A growing wine and grape industry is losing its “Best Kept Secret” status here in the Sierra foothills. As local wineries continue to pick up awards, the word is getting out: Nevada County has some awesome wine!

The county has several hundred acres of grapes and nine wineries, plus three tasting rooms in historic downtown Nevada City. Wineries in Grass Valley, Lake of the Pines and North San Juan also have tasting rooms.

It all began in 1852, when Nevada County’s first vineyard was planted. In 1869, Frank Siebert was growing Zinfandel grapes and making wine in Nevada City when he won one of the first awards in a California winemaking competition.

By the late 1880s, Nevada County supported several hundred acres of grapes and 10 wineries, including the original Nevada City winery that produced 8,000 gallons in 1889. Economic depression and Prohibition contributed to the demise of the local wine business. By 1970, there were no vineyards or wineries.

The dearth of vineyards was soon over, however, and the first modern vineyard was planted in 1974, Nevada City Winery opened in 1980 and vineyards are today one of the fastest-growing segments of agriculture in the county.

County vintners have come together as the Nevada County Winery Association. They include Double Oak Vineyard and Winery, Indian Springs Vineyards and Tasting Room, Nevada County Wine Guild, Nevada City Winery, Sierra Knolls Foothill Vineyard and Winery, Sierra Starr Vineyard and Winery, Smith Vineyards and Winery and Truckee River Winery.

The local wineries vary in size, but all are considered boutique wine producers, making high quality, distinctive wines that are sold locally, regionally, and in some cases, nationally.

Wine tasting is featured at some wineries (pick up a Winery Association map at a local visitor center) and at Carrington’s Fine Wines, Nevada City Winery and Indian Springs Vineyards Tasting Room in downtown Nevada City. Some of the local restaurants offer “Winemaker’s Dinners,” like Kirby’s Creekside in Nevada City.

Each year on the second weekend in October the local wineries offer a two day wine tour called the Gold Harvest Wine Trail where visitors can tour the local vineyards and taste local wines.

For ticket prices and other information,
call the Winery Association at (530) 273-2856.