Come here last and enjoy the patio! I got the Rose and my sister got the red blend! Yummy read more

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I love this winery. Their wine is good and they're always super nice and helpful. The view is lovely and it's a perfect spot to get a bottle of wine and enjoy a picnic outside w friends. Definitely my go to spot when friends want to go wine tasting. read more

Slightly pass due review. Boyfriend & I stopped by in Thanksgiving weekend of 2016. This place is beautiful. That day was drizzling all day & it just felt amazing up there! The smell of the pine trees, almost all the cars driving down the hill had a xmas tree strap on top! And the slight slushy snow made everything look even more beautiful! Lava Cap employees Customer service was GREAT! I really like the wine! I've had their Barbera red wine before, but this time I loved it! So much I'm a member! I just received an order 2 days ago. One of the wines unfortunately was damaged. I called Lava Cap and they are taking care of it! No hassle no fuss! Just plain old great customer service! Will continue to be a member that's for sure! Thank you Lava Cap employees! You guys are awesome! read more

This winery has always been a favorite of mine. The property is gorgeous, they offer a ton of outdoor space for seating, from bistro tables, to picnic tables, and umbrellas for shade. You can bring your dog here too if you'd like. They also let you bring in your own food, or they offer cheese, crackers, and baskets of food to buy. The tasting room is on the smaller end, but that makes it easier to get a one on one experience. We started chatting with the girl that was pouring out tasting, and after a bit we came to find out that she's the owners granddaughter. What a doll. She was so sweet. Her parents now run the winery, and her, and her brother work there. You can tell that she LOVES what she does. She's really passionate about the wine. And the wine, is soooo tasty! I'm a red drinking, so I skipped the white and went straight for red. Always impressed by the bold flavors of the Barbera. We bought a bottle, and decided to drink it there. You get a couple of glasses, and we took it out to a bistro table over looking the vineyard. Grabbed some snacks from the car. And enjoyed sitting outside, chatting and sipping. Lovely day, and amazing winery! read more

NOT DOG FRIENDLY... at least not where it counts! Dogs can only be below by the outdoor gardens. They are NOT allowed in the tasting room or the deck with patio tables. If you have two people wanting to taste, you have to take turns in the tasting room. That sucks. (Boeger winery lets dogs in the tasting room & the beautiful grounds. There's benches & tables all over) read more

This was our second stop on our wine trip. Not only is the view spectacular but the wine is great. We tried all the reds and enjoyed them all. We left with a bottle of their cab. We then had a glass on their patio which has amazing views. Highly recommend stopping here on your visits to the Eldorado Wine Trail. read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

