Events Wine Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast Sierra Foothills

Barrel Tasting Weekend
January 30-31, 2010

Be among the first to discover the nuances of a new vintage by joining our winemakers in the intimate environment of their cellars for a weekend of barrel tasting. And, stay in Luxury at Eden Vale Inn B&B near Placerville at our Winter Special rates.

Wine lovers of all levels are welcome to get a special preview of young wines and compare them with older vintages from the bottle.

More than 20 vintners will treat you to samples straight from the barrel. Enjoy light food pairings, demonstrations and take advantage of futures sales. http://www.eldoradowines.org/

See what our winemakers are doing.
Then print a copy to plan your tour now.

View a printer-friendly map
of participating wineries.

Events Wine Eden Vale Inn B&B Placerville Coloma

Visit El Dorado
If you appreciate fine wine, made in small lots by family winemakers, come to El Dorado. Explore our scenic back roads and discover just what makes these high-elevation wineries tops with wine lovers.

Learn more about this monthly television program on KXTV News 10.

The premiere episode explored El Dorado’s Gold Country, including what producers called "some of the best wines El Dorado – and California – has to offer," tracing the roots of a foothills winemaking tradition that winds all the way back to the discovery of gold in California.

Events Wine Eden Vale Inn B&B Coloma Placerville

Jan. 9
It’s Cigar Day at Crystal Basin Cellars 11am - 5pm.


Jan. 15 -17
White sale and wine release reception. Charles B. Mitchell is offering five 2009 estate and Fair Play Vineyards white wines. Additional wines available in 5 cent sale, (buy one at the regular price and the second bottle is 5 cents).

Weather Eden Vale Inn Placerville

Today's rain brought a warm up. Last night was a full moon. One couple took the opportunity to wander through the gardens under the moon. A few fish can be seen feeding on the surface.

Wood Fired Oven, Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast

Gayle and I took a trip to San Franciso and did a lot of poking around kitchen stores. We came back with four more cookbooks including several on wood fired grilling and wood fired ovens. We're looking to expand the cuisine baked in the wood fired oven at Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast near Placerville.

We stoked wood in the oven for about seven hours raising the temperature to about 700 degrees. The remaining coals were gathered into a pile and Gayle placed a whole Kabocha squash right in the coals. Meanwhile, slices of Delicata squash coated with olive oil were sizzling on a cast iron skillet placed in the oven. She picked some mustard greens out of the garden and tossed them on top. Once the Kabocha squash reached 150 degrees internally it was pulled out of the coals and split in half horizontally. The seeds were scooped out and the Delicata squash, mustard greens and some goat cheese were put in the cavity and the meat of the squash was pulled away from the sides. The top was drizzled with a mint-infused red wine vinaigrette. The verdict? Fabulous!

Buffalo Ducks, Eden Vale Inn Placerville

It's a crispy cold quiet morning this Christmas Day at Eden Vale Inn near Placerville. Yes, we are below the snow! We're running a winter special discount if you call. Today two Buffalo Ducks are working the pond fishing for whatever it is that the eat. They are beautiful. Their coats are black and white. They are a cute pair, diving together and bobbing back up. Mark

Sunset at Eden Vale Inn 12/19/2009

Yesterday a particularly beautiful sunset appeared at Eden Vale Inn near Placerville, CA.  We're above the Sacramento Valley fog and below the Lake Tahoe snow.  The pond mirrored the sky.  Mark

Wine Tasting Sierra Foothills, Crystal Basin Cellars

If you like big Sierra Reds you'll like Crystal Basin Cellars in Camino just off Hwy 50 east of Placerville.   The drive from Eden Vale Inn, on the other side of Placerville, is about 25 minutes.   Many other Carson Road Wineries and Vinyards are nearby.  Mike Owen and Peter, the wine maker, make a wide variety of wines owning in part to the fact that they buy their grapes from other local Sierra Foothill vinyards.  This allows more flexibility in trying new varities and blends. 

