Amador Wine Tasting Guide
Where to Taste, Eat, & Stay Around Plymouth & Shenandoah Valley
Welcome to Amador Wine Country, where you’ll find family-run wineries tucked among rolling hills of vines. First time visitors might not know what to expect, so here’s a little primer on everything Amador.
The Lay of the Land: Plymouth, CA and Beyond
Most of Amador County’s wineries are nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley—just two miles northeast of Plymouth, California, and about 50 miles east of Sacramento.
Much like Napa, the Shenandoah Valley has a “main drag” running right through its center: Shenandoah Road. This main artery is home to many of Amador’s 50+ wineries, and you can drive from the first winery to the last in just ten minutes.
Other popular wine-tasting spots in the area include:
Shenandoah School Road – a scenic spur off the first section of Shenandoah Road
Steiner Road – another artery branching off the second section of Shenandoah Road
Sutter Creek – a charming small town with a handful of tasting rooms and plenty of cute shops
You’ll find Vino Noceto right in the middle of it all (#46 on the map) at the very heart of Amador’s prolific Shenandoah Valley AVA.
Soak in the Small Town Charm
Small town charm and old west vibes linger in Amador County. Most of the wineries are family-owned, and attire varies from farmers in dirty jeans to full faces of makeup and flowing summer dresses. No matter what, Amador Tasting Rooms tend toward a casual, welcoming atmosphere. And with Amador and Shenandoah Valley’s notably low tasting fees, typically < $25, it’s the perfect spot for a relaxing weekend in the sun!
You can learn more about visiting Vino Noceto here. Walk-ins are welcome! If you’d like to book a large group or tour, we have great options.
Like us here at Noceto, many local wineries have picnic tables and are dog friendly. In addition, the majority of Amador County wineries do not require reservations, except in the case of large groups. To make sure your itinerary fits your needs, we recommend checking the Amador Vintners website. They’re a fantastic source for everything related to Amador wine.
Eat & Stay in Amador: Where to put up your feet
While many wineries, including us, have snackable options available for purchase in our Tasting Rooms, we recommend bringing a picnic if you’re headed into the valley. Only a few wineries offer more substantial food options.
For full lunches and lingering dinners, we recommend wandering out to one of Amador’s charming gold rush towns. Plymouth, Amador City, and Sutter Creek all have a wide variety of lunch and dinner venues, and they’re all within a short fifteen minute drive of Shenandoah Valley. Those same three cities will also be your best options for overnight accommodations.
The Wines of Amador: From Zinfandel to Syrah to Sangiovese
Amador is known for its Zinfandel, but production style varies widely from winery to winery. Some Amador Zins – like our OGP Zinfandel – are produced in an old world style. Made from heritage vines, they have a depth and complexity that rivals any Cab or Pinot Noir. Other wineries lean more toward a Lodi-style wine with big, bold fruits that make the palate sing with flavor.
Other common varieties include Barbera, Syrah, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Grenache.
If you’re looking for Sangiovese, we’re your spot! With a focus on bright, food friendly, and complex wines, we also produce Barbera, a bright sparkling Moscato, Teroldego, Canaiolo Nero, Aglianico, Sagrantino, Brandy, and port-style dessert wines. You can see our full list of wines here.
Come check out Noceto in person. Walk-ins welcome! (For groups larger than 7, we kindly request that you make a reservation.) And if you are up for an adventure, you can sign up for one of our famous Farm-to-Glass Tours! We’re easy to find — only 5 minutes from Plymouth, Ca.
For more information, check out our Visit Us page,
Amador County Tasting Room
Walk-ins welcome! Come on by for a visit. We’ll bring the wine.
Tasting Room Hours
Weekdays: 11AM – 4PM
Weekends: 11AM – 5PM
11011 Shenandoah Road
Plymouth, CA 95669
Contact Information
Tasting Room: 209.245.6556 X2
Office: 209.245.6556 X4
Text: 209.286.7840
Email: vino@noceto.com