Bella Grace Vineyards, a family owned winery, has two tasting rooms, one in the Shenandoah Valley and the other in Sutter Creek. Established in 2006 the winery uses sustainable practices in its grape growing and hand-crafted wine making. Located in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), a sub-appellation of the Sierra Foothills AVA, the winery is known for its estate grown Rhone varietals, Zinfandel and Primitivo. Whenever my travels take me to Amador County I love to return Bella Grace Vineyards. My most recent opportunity was over the Labor Day weekend.
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| Bella Grace Vineyard, Upton Road © Spaswinefood |
Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley
Sierra Foothills AVA includes parts of eight counties. Amador County where Bella Grace Vineyards is located is one of those counties. Although this wine region is certainly not as well known today, as Napa or Sonoma, Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley was once the main viticultural area in California. Wine grapes were introduced here during California's Gold Rush. Then with the arrival of Prohibition in the 1920’s wine making in this area was devastated. It is because of such a rich vine-filled history that today the Shenandoah Valley is well known for its Zinfandel, Barbara and Rhone varietals.
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| Bella Grace Vineyard © Spaswinefood |
When I return to Bella Grace Vineyards in Amador County, I find not only interesting wine history, but there is also Gold Rush history to explore. Discovered in the 1840’s the mother lode gold vein, one of the deepest and richest in the world, occurs along Highway 49. The days of gold mining have passed. Today’s visitors come seeking the new gold, wine. This is what makes Gold Country, California, the perfect Spaswinefood getaway.
Return to Bella Grace Vineyards
During Spaswinefood's recent visit we stopped by Bella Grace's vineyards and wine cave on Upton Road in the Shenandoah Valley.
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| Bella Grace Wine Cave, Shenandoah Valley © Spaswinefood |
When we arrived at the wine cave tasting room were greeted by their vineyard dog Jack, a friendly black lab.
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| Jack, Bella Grace's Wine Dog © Spaswinefood |
Jack is working very hard to promote Bella Grace.
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| Jack, Bella Grace's Wine Dog © Spaswinefood |
Given that it was a holiday weekend the tasting room was quite busy however, we did manage to taste a few wines.
Bella Grace Vineyards, Vermentino 2017
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| Bella Grace Vineyards, Vermentino 2017 © Spaswinefood |
Amongst the red wines we tasted were:
1. Bella Grace Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
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| Bella Grace Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 © Spaswinefood |
2. Bella Grace Vineyards, Bella's Red Wine 2015
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| Bella Grace Vineyards, Bella's Red Wine 2015 © Spaswinefood |
3. Bella Grace Vineyards, Barbara 2016
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| Bella Grace Vineyards, Barbara 2016 © Spaswinefood |
Amongst the wines we tasted I rather liked their Vermentino, and so I bought a few for later.
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| Bella Grace Vineyards, Vermentino 2017 © Spaswinefood |
While Vermentino is a white wine that is commonly found in Italy, it is not commonly found in California. Apparently, I am not the only one that likes this wine. It won a Double Gold at the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
It was not all about wine however, we did manage to take a peek at this year's vines.
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Bella Grace Vineyards, Amador County © Spaswinefood
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When we left I could not help but remember a visit with Bella Grace two year's ago. That was when I had the pleasure of tasting Bella Grace wines and meeting the winemaker at the historic Shenandoah Schoolhouse.
Remembering 2016 Visit to Amador County
During a 2016 wine blogger visit we met with Amador wineries at the historic Shenandoah Schoolhouse (now known as the Shenandoah Valley Community Club).
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| Shenandoah Schoolhouse, Amador County © Spaswinefood |
During that 2016 visit we did a round robin tasting with eight wineries. Bella Grace was one of those wineries.
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| Bella Grace Vineyards © Spaswinefood |
I still remember spending time with Michael Havill, winemaker. Her wines was a very special treat for me.
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Michael Havill, Winemaker © Spaswinefood
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Likewise that visit was not only about wine tasting, we did manage to checkout a few vines. Yes, we stopped to visit Bella Grace Vineyards along the way.
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| Charlie Havill, Bella Grace Vineyards © Spaswinefood |
Based on the grape wines that I saw the 2016 vintage looked quite promising. It is always an interesting thought to think that you might later drink this vintage.
Remembering First Visit to Bella Grace
I remember even an earlier journey through Sierra Foothills Wine Country to Sutter Creek, the jewel of Gold Country. Sutter Creek is the perfect place to check out Sierra Foothill wineries. It was here we first tasted wines from Bella Grace Vineyards, at their Sutter Creek tasting room.
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| Bella Grace Vineyards Tasting Room, Sutter Creek © Spaswinefood |
The Bella Grace wine label takes its name from the owners, Charlie and Michael Havill's grandmothers' names Bella and Grace. It was during this visit that Spaswinefood first tasted Bella Grace Vineyard wines.
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| Wine tasting at Bella Grace © Spaswinefood |
For our picnic lunch that day we decided on a 2010 Viognier. It was just perfect for a spring picnic.
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| Bella Grace Vineyards 2011 Viognier © Spaswinefood |
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| Bella Grace Fine Wines © Spaswinefood |
If you are planning a getaway to Sierra Foothills Wine Country then make sure you put Bella Grace Vineyards on your list.
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| Bella Grace 2010 Viognier © Spaswinefood |
I so love those return visits to Bella Grace. Once you have had a good experience at a winery you are most likely to return. Yes, Amador County is the ideal place to checkout wines. While you are there just relax in one of California's most peaceful wine country escapes. I invite you to join me in my travels through Sierra Foothills in California Gold Country and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood.
Sharon
September 2018
Amador County, California
© Spaswinefood
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| Grape Memories, Amador County © Spaswinefood |
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