Amador County Wineries: Plan Your Visit to the Gold Country

A Guide to Wine Tasting in Amador County

First time visitors to Amador County might not know what to expect, so here’s a little primer in Amador County wine.

The Lay of the Land

The majority of Amador County wineries sit in the cradle of the Shenandoah Valley, about two miles northeast of Plymouth, California and 50 miles east of Sacramento.

Much like Napa, Shenandoah Valley has a main drag that runs down its center. Many of Amador’s 50+ wineries are on that main section – called Shenandoah Road. From the first winery to the last, the drive is only ten minutes long.

As you can see in the map below, some other common locations to find wineries include:

• Shenandoah School Road: an artery off of the first section of Shenandoah Road
• Steiner Road: an artery off the second section of Shenandoah Road
• Sutter Creek: a small town with about many tasting rooms all within a short walk

You'll find Vino Noceto at #46, dead center in crowded valley section of the map.

Winery Vibes

Small town charm and old west vibes linger in Amador County. Most of the wineries are family-owned, and attire varies from farmers in dirty jeans to full faces of makeup and flowing summer dresses. No matter what, Amador Tasting Rooms tend toward a casual, welcoming atmosphere. And with Amador and Shenandoah Valley’s notably low tasting fees, typically < $25, it’s the perfect spot for a relaxing weekend in the sun!

You can learn more about visiting Vino Noceto here. Walk-ins are welcome! If you'd like to book a large group or tour, we have great options.

Like us here at Noceto, many local wineries have picnic tables and are dog friendly. In addition, the majority of Amador County wineries do not require reservations, except in the case of large groups. To make sure your itinerary fits your needs, we recommend checking the Amador Vintners website. They're a fantastic source for everything related to Amador wine.

Eat & Stay

While many locations, including us, have snackable options available for purchase in our Tasting Room, we recommend bringing a picnic if you’re headed into the valley. Only a few wineries offer more substantial food options.

That said, if you’re up for a short drive, Plymouth, Amador City, and Sutter Creek all have a wide variety of lunch and dinner venues. Those same three cities will also be your best options for overnight accommodations.

The Wines

Amador is known for its Zinfandel, but production style varies widely from winery to winery. Some Amador Zins – like our OGP Zinfandel – are produced in an old world style. Made from heritage vines, they have a depth and complexity that rivals any Cab or Pinot Noir. Other wineries lean more toward a Lodi style with big, bold fruits that make the palate sing with flavor.

Other common varieties include Barbera, Syrah, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Grenache.

If you’re looking for Sangiovese, we’re your spot! With a focus on bright, food friendly, and complex wines, we also produce Barbera, a bright sparkling Moscato, Teroldego, Canaiolo Nero, Aglianico, Sagrantino, Brandy, and port-style dessert wines. You can see our full list of wines here.

Come check out Noceto in person. Walk-ins welcome! (For groups larger than 7, we kindly request that you make a reservation.) And if you are up for an adventure, you can sign up for one of our famous Farm-to-Glass Tours! We're easy to find -- only 5 minutes from Plymouth, Ca.

For more information, check out our Visit Us page,