Placer County's gold country a hidden treasure for wine lovers.

Did you know there's a special place, nestled in Northern California's foothills, close enough to the ocean but with enough sunshine and just the right temperatures to grow some of the best grapes and produce some of the best wine in the world?  No, were not talking about Napa Valley - it's all about wine country in our own Placer County, California.

Napa may be a household name when it comes to wine, but Placer County's grape country holds some of the best kept secrets in vino.  Follow the Placer Wine Trail (map included here) on a perfect autumn Sunday to find your favorite red.  Or, there's no better way to spend a chilly winter day than visiting several wineries in our own Gold Country backyard.  Whether they are big, established vineyards with grand tours and sprawling grounds, or small, family-owned shops driven by passion and love of grapes, drink a Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, or Reisling with great food and great friends.  And remember, always have a safe driver on your wine tasting excursions!

Here is a list of some of our favorite vineyards and wineries in Placer County.

Bear River Winery 2751 Combie Road Meadow Vista, CA 95722 530 878-8959 Tastings: Saturday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00	Bonitata Boutique Wine 291 Auburn Folsom Road Auburn, CA 95603 530 305-0449 Tastings Wednesday - Sunday 1:00 - 6:00
Casque Wines 9280 Horseshoe Bar Road Loomis, CA 95650 916 652-2250 Tastings Friday 11:00 - 8:00 Saturday & Sunday 11:00 - 5:00	Ciotti Cellars 3750 Taylor Road Loomis, CA 95650  916 534-8780 Tastings Wednesday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00
Cristaldi Vineyards 3750 Taylor Road Loomis, CA 95650 916 759-1291 Tastings Saturday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00	Davis Dean Cellars Rocklin, CA 95765 530 888-0101 Tastings: By Appointment
Dono Dal Cielo Vineyard & Winery 6100 Wise Road Newcastle, CA 95658 530 888-0101 Tastings Thursday - Sunday, 12:00 - 5:00	Fawnridge Winery 5560 Fawnridge Road Auburn, CA 95602 530 887-9522 Tastings Friday - Sunday, 10:00 - 5:00
Green Family Winery 3420 Pine Ridge Lane Auburn, CA 95603 530 888-8866 Tastings Saturday - Sunday, 12:00- 4:30	Lone Buffalo Vineyards 7505 Wise Road Auburn, CA 95603 916 663-4486 Tastings Friday - Sunday, 12:00 - 5:00
Mt. Vernon Winery 10850 Mt. Vernon Road Auburn, CA 95603 530 823-1111 Tastings Thursday - Sunday, 11:00 - 5 :00	PaZa Vineyard & Winery 3357 Ayres Holmes Road Auburn, CA 95602 916 834-0565 Tastings Saturday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00
Pescatore Vineyard & Winery 7055 Ridge Road Newcastle, CA 95658 916 663-1422 Tastings Saturday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00	Popie Wines 3750 Taylor Road Loomis, CA 95650 916 768-7643 Tastings Wednesday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00
Rancho Roble Vineyards & Winery 340 Fleming Road Lincoln, CA 95648 916 645-2075 Tastings Saturday 12:00 - 4:00	River Rock Ranch Lindemann Winery 6024 Prairie Way Lincoln, CA 95648 916 410-7105 Tastings Saturday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00
Rock Hill Winery 2970 Delmar Ave Loomis, CA 95650 916 410-7105 Tastings Saturday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00	Secret Ravine Vineyard & Winery 4390 Gold Trail Way Loomis, CA 95650 916 652-6015 Tastings Saturday - Sunday 12:00 - 5:00
Vina Castellano Winery 4590 Bell Road Auburn, CA 95603 530 889-2855 Tastings Thursday - Sunday, 12:00 - 5:00	Wise Villa Winery 4100 Wise Road Lincoln, CA 95648 916 543-0323 Tastings Thursday - Sunday, 11:00 - 5:00