Place to eat: Narrow Gate Vineyards, Placerville, California, United States

About this place:

This is a small, boutique winery located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California. The winery is owned and operated by the Hildebrand family. There is a small tasting room that is part of the large cellar building, where all the wine is stacked up and stored in wine barrels, waiting for the bottling process. The winery has an old Mediterranean feel to it. The winemaker, Frank Hildebrand, is happy to talk to all visitors about his wine while his wife, Teena, definitely makes all guests feel welcome. The wine is varied, with a particular emphasis on Rhone Wines, and is quite good. There is a small picnic and garden area for visitors.

There are several small wineries in the area and this one is worth the stop.