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Appellation:
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Nevada County
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Location:
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10065 Rough & Ready Rd.
Rough & Ready, California 95975
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Phone:
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(530)274-2923
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Winemaker:
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Henry Coufos, Janet Wheeling
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Tasting Room:
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Small
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Days/Hours:
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Sat 12 to 5 or by Appointment
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Parking:
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Medium
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Picnic Facilities:
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Picnicking Available
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Red Wines:
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Red Rhone Blend, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Syrah
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White Wines:
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Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne, Dry Rose
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Production:
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N/A
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Map
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The Winery
The winery is located at the 1800-foot elevation on the side of a small valley surrounded by towering pine and oak forests. The twenty acre site, which is scattered with older farm buildings and vineyards, was originally a dairy farm. The old buildings are being cleverly preserved and incorporated into the winery design. The small, but inviting tasting room was originally a blacksmith shop where the previous owners produced stage coaches for television commercials. The beautiful old red barn is in the process of being converted to barrel storage.
The Vineyards
The first estate vineyards were planted on the well-drained, sloping site in 2000. There are now nine organically farmed varietals planted including Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Cinsaut, Carignan and Grenache. The vines are still young and low producing, so the winery continues to purchase local Sierra Foothill grapes to supplement their harvest.
The Wines
Rhone varietals and blends, done in a decidedly European style, are at the heart of Coufos winemaking. They offer a nicely balanced Red Rhone Blend, Gatti Rouge, which is bright and lively on the palate and has a nice long finish. Their flagship Syrah has a full bodied and almost brooding character, with a great gamey quality that is the trademark of a well made version.
The Winemaker
Husband and wife team Henry Coufos and Janet Wheeling are the co-winemakers at Coufos Cellars. They had a great love of agriculture and decided to purchase a farm in the Foothills region, finally settling on the old dairy near the gold mining town of Rough & Ready. They decided to combine their love of farming with their equal love of great wine, producing their first wines in 2002, and producing their first commercially sold varietals in 2005.