Last weekend my sister, Gale, my friend Donna, and I all went to Amador County to check the wine  up there. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the drive from Napa was easy and scenic.

The first winery where we stopped had great wine. The second place we stopped, not so much. The third place we stopped was Villa Toscano. It was about at this time that we all looked at each other and said, “Really?” You see, all of us are in hospitality so we are keenly aware of hospitality (or lack thereof). And so far we had received a cold shoulder. It didn’t seem like any winery was happy to have people in their tasting room (especially industry from Napa), which were always packed by the way. Their bad attitudes were starting to put a damper on our fun and sunny day.

This is the conversation we were having when we went into Runquist. And that’s when the day changed. We were greeted with warm smiles, great wine, and delicious cheese. EVERYONE there was fun and friendly. From that point on we thoroughly enjoyed our day wine tasting in Amador County. So my advice, based on my limited experience, skip the first 3 places on the main wine drag.

One thing that we were all surprised at was how packed every tasting room was. There was at least one stretch limo at every winery. Because the wineries don’t charge for tastings, they draw a young crowd. However, the tastings were just that, a taste. To me that was GREAT because I could visit more wineries without getting tipsy or palate fatique. Because of the crowded nature of the tasting rooms the one thing that was missing from the day was a true wine experience. I didn’t learn any winery’s story. Didn’t learn who the winemakers were. In other words, the only connection I was able to make with the winery was with the wine (which was quite good).

Most wineries extended industry discounts. However, Wilderotter would not give us an industry discount because we are from Napa. Youngs gave us less of a discount because we were from Napa. As someone who works in a tasting room in Napa, I was disappointed. We give industry discounts to EVERYONE who is in the industry, even vintners from other countries. Discrimination, even against Napa, is always bad for business.  If you are in the wine industry from Napa I suggest visiting wineries in other wine regions that extend the same hospitality towards you as you do to them.

The next day we decided to go home via Lodi. The first winery stop in Lodi was Peirano. They had some really good wines at ridiculously low prices. We then went to Abundance and then ended at Lukas. The Lukas Winery was exactly what I was looking for. We were greeted by David Lukas who then took us into the “Chai”(barrel room) and gave us a personal tasting there. David is passionate about Zinfandel. He carefully handcrafted his estate grown Zin with the same care, love, and expense (all brand new French Oak barrels) that any Cab vintner from Napa uses. And it shows in the wine. The Zins are elegant. That’s right, elegant Zin. It can happen..and it did, at Lukas Winery.

All in all the weekend was great. I enjoyed the wines from both counties very much. In Amador my picks are Runquist, CG D’Aire, and Amador Cellars. In Lodi, go to Lukas. The wines are little more expensive then the other wineries in Lodi, but well worth it.

A winery Chicken at Bantam Cellars