I planned my cousins bachlorette trip up here mid march (St. Patricks day weekend). I was trying to…read moreplan a girls day out, and definitely wanted to do some wine tasting but didn't really want to be a Designated driver. I found Courtwood by searching online, and I'm SO happy I found Chris @Courtwood! I was a little bummed I didn't find any available tours on their website, so I reached out via email. Chris promptly sent a reply with pricing, details, and that it would be quite packed in Murphy's, so she would take us on a private tour around the outlying wineries (good call, none of the wineries were too packed and we had a lot of "private time" at each vineyard). Chris picked us up right out front of our hotel right on time, had a smile and made sure she knew who the bride was and made her feel extra special! We stopped at Twisted Oak, Chatom, Ironstone (for lunch), and Aryael Vieux (TOP FAVE!! I'll be reviewing these wineries soon). Chris took care of everything, all we had to worry about was sipping wine and having a wonderful and relaxing time. Hanging out with Chris was like having another friend just along for the ride! We picked up a loaf of fresh bread at one of the wineries, and mentioned that we wanted to get some butter later on, Chris told us she needed to pick something up too and that we could come with her! I can't say enough good things, they even include a slideshow of your trip (chris takes photos throughout the tour) and email it to you promptly after your tour. If you are in the area, I would definitely come here and take a tour with Courtwood,

I really don't have enough good things to say about Chris at Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours. I was…read moregiven the task of setting up a wine tasting tour in the Murphy's area for a bachelorette group of 9 people. We stayed in Angel's Camp in a friend's cabin, and being unfamiliar with the area, I completely put my trust in Chris to arrange everything for us. She exceeded my expectations (and made me look like I had done a lot more than I had!) She asked a lot of questions about our group and the types of wines we liked so that she could tailor the tour very specifically. Preferring the boutique wineries to the large scale Ironstone types, Chris took us to six different wineries that ranged significantly from Twisted Oak, to Prospect 772, to Aerial Vieux. As a large group Chris coordinated with Kristen, who also leads tours in the area to caravan us around in their large air conditioned vans. It seemed like she had personal relationships with the various winemakers and their staff and was able to get us some kind of behind the scenes cave tour/vineyard tour/private tasting room access everywhere we went. I have to say the best thing about the day was the lunch. Chris set it up on a long table outside Chatom winery and it literally looked like something straight out of Sunset Magazine. She brought local cheese and interesting dips, and the salads were presented in ball mason jars. It really was so well done, I think Chris might have a future in putting on lunches in addition to taking tours! After the tasting, Chris and Kristen took us into Murphy's, waited for us while we had dinner, and then took us all the way back to Angels Camp. I highly recommend Courtwood for small and large tours alike. Chris was just wonderful!

We took a tour with my mom, 90-year-old uncle, and cousins that were here to visit. It was super…read morefun. Jorge was fantastic! He made sure my uncle was comfortable and cared for at each stop. We loved the views and the wine at Aloria, which we had never tried before.

Hopped on the Whiskey Wagon on a whim and had an absolute blast!!! I live in San Andreas and…read morebetween work and property maintenance I hardly ever get out to do anything fun, add that to the recent storms and I've been too nervous to drive the icy windy roads at night. Gold Rush Tour Company gave me a completely stress free night, all I had to think about was what to order at each stop. If you're a local who needs a stress free night out I 100% recommend the Whiskey Wagon and Gold Rush Tour Company in general. If you're visiting the area and don't love planning every minute of you trip, you can trust Gold Rush Tour Company to show you the best of what Calaveras has to offer!

We had an amazing experience! James, our driver, was on time, drove incredibly smoothly, and was so…read morepatient with our group, even with a bus full of noisy kids. He spent about 12 hours with us and never once complained. He was always helpful, especially when unloading our bags, and made the entire day run seamlessly. One of the highlights was when he happily stopped so we could watch and take pictures of a bear we spotted in Yosemite. That extra bit of flexibility made the trip even more memorable. I also tend to get carsick, but both of our drivers were exceptionally smooth behind the wheel, so I never had any issues. The bus itself was spotless, comfortable, and well maintained. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. I would absolutely recommend this company and would happily use them again!

My kids are grateful and blessed that you were able to get them safe to and from CCT Camp 2026…read more Thank you!! God bless!

