Holly’s Hill Vineyards

Had a chance to try a new winery recently just outside of Placerville a few miles — Holly’s Hill Vineyards. My neighbor is a Holly’s Hill wine club member. He could not attend one of the winery’s January events (barrel tasting) and offered his tickets to my wife and me. Not knowing the winery, we made the trip primarily because this neighbor couple have proven themselves to us as a good judges of tasty wine.
Anyway, the grounds were beautiful as was the drive from Sacramento to our destination. The barrel tasting centered around sampling each of the four wines (counoise, grenache, mourvedre and syrah) that are blended to ultimately make the patriarche. The final version was not ready but we had an opportunity to taste the co-​fermentation blend (early version of what will become the patriarche). All were very nice but my favorite was the grenache. I decided to take a few bottles home. My wife likes white wine and she selected grenache blanc. Very good wine and reasonable priced. Worth the drive. Note this wine is hard to find in Sacramento but I have seen it at Corti Brothers.

Holly’s Hill is like something out of a dream. My mom and I chanced upon this winery the first time while we were doing our usual tour of the same El Dorado county wineries. We seem to always be «stumbling upon» new ones, and this time I am so glad we pointed this one out and stopped. It was a misty cloud soup kind of day and the fog was hanging low over the hills for a breathtaking view from the porch off the main tasting room. I loved just standing there and taking it all in, and being the only guests at the time.
The wines are also unique and complex. They have varietals complimenting the Provence and Rhone regions of France, including Grenache, Viognier, and Mourvèdre. Mmm. Choices available here definitely stand out among a wine growing region popular for cabs, zins, and Italian inspired varietals.
I really liked the nice guy working the tasting room and the dog was a nice touch as well. Sparkling clean bathroom close to the entrance and well maintained gravel parking area with plenty of spots. Definitely worth a stop next time you’re in the Pleasant Valley/​Fairplay/​Somerset area for wine tasting.

I picked Holly’s Hill based on Unilocal reviews and the fact that it was an area in the foothills i have yet to visit. I visited on a friday afternoon with my mom and her fiancé. The ride to the winery was scenic and not too far off the highway. We were greeted warmly by the employees. Wines were fantastic! We picnicked under the trees at one if the several tables. Beautiful views and a friendly dog. I will definitely come back here!

We did a tasting of all of their wines and basically all of them were awesome! I had never really tried Rhone varietals before but there were a lot of interesting flavors and they weren’t too sweet. My favorites were the Grenache rose and the petit patriarch and my husband liked one of the Mourvedres. The regular tasting was free but we decide to pay the $ 5 extra for the special wines. The lady working was really great too. She clearly knew a lot about their wines but wasn’t snobby about it and was totally cool with us chatting during and between pours. Also the view was beautiful. I would absolutely recommend this place!

I stopped here on a recommendation from Narrow Gate (just up the road and also a great winery).
When I arrived the lot was nearly full. «You’re really busy» I said to the man directing traffic. Turns out it was Member Appreciation Day. I told him I was not a member and he says «Not a problem, come on in, park over there and enjoy.»
I was afraid that getting a sample might be tough with the crowd but it was easy as pie. The people at the bar parted to let others in to get a sample. Everyone was very nice. My sampling was free and after inquiring about food I was allowed to join the food and flight sampling that was supposed to be reserved for members only. Seafood Paella, garlic bread, salad and spreads on toast plus a tasting of 4 wines and a full glass of their best red blend (Patriarch?) for just $ 10.00.
I was alone that day but 5 great local gals invited me to join them at their table for dinner and wine. If you are reading this «Thanks so much gals».
The tasting room is roomy and open. The view is to die for!
Like most of the wineries up in El Dorado/​Fairplay I got to meet the owner, grape grower, winemaker, owners daughter etc… all very pleasant and grateful I was there even though they were all very busy.
This is not Napa, it’s better. No pretentiousness or stiffy stiffersons. No smug employees too busy with others to pour. Just welcoming passionate people making, sharing and enjoying life with wine.
Oh yeah, the wines are superb and with a top price of $ 32 for their best red that is quite a bargain. Try to do THAT in Napa. I left with at least 5 bottles and all smiles from ear to ear.
Thank you everyone.

Such a lovely place! Peaceful, serene, tranquil… words can’t describe.
The setting is worth the trek.
Add the courteous owners and great wine and you get a perfect day
Couples, groups and definitely girls day out will work here!

