Fodor's Expert Review Lava Cap Winery
Placerville
Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Fodor's Choice
Nineteenth-century miners knew if they found the type of volcanic rocks visible everywhere on this winery's property that gold was nearby. These days the rocky soils and vineyard elevations as high as 2,800 feet play pivotal roles in the creation of fruit forward yet elegant wines with a hint of minerals. Zinfandel, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah star among the reds, Chardonnay and Viognier among the whites. After a tasting you can picnic on the patio and enjoy Sierra foothills vistas.