Sierra Foothills

The Sierra Foothills wine region is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, USA. The discovery of gold near Sutter Mill in 1848 led to the California Gold Rush, resulting in many settlers from Southern Europe who established vineyards to supply them with wine. By the 1860s, the Sierra Foothills wine industry was booming before the depression and Prohibition reduced the industry to just a few vineyards.

The Sierra Foothills are well suited to the production of big, ripe, red wines made from Zinfandel, Syrah and Italian varieties such as Barbera. Many of the vineyards here are 140 years old, and the low fertility of the soils leads to small yields of high-quality grapes.

The Sierra Foothills is home to a number of notable wineries, including Naggiar Vineyards, Ironstone Vineyards, and Montevina Winery.

The 140-year-old Grandpere vineyard in California Shenandoah Valley is said to be the oldest still in production in the entire state.