D'Vine Wine and Visitor Guide, serving Amador County, Calaveras County, El Dorado County, Placer County, Nevada County, San Joaquin County, Alameda County, Clarksburg and Delta region, Northern Sierra, Lodi Wine Region and Livermore Wine Region

Susan's Place	Gate House Inn
Golf - Stockton Country CLub	Wine Tasting 101
Culinary Corner	Wine Education Alicante Bouschet
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Sip Back in Time at Sutter Creek Wine Tasting
"By Fran Benavidez"

There’s a fun time to be had in the old town this weekend! Toss your heels and spurs in the direction of Sutter Creek Wine Tasting, where you can lay your hat and sip a spell at Amador County’s updated and fun-filled version of Dodge City and the Long Branch Saloon. While I’m not certain if Marshall Matt Dillon was ever offered tastings of fine wines, at Sutter Creek Wine Tasting the grape is so plentiful, you can practically bathe in it! However, for the prim and proper purpose of this story, please swirl, then sip.

Stepping across the quaint little porch reminiscent of a bygone era, I’m heartily greeted by Mary Jo Pingree; head wine Madam, and the modern-day Miss Kitty at the charming tasting parlor. “We like to have fun in here!” says Mary Jo. Once you’ve bellied up to this tasting bar, I’ll bet pinots to petticoats your old ideas about wine tasting will go up in gun smoke! “We don’t do the pretentious wine tasting thing,” she says. Want to try reds first, then whites? No problem! Ever wonder what a rich Port tastes like next to a mellow Viognier? Here’s your chance!

The tasting room is an original blend of three local wineries: Gold Hill, Le Mulet Rouge, and Crystal Basin Cellars. From sophisticated whites to ravishing reds, over thirty luscious wines are offered for tasting, and rumor has it that Sutter Creek Wine Tasting carries the largest selection of sweet white wines this side of the Rio Grande.