Behind the Cellar Door

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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September is California Wine Month!

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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Holidays in the Hills

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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Grape Days of Summer

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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Calistoga

Winery Bottles Calistoga

Kickin’ It in Calistoga Wine Country

Cottages for Couples

Built in 1948 and renovated in 2000, the Aurora Park Cottages in Calistoga, California invite visitors, not always wine tourists, to relax, kick back, and snuggle in. Welcome to a cozy, but modernized, rendition of the romantic getaway destination. It’s a cottage. Not a hotel, motel, or B&B with squeaky floors and voices next door. This is your ideal home, complete with refrigerator, tea and coffee sets,...

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Zinfandel Thrives in California

Zinfandel grapes ripening on the vine

What You Need to Know About Zinfandel

Did you know that Zinfandel is the third most widely-planted grape varietal in California? It is grown in 45 of California’s 58 counties. According to the California Wine Institute, there were more than 44,400 acres planted and 416,615 tons crushed in 2016, as reported by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

While most of the Zin grapes come from the Central Valley, Sonoma County also produces a fair amount. Seghesio is a...

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Special Wine Tasting at Paul Martin’s American Grill

Paul Martin's American Grill Short Rib Street Tacos

Paul Martin's American Grill Hosts Founders' Selects Wine Tasting Event

After receiving an email (yes, that is very much a thing!) from Paul Martin's American Grill announcing a special wine tasting with simply paired appetizers for an amazing price of $20 per person, I immediately called my friend and asked if she and her boyfriend wanted to join my boyfriend and me. She excitedly said she didn't want to miss it and was already making her reservations. Anyone who thinks email...

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