Sierra Vista Vineyards and Winery

Sierra Vista Vineyards and Winery
4560 Cabernet Way
Placerville,, California
USA 95667
Phone: (530) 622-7221
http://www.sierravistawinery.com

Contact: John MacCready
Email: [email protected]

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED the winery is on RED ROCK RIDGE, half a mile high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains thirty miles west of Lake Tahoe in California. A beautiful view of the mountains from our shaded picnic area makes this a "must see spot of paradise" for visitors to this newest and fast growing wine region. Our unfiltered "FIVE STAR" wines are a must for wine lovers
n 1972, John and Barbara MacCready bought their property on the Eastern Highlands of California and pioneered the rebirth of mountain viticulture in the re-emerging premium wine region of El Dorado County. At that time all the foothills were classified as Zinfandel country so when we planted Cabernet Sauvignon we were bucking tradition as we have ever since. Luckily we planted the cab on a site which produces great Cabernet Sauvignon.

The winery farms thirty-two acres of mountain vineyards on challenging slopes from 2800 to 2900 feet elevation. Mountain vineyards are low yielding with intense flavors, outstanding character and provide thrilling tractor driving. Extensive studies John MacCready made in the eighties showed the climate at Sierra Vista to be very similar to that of the Northern Rhone Valley of France. This was the deciding factor in determining which grape varieties to expand to in our vineyards. Rhone wines have developed into the perfect grape for the area and develop in time to emulate the better wines of Cote Rotie and Hermitage in the Northern Rhone.

The first crush was in 1977, with grapes purchased from local growers. Only 1,200 cases of wine were made that year. Annual production has grown gradually to the current 7000 cases. Several different wines have been produced since the first crush: these include Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Chardonnay

In 1979, Sierra Vista planted Syrah, whose lineage traces to Chapoutier's vineyards in the Northern Rhone appellation of Cote Rotie. Syrah wine was first produced in 1982 and is very competitive in taste and quality to wines from Cote Rotie and Hermitage

Winemaker: Barbara and John

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