Lava Cap Winery (Back to Previous Page)

Appellation: El Dorado Viticultural Area Location: 2221 Fruitridge Road Placerville, California 95667 Phone: (530)621-0175 Winemaker: Tom Jones Tasting Room: Small to Medium Days/Hours: Daily, 11:00 to 5:00 Parking: Medium to Large Picnic Facilities: Picnic Tables and Event Facilities available Red Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, American River Red, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel White Wines: Chardonnay, Fume Blanc, Viognier, Muscat Canelli Production: 20,000 cases

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The Winery

The founder of Lava Cap Winery, David Jones, was a Geologist and Professor who began his career in viticulture and winemaking as a home hobby. The first 65 acres of the estate were purchased in 1981, and in 1986 the winery was completed. The tasting room is small, but sells some great wine cookbooks and several wine gift items. Adjacent to the tasting room is an expansive deck, with picnic tables and an incredible view of the surrounding area.

The Vineyards

The estate vineyards of Lava Cap are found at about 3000-foot elevation, planted in the young volcanic soils from which the winery gets its name. The cool breezes that rush down the mountains at night, and slightly cooler daily temperatures, allow the winery great success in growing the cooler grape varietals such as Chardonnay. There are now 75 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Roussanne, and Marsanne in production at the Estate.

The Wines

The winery has an extensive wine list that you can’t even come close to effectively conquering in one visit. The estate offers several wonderful Bordeaux varietals, as well as Zinfandel and Syrah, which are known for their big fruit and smooth tannins. If you are looking for a wine to drink now, or lay down for a while, you may want to try their award winning Petite Sirah.

The Winemaker

The winemaker at Lava Cap is son Tom Jones. Tom has an MS degree in enology from UC Davis and was President of the El Dorado Winery Association in 1991 and 1992. 

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