My wife and I have been tramping about the winery scene of Amador and El Dorado Counties since we moved here over 15 years ago. There is only one winery that we have been wine club members at for so many years, we have lost count.
You join a wine club because every single vintage and varietal is drinkable and plush to your palate, and so is the case here at Holly’s.
Holly’s Hill wines are that good, it all comes from care, quality and vertical integration.
But be warned this place is true to its roots, all Rhone style vineyards and wine. You won’t find a Merlot, Cabernet, or Chardonnay here at Holly’s. Rhone varietal wines from this area are truly amazing, and I encourage you to discover, discover, discover. El Dorado County mountain soils and weather almost perfectly track the southern Rhone Valley of France, where Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre to name a few of the 22 main Rhone varietals, found one of their first and famous homes.
Come to Holly’s Hill, bring a picnic for the nature and views, and find what the Pleasant Valley (Southeast Placerville) of California provides in truly amazing wine. Some day I want to take a winemaking class from Carrie and Josh Bendick. If you want to understand her winemaking try to get Carrie alone for a few minutes.
Amazing!

I did not try wine. The overall look and feel of this location is very nice. Great view and picnic tables all over to hang out and eat in nice weather.
Went with a friend picking up wine. The folks running this place are very nice and even told her she forgot to pick up a shipment a couple months back and they saved it for her. Had wines in it that were no longer available. I thot this was really great customer service.
They have great tips for the area and are very complementary of other wineries and growers.

Very nice vine, nice place, beautiful sight view! Awesome place to visit! I love this winery.

Great wine, great location, great staff, great views… need I say more. If you’re wine tasting in the area I would consider Holly’s Hill a must stop. This part of El Dorado County has so many great wineries… enjoy!!!

Don’t miss this gem in El Dorado County. Excellent Rhone blends and varietals.

Excellent! If you’re in the area, this is a must. I’m a red wine lover and Holly and Tom do «it» very well.

This is a beautiful property with amazing wine. The wines made here are some of my very favorite. Carrie and Josh put on amazing events with amazing food made by Josh himself! Go as often as you can!

Best dessert wine. That Dave and I have ever had so good.
The view from the deck of this winery is SPECTACULAR !!
Also very good with kids they have a toy basket in the wine room so your kid can play while you taste the wine.

The view from the deck of this winery is spectacular. If anything, just go for that. Their wines are pretty good too. From what I heard about their wine club, they tend to have frequent events… once a month is what I remember, but double check.

El Dorado’s wine area is known for having great Zinfandels, Mourvedres and other reds, but at Holly’s Hill Winery there’s something there for the white wine lover.
Their white wines are solid, dry and not overpowering with strong oakey overtones. You can actually eat food with them — especially the Roussanne and Viognier. In fact, they don’t add new oak to any of their wines as they believe the whole character of the varietal disappears and you just taste oak. They only do neutral oak
In addition to not finding any new oak wines, you won’t find Zinfandels, which is unusual for the Sierra Foothills area– because there are Zinfandels everywhere.
Instead, this winery is following their passion and making Rhone varietials instead.
I wasn’t a big fan of the reds they had for the tasting, but they did have potential. I look forward to going back and seeing how they evolve. This vineyard is one to keep watching. They have a great philosophy and I can see them producing great wines in the upcoming seasons.

HH has some great wines! Took home the viognier and the wylie fenaughty syrah on my first visit. Today was my second visit and I enjoyed lunch in the beautiful picnic area and spectacular view from the winery.
It’s worth the drive to check this place out!

Another phenomenal Rhone producer in El Dorado.
They focus almost exclusively on Rhone varietals and blends, which if you aren’t familiar with are more refined and elegant, complexity is subtle, not like a bat in the head from a huge Zin or Cab. if you are a Pinot lover, you should like Grenache or Mourvedre, WHEN DONE PROPERLY (aka not over oaked in a Cab like style.)
That also means unique, more complex whites like viognier (good, no flabby versions) roussanne, and grenache blanc. If you don’t ‘drink whites’ because you think whites are big oaker Chardonnay butter bombs, expand your palate and horizons; in the global scheme of wine thats one white methodology/​style of thousands.
Their is quite a large variety of single varietals, and blends, which is the essence and heart of Rhone wines. The Patriarch white and Red blends were incredible.
Highly recommend. Gorgeous site, and I think (didn’t ask) dog friendly as well.

I love this winery! They have fantastic Rhone-​style wines, the winery itself is pretty and inviting and intimate feeling, and the people there are super friendly. They also do cool events, food-​pairings, etc.
I especially loved the Patriarche, and I agree with a previous posting about the late harvest Roussanne being spectacular as well. I actually joined their wine club, since I loved so many of their wines. I opted to pick up the wines rather than have them mailed, since I want an excuse to go back regularly.
On my first visit there, I went with my dad and stepmom, and we brought a picnic lunch for ourselves, which we enjoyed at a quiet picnic table with a spectacular view.
This place is a perfect example of why I love living here!

Really nice folks here, great wine too!
Late harvest roussanne is out of this world!
The view from Holly’s Hill is pretty beautiful as well! :)
Lovely place.