I don't give 1 star reviews often..in fact, this is my first one. In order for me to rate a locally owned business a single star, something terribly wrong had to have happened, and it would have had to have happened on more than one occasion on the same day. I rabidly support local businesses because I truly believe that they are the lifeblood of commerce. If I'm giving a one star review it's meant to bring attention to something that truly needs fixing. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened to my group who came to visit yesterday. I came with a group of close friends to enjoy all the bounty that Apple Hill had to offer, along with trying some wines at local wineries in the interest of purchasing a few bottles. Sure, we were relatively young, ranging in age from 21 to 31, and may not have appeared to be as well-heeled or monied as some of the customers who were walking about the premises. However, that should *never* determine how to treat your customers. I spend about $175 on vintages from all over each month personally, and with my baby face and non-brand name clothing, you'd never be able to tell. The lead member of our group called in, and asked to make a reservation for our group. She was told that they could not accommodate a reservation, but to come over nevertheless for wine tastings. I was especially looking forward to visiting Lava Cap, as I am a huge moscato/muscat fan, and I'd been looking for some wonderful Muscato/Muscat from relatively local wineries, being that our home of Nevada has none as yet. I'd noticed that Lava Cap had a Muscat Canelli available, and if that was as wonderful as I'd hoped, I'd be going home with either a bottle or a few bottles for enjoyment throughout the next few months. When we entered the tasting room, we were greeted by an absolutely sweet and astute older woman who cheerfully introduced herself, welcomed us to Lava Cap, checked IDs, offered us wine glasses and gave a pour of one of the estate grown reds. We were immediately impressed, and took the menus to figure out what varietals to try next. I work in customer service for a large company that prides itself on proactive, courteous and kind service to all customers, and this woman was a credit to Lava Cap Winery. I'm so sad that I didn't note her exact name, I believe that it may have been Joan or Jane. This is when our visit when from wonderful to tear inducing. One of the staff members, a woman with a brunette pageboy was working behind the counter and when our first group came up in twos and threes to ask politely for a pour of another vintage, this person looked at all of us and said "So, how many are in your group?" We answered truthfully "Ten". She said "You're supposed to call us." We indicated that we had in fact called and were told to come in for a tasting only in the tasting room. This staff member huffed when we'd politely ask for a new vintage to taste, and we felt like we shouldn't have even come to the door. I noticed a sign for tasting of new vintages at an event going on at the moment, and asked this staff member about it. She looked at me quite haughtily and said "That is only for our wine club members." I asked "Well, it says that there is a five dollar fee for admission." She said again "That is ONLY for our wine club members." She didn't ask me if I'd consider joining the Wine Club, not even after I purchased the two bottles that I'd hoped to buy shortly afterward. As a customer service representative, if you see someone who is genuinely interested in your product, it's prudent to suggest considering other means of securing future business. I was truly surprised by this, and a bit hurt. As the time went on, perhaps about thirty minutes, my group tried other vintages and discussed them quietly, their merits and if we'd each want to purchase a bottle of a specific vintage of choice. After our taste of a third wine, we we were told: "This is the last pour that we'll do for you. You need to move along so we can serve other people" There was no one else in line, and the menu promised five tastings. She poured four for everyone else in my group. I was the only one to have five, and I wonder if that was because I sidled up to the counter alone after awhile, and made it clear that I wanted to taste in order to see if I wanted to purchase two specific vintages, the Muscat Canelli 2013 and the Reserve Estate Grown Grenache 2014. I tasted both, and purchased a bottle of each. Her rudeness left one of my friends in tears. This is not acceptable. No customer should ever leave an establishment in tears, unless they were tears of joy or happiness. After our experience, we didn't want to visit other wineries, on account of how we were treated by this staff member at Lava Cap. I was considering joining the Wine Club, and will never patronize Lava Cap again, let alone join the Wine Club. It's a shame, but it's important to remember that Excellent Customer Service speaks volumes. read more

I may be spoiled because every time I come here they have transformed their property into a magical tasting experience. Last year, they went full force with Gone With the Wind. Hats, photo ops, live music, amazing bites and wonderful wines. This year, they rocked Don Quixote. They paired many of their wines with tasty bites . Pulled me in hook, line & sinker with the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc paired with an olive tapenade. I purchased the wine and know it will pair excellently with many things. They extended a discount on 3 bottles of certain wines. Unlike some other places that try to unload their less popular bottles this way, Lava Cap highlighted their shining stars in this deal. We couldn't resist & walked away with a couple bottles of Syrah and a smile. The staff is always friendly, patient and knowledgable. I love this winery! read more

