Wines With an Altitude

For wine lovers, a visit to El Dorado County would not be complete without a trip to the wineries of Fair Play. The 10 family-owned wineries of Fair Play are located within three miles of each other in the heart of scenic south El Dorado County. The Fair Play area is distinguished by deep granite soils and 2,500-foot elevations. In February 2001, federal officials recognized the uniqueness of this tiny, 33-square-mile grape-growing area and formally designated it as
an American Viticulture Area. This means that any wine made from at least 85 percent Fair Play grapes can carry the Fair Play name on the label. The Fair Play wineries call them “wines with an altitude.”

Over the past 20 years of grape-growing, Fair Play has developed a reputation for high-quality grapes that yield deeply flavorful wines from an amazingly diverse range of grape varieties. The wineries of Fair Play make distinctive white wines from Chardonay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viogner grapes and delicious red wines from Zinfandel, Barbera, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Sirah. Additionally, small quantities of wonderful wines are made from
lesser-known varieties grown in the area, and these are usually only available from the wineries’ tasting rooms.

The wineries of Fair Play invite you to come and experience what makes their award-winning wines so special.

For more information about the Fair Play wineries and their special events, visit their website at fairplaywine.com.