“The apple orchards are still the area’s big draw, but the new wineries are coming on strong…My companions, wine lovers and world travelers, are impressed enough to buy a case. I swirl the ruby liquid in my glass and think of the sights to come that will really knock them out." — Sunset Magazine
A beautiful fifteen minute drive north of Holly’s Hill brings you to El Dorado’s Apple Hill. Many fine wineries there draw customers year round. The fall brings crowds looking for mountain grown apples as well. As Halloween approaches they seek pumpkins and then Christmas Trees as the holiday season swings into gear. Much of our agricultural history is in this growing region. The first winery you come to after leaving Placerivlle is Boeger and it is also our oldest. In fact, the Boeger family revived a gold rush era winery established in the 1800’s. They even make use of an old cellar for special events. Other upstarts in the Apple Hill region and beyond helped pave the way for newcomers like us by establishing a thriving wine tourism industry.
In the heart of Apple Hill lies the Fenaughty Vineyard. It has the second oldest Syrah vines planted in the county. We’ve been fortunate to be able to make wine from these old vines since 1999. The vineyard is at the same elevation as our estate Syrah but the soil is different. There was a lava flow in the area that gives the nearby Lava Cap winery its name. The wine made from this vineyard is delicate and floral and we think of the entire Apple Hill fondly when we taste this wine.
The growers there are family run like here in Pleasant Valley and owe all their accolades to generations of hard work.
