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Calaveras Wineries
Increasingly noted for its great Calaveras wineries, Calaveras County was made famous by Mark Twain in 1860 when he wrote the story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras”. Every year since 1928 the Calaveras Frog Jump is held in Angels Camp during the third week in May.
Since then, this area has become famous for its wines as well. Some of the finest wines in the world are produced here. Most Calaveras wineries are located in Murphys, with others being located in Valley Springs and Mokelume Hill.
Murphys is the only place we know of where you can enjoy walking from winery to winery as you taste wonderful wines. There are 10 wineries all within a short walking distance of each other in the charming Gold Rush town of Murphys.
A wine tasting trip to Calaveras County is sure to be an enjoyable visit. Special wine tasting events occurring annually include Presidents’ Wine Weekend every February, Passport Weekend each June, the Calaveras Grape Stomp in October, and the Holiday Open House each December.
Spend some time in historic Calaveras County soaking up the beautiful scenery, exploring the Calaveras wineries, and sipping the delicious wines of this area. You won’t be disappointed!
If you are looking for wonderful, unique wine country accomodations in Calaveras County, Dunbar House 1880 is a wine country bed and breakfast that we thoroughly enjoy. Located in the historic Gold Rush town of Murphys, it is surrounded by Calaveras wineries that are within easy walking distance.
While wine tasting at Calavera wineries, be sure to plan for lunch or dinner at V Restaurant and Bar.This great wine country restaurant offers fine dining in a casual atmosphere. Be sure to call for reservations.
Calaveras Wineries
Calaveras Winery Maps
Black Sheep Winery Address: P.O. Box 1851, Murphys, CA 95247 Main Street & Murphys Grade, Murphys, Telephone: (209 728-2157 Open Weekends Noon – 5 PM The wines produced by this Calaveras winery include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Cabernet Franc.
Boitano Family Wines
Address: P.O. Box 295, Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245 Wine tasting at Vino Piazza, 12470 Locke Bldge. 600, Lockeford, CA This Calaveras winery has its tasting room in Lockeford at Vino Piazaa, a complex made up of many wineries.
Learn more about Vino Piazza on our Lodi Wineries page.
Telephone: (209) 727-3270
Open Weekends Noon – 5 PM No fee for tasting
When we were in the wine tasting room, lots of visitors were raving about their raspberry and almond sparkling wines…..very fruity and something different. They also have Viognier, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, and Barbera.
Brice Station Winery
Address: 3353 E. Hwy. 4, Murphys, CA 95247
Telephone: (209) 728-8805
Open Fri.-Sun. 11 AM – 6 PM No fee for tasting.
This Calaveras winery produces Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Viognier, Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Vintage Port. Our favorite is the Cabernet Sauvignon. This unique tasting room was originally being built for use as a bomb shelter during the Cold War.
Broll Mountain Vineyards
Address: 106 Main St., Murphys, CA 95247 Telephone: (209) 728-9750 Open weekends 1 PM – 5 PM No fee for tasting. This Calaveras winery specializes in Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon for your wine tasting pleasure. This wine tasting room is on Main Street just a short distance from the historic downtown area of Murphys.
Chatom Vineyards
Address: 1969 Hwy. 4, Douglas Flat, CA 95229 Telephone: (209) 736-6500 Open daily 11 AM – 5 PM (No fee for tasting.) Enjoy this family owned Calaveras winery that produces Syrah, Brunello, Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, as well as 6 Portugese varietals. Our favorite was the Zinfandel. This winery is owned by a woman and 90% of the employees are female. They produce a She-Red and a She-White, both are table wines and a percentage of the proceeds are donated to research heart disease and breast cancer.
Domaine Becquet Winery
Address: 415 Main St., Murphys, CA
Telephone: (209)772-8487
Open Wed.-Sun 11 AM – 5 PM (No fee for tasting).
They have a second wine tasting room at 2173 Hwy. 12, Valley Springs, CA. What wine does this winery NOT make? Their list of wine includes Primitivo, Rose, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Claret, Carignane, Mouverdre, Cabernet Franc, Muscat,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Mission, Port, and Petite Syrah. The winery in Valley Springs also has a restaurant and gift shop.
French Hill Winery Address: 8032 S. Main St., Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245 Telephone: (209) 286-1800, Open Tues.-Sun 11 AM – 5 PM (No fee for tasting). This Calaveras winery specializes in Cal-Italia varietals. Their wine list includes Barbera, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Port. They are known for their Barbera.
Hatcher Winery
Address: 425 Main St., Murphys, CA
Telephone: (209)605-7111
Open Fri.-Sun. 11 AM – 5 PM (No fee for tasting).
Producing less than 3000 cases per year this winery refuses to compromise on quality. They produce Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Cinsault, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Franc for you wine tasting pleasure. We especially like Hatcher Viognier, which is very floral. This is the only wine produced outside Calaveras County. Russian Hill Vineyard in Sonoma is the grower. Another favorite is the Tempranillo, which is 20% Cabernet. The outgoing owner is usually pouring wine in the tasting room and is knowledgable and fun.
