Tasting notes: Foothills wineries on a roll

FOOTHILL WINERIES CONTINUE TO EXPAND and plan for the future. Here’s what’s new:

Sierra Knolls Winery plans to open a new tasting room on Hwy. 49, just north of the Bear River crossing at Linnet Lane this spring. The 1,500-sq.-ft. space will include a gift shop, outdoor patio and picnic areas. Sierra Knolls is a family owned vineyard located between Auburn and Grass Valley off of Hwy. 49.

The owners, Steve and Brenda Taylor and John and Linda Chase, are longtime friends and wine lovers. The wines are made in small lots from locally grow grapes. Wines include Estate Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Chardonnay.

The Grass Valley Wine Co expects to open a new location in downtown Grass Valley. The tasting room venture includes Bent Metal, Pilot Peak and Solune. “The Taste of the Town” is their motto for the new tasting room. Wine lovers will enjoy complimentary tasting and purchases from three local wineries in a single tasting room.

Clavey Vineyards has opened a tasting room at 115 S. Pine St. in downtown Nevada City. It is adjacent to the new Nevada City Marketplace. Clavey is a family owned vineyard near Chicago Park. The varietals include Syrah, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Local Wineries Win Medals Montoliva Vineyards won a gold medal in the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle wine tasting competition for its “Sinistra.” Naggiar Vineyards won a gold medal for its Malbec. Other medal winners included Avanguardia, Indian Springs Vineyards, Lone Buffalo Vineyard, Lucchesi Vineyards, Mt. Vernon, Nevada City Winery, Pilot Peak Winery, Popie and Vina Castellano. A list of all the winners is at our magazine’s website, SierraCulture.com.

Sierra Vintners is the new name for Northern Sierra Wine Country, whose members are the wineries of Nevada County. Their tagline: “Where the vines meet the pines.” A companion website, SierraVintners.com, is launching as well. The wineries hope the new name will provide marketing clout and further raise their profile in California.

Foothills Celebration is Saturday, March 5, from 1-4 p.m., in downtown Grass Valley. It is a unique tasting event, mixing wine, food, ambiance, music, art and shopping.

This annual event of the Sierra Vintners and Grass Valley Downtown Association sold out last year, with 1,200 tickets sold. Tickets are available by phone at 530-272- 8315, at all downtown Grass Valley and Nevada City wine tasting rooms and soon at SierraVintners.com, among other places. Sierra FoodWineArt magazine and its website SierraCulture.com is a major sponsor.