July 29, 2011

Plymouth: Sobon Estate Winery & Vineyards; things to do

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

Sobon Estate Winery & Vineyards 

14430 Shenandoah Rd., (209) 245-6554. Tasting daily 9:30-5.

This winery began back in 1856—before the Civil War--as the D’Agostini Winery and stayed open during Prohibition by producing sacramental wine. Sobon Estate Winery & Vineyards is the oldest continuously producing winery in the state. Now, using its own sustainably farmed, estate-grown grapes, Sobon makes a range of distinctive varietals, including some delicious old-vine Zinfandels as well as the colorful Vicious Red line of red wines. Stand-out Zins to sample in the woodsy, award-laden tasting room, which was formerly a bottling room, include Rocky Top (grown in decomposed granite), Cougar Hill (grown in volcanic ash), and Fiddletown (from a 101-year-old vineyard). Plenty of picnic tables are positioned around the scenic surrounding grounds, through which meanders a nice little “crick” that originates from an old mine across the street.

On site, the Shenandoah Valley Museum displays a well-marked collection of dusty old wine-making artifacts, farm tools, and household items in the cellar of the original 1856 winery house built from wood cut right on the property.








No comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

followers