Carpe Vino - Sierra Wineries

Carpe Vino is Now an Art Gallery!
If you love art, click here to view work from new artists represented by Carpe Vino, including Michael Godard, the #1 selling artist in the world.

Excuse Our Dust

We launched this site more than three years ago, and now it's time for a
face lift. We're just finishing our latest expansion, and now we need to
feature our new restaurant, art gallery and new staff members.

We're adding lots of new content and new features, so be patient.

Thanks!

Click on the map to link to Sierra Hertiage Magazine's detailed Foothills wine map.

Sierra Foothill Wineries
Are Due Some Respect

We created Carpe Vino for two very specific reasons: there was no fine wine store in Auburn; and we saw a significant opportunity to aggressively market the awesome wines being produced in the Sierra Foothills.

Carpe Vino has been welcomed by wine lovers in the Auburn area, and it has become a social center for locals seeking a fun place to call their own. And with the launch of our new web site, www.sierrawine.com, we're taking a giant step to help brand and promote Sierra Foothill wines far beyond our backyard.

For the purposes of our web site, we're defining Sierra Foothills as all of the wineries generally located along Rt.49 from Nevada County to Calaveras County, plus all of the wineries in Lodi and Lockeford. What distinguishes this region is high-quality wine at what we consider to be very low prices

It's hard to say with certainty how many wineries are in the area. The problem is not all wine makers belong to their county wine associations; some don't make enough wine to qualify (though they are bonded and sell their wines to the public) and others simply choose not to join.

Our estimate is there are just shy of 100 wineries in the Sierra Foothills, nearly 130 when you factor in Lodi area wineries. That is an incredible number and nearly 15% of the total winery population of California. Yet despite the prolific nature of wine making in Gold Country, until recently, few wine makers have received any notoriety for their efforts. The situation is so pathetic, that many wine books and wine guides don't even mention the Foothills in their surveys of the state's wine resources.

Because the Foothill wine region is so expansive, the terrior varies dramatically. In Placer County, vineyards are generally at 1,000 feet or less; the moisture conditions are very dry and soil is typically harsh-the way vines like it. El Dorado wineries grow all the way up to around 3,000 feet, and get cooler nights. Vineyards benefit from steeper slopes with more sun exposure; moisture is limited; nights are cooler; and soil is rocky and harsh.

What most of the region has in common is it is ideal for growing many of the red varietals, especially those associated with Italian Gold Rush-era miners who brought vines when they came to California in the 1850s-Barbera and Sangiovese. Equally at home are Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Syrah and to a lesser extent, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

White wines have a tougher time of it, and most wine makers who offer such varietals source grapes and juice from elsewhere. Having said that, you can find Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Viognier and others being produced in Gold Country.

As Sierra Foothill brands such as Boeger, Lava Cap and Perry Creek are being marketed nationally, the entire region benefits from the increased exposure. What makes the region so appealing, however, is that great wine is being produced in boutique quantities and being sold at very reasonable prices.

For more information, go to "Buy Wine Online," and explore the many excellent wines available. You can make purchases online and have the wine shipped directly to your home or business. Also, check out the links below for a better idea of the geography and location of Sierra Foothill wineries.

For a detailed map of the region, go to:
http://www.sierraheritage.com/gold_country_map.htm

Carpe Vino Events
Week of 11/28/05

Wine Dinner Schedule: (Click here)

NEW 2006 WINEMAKER DINNER SCHEDULE JUST ANNOUNCED!

530-823-0320 for reservations!

Photo Tours of Old Town
(Just Click on Links)

1. Carpe Vino

2. Old Town Exteriors

For a comprehensive guide to Sierra Foothill wineries, go to:
http://www.sierraheritage.com/pages/sierra.food&wine.html

To receive "Window on Old Town", click on the link below.

Thank you for visiting us online.

If you have further questions please contact us
or visit us at the store
1568 Lincoln Way, Auburn, California 95603

Phone 530-823-0320