El Dorado Wines Passport Weekend
The El Dorado wine region has celebrated its remarkable varietals during Passport for over thirty years. This year’s event, on April 20-21, 2024, 11 am to 5 pm, will again feature wineries in high-elevation vineyards, all ready to welcome you with the region’s unique brand of hospitality.
Let this historic and beautiful Gold Rush region captivate you with the grandeur of the Sierra Nevada as you explore the wineries of Apple Hill™/Camino, Pleasant Valley, Fair Play, and Greater El Dorado, with a diverse range of micro-climates and elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,500 feet.
Our artisan winemakers are driven by a passion for producing excellent quality wines and a love for this mesmerizing landscape. Today, El Dorado County has more than 2,000 acres of vines, is home to approximately 70 wineries, and produces some of California’s most sophisticated wines. Join us on an exciting journey to discover why El Dorado is one of California’s oldest wine regions and best-kept secrets, and where every winery and every sip tells a unique story.
During the two-day wine festival, winemakers and winery owners bring out limited releases, unique and lesser-known grape varieties, food pairings, and daily surprises. With your 1 or 2-Day Passport ticket, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to limited bottlings, reserve wines, and creative food pairings, and discover the unique character of the region.
Learn more about this year’s Passport and purchase tickets here.
Participating Wineries
Boeger Winery – Reservations required
Taste through a stellar lineup of wines, including unique grapes that grow well in our high-elevation vineyards and curated library selections. Guests will enjoy a charcuterie box full of goodies to pair with each wine and learn more about the history of our enchanting estate. We’re happy to offer Passport guests discounts on wine purchases made during their visit!
NOTE: This experience should be booked by guests who have already purchased a ticket for Passport Weekend.
All Passport guests who wish to visit Boeger Winery must make a reservation.
A Country Fair theme featuring our BUMbly Rosé (in flip-top refillable bottle), Barbera, Silver Fork Red (in sustainable flip-top bottle), Petite Sirah paired with Annabelle’s chocolate, and Aloha Hard Cider with hand dipped corn dogs, and Huckleberry Hard Cider with Rainbow Orchards Apple Cider Donuts. Kettle Corn and Placerville Psychic will be onsite available for purchase. Be sure to bring your flip-top bottles back for refill pricing.
A French Foodie Experience, featuring all French Varietals, Bordeaux-style and Rhône-style blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and port-style dessert wine with a classic French pairing and a selection of handmade chocolates for dessert.
Join us for delicious food and hand-crafted, limited production wines while taking in panoramic vineyard views from the courtyard and picnic grounds. Gourmet menu includes delectable Brie & Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Chilled Brussels Sprouts & Honey-Lemon Salad and Brownie Bites for dessert.
Enjoy our newest releases, old favorites, and modest prices!
Located just one mile from Somerset corner.
Chateau D’Estienne – Reservations required
Château d’ Estienne is the perfect blend of wine and breathtaking views!
Join us for an unforgettable experience.
Indulge your senses and sip on exquisite and award winning wines while soaking in the stunning surroundings.
Enjoy Portuguese varietals and the best Port in all North America, voted by San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, paired with delicious Hors d’oeuvres.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to create lasting memories.
To make reservations for Chateau D’ Estienne please click here.
We will be offering a selection of current releases, library wines, and barrel tasting with small bites and a hearty stew in our cellar.
We will be hosting a western-themed day at the winery with pork ribs and cowboy rice to accompany our excellent wines. Specials for the day will be Kowboy Koolaid (Fiano) and Moo Juice (Renegade Red)-buy two and get one free.
Join us for exquisite culinary experience paired with our finest wines!
Crab Pesto Risotto with 2021 Chardonnay
Sausage & Mushroom Penne with 2019 Syrah
Beef Crostini with Caramelized Onions paired with Meritage Lot 2
Also, don’t miss the exclusive barrel tastings of Futures:
Jakeway Lot 15 and Primitivo 2021
Findleton Estate Winery – Reservations required
Serving up delicious bites with a flight of our best wines for our Passport guests.
Sparkling Fin Brute with a lavender infused shortbread cookie with a rosemary lavender glaze.
Estate Pinot Noir paired with a savory mushroom pasta.
Dolcetto paired with Charcuterie kabobs.
Willi’s Syrah paired with bacon wrapped dates.
Guests will also receive 30% discount on all wines & Bundled Wine Package Deals for the above four wines for just $80.00 (Retail Price $121.00)
All Passport guests who wish to visit Findleton Estate & Winery must make a reservation.
Golden Leaves Vineyard & Winery
Welcome Passport “Members for the day”!
Experience exceptional food & wine, and our warm hospitality regardless of the weather. Indoor and outdoor seating for large or intimate groups. Enjoy an assortment of cheese, sun dried tomato, tapenade, mushroom caviar, shrimp, meat, fruit, and chocolate bites paired with bubbly, white, rosé and red wines.
