Oakstone Winery

Our favorite place to wine taste, Steve and Liz are the best and their wine is amazing, good place to picnic while you taste and the kids can run around safely while you experience the best wine in the state.

Best wine in the entire state. Amazing views from the balcony. Steve and Liz are everything in the world you could want from wine makers/​owners. Bring them a double IPA to see a happy smile.

Here is what I wrote in the summer of 2014 on Facebook:
We dropped in on a whim today and loved every single wine on the tasting list. Each was distinct with plenty of complexity. We joined the wine club and went home with bottles of our top 3: Phoenix Rising Red, «Old Man Murrill» Zin and Petite Sirah red dessert wine. The staff and owners are wonderful and the view from the deck is spectacular.
Now it is almost a year later, and this has become our favorite Amador/​El Dorado winery. Liz and Steve are friendly, fun, knowledgeable about wine, and love what they do. We went from keeping a few bottles of their wines on hand at home to keeping a few cases. Each release of the Phoenix Rising Red is different, and yet complex and enjoyable. Their dessert wines are always incredible and the «Old Man Murrill» Zin continues to be a favorite. Oh, and they are producing Malbec, which I always love!
Tip: If you taste something here and love it, buy more than you think you «need.» You’ll be sorry when you go back to get more and it’s gone! Fans of Oakstone/​Obscurity can snap up limited runs quickly!

Another awesome wine tasting room. There was a little party going on here with catered food for the holiday weekend. Again owners are super friendly as was everyone. They have a beautiful view of vineyards. They also have this cool sign your name board of visitors past. I did leave «my I was here» mark. Lol ! Good pours on tastings. Gotta have the Barbera which I purchased.

I’m a local and have been going there for decades. Unfortunately it has recently burned down… what a shame! I hear they will rebuild but will miss this place until they do. Great wines, great people and great location.

How can you not stop at a winery on Slug Gulch road??? Hilarious!!! I was here for the 2011 Barrel Tasting and what a gem this spot was. Everyone was super sweet and patient explaining the weather affects on the grapes and how it changes the wine. I was in love with the Meritage here… very affordable and pleasant. Thank You Oakstone! Cant wait to be back!

Great place with affordable wine. Tasting is free and they taste about 20 different ones including some that aren’t on the menu. John, one of the owners is pretty funny as well if you get a chance to say hello you should.
They also serve some pretty awesome chipolte salsa.
The only reason that I didn’t give this a 5 is that there are a lot of other wineries in the area that offer comparable and better wines.
However, for 9.95 check out their Slug #22 which is a blend of four grapes, it’s very well done for the price.

Malbec port was scrumptious!
I like this place.
It’s nestled on a beautiful piece of property. When you come here, bring a camera!

I absolutely love the wine here! Not only is the wine great but the people who work here are really fun! The owner John is a kick and when we were there he did a mystery wine tasting where whoever guessed the wine correctly, won it. It’s nice to be around people who obviously enjoy what they do and want you to enjoy yourself during your visit. Every single wine I tasted was great. The only wine I didn’t care for was the mystery wine that wasn’t even made there! If I could have afforded it, I would have brought home 2 of everything! I only managed to walk out with some sauces and a couple of bottles of the Slug Gulch Red which was very drinkable and would pair nicely with anything. The only white wine I tasted was the apple and it was quite nice.

I was surprised just how many great little wineries are appearing in the Placerville area — and Oakstone is a favorite for the Mrs. and myself.
How many tasting rooms do you know of where the owner /​vintner is there pouring? It’s an added bonus that lets you know he’s not only interested in his passion, but interested in your enjoyment of his wines as well. John Smith is not only very happy to pour for you, but is just as willing to tell his wine’s story to a seasoned oenophile or neophyte alike. He had a very special relationship with Robert Mondavi as an amateur winemaker. The vigor and determination to bottle only the finest he can has not left him in the ensuing years — thank goodness!

What can I say, fantastic wine. A bonus was when we came out our tire was flat, the winemaker brought out an air tank to fill it up. Would that ever happen in Napa? I think not! This place rocks.

Every time I’m 100 miles near this place, I always stop in for a few bottles/​boxes of superior wine. Even got a couple of crates of Meritage for the Ultimate Commitment Ceremony a couple of years’ back. One can never go wrong here… even their table wine — Slug Gulch Red — is better than the average swill others serve.