Olivia is a F****** gem. We will be back…read more We learned a lot about wine on this visit. Kisses

Definitely one of the gems in the area! Cozy atmosphere,…read moreattentive staff, and the friendliest poster cat, Otis! She's such a pretty girl who charms every customer that walks in！

Five of us, staying at the Worldmark in Angels Camp, stopped in at The Cellar Room late in the…read moreafternoon of Sunday, Nov. 6, after a day of visiting Murphy's and the historic state park in Columbia. We hadn't made time to stop at any wineries during the day, so we choose to stop in here due to the recommendation of Worldmark staff. This is a phenomenal wine tasting option whether you have the time to visit individual local wineries or not, as 13 wineries are represented: Chatom, Chiarella, Cpppermine, Domaine Becquet, Frog's Tooth, Four Winds, Ironstone, LaFolia, Mineral, Prospect 772, Renner, Stevenot, and Zucca Mountain. For a small fee (Worldmark guests receive a discount), we tried several Domaine Becquet (Cab-Shiraz), Four Winds (Chard), Ironstone (Zin 104), Mineral (Merlot) and Zucca Mtn (Sangiovese). Buck, our gracious host, shared a wealth of knowledge on each winery, winemaker and family, making the tastings very personal, special and interesting! There was no "favoritism" for one wine or winery. One couple in our group purchased several bottles, however one, the Domaine Becquet Cab-Shiraz (DELISH!) was not in stock, but would be available in 24-48 hours. Buck took our number and as soon as this wine was available, he contacted us and made arrangements to drop it off at our room when convenient for us. Wonderful customer service! Making a brief pass-thru of this area? Short on time? Stop at The Cellar Room for a variety of wine tasting options, all in one location. We'll be back next year!

From the owner: The Cellar Room is the perfect introduction to Calaveras county's wine region in one beautiful…read morelocation, and a perfect opportunity for guests to taste and learn about wines from some of Calaveras County's best vintners in a unique setting located right at the golf course. The Cellar Room is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of local wines in a relaxed, elegant room. Come hear stories of Calaveras County's past, insight into local winemaking and culture. Wednesday - Thursday reservation only, call Meria Rivera (209)729-8181 Friday - Sunday, 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

I hosted my friends bachelorette party in the cellar space on a Saturday afternoon, and let me tell…read moreyou, what a BEAUTIFUL and MEMORABLE experience! The old cars and motorcycles in the cellar surrounded by wine barrels was the perfect ambiance and cool atmosphere for wine tasting in the middle of July. All of the wine was delicious and we brought in our own charcuterie style picnic. Highly recommend this space for a mid-sized event!

I hosted my friends bachelorette party in the cellar space on a Saturday afternoon, and let me tell…read moreyou, what a BEAUTIFUL and MEMORABLE experience! The old cars and motorcycles in the cellar surrounded by wine barrels was the perfect ambiance and cool atmosphere for wine tasting in the middle of July. All of the wine was delicious and we brought in our own charcuterie style picnic. Highly recommend this space for a mid-sized event!

We went wine tasting and exploring the Gold Country in the limo. John was a great driver and very…read moreknowledgeable about the wineries and the products they produce. Murphy's was so much fun and no one had to be designated driver! I highly recommend!

I can't say enough about how amazing this service is! Gail and team are incredibly accommodating…read moreand cater to everything they have access to. Highly recommend this business. I wish I could give it more stars!!

We visited Ironstone Vineyards to celebrate my daughter's birthday and it was such a beautiful…read moreplace to spend the day. As you drive up, you're greeted by gorgeous landscaping and flowers everywhere -- the setting alone makes you want to slow down and stay awhile. We did a wine tasting and really enjoyed the wines. The Sauvignon Blanc was especially good -- crisp, refreshing, and perfect for a warm day. The Pinot Noir was also a standout, smooth and easy to sip. You can tell they put care into their wines, and there was something for everyone in our group to like. The grounds are spacious and peaceful, with views, gardens, and plenty of spots to wander or sit and relax. It feels more like an experience than just a quick tasting stop. The woman helping us was a bit reserved, but still helpful as we made our selections. Overall, Ironstone is a lovely place to visit if you're in the area -- great wine, beautiful scenery, and a relaxing atmosphere that makes for a memorable outing.