Hey! You! Yelper looking to find out whether Lava Cap is worth stopping in while on an Apple Hill excursion. The quick answer? YES. For details, read on you crazy reader you. The location is beyond beautiful. Lava Cap has a paved parking lot, great wooden structure that leads out to an also great wooden deck with several umbrella'd tables sprinkled about-- yes, I know, umbrella'd isn't a word. But you know what I meant by that, and you know you did. Beyond the deck are rolling hills to gaze upon while you sip your wine. The tastings are fairly priced and the associates behind the bar are very friendly and knowledgeable about their wine, and what best to pair it with. They offer snack packages for you should you decide to enjoy the deck with a bottle and a picnic. Their wine is of exceptional quality. I tried several red and several white and enjoyed each one. Now, personally my pallet enjoys a smooth, smoky, Pinot Noir. I have NEVER encountered a Chardonnay that I have enjoyed. To me, they have all been awful. I share this with you, because the Chardonnay I tasted at Lava Cap undid my cultivated perception that all Chardonnay was God awful and should be prohibited henceforth--yeah, I was that serious. Lava Cap produced a Chard unlike any others I've tasted. I was so surprised by the fact that I actually liked it, that I bought a bottle to take home. Oh! And hey! If you buy a bottle, your tasting fee goes from $7-10 to nothing! That's right! When you buy a bottle, your tasting fee is waved. I'll definitely be going back, and you should most certainly stop in. read more

UPDATED 8/20/14 (changed to 3 stars): Since posting this review about Lava Cap the owners personally contacted me. We are talking and will be back in a couple months to re-do our experience. I have many friends who personally know the owners... and this seems to be just a bad first impression. Our bridal party will be going back and we are VERY excited especially since I LOVE their wine! Thank you Charlie and Noreen for making this right. We can't wait! -Jennifer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st review (had only 1 star) I LOVE their wine... but how they treated my group was rude. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE THEIR WINE AGAIN. Please see below. BTW: we live in the area... I'm a local... and my local purchases... NEVER again will come from me, my family, or friends. My girlfriends and I showed up for tastings this past weekend. When we pulled up there were TWO cars there. I was VERY excited to finally come to one of my fav. tasting wines. Not only that but everyone talks about how awesome they get treated so we were all very excited! Upon entering an older man asked if we had an appointment while glaring at us. I know that we should have booked an appointment, but there is a classy way to deal with issues AND A WAY TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE. The one who planned this whole trip said no and then the other older woman said with the WORST attitude that we HAVE to make appointments and continued to talk to us like she was our mother. *** I feel that I need to point out that the group of ladies I had in tow with me were between the ages of 30 - 50's as well so it isn't like we were fresh 21 year olds looking to get drunk for free. We were there to taste their wine and buy! *** After this, a group decided to continue with the wine tasting for a price (which is normal) but the couple behind the counter was so rude the other half of our group went back out into the limo. WHILE we were IN the limo... the older man came out and yelled at our driver for not calling ahead and to never bring a group back there if there is no appointment. Ummmm... hello? We were right there in the car! On a side note while we were getting yelled at for having about 9 people wine tasting total, a group of ladies came in (6) and they were spoken to much nicer AND got to do the wine tasting for free. Interesting. Another side note... while our group was wine tasting... the paid wine tasting... the older man came out with all their 'free' wines for tasting. Thankfully one of the girls noticed that they weren't serving the reserve tastings. In which he went back in and go the right bottles... but come on. Don't be a jerk. You knew we paid... there were 2 of you working. Over all... and what is really sad... I LOVED this wine and still do. But I will NEVER purchase their bottle again. I told my family and my friends... along with the 13 other people in our party... and they told their family and friends. I don't care if you have one of the oldest vines in the Camino area... you still aren't Napa but their snobby attitude and the way they treated us at least 100 people in this area and whoever else reads this hopefully will think twice before they go there. There are TONS of other wonderful friendly wineries in the area. Please go there before going here. We went as a group to 3 other well known places... and non of them had a problem. We paid the $5-10 for the tastings, went outside, and it was wonderful. read more

