It has come to our attention recently that VinePair (the only professional east coast tasting panel now existing) surveyed 17 wine "Pros" (sommeliers and writers) as to the which wine regions were the most underrated in the United States. And at the top of the list (we weren't surprised) was the Sierra Foothills!
First of all, congratulations to the Sierra Foothills as we continue to get noticed by more and more wine professionals. Secondly, this isn't a surprise to us (and probably you either) as the value of the wines up here have made our region a destination for years. (We just thought this recognition was going to come in 1979, then 1980, then 1981, then...you get the picture.)
With the El Dorado appellation being in the heart of the Sierra Foothills appellation, I thought it was time to put on my "proud hat" and pontificate just a bit more than I normally do. Yep. we're awesome up here!
But with wine being such a subjective product (or art form) that showcases terroir (regionality) so exquisitely, is it jreally all just about the wine? Sure, cooler climate, mountain-grown fruit tends to have unique aspects such as incredible color, lively acidity, focused fruit characters, and some holiday spice notes (especially in the Sierra Highlands here), not to mention the ageability and structure of the palates.
But maybe the "underrated" idea also includes some other pieces too. It could be that the overall value (price to quality ratio) of these wines exceeds other regions. Or it could be that when you're visiting wineries in the Sierra Foothills, there's a good chance you're talking to the owner or the winemaker (or probably both). Or maybe it's because of the wineries here are Estate Grown, pouring their hearts into the grapes as much as the wine. And of course, the winemakers up here are just gorgeous (I get confused with a young Brad Pitt almost daily!).
To be honest it could be any or all of these things that put our region at the top of the "underrated" wine regions of the entire United States. But you already knew about the "specialness" of the area. And for that, you can now consider yourself a "Wine Pro"! Cheers