Sip And Sample Your Way Through Placer County on This Northern California Wine Trail

Experience this lesser-known wine region, where you’ll find Gold Rush towns, charming shops, and beautiful natural scenery! Placer County isn’t the first place that comes to mind when thinking about California wine, but this wine region offers something unique.

The wineries in Placer County are built on rocky terrain and usually have rustic vibes. Many of these smaller winemakers showcase their creativity by experimenting with lesser-known varieties. While Zinfandels are popular here, you’ll never know what you’ll find.

Placer County encompasses foothill cities such as Roseville and Rocklin and extends all the way to the north Lake Tahoe area to the Nevada border. Most of the wineries on the Placer County Trail are located between Rocklin and Auburn. There are no wineries far up Interstate 80 due to the increasing altitude (although we have some ideas on how you can parlay this wine trail adventure into a weekend in Tahoe– our idea is further down in this article).

We recommend you visit at least three wineries, but for this article, we’ve highlighted six that we really enjoy. So get ready to explore this Northern California wine trail!

Casque Wines/Google Images

You'll start at Casque Winery in Loomis, which looks like a chic barn or cozy garden center. In fact, it's located at the famous Flower Farm.

Casque Wines, 9280 Horseshoe Bar Rd, Loomis, CA 95650, USA

Byron Pipkin/Google Images

Casque Wines is open Thursday through Sunday. Parties with 8 people or more must make a reservation.

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Hill Top Oaks Winery, 4150 Ridge Dr, Loomis, CA 95650, USA

Circa2846/Google Images

What was once a cattle ranch is now an award-winning winery located on a beautiful piece of land. Sprawling oaks trees shade parts of the patio, where you can sip their wines. Reservations are required for all wine tastings. Before you visit the third winery on our list, we highly recommend driving about 10 minutes west to High Hand Nursery. This beautiful garden center has the cutest garden decor, plus candles and an olive oil shop.

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Happy Dayz Vineyard, 2338 Mandarin Hill Ln, Penryn, CA 95663, USA

Happy Dayz Vineyard/Google Images

Next on your Placer County winery adventure is Happy Dayz Vineyard in Penryn. Just up the road from High Hand Ranch and a short drive from Hill Top Oaks Winery, this property is a little more rural and rustic. Happy Dayz Vineyard has a beautiful outdoor tasting space perched on a grass hill. A wine tasting is $10 per person, but the fee is waived if you purchase a bottle. The winery's outdoor tasting space is open on select weekends so call first before you travel here if you want to sit outside.

Lone Buffalo Vineyards, 7505 Wise Rd, Auburn, CA 95603, USA

Michelle S./Google Images

We chose this winery for several reasons: the wines are excellent, the scenery is really cute, and they often have a food truck (a meal mid-wine tasting is a must!). Lone Buffalo produces small lots of wines, so each time you visit there's a chance you can try something new. This rustic winery offers tastings in a casual setting, with a sunny patio. Reservations are requested for groups of six or more.

PaZa Estate Winery, 3357 Ayres Holmes Rd, Auburn, CA 95602, USA

PaZa Estate Winery/Google Images

PaZa Estate Winery is one of our favorites! We're crazy about the charming "tasting shed" perched on a hill overlooking the vineyard. From this small tasting area, you can see the Sutter Buttes and even the coastal mountain range on a clear day. PaZa does not accept limos and buses, so the vibe is very chill. You can bring your dogs, and even pack some snacks to enjoy with your tasting. Tables are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations are recommended for large groups, as well as busy weekends.

Rancho Roble Vineyards, 340 Fleming Rd, Lincoln, CA 95648, USA

Rancho Roble Vineyards/Google Images

Perhaps the most romantic of all the vineyards on this tour, Rancho Roble Vineyard is located on a serene property in a Mediterranean-style villa. Stop in for a tasting Friday through Sunday, no reservation is required. We recommend sitting outside on the patio that overlooks a massive pond.

As we mentioned previously, consider making this Northern California Wine Trail just one day of your Placer County adventure. Spend a Saturday wine tasting and shopping. Then, on Sunday, take Interstate 80 to Tahoe City (about an hour and 30 minutes drive from Auburn), where you can have a delicious brunch at the new Mexican restaurant located inside a cabin. Then, visit Kings Beach, where you can rent bikes and cruise around the area. Finally, take the aerial tram at Palisades Tahoe to High Camp for an incredible view of the valley. Don’t want to make the drive to Tahoe? On Sunday, spend time exploring Auburn, Loomis, and Old Roseville. If you enjoy vintage shops, swap meets, and flea markets, check out Denio’s Farmers Market in Roseville.

Placer County is one of the small, burgeoning wine regions in Northern California. So plan a fun weekend here to wine taste and explore this beautiful and oh-so-fun region of Northern California!