From Napa to Sonoma to Paso Robles to Santa Barbara, California has no shortage of great wine. Well, here’s another California wine region to add to your map – Sierra Foothills.* Although the region is still finding itself a bit in terms of consistency and cha
racteristics, there are truly some fantastic wines to be found. And the easiest way to find them? Visit Murphys, California, an historic Gold Rush town turned wine tasting haven. Main Street is lined with tasting rooms pouring wines for whatever your palate, and there are several great restaurants churning out some really great and sophisticated food.
As with any region, of course, there are a couple of standouts. First, Twisted Oak produced a vast array of wines focusing mostly on Spanish/Mediterranean varietals and style. Their most consistently best wine? A fantastic Tempranillo that bursts with so much flavor that you can be forgiven for thinking for a moment that you’re in Rioja instead of the Sierra Foothills. Of course, something tells me you’re unlikely to find a collection of rubber chickens or a “bullshit gun” in a Rioja tasting room. Yep, the folks at Twisted Oak will ensure that no one who walks in takes themselves too seriously, so be ready.
My favorite, however, is across the street at Newsome-Harlow. Though they have an awesome Sauvignon Blanc, a really surprising Syrah, and several amazing red blends, the star at NH is Zinfandel. Their Calaveras County, Donner Party, and Big John Zins are all perfectly balanced, albeit unique, expressions of what California Zinfandel can be.
Although these are two very different wineries, they have one important thing in common – winemaker Scott Klann (who also makes the wines for Tanner Vineyards… busy fella, huh?). Add to that Chef Melanie Klann, who whips up some of the most creative food in the area, and you’ve got a true recipe for success over at Newsome-Harlow.
So get yourself out to Murphys, book a room at the Murphys Hotel, and wander down the street to Twisted Oak and Newsome-Harlow. You won’t be disappointed.
Cheers!
* More specifically, the wines found in the tasting room in Murphys are generally Calaveras County wines, an area which will hopefully be granted its own American Viticultural Area (AVA) designation in the next couple of years or so.
