Madrona Vineyards (Back to Previous Page)

Appellation: El Dorado Viticultural Area Location: 2560 High Hill Rd. Camino, California 95709 Phone: (530)644-5948 Winemaker: Paul Bush Tasting Room: Medium Days/Hours: Daily, 11:00 to 5:00 Parking: Medium Picnic Facilities: Picnic Tables Available Red Wines: Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz Cabernet, Zinfandel, Bordeaux Blend, Syrah, Late Harvest Zinfandel, Port White Wines: Chardonnay, White Wine blend, Gewürztraminer, Riesling Production: N/A

Map

The Winery

Richard and Leslie Bush, the founders of Madroña Vineyards, are considered to be among a handful of local pioneers responsible for bringing fine wines back to this Sierra Foothill winemaking region. The vineyards were established in 1973 and the winery was built in 1980. The tasting room is medium in size, with a warm inviting feeling accented by the generous use of wood in the interior design. There are picnic tables nestled amongst the towering pines, wonderful views to the east of the Sierra Nevada Crystal Range, and of course, the signature madrone trees.

The Vineyards

The vineyards are, at the 3000 foot elevation, some of the highest found in California. The varieties grown there include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling. The winery also has vineyards in the Pleasant Valley area of El Dorado County where they concentrate on the Rhone varietals.

The Wines

The winery offers a wide selection of excellent wines, from the familiar Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, to the locally exotic Nebbiolo and Gewürztraminer, which are not as commonly seen in the foothills. In order to maintain their high quality standards, the Bush family has a tradition of not making wines because they are fashionable, but because they are the right match for the area and the terroir.

The Winemaker

The first winemaker and founder of Madroña Vineyards was Richard Bush. Dick and Leslie’s son, Paul, has since taken over the winemaking duties and has continued the tradition of making small batches of hand crafted fine wines.  

	Correct This Information