When Mike and Woody came to visit, we took the opportunity to take them up into the heart of the Trinity Alps to taste at this unique winery. I just love our local wine makers, who actually meet you.
You should email or call ahead to let them know you are coming.
It's a great, scenic drive there, and the winery itself is in a beautiful valley at the head of Trinity Lake. Keith Groves, the winemaker, and his mom met us there. The last time I visited, Keith's father Mark was alive and did the tasting; sadly he died a few years back. So Keith has relocated from Central California where he was a winemaker, and has fully taken over the operation.
His great-grandfather had the original mining claims here, and they have a lot of old mining equipment around to look at and wonder about.
Aside from the fabulous location, there is one really HUGE reason (and a couple big reasons) to visit:
Blaufrankisch.
One of my favorite wines, nearly impossible to find in the store, and yet it is grown right here, of all places.
This is a rich, red wine that I first tasted in Austria, and seek out every time I am back in the Tirol.
Well Keith makes an exception version of it, full bodied, balanced and dry, excellent with about any meat based meal or even just to drink. I bought a half case, and this wine alone is reason for me to make the trip up once in a while.
I am really pleased when I can find a local wine producer who makes something totally unique (like Dakaro's Graciano, the Aglianico at Old 44 Cellars, or Albireo's Petit Verdot).
And, I have to hand it to Keith, it is GREAT marketing, to be able to trademark the "State Of Jefferson" label for his wine. He says he came up with it on the 51st try... but Mike and Woody, who live in Seattle, liked the wine but bought a couple extra as a memento of visiting this quirky part of California.
The Gewurtztraminer and White Riesling have both won awards, and are good solid wines. They are both sweet, the Riesling less so, so for me they have to pair with a particular meal. I prefer dryer wines. hat said, they are really well done.
They produce other wines and blends, including a rosé.
The property is beautiful, Keith is interesting to talk to, and his mom is charming. They have a great wine dog as well. This is the perfect place to take some food and spend the afternoon drinking and eating a picnic.