Daytripping: Amador Wine Country

View from Andis Winery in Amador County

Last Saturday Tim and I took a day trip up to Amador County in the beautiful Gold Country where wine growers have gained huge traction over the past five years. My friend Leanne invited us to celebrate her birthday at the first annual Barbara Festival which took place at Cooper Ranch. The tickets sold out in about three days....we were lucky to be on the waiting list and got tickets by the skin of teeth! Northern California is serious about its wines!

Cooper Ranch has been growing grapes for five generations and has a stunning property. They generously hosted the sold out event on a perfectly beautiful day.

Barbara is a grape that originated in the Piemonte Region of Northern Italy, and by lucky happenstance, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada have made a perfect home for growing Barbara, as well as Zinfandel grapes. Most, if not all, of the Amador wineries produce Barbara wines, as well as Sangiovese and Zinfandel wines.

This festival,was organized in partnership with the organizers of a "sister" festival held in Nizza Monferatto, Italy. At the event in Italy, three California winemakers were invited to present five California Winery barbera wines. At this festival, five Italian wineries presented their barbera wines, most of which are not distributed in California. It was a treat to taste the differences that environment can have on a grape.

Delicious Desserts offered by Clark's Corner Cafe

The wine was not the only ingredient teasing our taste buds. Food purveyors provided delicious dishes such as Duck Risotto, Pork Tenderloin with a spring corn and white bean hash, and blueberry and Fontina cheese lasagna. Some of the participants included Taste Restaurant (recipient of Wine Spectator Award of Excellence), Tuli Bistro, and Bocconato Trattoria.

We tasted, we ate, we listened to the music, but what I love the most was just being here taking in the views of the rolling vineyards with the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the background.

After we had thoroughly enjoyed the festival, we decided to take in a few of the wineries in the region Andis Winery. My friend Ruthie was the manager of the tasting room and I had been hearing rave reviews from many of my friends about a winery that not only was producing great wines, but had taken a very contemporary approach in the construction of their wine tasting facility. Andis Winery hired the talented architectural team of Sage Architects to design something memorable and different.

Husband and Wife team Paul Almond and Pam Whitehead conceived of a modern contrast to the rustic surroundings. One of my favorite elements was the use of wine barrel staves in the design as a screen along one side of the building. The weathered grey color and the texture of the screen adds a softness to the sophisticated exterior.

For more photos you can hop on over to Sage Architecture's website HERE and read more about their thoughts on the design.

Andis was one of the participants at the Barbera Festival as well. After we tasted a few of their wines, we declared Andis as one of the top of our list. We came away with a delicious Sauvignon Blanc, perfect for summer and a red blend known as Painted Fields.

We relaxed in the shade and soaked up the beauty for awhile....