by W. van Diver
I just came up with the perfect birthday gift for a dear friend: a getaway trip to Amador County! Located about 45 miles southeast of Sacramento, this scenic county at the heart of Gold Country offers great wines, fabulous food, charming small towns, and a warm, welcoming attitude. To be sure he gets the most out of his visit, I’d better come along, too!
Amador County has about 40 wineries, so naturally, several stops in the Shenandoah Valley are in order. But I’m planning to weave in some heart-pounding outdoor activities like river rafting, hiking one of the scenic trails, and cycling on a winding back road. We’ll also want to check out a living cave, an old mining camp, and the antique shops in towns we discover along the way.
We’re going to build quite an appetite—which is a very good thing, because Amador County has some truly fabulous restaurants! Two always top my list. Volcano Union Pub + Inn is an historic spot in the village of Volcano. “The Union,” as it’s referred to by locals, has a happy busy vibe with shuffleboard and darts to play and plenty of friendly people to meet. My friend is a beer man, and I know he’ll love the beer list of over 40 brews. We’ll start with the crispy duck wings and smoked cheddar mac and cheese and from there, who knows?
My other list-topper is definitely Taste Restaurant in Plymouth. Taste is easily Amador County’s most sophisticated dining venue. Owned by Chef Mark Berkner, it has been recognized by Zagat as one of the top restaurants in the United States, and by Wine Enthusiast as one of the Top 100 Wine Restaurants in America. So I don’t think I’ll have any preconceived notions about what we’ll order. I’ll leave that to Chef Mark on the night we dine there.
And the best news of all? Chef Mark and his wife Tracey are opening a boutique hotel a few doors down from Taste soon. Hmmm. I just came up with the perfect birthday gift for me next March!