I can't believe I haven't left a review for this winery yet! We ventured upon this winery a couple of years ago after a tasting at Boeger down the road. After a very friendly interaction with knowledgeable staff, we knew we had found a new place to escape for a mini day trip when we couldn't go to Napa. Yes, the tasting room is on the small side, but you won't wait long. Regardless of your reason for visiting, Lava Cap wants you to stay and picnic on their expansive outdoor seating (patio as well as tables facing some of their vineyard). If you decide at the last minute to nosh, they offer several food options via picnic basket for you to purchase. Or bring your own! The staff also encourages you to walk their grounds and see their facilities. This open door policy is what makes them stand out from many others. The grounds are indeed kid friendly and pets on leashes are okay too. There are enough wines we enjoyed that we joined the wine club. The club events are a blast and you start to recognize familiar faces every time you pick up your order - a pleasant side effect when you're local and able to pick up your shipment. There are several wines you can buy in local grocery stores, but estate wines and several others can only be found on site. These are our two favorite wines: The Rocky Draw (they will offer you the Rocky Draw fudge that is specially made for the winery via the Fudge Factory - DELICIOUS!). The Barbera is also very good - we have found that this area produces some lovely Barbera's and we enjoy Lava Cap's the most. We will always love Lava Cap. The vibe is relaxing and the wines are tasty and affordable. read more

Great place for a picnic. They have added more tables and umbrellas. Nice view and secluded area makes for a pleasant day. The wines are varied and haven't had a bad one yet. Knowledgeable staff (family ) make you feel welcome. Put this on your list of places to visit. DOG FRIENDLY read more

I am in love with Lavacap, so much so that I joined their wine club just last month. I have never tasted a wine here that I didn't like, especially their Petite Syrah and the American River Cuvee. And lucky me, those two were in my first wineclub pickup, weee! So tasty! And what really makes this place one of my top choices is that the staff is always so friendly and informative. The ladies that work here just make wine tasting with my girl friends that much more fun. I recommend planning a day with a few friends; grab some cheeses, crackers, and meats and sit outside at one of the picnic tables to enjoy the sunshine and the view. read more

First time here and I'll be back. This is a nice little winery in Apple Hill with several good wines. The grounds are not large but they're pretty. They have a nice wine tasting bar and a back deck perfect for relaxing and enjoying a glass. Lava Cap just has a nice home-y feel to it and the staff was very friendly as well. Oh and if you like wine cats, they have one of those prowling around as well (friendly). read more

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I wasn't here very long! Maybe 15 mins or so! They do have a nice patio area. Nothing huge, but enough space for a fairly large group of people. The wine was okay. Nothing I was crazy about. The staff was nice. Overall the experience was just, okay. I don't plan on going again, since it wasn't mind blowing (the wine that is). read more

Nice find in Apple Hill! This was easily the most picturesque of the venues we visited in the area, and had a very welcoming staff on top of enjoyable wines. Wines were reasonably priced for a local winery; we purchased the reserve Merlot and Barbera. I was also quite partial to the Zin, nice and jammy! Just $5 for the reserve tasting, which is waived with the purchase of a bottle. Flip over the wine menu for a bonus surprise: great snack menu! $20 for a picnic basket with local cheese, salami, tasty breadsticks, and olives.. totally worth it! Really a high point of our visit. read more

Had a fun time here after a field trip with my first graders! I didn't like all the wines, but that's the point in tasting it. No tasting fee, service was good, friendly! read more

Lava Cap Winery - Tasting at Lava Cap! - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

Beautiful venue and great wine. The family that runs the winery are so friendly and make you feel welcome.

Affordable wine tasting We went for Johnny Appleseed day and they even had a sample of strudel to pair with a wine. Beautiful scenery and loved their in house food options of cheeses and more. read more

Wine tasting in the foothills really is more fun than going to Napa. Lava Cap is a prime example of why it's better to stay local. The people who work there are helpful, smiling, and make the experience enjoyable even for those of us who are not as familiar with wine as everyone else seems to be. Not only do they have a nice place to picnic, but they also have cheese, crackers, and other snack items for sale if you didn't bring your own. The selection is limited, but the convenience is very nice. I picked up some of their Cab, but I think wine is all about what you prefer and everyone is different, so taste away. read more

