Cielo Estate: California Wine in the Sierra Gold Foothills

Every region in California produces a different tasting wine and the flavors of the Central Valley Gold Country exemplify the great tastes of The Golden State. Cielo Estates just outside Shingle Springs (Placerville) is a example of the magic New Age winemakers create.

Cielo offers a full quiver white and red wines surrounded by beautiful farmlands of grape vine and fruit trees. Their tasting room sits atop a hill overlooking the surrounding lands of others farms and vineyards.

Their list of wines runs the gamut from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Marsanne, Roussanne, Muscat, Vermentino on the white side. On the red side they create Sangiovese, Primitivo, Barbera, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon and of course Zinfandel.

Some of it is sourced from other areas, much of it is grown on the estate. Our wine host John was friendly, bright and knowledgeable, serving us samples on the veranda surrounding the tasting room.

Wine we tasted:

2021 Spin Acres White (Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Grigio) $30 ✰+

2020 Rose of Sangiovese $28 ✰+

2019 Artigiano (Primitivo/Barbera) $34 ✰+

2019 Howards Last Hand (GSM) $34 ✰+

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon $36 ✰+ /✰+

2019 Rami’s Red Zinfandel $32 ✰+

2019 Barbera $36 ✰+

Our favorites were blended GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre), the Cabernet Sauvignon (a softer version of this wine), Barbera and Rami’s Red Zin. We went home with some Barbera and Zinfandel. If you’re exploring California wine areas Gold Country needs your attention. You owe it to yourself to taste and savor their wines.

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Some notes on our wine ranking system.

Bill & Erin Hodge write about California Wine, the estates & winemakers producing them and educational information about Vino. Living in California Wine Country provides a front row seat to the places you want to visit the most here in the Golden State.

– -✰  means -What’s next on your list of wines
-✰  means -Not liking it too much
✰ means  -We’ll drink this wine, especially if it’s hosted!
✰+ means -You’ve got our attention and we might buy this wine.
✰+ + means -We’re hooked and we’re going to buy this wine.
When you see -✰/✰+  with a slash, it means we disagree.