Sierra Oaks Estates (Back to Previous Page)

Appellation: Fair Play Viticultural Area Location: 6713 Mt Aukum Rd Fair Play, California 95684 Phone: (530)620-7079 Winemaker: Jim Brown Tasting Room: Medium Days/Hours: Wed thru Sun, 11:00 to 5:00 Parking: Medium Picnic Facilities: There are no event or picnic facilities. Red Wines: Claret, non-vintage Bordeaux Blend, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Bordeaux Blend - Grand Trios, Zinfandel/Barbera Blend – Zinzabar, Nouveau (from Merlot) White Wines: Rose Production: N/A

Map

The Winery

Sierra Oaks Estates has no public access at its winery and vineyard site, but does maintain a tasting room at, what locals call, Gray’s corner; better known as the intersection of Mount Aukum and Fair Play roads. The facility itself is long and narrow, with a long tasting bar that can handle numerous tasters at the same time. They are also able to offer barrel tasting on site by bringing casks of wines in from the winery. In the back corner of the tasting room can be found artwork from many local artists, which makes for some fun browsing.

The Vineyards

The vineyards are located in the well draining granitic soils of the Fair Play AVA. They grow 3 varietals; Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel. The oldest vineyard was planted to Merlot in 1995.

The Wines

In 2001 the Browns had a bumper crop of merlot that exceeded their contracts, and they decided to make their own wine from the leftover grapes. They have since expanded that selection to 9 different wine blends, including two styles of Bordeaux Blends; the light and fruity Claret and a big and bold Grand Trios. The winemaker has had great success with his Cabernet Sauvignon, an opinion evidently shared by several wine competition judges.

The Winemaker

Jim and Toshi Brown are both retirees from Bay Area business careers. Jim was a home wine maker who decided to try his hand first as a viticulturist, and then as a commercial winemaker.  

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