Chateau Routon (Back to Previous Page)

Appellation: Fair Play Viticultural Area Location: 2800 Omo Ranch Road Fair Play, California 95684 Phone: (530)620-5818 Winemaker: Jim Olsen Tasting Room: N/A Days/Hours: Wed thru Sun, 11:00 to 4:00 Parking: Small Picnic Facilities: Picnic Area and Event Facilities Available Red Wines: Syrah, Port Style, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel White Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay Production: N/A
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The Winery

Bob and Sheila Routon purchased the estate property in 1995 to use for a horse ranch, but kept an eye towards growing grapes. Located on a wonderful hilltop, the tasting room has a large deck with incredible views across the scenic vineyards to the Sierra peaks in the distance.

The Vineyards

The estate has 24 acres of Portuguese varietals, as well as Barbera, planted primarily in decomposed granite soils that surround the winery. To supplement this, they also purchase grapes from Napa, Lake, Amador, Lodi, and Nevada Counties.

The Wines

Chateau Routon takes great pride in their Ports, and has gone to great lengths to grow the proper grapes, and select the best winemaker, to showcase that wine. They also have a unique approach to their standard dry wines, purchasing quality grapes from vineyards throughout the other premium wine regions of California. This gives the taster a chance to experience many other California regions without leaving El Dorado County.

The Winemaker

When the Routon’s started their search for a winemaker, they did it with an eye to making great Port style wines. Their efforts brought them to Jim Olsen, a winemaker with 30 years of experience making Port style wines.  

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