There is lots to like in the extensive selection at this El Dorado County winery.  I came home with a mixed case that included Viognier, Zinfandel, Sarah, Barbara, and Mouvedre.   They also make a five varietal Bordeaux Blend named Triumphant.  Their Triumphant Blending party is coming up February 13th at the Cameron Park Country club.  Crystal Basin Cellars

Wine Eden Vale Inn Placerville

Lava Cap Winery in the Sierra Foothills Wine Region near Placerville, CA has a big sale on their 2005.  Cases are 50% Off on their 2005 wines until sold.  If I remember right these were available: Malbec, Grenach, Zinfandel, Syhra and a few others.  I took home a case of Zinfandel.  Mark

Snow Eden Vale Inn Placerville, CA Sierra Foothills low snow

A freak snowstorm December 6 and 7, 2009 brought snow all the way down to Sacramento, CA.  Placerville got about 18" at their 1800' elevation.  Eden Vale Inn at 1100' got about 6".  The snow was wet and heavy and broke tree limbs all over these low eleveations.  The limbs fell on the power and phone lines causing many El Dorado County residents to be without power for up to four days.  Many, over a week later are still without phone service.  Then the weather turned very cold and kept the frozen snow for five days until it rained and washed it all way.  There were broken water pipes all over the Sierra Foothills in California.  In 25 years here we've never seen anything like this.  Mark

Winter retreat at Eden Vale Inn, B&B

As the weather turns cold today in the Sierra Foothills, the fireplace is blazing here at Eden Vale Inn B&B, Placerville.  Our guests are warm & cozy as they enjoy our signature breakfast of Spinach/Feta Quiche, Roasted Red Rosemary Potatoes and Orange Pecan Scones.  Everything is made fresh daily at Eden Vale Inn Bed & Breakfast.  Plan your next getaway-call us to get the Winter Discount and find a little bit of heaven in Placerville.  Come discover Eden Vale Inn. 

Great Blue Heron, Birdwatching Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast Placerville

A Great Blue Heron was fishing in the pond today at Eden Vale Inn B&B near Placerville in the Sierra Foothills.  Fall is still to be found as many of the native oaks have not yet dropped their leaves.   I went hiking today at Wildman near Chile Bar on the South Fork of the American River maybe 7 miles above Coloma.  This December 5th was a beautiful day, cool even cold but the sun was out.  A great day to scarmble down the mountain through the Blue Oaks to the American River in the Sierra Foothills winter.  And, free of snow.
Mark

Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast Placerville Garden Tomatoes in December

For breakfast at Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast near Placerville, we cook with fresh whole foods as much as possible.  How can you beat adding a few First Prize Sun Gold tomatoes from your own garden in December?   This morning we served them with the Eggs and roasted Potatoes.  Yes, peppers are still in the garden too!  Temperatures are moderate in the Sierra Nevada Foothills near Placerville and Coloma most of November, December and January.  No snow and above the Tule fog.  The tomatoes do come out of our Eden Vale Inn B&B greenhouse which protects them from the frost.  Mark

Breakfast Nov 27, 2009, Eden Vale Inn Bed and Breakfast, Placerville

Our guests at Eden Vale Inn B&B in Placerville enjoying the Bacon & Cheddar Stratta along with Roasted Potatoes, Cranberry Pecan Coffee Cake & Stollen, (Danish Pastry with Cream Cheese filling).  As always, we also offer fresh seasonal fruit, natural yogurt and our own homemade Eden Vale Granola.  The weather today in the Sierra Foothills is stunning, with sunny blue skies and beautiful fall color all around.  A perfect setting for a relaxing stroll around the 10 acre garden estate called Eden Vale Inn.

Eden Vale Inn Placerville, Bicycling

You meet the most interesting people while running the Eden Vale Inn B&B near Coloma, CA.
One of our guests this Thanksgiving weekend is interesting enough with a career in film and television but added to this his son is riding his bicycle from the Arctic Circle to the southern tip of South America ending at Tierra del Fuego.  This is the adventure to beat all adventures.  The father contributed to this adventure by taking his son, as a young boy, backpacking in the high country of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.  The son will be completing his journey in the near future.  Take a look at the fabulous photos and great adventure on http://www.ridingthespine.com/ .
Mark