84436 Thu Feb 27 10:16:34 -0800 2003 16 3 California 0 468069 I thought I would try to pick your collective brains for a trip to the Gold country this weekend. The primary purpose is to go wine tasting, of course food would be nice too. I would appreciate any and all suggestions, I am going with a group of friends and we are game for ideas. Thanks in advance Thu Feb 27 10:16:34 -0800 2003 0 Marion 1 468070 Do searches under Nevada City, Grass Valley & Auburn. I love this area - so gorgeous! In Nevada City, Citronee is fabulous and has a good wine list & I also really like Blue Moons. You'll need resvs for both. In Grass Valley, someone just reminded me of the name of the great Thai restaurant there a few threads back - of course, I've forgotten again... The food at the Holbrooke Hotel is ok, but the old-time atmosphere great - especially in the bar. No matter what you do, do not miss the tour & lunch at Renaissance Winery - so gorgeous & interesting & fantastic gold medal winning wine - much better than the Nevada City brew (although that's fun to tour, too). You have to make reservations - a very interesting group of artists & winemakers mainly from Europe with a very interesting history. They won't tell you much about it, but rumors swirl & locals will.. The grounds are incredible - gardens & restored statuary - you really feel like you're in Europe. May be a little cold & not the great flowers this time of year, but still go - you won't regret & you'll be turned on to some incredible wines & very interesting people. Reserve for lunch, too - very good & their wines by the bottle or glass to accompany. Get specific instructions to drive there - a little tricky, but oh, so worth it! I'll look & see if I have a phone #, but I know they do have an 800 or ordering wine, so that should work. Where are you staying? Thu Feb 27 10:46:44 -0800 2003 468069 0 torta basilica 2 468077 We live in the wonderful northern mines area of the gold country. Some great restaurants around here, especially in Nevada City. Citronee and New Moon (not Blue Moons) are superb. Your suggestion on Renaissance Winery was terrific. We haven't tried it yet. The Thai place is no longer in Grass Valley. The landlord tossed them out for another sports bar (yuck!), but I've heard that the Thai owners are looking for another location. Holbrooke new owners are trying very hard and recent visits have given us some nice meals. Locals like Main Street Cafe in Grass Valley as well. Auburn has Bootlegger's in old town and Awful Annie's (great breakfasts), also in old town. Thu Feb 27 15:35:49 -0800 2003 468070 0 Jan 1 468072 In Nevada City: go to Kirby's Creekside for dinner. The food is great (the best), the wine selection is fine. The decor reminded me of something old like in the Big Bear Lake area rather than Beverly Hills, but don't let that fool you. Lore is: back in the gold rush days, miners panning for gold in the creek beside Kirby's yielded almost $300 in one day! for a few days. That amount back then was astronomical! In Grass Valley: Lodging at The Marriott Courtyard Suites (210 N. Auburn Street [530] 272-7696) is the newest and very, very nice (better heating and air conditioning - regal decor, piano in the community lounge with dining tables, continental breakfast). And, a few blocks away from there is The Holbrooke Hotel (on Main Street near the end of Mill Street - a landmark built in 1862) that is quite an experience of the old world Victorian style lodging. They also have a continental breakfast. The Holbrooke Hotel has entertainment in a very nice atmosphere in the bar area. I haven't eaten there, but I hear it is really good. And, there is a cyber cafe BAKERY next to the (Ralph's??) grocery store in Grass Valey (just off the State Hwy on the way to Nevada City) (I forget the name of the bakery, but I think it has a floral name or something - anyway, ask where the public comupters are and that's the bakery). Great place for a quick sandwich or a continental breakfast. Thu Feb 27 11:17:31 -0800 2003 468069 0 kc girl 1 468073 Which part of the gold country are you going to Marion? I've always done the Sutter Creek, Mt. Aukum, Amador County area. I've had nice lunches in Sutter Creek at a restaurant across from the Hotel on main street (sorry, I can't remember the name of the place.) There are maps of winerys on the internet. Search "Amador County winerys." Have a nice time. Thu Feb 27 13:14:45 -0800 2003 468069 0 Robert 1 468076 Take a picnic and eat at one or more of the wineries. Best picnic spots are at Deaver, Youngs (probably not open), Story, and Sierra Vista. For wine in El Dorado, Boeger and Sierra Vista are my picks. In Amador, Youngs (probably not open), Renwood, Terre Rouge/Easton, and Dobra Zemja for the pure funk. Many others are good too, but these make the exceptional wines IMHO. Thu Feb 27 15:23:27 -0800 2003 468069 0 SLRossi 1 468081 The City Hotel and Restaurant in Columbia is GREAT and I highly recommend eating and staying