hills, wildflowers blooming, yellow mustard flowering, and grapevines waking up after a winter slumber. It is the time of year where Behind the Cellar Door welcomes wine enthusiasts from Northern California and Nevada regularly to this highly...

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State Fair Beer Judging

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Beer waiting to be judged

State Fair Beer Judging

Updated with cancellation of California State Fair 2020 announcement.

Summer is my favorite season, without a doubt! Camping with friends, wineries to explore, long days to enjoy, local hikes, and warm days beg for cold beer. Every year, the California State Fair brings hundreds of thousands of people to Cal Expo in Sacramento. No Fair is complete without awards for the state's best beer.

You Judge Beer?!

Judging beer is something I have...

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Hoppy Easter Beer Baskets

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Easter Basket

Hoppy Easter Beer Baskets

Not Your Average Easter

Every year, many families gather together and celebrate Easter by going to church, having brunch, an Easter egg hunt, and enjoy time with each other. The holiday might include a nice dinner too. The exception this year is that most of this won't happen, due to the Coronavirus aka COVID-19, and guidelines set to shelter in place (SIP). My mom already had to make the decision to "cancel Easter" after 42 years of celebrating as...

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Holidays in the Hills

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Rebecca Wilkie by old blue truck at Dora Dain

Event Recap - Holidays in the Hills 2019

Holiday Fun on the Placer Wine Trail

Holidays in the Hills is a festive December tradition for many wine enthusiasts on the Placer Wine Trail. The annual event is held the first weekend of December and combines winter wine specials, wineries decorated for the holidays, a toy drive, and wine tasting with treats along the way.

The wine tastings are included in the price of the ticket, and many wineries provide food samples, food...

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California Craft Brewers Cup Competition

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Various beers waiting to be judged

New Competition for California Breweries

California Craft Brewers Cup Debuts

The California Craft Brewers Cup is a new brewing competition that showcases just how far California has risen in the beer world over the past several years. The competition was a partnership between the various beer guilds and the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA). It recognizes the best craft beers in the state of California. The brewers did not disappoint.

California Craft...

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Grape Days of Summer

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Gorgeous view of vineyards at Paza

Event Recap - Grape Days of Summer 2019

Grape Days of Summer

Grape Days of Summer is an annual wine lovers weekend event held on the Placer Wine Trail. This year it was held on July 20-21, 2019. Included in the price of the ticket is the wine tastings, food at each stop, and various educational experiences, such as learning about winemaking, grapes, aging styles, and blending techniques.

Because the wineries on the Trail are spread out through the cities of Auburn,...

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Lincoln Wine Fest

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Wine corks

Lincoln Wine Fest - Placer County Staple

Postponed for Now

The Lincoln Wine Fest is a highly-anticipated annual event in the community and fun for both wine aficionados and novices alike. Unlike other wine festivals, this takes place in two square blocks of retail shops and restaurants around Beermann Plaza in historic downtown Lincoln, CA. Gather your friends and enjoy the shops, taste wine from numerous wineries and breweries from Placer County, and shop as you go....

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