Beautiful views overlooking the Foothills & Sierra Mountains. My husband and I have been here multiple times and it's always a hit. You'll enter into a welcoming & cozy tasting room and large outdoor seating area with options under the cover, deck or near the edge. Nice place to bring your family, a romantic trip for two and dog-friendly. Great wine, reasonable prices and friendly service. This is worth a try if you're on the fence to visit or not. You'll have a wonderful time! Cheers! read more

OK so....I LOVE the way they conduct the wine tastings here. On the front page there are dozens of wines to try. From these you can select five to taste at no charge. On the back are 6 or so premium wines you can try for 5 dollars to try all six or whatever the number is. What I loved is that you try the wines,but there isn't any pressure to buy because you have to go back outside on your way out and tell the lady at the register what if any wines you would like to buy. I always feel like I need to buy a bottle or three when I'm tasting and they are the ones selling. We did buy their Barbara and three others my husband selected. I'm not really a huge fan of wine so all the names escape me. Go, try some wine , listen to the guy singing under the gazebo. read more

The winery itself is very pretty. Great view of the local forests. Complementary Tastings or $5 for the reserve. I was not a huge fan of the red wines. I did not try the whites. My favorites were the Zinfandel and the Merlot. the Barbera was good, but after you try Boeger's Barbera (down the street), it is hard to compete. Its definitely worth the stop, just not my personal taste in wines. Wines range from $14 to $30+ read more

What a beautiful set up. I love the outdoor patio overlooking the grape vines. It's an awesome place to sit on a sunny afternoon with a bottle of wine and a cheese plate (both available for purchase inside the tasting room). It was stop #4 so I was already feeling buzzed. That may have contributed to my enthusiasm for this place. I opted for the reserve tasting at $5 but I desperately wanted to try the fudge. Unfortunately, there were no fudge samples for tasting. The guy who poured our wine put in $1 of his own money into the cash register along with the $5 I put down for reserve tasting and handed me a box of the $5.95 wine fudge. [It turned out later on that the fudge wasn't as amazing as I had hoped but it doesn't really take away from the experience.] Although the place was crowded, not once did I feel like they couldn't make time for us. Out of our 5-stop wine tour, this was the only place where we actually bought a bottle of wine. It wasn't necessarily the place with the best wine that won us over but Lava Cap definitely had the best ambiance and the best attitude. read more

Second stop of our Apple Hill tour. I really liked the looks of Lava Cap Winery. The grounds were gorgeous and I looooooooooved the tasting room. It was a bit cramped (our group had 9 people and we pretty much filled out that room) but I liked the wines and loved the price (free! and only $5 for the reserve tasting). The guy who was pouring was very friendly and offered us breadsticks to much on while we tried the wines. My favorite thing though was the porch outside. We spent about half an hour hanging out (read: sobering up) while looking at the gorgeous views. Thank goodness for the heater out there! #Yelp100Challenge read more

I like this winery but it didn't live up to my expectations. The regular tastings are complementary, which is nice but the wine was just ok. - the tasting room is very small and frankly, it smelled a bit like mildew or wet wood? I hate saying that but my boyfriend noticed too. The patio was nice, and the gentlemen that helped us with our tasting was very friendly but it couldn't make up for the cramped quarters, odd smell and just ok wine. read more

First time here. Beautiful view with a large picnic area. Extensive wine list for tasting and staff was friendly. read more

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Visit March 2017. Wine: My wife and I shared 2 tastings and we stuck with reds only. Their Petite Syrah was smooth and delicious, the Cabernet Sauvignon was bold and beautiful. Their Pinot Noir was surprisingly packed full of pepper that took you by surprise as Pinots are typically not like this. Our favorite was their Old Vine Zinfandel. From start to finish, this wine was just what we were looking for. Full bodied, tannins were well balanced, fruit forward with a punch and that flavor lingered. No wonder they have won awards for these wines!! Ambiance: You couldn't ask for much more of a picturesque view from Lava Cap. Whether you are inside at the tasting room huddled around the wood burning stove, or outside on their two leveled decks or picnic tables or table for two, it sets you up for a beautiful view of the vineyard and rolling hills. Perfect setting for a peaceful evening with a bottle of wine with your love by your side. Staff: Both Kristin(our pourer) and Kevin (owner/winemaker) were very friendly, outgoing and treated you like family as you walked in. They know their history of the vineyard and its root of its name (you should ask them). Could have talked with them all day. Oh, ask Kevin about his lizard fascination. :) We would definitely recommend Lava Cap for their wines, their views and their extremely friendly staff!! read more