there (so you can enjoy the meal and the surroundings and not stress out). Someone else mentioned Domaine de la Terre Rouge and Renwood, both of which I second. The former was in the humblest of "tasting rooms" last I visited, but they had nice, bold stuff. Renwood is a nice setting and they have mega-zinfandels. Brace yourself. I'm trying to remember exactly, and I think I also went to Karly on that trip. They are a real treat too. The tasting room doubles as a kitchen and is down a dirt road. Both times I visited, the weather was foul, the road was sludgy, and we were welcomed with open arms. A nice comparison with Napa! Thu Feb 27 17:17:48 -0800 2003 468069 0 Nanaimo Bar 2 468086 Recolection of Karly is correct. Their wines are sporadic at best. The zins seem to have such a jammy fruit focus, and that's it. With that said, I've been a huge fan of some past vintages of the Warrior Fires Zin, and Syrah. The proprietors are awfully nice too. That's what I love about the area in general. You tend to get owners, their family, or the wine maker working the tasting room. Very cool. Thu Feb 27 20:27:35 -0800 2003 468081 0 SLRossi 2 468087 I second the recommendation of the City Hotel & Restaurant. Spouse & I had a lovely meal there, and the hotel is nice as well. Link: http://www.cityhotel.com/ Thu Feb 27 21:17:29 -0800 2003 468081 0 Alison B. 1 468088 One more: In Sutter Creek, there's a diner/cafe called the Chatterbox that got a rave review from the NY Times Travel section a few years ago. Inspired us to stop there on a trip shortly thereafter and it was delicious. If you can't save room for pie, they will box it up for you. Thu Feb 27 21:22:57 -0800 2003 468069 0 Alison B. 2 468100 They make awesome milkshakes with fresh berries in addition to the pies. Their ollaberry changed my life. They have an old fashioned soda fountain! Fri Feb 28 15:22:15 -0800 2003 468088 0 SLRossi 3 468131 They also make root beer floats the old-fashioned way...from syrup and soda, and a humongous scoop of ice cream. Mon Mar 03 12:31:22 -0800 2003 468100 0 ricepad 1 468090 I like the Murphy's area. the Murphy's hotel is pretty good and there are many wineries nearby (Stevenot). Murphy's is nice little city witha great selection of shops. In the spring I just love the green hills and the oaks. All the wineries are family owned so there is great attention to service. have fun. Thu Feb 27 22:25:11 -0800 2003 468069 0 benyboy 1 468091 My favorite is Fitzpatrick Winery in Fairplay. The tasting room is located in an inn on a hill overlooking the vineyard. They serve a ploughman's lunch there that has an assortment of cheeses, smoked salmon and wonderful homemade bread (baked in their brick oven). There is a patio adjacent to the tasting room that has a terrific view. http://www.fitzpatrickwinery.com/ Fri Feb 28 01:48:38 -0800 2003 468069 0 Tracy L. 1 468102 I am overwhelmed by all of your responses. Thank you all so much for the ideas. I have no idea just where I will be heading, I am going with a few good friends and it will be a new experience for me to see what neat places they have found and want to share with me. It will be a one day trip, no staying overnight this time. Not to worry about me stressing, I am not driving, plan to taste good wine and to enjoy myself. The only danger would be for me to fall down or to fall asleep with my mouth open in the car at some point after tasting too much wine ( I am sort of a light weight) Fri Feb 28 15:35:42 -0800 2003 468069 0 Marion 2 468135 Well? Did you have fun? Did you fall down? Did you fall asleep with your mouth open? :) I hope you had a good time. Robert Mon Mar 03 13:53:48 -0800 2003 468102 0 Robert 3 468185 I actually did quite well,no embarrasing moments to report, other than some comments made by me to the unsuspecting wine pourers as to what activities particular wines could be paired with ( suggestions of my friends who remained giggling in the background) I know I was set up, but that was ok I suppose.. My friends took me to an area between Placerville and Fiddletown. It was a very pretty drive and we went to about 6 or seven wineries. After the second set of tastings I forgot the names of the places I have been to and all of the following ones as well. I brought home a few bottles: a Latcham Muscat Cannelli and a Barbera. It was pointed out to me by one of the men I went with that this region is a new wine growing region and because of this the growers are more experimental with their wine making. This can result in some great or some not so great wines. My trip was a lot of fun, I observed many people who tasted and purchased wine and seemed to really enjoy themselves. It was not as refined and sophisitcated as in Napa or Sonoma Valley, no one seemed to have to out do one another with their knowledge of wine, it was enough just to enjoy and get a buzz on. So thanks again to all of you for your suggestions, I will keep a file for future trips. Fri Mar 07 13:18:40 -0800 2003 468135 0 Marion