Nestled among the pristine Sierra Mountains of El Dorado Wine Country, Miraflores opened its Tuscan-inspired doors just over a year ago, and owners Victor and Cheryl Alvarez couldn’t be more pleased with its early success. The state of the art production facility and tasting room is an enological vision to behold, and true to its terroir, blends right into the hillside landscape, taking its place among nature as if it belonged there all along. When Alvarez, a pathologist residing in Yuma, Arizona, began searching for real estate in the area, he wasn’t particularly interested in buying the property. It was at the urging of a local friend knowledgeable about the parcel, who talked Victor into “taking a little ride” to just check it out. As Victor looked upon the spectacular mountain range, a backdrop for endless rolling hills, the doctor fell in love, and without a single grape vine in sight.

“Nothing has come easy,” Alvarez relates. Leaving no native stone unturned, plenty of research went into every aspect of building the winery and planting world class vineyards. As I stand atop a windy knoll looking down on a youthful hillside vineyard of Bordeaux-style Cabernet, Victor’s words ring true: “We are not Napa. We are not Paso Robles. We are not any valley in Northern Oregon. We are Placerville, and we are different from everybody else. We have the altitude and the hills are plentiful.” Already, Miraflores has been cited in the Wine Spectator as “a winery to watch,” and heralded in Wine Enthusiast for the owner’s keen sense in hiring renowned winemaker Marco Cappelli to craft his wines.

Google Cappelli’s name and you’ll soon understand the scope of his experience in the wine industry. After graduating from UC Davis with a BS in Enology, he gained practical experience by working in the wineries of France and Italy. According to Cappelli, “I learned in Italy that wine is food, as important a part of the daily meal as bread and pasta. France taught me to recognize how soil, climate and human factors influence the character and personality of wine.” Returning from Europe in 1986, Marco began his winemaking career as a cellar worker at Saintsbury Winery in Carneros, where he had the good fortune of meeting and befriending the Maestro of modern American winemaking, Andre Tchelitcheff. It was through Andre’s celebrated influence that Cappelli became a winemaker for Swanson’s Winery in the Napa Valley at the vine-ripened age of 26, and where he remained for 17 years as both winemaker and vice president.

A few years ago, it was a spectacular Syrah from El Dorado Hills that turned Cappelli’s taste buds in a new direction. Deciding to pack up his wine thief and head for higher ground in the Sierra’s emerging wine region, he purchased land and started new rootstock. In 2003 he began consulting for Miraflores, and it was the start of a delicious relationship. “We made our first wines in the new facility with the harvest of 2006,” recalls the winemaker. “Everything (Victor and Cheryl Alvarez) do is guided by a complete focus on quality, and they’re prepared to commit the time and resources necessary to make the best wines possible,” he says. Plus, he finds the committed couple a lot of fun to work with.apprenticeship.

Rounding out the trio that makes Miraflores tick is vineyard manager Rick Wickham, who brings 20 years of experience to the winery. Rick expertly manages a full-time staff of 14 who assist in maintaining the vineyards and the production facility. Alvarez describes Wickham as being extremely passionate about what he does, as well as remarkably exacting and very meticulous. “It takes a pretty substantial crew to keep the vineyards in the state Victor wants them, but it’s paid off,” says Wickham. “There’s not a better wine in this county.” Today, gaze in any direction and precipitously rolling hills are blanketed in endless rows of vineyards; a veritable rollercoaster of vines all raising their tendrils in unison. At its highest point, the Alvarez property reaches up to a breathtaking 2960 feet. Due to the hilly terrain, the property offers many micro climates, which is valuable for harvesting the grapes at different times.

“We selected four or five hills tha offer the best exposure, “Alvarez explains. “By doing so, we have secured the ability to produce the best grapes possible.” And it is this continuous quest for producing quality grapes that is the driving force behind Miraflores. Victor and Cheryl’s enthusiasm for grape growing and producing premium wine is surpassed only by their passion to provide an enduring legacy for daughter, Isabella. At quite a young age, her own special touches are everywhere, and she skillfully helps run the winery’s Farmers Market held during the summer.

The neighborhood market has become a favorite local gathering place, offering a colorful variety of home grown goodies straight from the Miraflores gardens. For sachet fans, the delicate scent of lavender is everywhere, and abundantly available at the Market and the tasting room. Mark your Sunday calendars for this month’s last two events on September 7th or 14th. All that fresh mountain air can leave a wine sipper starved, and Miraflores offers delicious gourmet lunches available by reservation. The menu changes monthly so call ahead for current choices. Best part: dessert’s included and the phenomenal picnic view is free.

The wines of Miraflores have to be tasted to be believed. I don’t know if it was the altitude or attitude, but every bottle and barrel I sampled was exceptional. Do not, under any circumstances miss sampling the winery’s Petite Syrah, Syrah, and Zinfandel. “Our wines, even though they’re good now, they’re going to get better!” says the good doctor, and without a doubt, wine lovers will second that opinion.

The El Dorado hills are definitely alive with the sound of wine sipping, and isn’t that music to your ears? Visit Miraflores soon and enjoy an unforgettable wine tasting experience.

Miraflores is located at:
2120 Four Springs Trail, Placerville, CA.
Phone: 530-647-8505
Open for Tasting Everyday 11 am to 5 pm
Website: www.mirafloreswinery.com