Jodar Vineyards & Winery (Back to Previous Page)

Appellation: El Dorado Viticultural Area Location: 3405 Carson Court Camino, California 95709 Phone: (530)644-3474 Winemaker: Vaughn Jodar Tasting Room: Small Days/Hours: Thur to Mon, 11:00 to 5:00 Parking: Small Picnic Facilities: Tables and chairs available on the veranda Red Wines: Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Merlot, Bordeaux Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Port (Cabernet Sauvignon) White Wines: Chardonnay Production: 5000 cases

Map

The Winery

The winery was created in 1990, but the first crush was completed in an unfinished winery with no ceiling or walls. The tasting room was at a remote site off Rock Creek Road for several years, but was moved to the Camino Hotel in 1997. In April of 2005 the current tasting room on Carson Court was completed. Although small, the new Spanish style white stucco building is light and airy with red tile floors and lots of natural light. They do sell a limited amount of gourmet foods and gifts in addition to wine.

The Vineyards

Located on the Mosquito Ridge of the American River Canyon, these steeply terraced vineyards were quite literally blasted into the 2400-foot elevation granite hillside. The Jodar family planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in 1985, and recently added Merlot and Cabernet Franc to the estate. The winery also purchases Zinfandel and Sangiovese grapes from other El Dorado and Foothill vineyards.

The Wines

The Jodar wines are Bordeaux in style with a lot of wonderful spicy undertones. They offer a particularly smooth, well rounded Bordeaux varietal wine blend, Apollo’s Lyre, made with a split of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Winemaker

Jodar Vineyard and Winery is a true family affair. Estate proprietor Joni Jodar manages the tasting room, while Vaughn Jodar is the winemaker. 

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