| American Viticulture studies reveal that the | | | | Oakville, in the Napa Valley. However, the |
| cultivation of grapes in America dates back | | | | past few decades has seen the Sierra |
| to the 17th century, by the Dutch farmers. | | | | Foothills make a glorious comeback. Certain |
| Some of the oldest and most premium vineyards | | | | soils and microclimates within the region |
| in North America are situated in California. | | | | have contributed towards improved winemaking. |
| The California wine trade industry flourished | | | | It claims to have surpassed all previous |
| in the Gold Rush regions of the Sierra | | | | expectations and achievements. |
| Foothills. One of the oldest vineyards of | | | | |
| America is situated in Amador County, near | | | | From south to the north, the Sierra Foothills |
| Plymouth. The Sierra Foothills wine | | | | province includes Mariposa, Calaveras, |
| harvesting and producing region stretches | | | | Tuolomne, Amador, El Dorado and all the |
| from Mariposa County to El Dorado, with | | | | Nevada Counties. This region is home to an |
| Calaveras, Amador and Tuolomne counties in | | | | extremely pleasant and beautiful springtime |
| between. It extends from Mariposa to | | | | and a particularly dry and warm summer. The |
| Placerville and the vineyards are situated | | | | low-lying areas are mainly situated in the |
| roughly at an altitude between 2,500 and | | | | Oak belt and Chapparal, while the higher |
| 3,000 feet. | | | | elevations are located in the pine belt. This |
| | | | belt flaunts a very pleasant weather even |
| The Sierra Foothills wine province developed | | | | during summer. |
| along the similar lines of the more popular | | | | |
| Napa Valley and Sonoma County vineyards. The | | | | Wineries in the southern part of the |
| El Dorado County vineyards were planted | | | | foothills are traditional and charming. They |
| mainly for the Petite Sirah, Mission, | | | | are perfect for those who wish to indulge in |
| Zinfandel and similar Italian varieties. | | | | local wines, with the family in tow. The |
| These varieties are still some of the finest | | | | southern wineries generally focus on making |
| premium wines of the Sierra Foothills. Due to | | | | traditional varieties of wine, like the |
| the high elevation of this particular region, | | | | Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. |
| the lack of ocean influences and the cooling | | | | The Maldavino vineyards in the Calaveras |
| fog is largely compensated. An added | | | | County serve some of the most reputed wines |
| advantage is that this region receives an | | | | made from the legendary Mission grapes. |
| abundance of sunshine throughout the growing | | | | |
| season, which is important for the clear | | | | A wide range of quality wines are born at the |
| fruity flavor and the vegetal and herbal | | | | Sierra Foothills and finding exceptional |
| hints. | | | | value is quite easy, even among the finest of |
| | | | all premium wines. This is largely because |
| Wine cultivation in the Sierra Foothills was | | | | most of the Sierra wineries are small, family |
| affected in the early half of the 20th | | | | businesses that sell to an established |
| century because of the decline in population | | | | consumer base or sometimes via the wine |
| and due to the imposed prohibition. The | | | | tasting rooms. Other larger wine producing |
| region only started to progress in the trade, | | | | industries have taken a backseat, although |
| in the late 70s. Reports reveal that some | | | | several large Sonoma and Napa Valley wineries |
| parts of the Sierra Foothills possess similar | | | | have been catering big time, for many years |
| climatic conditions as that of St Helena and | | | | now. |