The Skinner Vineyards Winery embodies the adventurous spirit exemplified by James Skinner as a California Gold Rush pioneer and wine maker, blending old-world skill and traditions with advanced environmental opportunities that protect and respect the land and future. The original Skinner Ranch was located in what is now known as the town of Rescue in the Sierra Foothills. In the 1860s, it was named Skinners, California and remains an unincorporated township that still appears on most maps. The original cellar from the J. Skinner Winery still exists and was home in recent years to the Cameron Park Nursery. In early 2006, Mike and Carey Skinner purchased the property with the goal of preserving it and protecting it from development.
Winemaker Adam Smith, raised in El Dorado County, has cut a wide swath in winemaking in his journey back to the foothills. He honed his craft in the Willamette Valley in Oregon at Domaine Serene, Bethel Heights Vineyards, and Shea Wine Cellars. He then ventured beyond Oregon to New Zealand’s Craggy Range before being lured to the Sonoma Coast as winemaker for Banshee Wines. Now he finds himself back where he grew up. “It’s been a longtime dream to return to where five generations of my family lived and near the dirt, trees, and elevations I’m connected to. The Skinner family is a terrific fit for their mutual respect of the transcendent possibilities in El Dorado vineyards. ”
- Grenache Blanc El Dorado
- Grenache El Dorado
- Mourvèdre
- Native Red El Dorado