Vegan, dairy & gluten free options are always available.
Browse local craft vendor products.
Case specials & 15% member discount.
Embark on a culinary adventure at Holly’s Hill, where Winemaker Josh will not only amaze you with his artisanal pizzas but also delight your palate with a unique fusion of wines and beers. Sip on the rich flavors of estate-grown Rhone wines, including inventive twists like Dry Hopped Viognier and Frizzante Vermentino.
As a special treat, compliment your experience with our signature Patriarch red blend. And that’s not all – immerse yourself in the refreshing taste of carefully brewed craft beers that add an extra layer of excitement to this extraordinary weekend.
Elevate your senses with a perfect blend of wine, beer, and culinary delights for an unforgettable El Dorado Passport Weekend!
Enjoy wine tasting at its finest!
As one of the original passport pioneers we have you covered with the perfect food and wine pairing. From our favorite cookbook author, Dory Greenspan, we will be serving up an authentic Parisian mushroom soup with a fresh green salad, paired perfectly with a selection of our wines!
Reservations recommended as this is a sit down experience.
Live music & barrel tasting with small bite pairings, Special discounts on wine for passport holders.
Mellowood Vineyard
Enjoy KK’s famous Kenyan BBQ and Kachumbari, a Kenyan tomato salad, tasting award-winning wines. Seating on our beautiful patios overlooking the oak grove and vineyard, or inside our barrel room/event room.
Member for day discounts on wine purchases, mix & match specials, case specials.
Meet and chat with the owner & winemaker about his wines and his journey from Kenya to Fair Play wine country and enjoy the beautiful scenery and warm hospitality on the southern end of the Fair Play AVA.
Destination Narrow Gate
Enter through the Narrow Gate and journey through our certified Biodynamic® grown wines: Rhone & Bordeaux varietals & blends, El Dorado classics and our infamous Chocolate Splash.
We’ll feature our famous “Passport Panini”: smoked pork loin and Havarti with sage aioli, with or without caramelized onions, and a seasonal, fresh side salad. (Gluten Free & Vegetarians are welcome!)
Enter to win a date with the winemaker, Frank Hildebrand: An “Adult Biodynamic field trip” in the vineyard and picnic-style gourmet wine pairing lunch in the cellar for six. Date to be arranged based on mutual availability of the winner and winemaker.
All Passport attendees will enjoy wine club status, including delicious food, a generous tasting line-up of our new release wines, discounted wine purchases, and our warm hospitality.
Our iconic “Godfather Experience” happens only once a year—and only at Passport!
Start your day just 2 blocks from downtown Placerville at our historic (and haunted!) Sequoia Mansion tasting room.
Indulge in 10 top-awarded wines paired with delectable Italian bites.
Take advantage of special offers and play a themed game for prizes.
Our costumed staff and epic music adds to the movie-inspired atmosphere.
Our iconic “Godfather Experience” happens only once a year—and only at Passport!
Meet Nello Olivo, aka The Grapefather, and capture mobster memories in our themed photo booth.
Indulge in 10 top-awarded wines paired with delectable Italian bites.
Take advantage of special offers you can’t refuse and play a themed game for prizes.
Our costumed staff and epic music adds to the movie-inspired atmosphere.
Tasting of four newly released wines paired with cheese & charcuterie.
Blue Stone Pizza Truck Pizza available for purchase.
Come on down to Shadow Ranch!
We will be serving our delicious Greek nachos to pair with our incredible wines.
From 1-4 pm each day we’ll be hosting live music so that you can get your groove on! Enjoy some great food, dancing & discounts on selected wines!
Skinner Vineyards & Winery
With a breathtaking view of Fair Play and music on the patio, guests will be offered a tasting flight that consists of our unique Rhone varietals. Guests will enjoy pulled pork sliders with cheese and fruit cups.
We are digging deep into our cellar and bringing out some irresistible case specials for Passport guests.
Designated drivers will be offered a soda or water along with our sliders, fruit and cheese.
Toogood Cellars
Receive a flight of 6 wines paired with a flight of artisan cheeses.
Explore Placerville’s rich history while sipping delicious wines.
Grilled Cheeseburger with all the fixings & chips.
Taste 10+ wonderful wines in the Wine Cave.
Vista del Mirador Winery
Mirador Winery has created an experience for those who want to deepen their knowledge of wine while discovering the Sierra Foothills region in a relaxing setting.
The experience will allow visitors to share conversations with the Mirador winemakers, sample wine and feast on wood-fired pizza while learning the importance of the terroir, the history of the vines and the techniques used during the wine making process.
Windwalker Vineyard
Windwalker will be offering seasonal food pairings with select Windwalker wines.
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors!
