Ah, vino, glorious vino.  It's good stuff and we're always looking for adventures where we can enjoy more.  Napa is a blast and Sonoma is terrific too, but we found a new wine frontier in the Sierra Foothills region east of Sacramento.  Sure it's off the beaten path (think Placerville) and the wineries are not in connect-the-dot order, but it's rugged, real, and reasonably priced.  And there are some gems to be discovered.  Plus, you don't feel like you're doing the wine shuttle shuffle with the Higginses from Bakersfield.

So we got a late start and took some wrong turns, but our lovely hostess accompanied us to Boeger, Lava Cap, Madroña and Charles B. Mitchell.  We primarily focused on El Dorado county wineries, but Amador county has plenty of punch as well.

The afternoon was stormy - perfect for cuddling up with a glass of zinfandel, the local specialty. Here's another insider secret: the tastings are usually free or the fee is nominal compared to the exploitation common in Napa and a little less so in Sonoma. The bottom line is you're money goes farther so you can visit more wineries and take home more liquid gold.

Did we mention that the wineries are friendly and knowledgeable? Yep. I felt like I was talking to my favorite aunt in Boeger's quaint tasting room. The grounds are established and you may think you've been transported back to the Gold Rush.

Next stop, Lava Cap. Don't miss this one - it's an up-and-coming heavy hitter evidenced by the plethora of awards on display. I'm surprised more people aren't piled into the tasting room (no jostling is another perk of the Foothills), where we enjoyed and purchased a lovely syrah.

So then, yawn, (are we on easy street yet?) we ventured to Madroña.  At 3,000 feet, the winery is the highest than any other vineyard in California.  It was pretty chilly up there.  Thank you for the fun facts Wine Bible!

The Charles B. Mitchell Vineyard is in the town of Fair Play and is located on a circular route with some other wineries.  The property is sprawling and the staff at the winery are jovial and knowledgeable.  At the encouragement of our newfound friends, we participated in our first barrel tasting even though it was nearly closing time.  And we purchased our first sangiovese and zinfandel futures in the same afternoon.  Wine sure is fun. The Mitchell's also have a bed and breakfast next door, so you can easily kick back your heels, barbecue on the lawn and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.

The Foothills is a little trickier than Highway 29 in Napa, so give yourself more time between tastings, be patient and make sure your driver is lightning sober (the roads are narrow, windy and difficult to navigate for the non-local). It helps to pick up a wine map at the gas station or other local establishments in Placerville, since signs are often difficult to see. Also, dining options are more limited and the food experience may not be as spontaneous as you would like. A little research before you hit the road wouldn't hurt. Next time we go, we'll be sure to seek out Perry Creek, Granite Springs, Toscana, Montevina, Sobon and Domaine de la Terre Rouge. Yummy.