Loved this winery in Sutter Creek, and the combination of excellent wines and friendly staff has me…read moreready to declare it my favorite in the area. On a perfect fall day, I was in town helping out with the big Yelp event series in town and was fortunate to pop into this winery in between events. From the minute we walked in they took great care of us, never let us have an empty glass, had palate cleansing snacks available, and were great to chat with. Their vineyard is right down the road, which is always cool. I wish I could comment on the wines we tried but since it's been a month I'd be doing a disservice trying to remember all the details. The good news is that they will absolutely have you walking out like a aficionado after walking you through the tastings. Wonderful spot, and if it weren't for TSA rules I'd have grabbed a few bottles of this to take back to the midwest.

Matthew Gibson needs to become a major name in the field of wine making. With his first wine…read moretasting room located in the tony hamlet of the Sutter Creek, which is in the direct line of the Shenandoah Valley in Amador County in the Sierra Nevada foothills, he and his winery is well on its way. I spent the day getting to know winemaker Matthew Gibson and his wife Kim, who serves as his operations manager. Gibson starting his life in the banking industry, then moved to a legal career, and finally ending up in Lodi to realize his passion for winemaking. He settled in Gold Country because it reminded him of what Napa used to represent in the seventies, rich in character not to mention terroir. They only opened their tasting room just a year and a half ago, but have been producing small lot premium artisan crafted wines for their label for a number of years. He planted his grapes back in 2006 and now he's celebrated eight years of vintages. They're proud to feature all natural wines at Matthew Gibson Winery, as they don't use tarteric acid, like many other wineries tend to use. Gibson's goal is to grow his grapes and let them sit there to make Mother Nature do the rest. They have high density vineyards with over three thousand acres and everything they make they use for their own label which is rare in this industry. At Gibson, they like to focus on all reds as Matthew basically makes what he likes to drink. Today, I sampled four pours of their 2012 Estate Primitivo, 2013 Estate Syrah, 2013 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, and Matthew's favorite their unique 2014 Nebbiolo, which despite it being a red was light and fruity and featured plenty of tannins. All four wines would pair nicely with any charcuterie, cheese, or artisan bread platter at your next party. In fact, Gibson prides himself on his wines having an abundance of tannins on the nose because how his grapes are grown affects how the way his wine is made. Gibson told me that he tries to make good wines as they are truly his babies. I was so enamored with my experience that I knew I had to make a purchase because who knows when I would get the chance to make another appearance here in Gold Country to sample and mull another purchase of these unique wines. So the vintage Cabernet Sauvignon was the one I went with and I could not be more pleased. This is a bottle I am going to cherish, not unlike how owner Gibson cherishes his babies, I will cherish this experience for years to come.

Enjoyed ourselves on father's day. Nice staff, good wine. Even when faced with a last minute cranky…read morewalk in that couldn't understand why the winery had certain rules and a hard stop of pouring . Kudos for keeping your integrity. ​

What makes this winery special are the people, plus they have some great adult beverages. You can…read moretell this is a family own and ran establishment because they care. I've been to some concerts there and I've gone there just to taste wine both A+ or highly recommend you go and they can get pretty busy.

What an amazing venue! My gf and I came here for a Fundraiser to help raise money for Ranger Road,…read morewhich is an organization that helps Veterans transition from Military to civilian life through extraordinary experiences. The wine was amazing and they continuously heavy-poured our wine glasses. The food and service was amazing too!

I was searching things to do on Groupon, when I came across Sera Fina Cellars. It looked…read moreinteresting, especially since it was very close to an old family gold claim we used to own. I had to reschedule dates a couple of times, but I was finally able to make it. The weather was perfect, as it was an ideal day to visit the vineyard. My friend and I visited from Sacramento, so it took us about an hour to arrive. It's tucked out in the country, so I didn't mind the drive. Upon arriving there was plenty of parking. I'm sure it's due to the fact they take reservations so they can space guests out. Makes it nice because it's not crowded. We checked in and were asked if we would like to do the tasting inside or outside. Of course we chose outdoors, because it was such a beautiful day. There were several tables outside and about three other tables were occupied. Off to the left is a white picket fence, but to the right is a game area. I noticed they offer bocce ball, which would be fun if you wanted to bring your kids. Sera Fina Cellars allows you to bring your own food, so I brought a charcuterie board. I love the fact that they allow you to do so. We enjoyed the view while we sampled 7 different wines from the list. The seventh one was complimentary, and I must say it was my favorite! The name was Chocolate Kiss, and I believe it was a port paired with chocolate. My second flavor was the Raspberry. The guy who served us was very knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable. Overall, it was such a relaxing and lovely trip. We will definitely be back in the future and I will be purchasing a bottle to-go next time. Thank you Sera Fina Cellars for such a pleasant experience.

