Fair Play Wineries in El Dorado Wine Country

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Written by:

Joe Becerra

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The Fair Play Wine Trail

Fair Play wine country
In the barrel room at Skinner Vineyards in Fair Play – Fantastic hidden wineries and backroads

The Fair Play wineries are about 45 minutes from the town of Plymouth, CA. Fair Play is a wine appellation or AVA. The elevation and other geographic features make this wine area unique. In Fair Play the wineries are all small and family-owned. The climate and soil conditions are ideal for producing Rhone-style wines. Other grape varieties also grow well here. This is an exciting wine country. Explore it, and you will experience great wine discoveries.

Top Fair Play Wineries

  • Cantiga Wineworks – Extended cellaring produce a food-friendly wine
  • Skinner Vineyards – Amazing tasting room, view, and Rhone wines
  • Cedarville Vineyard – Great Rhone wines, plus terrific Zin and Cab
  • Gwinllan Estate – Estate wines, tasting in a wine cave
  • Oakstone Winery – Now Obscurity Cellars
  • Colibri Ridge Winery & Vineyards – The views and the wine

Dining and Lodging Recommendations

See Restaurants
See Lodging

Winery Descriptions, Driving Directions, Tasting Room Hours

Cantiga Wineworks

Cantiga Wineworks is a fascinating winery in the area. You are likely to find either winemaker Rich Rorden or his wife Christine Rorden working the tasting room. Rich is an engineer and computer guy who uses his science skills to craft beautiful wines from this region. The wines are aged for long periods and produced in a food-friendly style. We love the Chardonnay wines and the Zinfandel. Cantiga Wineworks is indeed a gem in wine tasting exploration. Cantiga has a terrific video on their Website which clearly shows the uniqueness of wine making at Cantiga. 


Skinner Vineyards

Skinner is making some amazing wines (Our visit to Skinner). You will find a stunning vista from the tasting room deck and picnic area. This is a great place to picnic. Inside the quaint tasting room, you will find wonderful Rhone-style wines. We love the Grenache Blanc, the Seven Generations (a blend of five Rhone varietals), and the Syrah Stony Creek Vineyard. Have you heard of a Picpoul Blanc? It is at Skinner and only 63 cases last vintage. I hope you get to try some. Don’t forget to pack that lunch!


Cedarville Vineyard

Just a short distance from Skinner is Cedarville Vineyard. Cedarville shares the same entrance road as Single Leaf Vineyard. Cedarville is only open by appointment. Don’t pass up the chance to visit this winery. Cedarville makes some of the best wines in the Sierra Foothills. Jonathan Lachs is the the owner and winemaker. He has put his heart and soul into this winery, and it’s reflected in fabulous wines. The Grenache is a rare treat and sells out almost the moment it is released. All the wines, except for the Petite Sirah are estate grown. You will surely want to bring home some wines from Cedarville. The Cedarville wines are high quality and priced perfectly at consumer-friendly prices.


Gwillan Estate

Drive slowly from the entrance way to get a full experience of the views of the foothills. Once at the tasting room you will be treated to some beautiful estate wines reflecting the terroir of the granite soils in the hilltop region of Fair Play. Gwillan is also a terrific spot to enjoy a picnic lunch just outside the wine cave. Gwillan produces only 600 cases of wine annually. We liked the Chardonnay and the Zinfandel very much.


Oakstone Winery – Obscurity Cellars

The Oakstone Winery has new owners as of 2021. They are Courtney and Dustin Russell. The two have big plans for this famous Fair Play winery.  Construction is moving along and soon visitors will be welcome. Keep checking the Oakstone website for tasting reservations.


Fair Play Wine Route Map

Go to the Fair Play Wineries Website (Wines with an Altitude) for a complete list of Fair Play wineries and tasting rooms.

Additional Sierra Foothills Wine Routes to enjoy

fair play wineries cedarville vineyards
2000 feet – Zinfandel Vineyard at Cedarville
  • Joe Becerra

    Joe Becerra has been traveling to wine country and enjoying wine since 1965. He is a retired educator, and now have the time the opportunity to share his wine travel experiences through this Website.

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