Putting the uncharted AVA in front of wider audiences.
January 13, 2026 (El Dorado Wine Region, Sierra Foothills, CA) — Bringing their wines to taste with a broader audience, some of the brightest winemaker stars in the El Dorado AVA are starting 2026 pouring at a series of noteworthy tastings across California. Their presence is an invitation into the story and new buzz around alpine wines from one of California’s highest elevation wine regions — one that has quietly existed beyond the typical wine trail.
More than 70 varietals are grown in the El Dorado AVA from 1,200ft to 3,500 ft. in elevation. From Chardonnay and Grenache to Zinfandel and Aglianico grown in diverse and shallow soils on steep slopes and swales, cooled by the Sierra Nevada range. Resulting in wines described as bright and fresh that embrace a Sierra spice character.
As a showcase for the spectrum of wines produced in the AVA, a good showing of wineries from El Dorado will share uncommon varieties at the up-and-coming, Festival of Undiscovered Grapes scheduled in San Jose on January 31st and in Los Angeles on March 28th. Attendees will taste Cinsault from Madrona Vineyards, Viognier from Lava Cap, and Tannat from Starfield Vineyards, to name a few.
On January 31st, as a sponsor of the 2026 ZAP VIP Weekend Classic tasting at Copia in Napa, the El Dorado Eight, a marketing and educational consortium of some of the AVA’s top wineries, will be represented by Boeger Winery and Lava Cap pouring their mountain Zinfandels.
Showing off a full spectrum of Rhone inspired wines, Element 79 Vineyards & Winery, Lava Cap Winery, Starfield Vineyards, Miraflores Winery and Edio at Delfino Farms will pour on Saturday, March 21st at the Rhone Rangers’ Experience Weekend taking place at the Paso Robles event center. Rob Sinton, winemaker for Starfield Vineyard will also lead a “Taste Like a Sommelier” workshop earlier in the day.
El Dorado winemakers will continue to embark on a year-long effort to showcase their well-regarded wines from a region that remains largely unexplored by the wider wine-drinking public.
About El Dorado AVA
El Dorado AVA is part of the larger Sierra Foothills appellation in California. It is one hour east of Sacramento and one hour west of Lake Tahoe by car.
El Dorado is one of the few U.S. appellations defined entirely by elevation, which ranges from 1,100 to 3,500 feet. The region’s elevation and proximity to the alpine terrain of the Sierra Nevada shape wines that are distinct from any others in North America.
For more information on the El Dorado wine region, contact the El Dorado 8:
707-332-0857
www.sierrahighlands.org
@eldoradoeight