We attended a Willie Nelson concert at the Ironstone amphitheater. The lawn seating was perfect and…read morea great price lots of food options and plenty of restrooms. The only downside was their Wi-Fi. I was unable to pull up my Ticketmaster tickets so after I went through security, I had to get out of line and go all the way over to will call to get printed tickets and go back through security again.

We discovered Locke a few years ago and now make it a point to visit every time we're in the area…read more First and foremost we love their wine! I say go for the wine but stay for the hospitality. Kirsten and her dad, Kevin, are incredibly kind and welcoming. They always remember us from previous visits and genuinely make us feel like valued guests. The property is beautiful, with comfortable spaces to enjoy your tasting, whether you choose the cozy barn or the outdoor patio. It's a relaxing place to stop while in Murphys. Their no outside food policy is clearly communicated, and it makes perfect sense to me. It's important to remember that this isn't a public park--it's a winery, and the purpose of your visit is to experience and enjoy their wines. If you get hungry while tasting, they offer a wonderful selection of cheeses, crackers, and other snacks available for purchase. I'd also add, respectfully, that in my opinion wineries generally aren't the best destination for an afternoon with young children. If you are tasting with kids I recommend going downtown which is 5 minutes away from Locke. When our kids were little, we loved visiting downtown Murphys because we could taste at the wineries along Main Street while taking turns with the kids at the public park just behind the tasting rooms. It was a great compromise that allowed everyone to enjoy the day while respecting the purpose and atmosphere of the wineries. One extra perk worth mentioning at Locke: if you become a wine club member, there's a separate area behind the tasting room where you're welcome to bring your own snacks. We enjoyed that this weekend, and it made an already wonderful experience even better. We always look forward to coming back and highly recommend a visit.

**Updated response from owner Kirsten in photos. She sent it as a private message rather than post…read morepublicly, but I think her message speaks for itself .*** Unfortunately, Locke Winery was not a good experience for our family this time. This was incredibly disappointing because we had been the summer before and loved both their wines and their hospitality. We had even bought several bottles from them. This year we went with a group of 8 adults and 2 children and brought food with us for lunch. To be fair, they have a no outside food policy but we didn't realize that until we arrived. They only allow wine club members to bring in outside food. My husband asked if it was ok if our two kids even had a small snack because they were hungry, but the owner's daughter's response was "no, food is food." We went to eat sandwiches out in the parking lot before doing a tasting, which we were really looking forward to and had highly recommended it to our family. However, the owner's daughter came out and said, "Sir, I don't know what is going on here but I am not ok with this." We told her ok, that we'd leave but we were disappointed. She continued to say it's the state's rules and not her's. She then said it was her property and she could make the rules. She continued to lecture us until I let her know she had made herself clear and we had already told her we were leaving. The owner, her father, came out to try and talk to us but we were done at that point. We understand that they have the right to make their own rules, but the snippy approach is what completely turned us off. Locke just lost money on multiple tastings, purchases, and recommendations to others.

They have a great flavor selections of balsamic vinegar as well and olive oils. One of my favorites…read moreplaces to go when I'm in Murphy, Ca. For a dollar, you can taste a total of 6 flavors of balsamic vinegars or olive oils. They also have different varieties of pastas with assorted flavors. We had a new person helping us out and he got the order wrong. By the time i got home, it was way to late to return it. Lesson learn, I should have checked the wrap up bottles. I had been there many times and it's the first time that it happened. The place is bright and clean. The people are friendly. I just hope the prices don't keep going up and the bottles don't get any smaller.

This is definitely a touristy town. It definitely gives off Hallmark movie vibes! And just like in…read morethe Hallmark movies, there is really great customer service. We went into many of the shops in the town of Murohy and we did not have a bad experience. This particular store was ran by one woman and she was kept busy. Since I was there with a bridal party, we decided to do a taste testing which is relatively cheap. She'll give you a clipboard and you get to choose six different types of either oil or vinaigrette. And if you'd like you can purchase a little bag of bread to dip which I highly recommend. If you like any of the flavors that you've chosen, you can then purchase a full bottle. This was a new experience for me. I had never tried something like this before and was pleasantly surprised. I ended up purchasing a bottle of the traditional vinaigrette. I would definitely go back to Murphy's just for this experience as well as the other shops in the area but this particular location was really nice. Outside there was a seating area and a pretty little garden nearby which added to the ambiance and overall experience of the taste testing.