Conti Estate/Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards (Back to Previous Page)

Appellation: Fair Play Viticultural Area Location: 8221 Stoney Creek Road Somerset, California 95684 Phone: (530)620-1005 Winemaker: Charles Mitchell Tasting Room: Large Days/Hours: Daily, 11:00 to 5:30 Parking: Medium Picnic Facilities: Picnic Tables and Event Facilities Available Red Wines: Red Table Wine, Zinfandel, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Bordeaux Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Muscat of Alexandria, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Super Tuscan, Ports White Wines: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Sparkling Wine Production: N/A

Map

The Winery

The winery is built on a picturesque oak covered hilltop, with a scenic outdoor picnic area that includes picnic tables. The tasting room has been beautifully decorated in a light colored wood, and includes several oak barrels and a large bar area. As well as their award winning wines, there is a gift shop that sells some attractive accessories. The winery is known for its ‘wine future’ tasting events and ‘bottle your own wine’ events held each year in the aging area amongst the American and French wine barrels. The winery was recently sold by Charles Mitchell to Michael Conti, and Charles is no longer associated with the winery.

The Vineyards

The winery has its own vineyards that include such grapes as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc. The winery also purchases grapes from vineyards in numerous areas of El Dorado County.

The Wines

This is a winery that truly patterns itself after the great wine chateaus of France. They even import a few sparkling wines from that country, including a very smooth but crisp brut style Blanc de Blanc. They are one of a handful of foothill wineries that has had good success with Pinot Noir, and is also amongst the few to produce a varietal Malbec. Their signature wine is a Grand Reserve Estate Bordeaux blend, which often sells out as futures prior to ever being bottled.

The Winemaker

Norman Saley is the in-house winemaker at Charles B. Mitchell. He works with consulting winemaker Allen Kreutzer of Drytown Cellars. Mr. Kreutzer consults with a number of wineries in the Sierra Foothills in addition to operating his own boutique winery. 

	Correct This Information