Indian Rock Vineyards Address: 1154 Pennsylvania Gulch Rd., Murphys, CA 95247 Telephone: (209) 728-8514 Open Fri.-Sun. Noon - 6 PM This Calaveras winery is located on an historic site settled long ago by the Miwok Indians. Wines include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Zinfandel, Port, and Rose. Our favorite was the Port. There's a pond with lots of fish and ducks.
Irish Vineyards
Address: 2849 Hwy. 4, Vallecito, CA 95251 Telephone: (209) 728-1251 Open daily 10 AM - 5 PM This Calaveras winery features Petite Sirah, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Malvasia, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot available for tasting. Around St. Patrick's Day they offer a green wine called Slainte, which means "cheers" in Gaelic. It's actually a blend of chenin blanc and chardonnay dyed green. We enjoyed all of the wines at this winery owned by a couple whose last name is Irish (and yes, they are Irish!)
Laraine Wines
Address: 3675 Six Mile Rd., Vallecito, CA 95252
Telephone: (209) 736-4766
Open Fri.-Sun. 11 AM – 5 PM
Located in an historic Calaveras County 1880s farmhouse, you will be able to relax in their peaceful surroundings as you sample their Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Our favorite is the Merlot which was very fruit flavored. This winery is owned by a movie producer, David Gerber, and his wife, Laraine who is an actress. The tasting room's walls display pictures from their movies.
Ironstone Vineyards
Address: 1894 Six Mile Rd., Murphys, CA Telephone: (209) 728-1251 Open daily 10 AM - 5 PM There are so many good things happening at Ironstone! The grounds are lovely. The impressive wine tasting room has a 42 foot stone fireplace. There’s a gourmet deli, the Heritage Museum, Jewelry Shoppe, Alhambra Pipe Organ, Culinary Exhibition Center, Outdoor Amphitheatre, and Wine Aging Caves. This Calaveras Winery is a popular wedding site as well. Our favorite wines at Ironstone are Symphony and Obsession.
Lavendar Ridge Vineyard
Address: 431 B Main St., Murphys, CA 95247
Telephone: (209) 728-2441
Open Fri.-Sun. 11 AM – 5 PM (No fee for tasting.)
Lavender Ridge specializes in Rhone varietals and produces hand crafted, unfiltered wines in small quantities. Their wines include Viognier, Roussanne, Greanache, Rose, Grenache, Carignane, Mourvedre, and Syrah. This Calaveras County winery is located in downtown Murphys, a very short walking distance to many other wineries.
Millaire Winery
Address: 276 Main St., Murphys, CA 95247
Telephone: (209) 728-1658
Open daily 11 AM – 5 PM (No fee for tasting)
They produce around 2,500 cases of wine annually, specializing in small lots of wine made entirely from Sierra Foothills vineyards. Wines include: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, White Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Port, and Zinfandel Port.
Newsome-Harlow
Address: 405 Main St., Murphys, CA 95247 Telephone: (209) 728-9817 This is a small Calaveras winery committed to using only premium grapes and producing small quantities of excellent wine. The tasting room is located in downtown Murphys. Wines include Meritage, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc. Our favorite is the Meritage and the Zinfandel.
Rocco's Com'e Bella Vineyards
Address: 57C Algiers St., Murphys, CA
Telephone: (209) 728-9030
Open weekends 11 AM - 5 PM; weekdays Noon - 5 PM
This Calaveras winery focuses on red wines including Mission, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Rocco himself is often the person serving wine in the tasting room in downtown Murphys.
Stevenot Winery
Address: 2690 San Domingo Rd., Murphys, CA 95247
Telephone: (209) 728-0638
Open daily 10 AM – 5 PM (No fee for tasting).
They have a second wine tasting room on the corner of Sheep Ranch Rd. & Main Street that is open Wed.-Mon. from 11 AM – 5 PM.
This Calaveras winery established in 1973 has earned a reputation for producing high quality wines. Their wines include: Chardonnay, Orange Muscat, Cabernet Savignon, Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Tempranillo. Enjoy professional Shakespeare in the summer at the outdoor amphitheatre.
Twisted Oak Winery Address: 350 Main St., Murphys, CA 95247 Open Thurs.-Sun. 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM (No fee for tasting). They have a second tasting room at 4280 Red Hill Road in Murphys that is opened daily from 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM.They have a large number of varietals including: Syrah, Verdelho, Viognier, Petite Sirah, Marsanne, Rosado, Syrah, and Tempranillo. Many wineries have a winery dog. The wine tasting room of this Calaveras winery has a cat that loves all the attention of the wine drinkers who visit.
Zucca Mountain Vineyards
Address: 425 E. Main St., Murphys, CA 95247
Telephone: (209) 728-1623
Open daily noon – 5 PM (No fee for tasting).
The wine tasting room is in the cellar of a 150 year old building in downtown Murphys. You step down into a cave room for a unique atmosphere. If you go on the weekend, you may be served by the owners/winemakers themselves. This is a family venture producing Merlot, Zinfandel, Barbera, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Our favorites are the Barbera and Syrah.
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