The Good Life ~ Sacramento
Exploring a City with a Small-Town Feel and World of PotentialArchive for Scenic Drives
Andis is What it’s All About
Just 45 minutes from Sacramento, it’s obvious to see that things slow down in a town like Plymouth. What isn’t so evident is the fact that it’s a gateway to multiple magnificent wine-growing regions.
Driving in, I see an Inn and Mexican restaurant to the right, machine shop and trailer park to the left… an entrance to the fairgrounds, plenty of trees and open space… a little grocery store and breakfast spot with small town names… You could easily miss the charming historic downtown if you don’t take a left before the yellow brick roads and rolling hills yield sip, glass, bottle, barrel and egg (yes, egg – I’ll get to that later) of delicious Sauvignon Blanc, Barbera, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and plenty of luscious nature and palate-inspired surprises. But you really don’t need a map – unless you really want to know where you’re headed – for the roads before you will lead the way as you discover precious view after view and liquid gem after gem.
The scenery begs for picnickers and cameras, the vistas so looming and long you’ll want to linger. Luckily, the folks are friendly, and it’s always fun seeing how far some people have come to taste these delicate creations. As for the wine-cradling egg, you’ll find that at Andis Wines, one of the area’s newest, freshest and ‘greenest’ wineries with one of the best views around. They have a great patio for sipping wines by the glass, and an expansive tasting room with large screen TV to invite lingering and lounging during special events (such as the Kentucky Derby, which was upcoming that weekend).
Andis’ special event coordinator Kimm chatted us up as we sipped white, rose and lots of red, later offering us a tour of the winery where we met winery assistant Steve and fore-mentioned egg (both charming and a little elusive too). Through an open door the powers that be at Andis were sharing a bottle of Rose over an afternoon meeting. And in the blissful quiet of that rural-drenched Friday afternoon, I couldn’t help thinking that all was just as it should be…
11000 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, 209-245-6177, http://www.andiswines.com
For more on Sacramento area wine regions, also check out the new wine guide website! http://www.sacramentowineguide.com
Short Drive Yields Wine, Gardens, Views
Old Barn, Rural Sacramento
Within minutes you’ll find buildings and subdivisions fading away as you drive toward the foothills, seeing a dotted mix of old factories, nurseries and fruit stands that soon give way to large pastures and farm houses. The drive quiets to a lull as you approach the lowest hills, the foliage bursting open to greet you as you pass the old Sloughouse Inn to Davis Ranch. A working farm and large outdoor market, Davis Ranch is perhaps best known for sweet corn in the summer (The Corn Festival is held in July).
Continuing along Jackson Hwy. you’ll reach the town of Plymouth, which is the main portal to 34-and-counting Sierra Foothill wineries. With excellent red varietals like Sangiovese and Zinfandel – and equally tantalizing views – the area is coined by many to be “The New Napa”. If you’re around in June, stop in for the 2nd Annual Barbera Festival at Cooper’s Ranch. For 360-degree views of the (slightly snow-capped) Sierras, drive a little farther up to Skinner Vineyards and take a picnic – and camera – with you. If you choose to go right at the fork rather than straight, springtime is the time to visit the Amador Flower Farm and Daffodil Hill in charming gold rush-era towns.
You may find that setting out on the open road for a few hours is just enough time to return refreshed and ready for dinner, as well as enjoy that bottle of red that’s perfectly ripe and ready for the un-corking.
http://www.DavisRanchProduce.com
http://www.AmadorWine.com
http://www.TourAmador.com
http://www.AmadorFlowerFarm.com
http://www.BarberaFestival.com
http://www.SkinnerVineyards.com
[see photos of Skinner and Karmere Wineries to the right]
Scenic Drives: Chico, CA
You either love it or not so much – Sierra Nevada Brewery’s signature green-label pale ale. But if you visit the brewery/restaurant/gift shop/tasting room, there’s really something to love for everyone. For instance, the truly scrumptious food and handful of beers on tap, the lively, inviting indoor ambiance and large outdoor patio, the hour-plus-long guided tour and friendly staff. But there’s plenty more to love about Chico, whether you’re an outdoorsy type, partygoer or mom-n-pop shop peruser.
Although Chico and I have a long history together, it had been at least 15 years since I’d been there. Chalk it up to fewer friends of college age… but Chico is still more than worth the hour-and-change drive from Sacramento.
First stop: Downtown. With plenty of boutiques, bars and restaurants, this is a good place to start. We didn’t get to explore Bidwell Park this time around, but hope to do so in any other season (than winter). Later in the evening, the Irish pub beckoned us from across the street, and we were sure glad it did because we discovered the best fish tacos to date! Now we were primed for some really loud music and LaSalles is the place, not to mention they have the coolest trees in the back (which mesmerized me nearly as much as Banshee’s fish tacos). Nighty night was spent walking distance to downtown at the Quality Inn, and I’ve got to say – quite clean and classy for a motel just off the main drag (and we hear the restaurant next door – Paradise Cafe – is delicious).
There’s certainly more culture and history to Chico than I’ve touched upon here, but perhaps you will be inclined to discover it for yourself.
Next Stop: Sacramento’s Dine Downtown Restaurant Week 2012… Yum!
{Photo courtesy Sierra Nevada Brewing}
There is something special about Sacramento; the rich land upon which it was built, the rivers that flow through, the bounty around it and the people who make the Sacramento area their home.
Life is good in California’s Capital City for many reasons, including climate and geography, community and amenities, nature and wildlife, and so much more. It’s hard to imagine a warmer feeling than a sunshine-drenched morning here, an easier feeling than a refreshing post-rain spring day, or a more engaging experience than a night on the town with friends or family.
There’s truly something here for everyone and every mood, for Sacramento is a shifting entity itself, with four distinct but relatively mild seasons, diverse neighborhoods and people, a ripening food and restaurant scene, year-round events and outdoor fun, and daytime and night-time adventures. Its magic is a blend of history and tradition, vision and reinvention. And there’s so much pleasure to be had here – with family and friends, food and wine, adventures and experiences – that they’re likely to create the kind of fond memories that might seem so familiar… but aren’t quite like any other.
