Why you should visit Auburn wineries in Placer County, California
This blog post covers the best wineries in Auburn, California.
Auburn is a charming town nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California.
Auburn wineries are typically small wineries with great wine, good views, and plenty of outdoor seating.
They’re also perfect for a day trip. The town of Auburn is less than an hour by car from downtown Sacramento, California.
Our list explores seven local wineries that would be great for a wine tasting. Most of them belong to the Placer County Wine Trail and you can easily drive from one winery to another.
Here’s an idea: go for a hike in the Hidden Falls Regional Park and then relax at one (or more!) of these Placer County wineries.
Or you could skip the hike altogether and grab a glass of wine. Either way, your day will include delicious wines. Sounds like a great way to spend the day!
How to access Auburn wineries
Auburn, California is a relatively short distance from two major cities in California.
Auburn is 36 miles northeast of Sacramento, California, which is a roughly 45 minute drive (or more depending on traffic).
It’s 127 miles from the center of San Francisco to Auburn. That distance could take as little as 2 hours by car.
But let’s be honest: traffic can be horrendous on a sunny weekend when everyone wants to escape the city. Plan on a drive that’s longer than 2 hours.
Once you reach Auburn you’ll need a car to explore the wineries on this list.
The best Auburn wineries for a wine tasting
Mt. Vernon Winery
In 1996 Mt. Vernon Winery planted their first estate vineyards. Since then, this Placer County winery has grown into one of the largest wineries in the area.
Mt. Vernon Winery produces an array of award winning wines. They work with grapes such as Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec.
A restored milk house originally built in 1950 houses their tasting room. The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The $15 wine tasting fee is waived with the purchase of a bottle of wine.
Mt Vernon Winery also has elegant gardens, lush vineyards, and a wine cave.
Their wine cave is the perfect setting for Wine Cave Dinners, which are elegant candlelit affairs with a multi course menu and live music.
PaZa Estate Winery
PaZa Estate Winery is the result of a couple’s dream.
Owners Pamela and Zane loved to visit wineries in the Sierra Foothills and, after much exploration, they purchased a property in Auburn. They planted a vineyard and the rest is history. Two decades later their small family winery is still going strong.
PaZa Estate Winery makes exceptional wines from Malbec, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Grenache, and Albariño grapes.
Beside the vineyards is a Tasting Shed, which has great views of the Coastal Mountains and Sutter Buttes.
A bottle of good wine with a vineyard view sounds like the perfect way to spend the afternoon!
Lone Buffalo Vineyards
Lone Buffalo Vineyards is family owned and operated by winemaker Phil Maddux and his wife Jill.
This small boutique winery focuses on Rhône and Mediterranean grape varieties including Syrah, Zinfandel, Tempranillo, and Malbec.
They believe in minimal irrigation, minimal racking, and selective filtration.
Their North Auburn winery facility has an inviting atmosphere and a covered patio that’s a perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine in hand.
Guests can choose from a few tasting experiences. A tasting at the bar inside costs $15 per person.
A seated tasting inside or outside costs $12-15 for three pours. Or you can also order a glass or bottle of wine and head to their vineyard seating.
The Lone Buffalo tasting room is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-5 PM
Bonitata Boutique Wine
History buffs will love Bonitata Boutique Wine.
This small winery is located at the Bernhard Museum in its historic 1874 Old Stone Winery building. The original thick stone walls are built into the hillside and it’s easy to picture how the building was used to store wine.
Bonitata Boutique Wine sources their grapes from vineyards in the Sierra Foothills. They work with Zinfandel, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. Several types of sweet wine round out their menu.
The tasting room is open Wednesday through Friday from 12:30 to 5:30 PM.
Bonitata Boutique Wine has a second location in Clarksburg, California in addition to their Auburn tasting room.
Viña Castellano Winery
Viña Castellano Winery has been described as a little piece of Spain in the Sierra Foothills.
The Mendez Family built their own vineyards 25 years ago but they’ve been building their beautiful estate for over 40 years.
Stone walls surround their pastoral vineyard, which grows an array of Spanish grape varieties. Monastrell, Tempranillo, and Syrah are a few of the grapes they cultivate.
Viña Castellano adheres to sustainable practices, which in their case means leaving native plants intact, using sulfur in place of chemicals, and monitoring soil moisture to reduce water waste.
You can sample their wines in 1-2 ounce pours. The wine tasting includes 1 ounce pours of all of their wines for $12. The wine flight includes 2 ounce pours of four wines for $12.
Their Stone Barrel Cave and Tasting Room is open Thursday through Sunday from 12-5 PM.
Rappé Family Vineyards
In 2017 the Rappé family acquired 17 acres of land in the Northern Sierra Nevada Foothills.
Since then owners Tom and Lorrinda have grown Rappé Family Vineyards into a relaxing and beautiful place.
Guests can walk through the vineyards, sit beneath the oak trees, or listen to the babbling creek. Bring a picnic, order a glass of wine, and relax!
Despite their relatively recent founding they’ve got plenty of wines to enjoy.
The Appellation Series features Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, and Petite Sirah made from various appellations throughout the state. Reserve Selection wines include Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel.
The Rappé Family Vineyard tasting room is open Friday through Sunday from 12-5 PM.
Fawnridge Winery
Fawnridge Winery is a modern winery that respects local history.
Owners Stewart and Stephanie Perry moved to Auburn in 1989. In 2002 they planted Barbera and Syrah on their property.
Since then they’ve joined a cadre of local grape growers who hope to restore Placer County to its original Gold Rush era glory as a wine producing region.
They work with Zinfandel, Barbera, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris grape varieties. A sparkling Chardonnay and a Syrah dessert wine add to their offering.
The Fawnridge Winery tasting room is open Friday through Sunday from April through October. Their hours of operation differ depending on the season, so be sure to double check their website.
No outside food or drinks are allowed because they sell gourmet foods onsite.
If you like Auburn wineries you’ll like these other California wine regions
Auburn wineries are not the only wineries on the Placer Wine Trail.
Lincoln, California is another town located in Placer County that’s perfect for a quick day trip. This Sacramento suburb has a rural feel and it’s a reasonable 35 minute drive from downtown Sacramento. The best wineries in Lincoln combine high-quality wine with a down-to-earth vibe.
If you’re looking for mountains then check out Somerset, California. Somerset wineries are only an hour from Sacramento but the area feels like a hidden gem. There are mountain views, picturesque hilltop vineyards, and lots and lots of wine.
Maybe you’re more interested in history? Nevada City, California is a former Gold Rush town that’s only 40 minutes north of Auburn. After you’ve sampled the local Nevada City wineries you can explore the town’s historic main street.
Northern California wineries are wonderful. But have you ever been to the Santa Ynez Valley? Los Olivos, California is a quaint town in Santa Barbara County. We’ve made a list of the best Los Olivos, California wineries that make organic wines. If you like organic wine these wineries are not to be missed.
