David Girard Vineyards (Back to Previous Page)

Appellation: El Dorado Viticultural Area Location: 741 Cold Springs Road Placerville, California 95667 Phone: (530)295-1833 Winemaker: Mari Wells Tasting Room: Large Days/Hours: Sat and Sun, 11:00 to 5:00 Parking: Large Picnic Facilities: Patio/Picnic Tables and Extensive event facilities Red Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Mourvedre, Bordeaux Blend, Rhone Blend, Grenache White Wines: White Rhone Blend, Chardonnay, Rose Production: N/A

Map

The Winery

The winery is on the site of the Sam Winje homestead, one of the original Coloma pioneering family patriarchs. Roughly 100 feet to the east of the estate’s main entrance once stood one of the earliest kit houses brought around the Cape in the late 1800s. When the homestead was sold, the house was disassembled and is sitting in pieces at the El Dorado County Fair Grounds, waiting to be reassembled. The new winery is a beautiful modern structure set amidst oaks, vineyards and a lovely pond. It is a great place to spend a restful afternoon sipping wine and enjoying the great lower foothill ambiance.

The Vineyards

Located at the 1300-foot elevation, this is an area that is warmer and drier than some of the more mountainous areas of El Dorado County. Because of this elevation, the growing conditions are similar to parts of the southern Rhone, and less like the northern Rhone. There are currently eight different varietals grown on site including Marsanne, Roussanne, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier.

The Wines

The winery prides itself on its Rhone style wines, with both a very impressive Syrah as well as a Viognier-Roussanne blend. They also produce an intense and earthy 2004 Mourvedre varietal that is certainly worth trying. Their Grenache Mourvedre Rose is dry but fruity, very much in the French style.

The Winemaker

Mari Wells is a graduate of UC Davis with a degree in winemaking and enology. She worked previously at Chatom Vineyards prior to coming to David Girard.  

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