English is a beautiful but sometimes complex and confusing language. Many English words (called homophones) sound alike but have different spelling and meaning. Case-in-point; “cellar” and “seller”. A “cellar” is an underground room or basement while “seller” is a person or place offering something for sale. Amador County Wine Cellar is a textbook example of the homophone concept.

Tucked in the basement (cellar) of the Miner's Pick Antique shop in the quaint Gold Rush town of Amador City, Amador County Wine Cellar is the purveyor (seller) of select, premium, handcrafted Amador County wines. Owner Corinne Moore is celebrating her first anniversary in the cozy subterranean wine bar and store. “I represent 10 small wineries in the southern portion of Amador County,” Corinne explained. “Some of my wineries (3) don't have tasting rooms so this is the only opportunity consumers have to try these unique wines.” Corinne usually has one white, five or six reds, and a Port on the tasting menu. There is a $5 tasting charge which is refundable with the purchase of a bottle of any of the 23 wines she offers.

When greeted by Corinne, visitors to Amador County Wine Cellar will notice right away that she is not native to these parts. In fact, Corrine come to the United States in 1983 from South Africa with her 3 year old son and settled in Virginia Beach. With her high-tech background Corinne soon found her way to Silicon Valley where she spent 18 years in corporate America. Like many other “teckkies” Corinne was bitten by wine bug and began spending weekends working in Napa Valley tasting rooms. With retirement approaching, Corinne searched for vineyard property in Napa and Sonoma but found prices out of her range. Her search eventually led to Amador County. Corinne's father was a gold miner in South Africa and she is an avid snow-boarder so Amador County was the ideal fulfillment of her vineyard dreams. She now grows Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre in a 6 acre vineyard and has her own wine label – Wine Tree Farm.

Visitors find Amador County Wine Cellar by navigating through the Gold Rush era antique shop (located kitty-corner across from the Imperial Hotel) to the wide wooden stairs that lead to a surprisingly spacious, well-lit, comfortably cool tasting bar and seating area. Since Corinne has a “bar” license, she can sell wine by the glass as long as it is consumed in the cellar. She also offers wine lovers the perfect tasting match – chocolate. Corinne owns Chocoholic.com which markets a variety of chocolate products over the internet - but that's another story.

Sutter Ridge Pinotage, Amador grown Carignane from Obscurity Cellars, and Nu Dair Zinfandel. Tasters are able to sample Amador Zinfandels from tiny upstart wineries with no tasting rooms including Lang Wines and Damas Vineyards. For the fortified wine aficionado Amador County Wine Cellars offers the opportunity to taste an outstanding Vintage Port by newcomer Willow Creek Vineyards and a Zinfandel Port from Convergence. Of course, everyone should taste Corinne's Wine Tree Farm Syr-Gre-Nour Rhone varietal blend.

In addition to in-person wine sales, Amador County Wine Cellar offers foothills wine fans the opportunity to buy Amador wines online through the Amador County Wine Club. For $35 plus tax and shipping, members receive two bottles of premium Amador wine delivered bi-monthly or quarterly to their door – assuming they live in a state that allows direct shipping. Club members also receive a 10% discount on wine related merchandise, gifts, and chocolates offered by Amador County Wine Cellar. E-mail Corinne at info@amadorcountywinecellar.com for more information on the Amador Wine Club.

Since the re-routing of Highway 49 around Amador City, Amador County Wine Cellar is a little of the beaten track. But if you want to taste truly unique, handcrafted, Sierra Foothills wines, taking the “old road” to Amador County Wine Cellar (and Seller) is well worth the diversion. Corinne is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday or by appointment. You can contact Amador County Wine Cellar by calling 209-267-0104 or online at amadorwinecellar.com.

Cellar or seller, Amador County Wine Cellar is a charming experience.