Amador County: A Gold Rush Legacy in Wine Country 

Nestled in the heart of Amador County, Sutter Creek captures the legacy of the gold rush, with its charming main street and restored 19th-century Victorian buildings recalling a time when miners flooded the Sierra foothills. Just a few miles away, the town of Plymouth serves as the modern crossroads of the region, connecting Amador’s historic past with its vibrant wine culture. Here, in the rolling hills of the Sierra foothills’ Shenandoah Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), vineyards flourish where prospectors once toiled, producing expressive wines — especially old-vine zinfandel — that reflect the area’s rugged terrain and pioneering spirit. Together, Sutter Creek and Plymouth tell the story of Amador County’s evolution, from the gold rush to a destination defined by heritage, hospitality and wine.

History of Sutter Creek and Sutter’s Mill

In 1846, John Sutter arrived in search of a new lumber source. His water-powered mill was constructed by John W. Marshall in nearby Coloma. In 1848, Marshall discovered gold, sparking California’s Gold Rush and leading to the growth of towns in the region.

John Sutter also founded Sutter Creek in 1846. The town is known as the “Jewel of the Mother Lode.” It became one of the most important gold rush towns. Sutter Creek gets its name from the creek that flows through the town and from John Sutter. Over the years, the town has been called Sutter’s Creek, Sutter, Sutterville and, today, Sutter Creek.

Sutter Creek’s prominence stemmed from being the main supply hub for all the mines in the surrounding area, as those mines produced some of the richest mother lodes. It was once a vibrant mining town.

Sutter Creek Today

Although historic Sutter Creek was once a lively mining town along the Mother Lode, it still proudly displays its gold rush heritage with well-preserved buildings. Stroll down Main Street and discover charming shops filled with curiosities, or stop by one of the many wine tasting rooms and enjoy a glass of wine from wineries that produce a diverse range of varieties and styles of Amador County wine.

If you get a chance to visit Sutter Creek in spring, don’t miss the Great Sutter Creek Duck Race. The town is filled with yellow rubber ducks, and they say, “The Quack is Back,” which is fun to watch. This community event helps fund local projects. People adopt a yellow rubber duck and take it to Minnie Provis Park to race it down the creek. These rubber ducks bring out the child in the adults participating in the race.

Wineries of Sutter Creek: Bella Grace Vineyards and Yorba Wines

Bella Grace Vineyards is a family affair started by Michael and Charlie Havill. Coming from corporate careers, they caught the grape-growing bug and purchased 50 acres in Plymouth, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Twenty acres are planted with primitivo, zinfandel, grenache, vermentino, grenache blanc, syrah, petite sirah and mourvèdre. Today, the Havill’s three sons join them in the business.  


The Bella Grace tasting room is on Main Street in an old Victorian house. My favorite was the Graces Blanc, a blend of viognier, grenache blanc and sauvignon blanc.


The Yorba tasting room, with its clean, modern design, is inviting and located just off Main Street in Sutter Creek. During our visit to Yorba, we were fortunate to meet Ann Kraemer, known as “the vine tender.” Her reputation spans 25 years and includes managing vineyards such as Domaine Chandon, Swanson, Cain, Calera, Hobbs and Shafer. She now manages her family’s Shake Ridge Vineyard, where she farms small vineyard blocks.


Working with winemaker Ken Bernards, they have refined a small, eclectic portfolio of wines. My favorite was the smoothly balanced zinfandel.

Plymouth and Taste Restaurant and Bar 

A drive to the town of Plymouth, known as the gateway to Amador wine country, is worth it, especially if you enjoy a meal at Taste Restaurant and Bar.  Chef Micah Malcolm’s cuisine is divine. One must savor the Mushroom Cigar, a signature appetizer at Taste. We enjoyed a five-course meal.

Shenandoah Valley AVA

Today, that same pioneering spirit thrives in the Sierra foothills, where elevation and warm days and cool nights influence the wines of the Shenandoah Valley AVA. Known mainly for old-vine zinfandel, it is increasingly diversifying in both varieties and styles. Here are some of the wineries.

Sobon Wine

Leon and Shirley Sobon are pioneers of Amador County. They started their Shenandoah Vineyards in Plymouth in 1977. Leon started as a home winemaker and became so enthralled with winemaking that he retired from his job at Lockheed to start the winery. By 1989, they purchased the D’Agostini winery. Today, the Sobon winery continues as a family business with Paul Sobon as winemaker. The family’s goals are sustainable farming on their 200 acres and natural winemaking.

Andis

In 2009, Janis Akuna and Andy Friedlander bought a property in Plymouth that was planted in the 1970s. Since then, they have planted 15 of their 25 acres and have farmed organically. They hired Mark Fowler as winemaker and built a modern, state-of-the-art winemaking facility called Andis Wines. The goal is to produce handcrafted wine that captures the pure essence of its soil. Favorite wines include semillon from Bill Dillian Vineyard and the Friedlander Block Old Vine Zinfandel.

Terre Rouge & Easton Wines

Another pioneer in the area is Bill Easton. Bill and his wife, Jane O’Riordan, founded Terre Rouge & Easton Wines in the late 1980s. Bill worked at small vineyards in the 1970s and later opened the Solano Cellars wine shop in Berkeley. Bill creates wines that are balanced and elegant, with complexity that develops over time in the bottle. “The French call it élevage, which is ‘raising’ the wine in the bottle.”

Terre Rouge means “red earth,” which aptly describes the soils in the region of the winery. Bill fell in love with Rhone wines and made some of the first Rhone-style wines in the Sierra Foothills. He is one of the founding members of the Rhone Rangers. Terra Rouge represents his Rhone wines, while Easton stands for his non-Rhone varieties.

Hotel Sutter: Gold Rush Charm, Modern Comfort

Hotel Sutter has been around since 1858. Its old-world charm, which combines vintage appeal with modern comforts, is the hotel’s soul. From the gold rush era to today, the hotel evokes a sense of history while meeting the needs of contemporary guests.

Other Things to See in Amador County and Sutter Creek 

Although this trip to Amador County mainly centered on wine, other activities in the area include visiting Knight Foundry, the Amador Whitney Museum, Black Chasm Caverns, Preston Castle, and the Kennedy Mine.

From Gold To Grapes in Amador County

From the clang of pickaxes during the Gold Rush to the peaceful rhythm of vines deep in granite soil, visitors uncover the California story when visiting Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley, Sutter Creek and Plymouth. It’s a journey through layers of California history. Gold may have originally attracted settlers to the Sierra Foothills, but today it is the richness of community, craftsmanship, and wine that defines the region. In Amador County, the pioneering spirit persists, now expressed not by pickaxes and pans, but through vineyards, cellars, and the warm welcomes extended to every traveler who comes to explore.