As usual it was a wonderful day. Karen is so nice to deal with and we enjoyed her suggested food pairing with the different wines we tried. The wines were great and Monday there was no crowd! read more

Great location with a friendly and knowledgeable staff, that pushes the Wine club membership a little much, the wine speaks for itself and they have a wonderful white and red flight to peruse. Awesome venue to sit, picnic and sip, when in the area, worth a look see. read more

Had a lovely visit with my aunt, uncle, and cousin during the holidays. We wine tasted with a lovely lady who helped us out. We ordered a plate of summer sausage and cheese to accompany the tasting as well. The best part of the visit was when a random taster who wasn't in our party wedged her way in between my aunt and uncle to cut herself a piece of cheese and grabbed a cracker from our plate before walking out. None of us said anything and started bursting out with laughter the moment the door closed. Reserve Zinfandel and Chardonnay are your best bets. read more

My husband and family have been going to Lava Cap for at least 20 years. It started with stopping by every year while picking up our Christmas tree. It has evolved into picking up our quarterly wine club. Love this place and the wine. We usually bring our two Doxie babies and my husband runs them thru the vineyards. We purchase a snack basket, wine on ice and enjoy the view. read more

We went here several weeks ago and I never got to posting a review!! We really enjoyed this winery and are excited to come back with friends. Their Rose is SO GOOD and we enjoyed several others as well. The ladies behind the bar are extremely knowledgeable and nice. We didn't try any of their food baskets, as we showed up full and less than an hour before close, but from what we saw and asked about, they look delicious! Excited to come back soon! read more

FABULOUS winery! Great experience! Beautiful deck and ambience! Came up from Reno for the day, and definitely will return!

Plenty of room to bring the family. Great deck to sit on and enjoy the views of rolling acreage of vines. Order a cheese board and after your tasting order a bottle and take in the atmosphere. I've heard there is great live music on the deck in the summer but have yet to experience that myself. Nice way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon ! read more

Neat name, but we weren't blown over by the wines. This place is also very, very busy on the weekends and it was hard for us to get in for a tasting. Pretty venue though for a picnic and a couple of families were taking advantage of that. read more

This place was absolutely amazing! The wine was delicious, and the scenery was gorgeous. Absolutely, 10/10 would go again!

Nice place for wine tasting with a great out door picnic area. Tasting is $ 5 but the fee is waived if you buy a bottle of wine. Bring a picnic; but a glass and enjoy the beautiful setting. read more

Great place to taste. The winery and location is beautiful. It has a great picnic area overlooking their vineyards. We come here every year to taste and have a snack. The staff is extremely friendly and laid back. minus 1 star for the size of their tasting room (it can get crowded) and for their wines. They do have some good wines but a lot of them do not seem to develop well. Maybe if they cut down on their variations and just focused on a few varietals. I do like their syrah an cab as an everyday wine. Their whites were missing something though..... Aside from their so-so wines, we will definitely be coming back next year and will buy the ones we do like at our neighborhood grocery. read more

This place is a hidden gem. I ant wait until my next trip back and to try more of there fantastic wines. I don't know if it's just me, but my wife and I went in Mother's Day weekend(Sat) and there were ALOT of kids. I usually don't mind kids but this seemed a bit counterproductive to having a nice view and relaxing times after a long week. Not sure how it looks any other time, but I'm sure id frequent less if it was like my first trip. Otherwise beautiful location with AMAZING wines. Try the 2017 reserve Grenache. read more