Our group of six apologize for rolling in at 3:30 when the tasting room closes at 4 pm on Saturday…read more But in our defense it was so worth it. The gentleman behind the counter is such a gem. He presented us with a Halloween candy and wine pairing menu. What fun and the combinations really complimented each other well. It also gave us a broad taste of the winery's offerings. The tasting room is very spacious with a large central bar and a couple of sofa seating areas. But the patio is where it's at. In the afternoon there is plenty of shade and all day a fabulous view of the rolling hills of grape vines. Plenty of easy parking right out front. Next year we come earlier in the day.

Another place I've been driving past for years, but never stopped in. However, the tasting room…read morehours now extend to 5pm in the spring and summer. A bad ski day ended early, and I found myself cruising by at 4. Note: you enter through the gate, which is hard to figure out if you don't naturally think in "yards" when reading roadside signs. The Greenstone wines are made from a mix of grapes grown on-site and those from other Amador regions. An excellent Petite Syrah (2001), loaded with flavor, texture, and finish, was memorable and as good as some of the Livermore Valley offerings, and surprisingly inexpensive. The Sangiovese, only brought out because a club member requested it, had the right flavor profile and a taste that should really develop well with a little aging, or maybe some decanting and aeration. They also sold a sweet Zinfandel port, which went well with the free chocolate. Like many foothills wines, the smells were unique, sometimes odd, often aggressive, but always interesting. Napa, Sonoma, and Livermore all have uniform regional smells, while up here you'll discover new sensory experiences. Prices ranged in the $10s and $20s, with several bottles on sale. I bought the Sangiovese and the Petite Syrah. I'm going to grab more of the latter on my next trip to the mountains. UPDATED: you know, this place is growing on me now that I've cracked the bottles I brought home. The Sangiovese, with food, was a great dry Chianti-style wine, and the Petite Syrah, at the existing price point, is quite caseworthy. They are currently (4/27) doing a closeout sale on the 2001's and I stocked up for pennies on the dollar. Buy a case. REUPDATED: Check out the Chalaye and "R" blends. A little mixing of the sometimes rowdy Foothills varietals makes for a smoother, richer red.

I haven't tasted their wines yet, but I can tell you the Sales and Marketing person is very rude.read more

This was our first time here. If you want to taste wine with a winemaker who truly cares about the…read moreend product go to Raven's Reach. The tasting room is decorated beautifully. We appreciate smaller wineries and like to support them. The wine is delicious. The restroom was spotless and very clean. We will be back.

Nice cozy little winery with a Harry Potter like aesthetic. Fun to check out. Friendly staff.read more

As we pulled into the drive it looks so secluded you have to wonder if anyone will actually be…read morethere in the tasting room, but sure enough the winemaker was waiting there and we had the place to ourselves. The tasting room is just a little converted barn or garage with a counter and the barrels. Nothing fancy, just functional. Everything we tasted was great, but I have to say I really enjoyed discussing the wine making process with the owner. He is very knowledgeable, having come from a family in the wine business in Livermore and studying viticulture at Davis. We took a bottle of the Barbera and he let us know where the next tasting room down the road was.

Nuadair is off the beaten path, but it is definitely worth the journey. There are a few wineries up…read moreWillow Creek Road that if you don't visit you will be missing out. At Nuadair you can find a lot of the regular varieties offered in the Amador area, however, they are all older than you will normally find. Just last week I tried a 10 and 11 year old bottle of Barbera- both were delicious and had a complexity that a lot of the newer vintages in the area lack. Also at the tasting room I have tried a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah also from probably about 10 years ago. I believe the man pouring in the tasting room is the owner and wine maker. He is very kind and you will have a great conversation. His wines are very affordable around $20 a bottle.

Perfectly Peaceful…read more My husband and I recently spent several days at GRI. From the first glimpse of this Tuscany-like villa, we knew we were in for an incredible experience. Our suite (one of five) was absolutely stunning. The Innkeeper (the first of three amazing Innkeepers) had the gas fireplace lit, and wonderful instrumental music playing, as she showed us our suite. The food was phenomenal: gourmet breakfasts, 5:00 wine and cheese, and homemade cookies in the evening. My favorite part was the patio with a fire pit overlooking the vineyard. It is difficult to find such peace and serenity anywhere. Aah... We anticipate return visits

What a jewel amongst the vineyards! If you are looking for a 5 star place to stay for that special…read moreoccasion, this is the place. From the linens to the décor, super luxurious accommodations set amongst acres of vineyards, each suite with it's own private deck overlooking Tuscany-style views in the heart of Amador wine country. Our host, Linda, made an incredible stay that much more homey. Each morning's breakfast was a feast, seated outside on the covered patio with stunning views. The meals were uber fresh (filling enough that we skipped lunch both days!). Every day around 5 you're treated to wine and cheese. Perfect location to wine taste on property or venture out to the growing number of top rated wineries. Walk amongst the vineyards or take out one the beach cruisers or trikes for a ride around. At night, the fire pits are a nice touch, or just lounge on you private deck for a sunset and a moonset. Looking forward to our return!