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Gateway to Amador wine country

Shenandoah Valley wineries, Gold Rush towns and easy day trips, all just up Highway 16.

Wineries and Gold Country

A weathered barn in a green foothill meadow full of yellow wildflowers, with an old hay rake and teasel in the foreground
Foothill country on the way to Amador

Head up Highway 16 into the Shenandoah Valley, where more than 50 wineries pour relaxed, unpretentious tastings in the Sierra foothills.

Sobon Estate, founded in 1856, is among California's oldest wineries, and Terre Rouge produced the first 100-point wine in the Sierra Foothills. Annual festivals include the Barbera Festival, the Four Fires Food & Wine Festival and Behind the Cellar Door.

Browse every Amador winery

Wine tasting, Gold Rush towns and farm country, all within a short drive.

Dine at Taste

Rated by Zagat as one of America's top restaurants, Taste Restaurant and Wine Bar on Plymouth's Main Street serves seasonal, locally sourced dishes with an award-winning wine list. It was also the first Sacramento-region restaurant in over 25 years invited to cook at the James Beard House.

Book a table

Rest nearby

Rest, A Boutique Hotel offers 16 rooms in two restored historic buildings just two doors from Taste. Stays include a homemade breakfast and a nightly happy hour with local wines, plus a concierge team to plan your day in Amador.

Plan your stay

Gold Country day trips

  • Amador City

    A tiny, walkable Gold Rush town with history around every corner.

  • Sutter Creek

    Main Street shops, tasting rooms and restaurants in a classic Gold Country setting.

  • Plymouth

    The front door to the Shenandoah Valley wineries.

  • Volcano

    A historic mountain hamlet with deep Gold Rush roots.

  • Fiddletown

    Preserved historic buildings and museums, cared for by the Fiddletown Preservation Society.

  • Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park

    A state park near Pine Grove honoring Miwok culture, with a museum, trails and camping. Learn more from the Chaw'se Association.

  • Black Chasm Cavern

    Guided walking tours through a crystal-filled cavern near Volcano.

Plan a full trip with maps and itineraries at Visit Amador.

Stay at the Murieta Inn & Spa

A Spanish hacienda-style inn with an outdoor pool and hot tub, The Gate restaurant, spa services and event space for weddings and meetings. It's also the area's most dog-friendly hotel.

Perfect for horse show weekends, golf getaways, wedding guests and wine country trips.

Visit the Murieta InnLocal experiences