Winter and wine tasting make for a perfect pairing. What better way to warm up than savoring a rich, robust red in a cozy space? The wineries that follow don’t only produce award-winning bottles but offer toasty tasting rooms that encourage patrons to sip and stay awhile. 

Experience unforgettable moments at Helwig Winery, where good food, exquisite wine, stunning views, and delightful times come together. Whether you’re indulging in a private tasting within their expansive 5,000-square-foot wine cave, soaking up the breathtaking vistas of the Shenandoah Valley from their sunlit tasting room or spacious deck, enjoying a scrumptious lunch from The Kitchen, or simply taking in the magnificent sights of the Sierra and coastal mountains, you’ll soon discover why Helwig is a fan favorite. Not sure what to try? In Amador County, especially during the winter months, barbera truly shines! Discover their gold medal-winning 2019 Barbera from Cooper Ranch ($36, 14.5% ABV), aged for 22 months in French oak. This exquisite wine offers captivating aromas of ripe raspberry, beautifully complemented by subtle hints of clove, and is a delicious introduction to the versatile varietal. 11555 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, 209-245-5200, helwigwinery.com

Established in 1972, Boeger Winery is a multi-generation, family-owned winery sited on 80 scenic—and, in winter, often snow-covered—acres. Thanks to growing 33 grape varieties, many of them varietals from Italy and Spain, there’s a bottle every palate can get behind. This season we’re crushing on one of their newer, lesser-known varietals: tannat. Originally hailing from the Basque Country, situated within the borders of France and Spain, in 1870, the grape was introduced to Uruguay by Basque immigrants and is now the country’s national red grape. Renowned for its high tannins, deep rich color, and abundance of antioxidants, Boeger’s 2022 Tannat ($30, 14% ABV) is a wintertime—and anytime—must. 1709 Carson Road, Placerville, 530-622-8094, boegerwinery.com

Wine and wineries get better with age—at least at Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery, one of the oldest foothill vineyards (52 years young!). Expect breathtaking Sierra views and a comfortable, climate-controlled tasting room (plus four heated, uniquely themed pods) with ample seating and natural light.  Thanks to a full-time chef, the winery also offers amazing culinary creations that pair perfectly with their 20-plus, estate-grown, produced, and bottled wines, including the can’t-miss 2020 Tiger Lily Cabernet Sauvignon ($44, 13.8% ABV). Aged in French oak barrels for just under two years and bottle aged for another two years, the complex, high-elevation vino features notes of dark cherry and black currant with warm oak spices. 4560 Cabernet Way, Placerville, 530-622-7221, sierravistawinery.com

From the harvest to the crush and from bottling to labeling, the winemaking process at Lone Buffalo Vineyards is truly a labor of love. Everything they make is handcrafted onsite in small lots; what’s more, the owners and winemaker are always in the tasting room—lending to a truly educational and enhanced experience. And when the air outside is frightful, Lone Buffalo’s 2020 Tatonka Tempranillo ($38, 13.8% ABV) is so delightful. Made using a blend of grapes from the winery’s estate vineyard and Lewis Grace Vineyards in El Dorado County, it’s a rustic yet elegant and hearty red, with a fruity nose and notes of dark fruit, leather, earthiness, and an interesting herbal edge. 7505 Wise Road, Auburn, 530-823-1159, lonebuffalovineyards.com

Escape the hectic pace of everyday life at Miraflores Winery, “where the oaks meet the pines,” and enjoy an array of unique, elegant wines on their picturesque stone patio overlooking 38 acres of vineyards or inside their stunning tasting room that boasts a 16th-century fireplace. But it’s not just the winery that impresses; with over 70 accumulated accolades from Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast for 90 points or more, the wine is equally praiseworthy. One must-try? The 2021 “From the Ashes” Yellow Block Zinfandel ($38, 14.8% ABV), made using one of Miraflores’ estate varietals from the 2021 Caldor Fire. Featuring aromatics of raspberry cordial, ripe blackberry, singed cherries, cocoa, bourbon vanilla, and cedar box; mingled with a complex earthiness of crushed fall leaves; and a toasty, velvety, mineral-driven finish that coats the palate with a chalky, limestone minerality, this isn’t just a wine—it’s a reflection of the strength found amid smoke and fire: a true “rise from the ashes.” 2120 Four Springs Trail, Placerville, 530-647-8505, mirafloreswinery.com 

by MEGAN WISKUS
Photos courtesy of their respective wineries.