baiocchi tasting room

Baiocchi is a small, family winery started up by a largely self educated winemaker (Greg) and his wife (Sharon). Greg's grandfather was in the industry & may have passed on the gene :-) The vineyards/winery are in the nearby El Dorado region and the tasting room they've opened in Sutter Creek (now a wine tasting destination) is quaint & friendly. Sharon is very nice & helpful. Greg is extremely open, technically knowledgeable, and a long time 'wino' like myself. The wines offered were one white---a viognier dominant French blend that's cleaner/crisper than many stone fruit style viogniers---and 4 reds that were Grenache/Syrah based. Three grenache dominant wines had the characteristics I'd only heard that Grenache is supposed to have before doing this tasting (a bit on the lite side with cherry, strawberry, a little cranberry). And this was despite (undetectable) high alcohol levels. One Syrah dominant offering was somewhat bigger/richer, but also very well balanced. By all means, give Baiocchi a try along with a few other tasting rooms in this small, old western town. It's worth the trip!

Never been to Sutter Creek, California? Better get it on your list to visit. A great place and a growing center of very good to great winery tasting rooms. The first on your list should be Baiocchi Vineyards. They are a wonderfully cordial couple who just happen to make superior wines from their vineyards in southern El Dorado county. Fairplay to be more precise. Their wines are tasty, mouth filling juice that make you want another sip. Their reds are already well established as excellent, but don't miss the whites they are coming on strong.

Our ride from the Bay Area took a little over 2 hours and it was well worth it! The Baiocchi wines are unique and tasty. Greg and Sharon Baiocchi explained what grapes were in each wine and shared the background of the tasting room. The counter is made from an old bowling alley lanes. They have paid attention to each and every little detail in the wine and the tasting room. In addition to their great wines, Greg and Sharon are gracious hosts. We felt very welcomed. They are an enthusiastic and delightful couple who work extremely well together. We will return soon to purchase some more of their delicious wines.