Win 2 Tickets to El Dorado’s “Bring out the Barrel” weekend
January 26, 2011
El Dorado County's wine country is one of Sacramento's best kept secrets. It has good to great wines at moderate prices, is just a short trip from home and lets you avoid the crowds and tasting fees associated with many of the Napa/Sonoma wineries.
If you've never been, here's your opportunity to go and enjoy this run of great weather we're having. The El Dorado Winery Association is hosting the "Bring out the Barrel" wine tasting weekend at 25 of their wineries. It's a great opportunity to relax, sample some really good wines and interact with many local vintners.
My favorite winery in the area is Mt. Aukum. They have a great view of the entire valley and have some quality wines. At that winery this weekend, you'll be able to chat with the winemaker, barrel taste the 2007 Malbec and 2007 Petite Sirah Reserve and snack on light appetizers. Do you have a favorite El Dorado winery? Check out if they're one of the 25 participating wineries here.
Tickets are $25 for an entire weekend pass, $20 for a Sunday only ticket and $10 for designated drivers. If you have a group going, you can get 4 tickets for $75 (a savings of $25). You can purchase advance tickets online here through Thursday, Jan. 27.
The El Dorado Winery Association also provided Cowtown Eats two tickets to give away.
All you have to do is leave a comment on this post or on the Cowtown Eats Facebook Page with your favorite El Dorado county winery. If you've never been, find one from the participating winery list and tell us why you'd like to visit.
Contest ends Thursday, Jan. 27 at 12 noon. I will randomly select one commenter and will contact him or her on Thursday afternoon.
I hope to win! I've never been before :)
Posted by: Kyle | January 26, 2011 at 03:24 PM
Lava Cap is my favorite! I must go!
Posted by: Jenn | January 26, 2011 at 03:36 PM
I went tasting a few weeks ago in El Dorado for my first time (Busby was one of 3 stops). Loved every minute of it! 2 tix to Bring Out The Barrel would be amazing!
Posted by: Valerie Middleton | January 26, 2011 at 03:52 PM
Crystal Basin. Lava Cap in close second.
Posted by: Michele M | January 26, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Holly's Hill and Sierra Vista are my favorites.
Posted by: Wally C. | January 27, 2011 at 10:16 AM
El Dorado County is such a hidden gem, but I have not gotten to experience wine tasting there. As a relative newbie to the area, I've had the opportunity to visit Amador, Napa, and Sonoma, and I would imagine El Dorado would be much more like Amador, which just blew me away. So if I had to pick a winery for barrel tasting, I'd say I would be most excited to try the wines at Single Leaf and take in the gorgeous scenery!
Posted by: Jen L | January 27, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Illuminare is my favorite because they have good zin, a really great barbera, and other really good reds, like their Momentum.
Posted by: Brian | January 27, 2011 at 11:35 AM
As someone who's never been to a wine tasting, I would love to experience all the wineries just to learn all I can. Gold Hill sounds especially good to be, because if there's one thing I love more than good wine, it's good wine and tortellini! Hope I win!
Posted by: Trina K | January 27, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Our fave spot is Miraflores! Two words: Black Muscat.
This is a fabulous event. Not only do you get to try a lot of great different wines, but a lot of the wineries will prepare a small item that pairs well with some of their wines. We go every year and buy tickets early!!!
Posted by: Michelle Kille | January 27, 2011 at 08:24 PM