The hilltop view is just the start. With a large sweeping patio looking out at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains and blue sky a seat and bottle of wine is an amazing Sunday. The tasting room is modern and bright but warm. The same can be said of the service at this family owned and operated winery. Portuguese varietals and methods in reds, whites, and ports shine here. A newer winery with the maturity of experience can be tasted and felt. It is nice when you can hear, taste, and feel the passion for a makers vision like you can at Château ď Estienne. Starting or ending here is a wise choice. read more

Château d' Estienne - View from the patio - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Somerset, California

This winery is amazing, it is by our house and we love their wine. People are always friendly and bring amazing service. The quality of the wine is very good. The place looks always clean, comfy and it has a beautiful view. That is the perfect place to drink a good wine and have a peaceful and relaxing moment , but at the same time is the perfect time lave to enjoy a good wine with your friends. read more

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What an absolute gem in the Sierra Foothills! This winery truly rivals -- and in many ways surpasses -- some of the most famous spots in Napa. The modern décor is stunning, with a refined European feel that makes you feel like you're tasting in an exclusive wine salon. We originally stopped at Château d'Estienne as a bonus visit after two highly rated Amador wineries, but it ended up being the highlight of our trip. We spent over two hours tasting wines, chatting with the wonderful owner, Rasha and completely fell in love with both the wines and the atmosphere. The wines themselves are outstanding -- beautifully crafted, traditional in style, yet full of character. Every single bottle we tasted, we purchased. It was not only delicious but also a true learning experience about the winemaking process and philosophy behind them. Although it was a very hot day, which kept us from enjoying the patio, the views from the property are breathtaking -- rolling Sierra hills and vineyards that stretch as far as you can see. We're already planning to return soon, and next time we'll be sure to enjoy a glass outside while soaking in those views. If you're exploring Eldorado , Amador County or the Sierra Foothills, do not miss this winery. It's a hidden treasure that combines world-class wine, a welcoming host, and an unforgettable setting. read more

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We stopped in during Passport weekend on Saturday to check out the new winery here which used to be Château Routon. We've been frequent visitors to the FairPlay wineries for about 20 years. We were excited to see the new owners up and operating since the previous owners had closed several years back. As we approached the new tasting room we could see that the property had been renovated and updated. The patio is lovely and scenic. As we entered the tasting room the atmosphere was very clean and modern. It is definitely a change from the darker house style tasting room of the previous owners. Overall very esthetically pleasing but I'm not super thrilled that everything is white! That's not my taste it looks far too sterile and lacking in charm. We were immediately greeted by a woman who we learned was the owner/wife. She had no sooner said hello than to ask if we had reservations which was very unusual since they were listed as a participant for the festival. We felt immediately like we were not welcome and shouldn't have been there. We expressed that the festival had listed them as participants to which she continued on about reservations. We offered to leave as we felt the cold demeanor of the women was unwelcoming. She sort of hesitantly said to take a seat. This was odd and off putting especially given there were just a few people lingering on the patio, so I'm not sure the pressure for reservations given the lack of guests. We felt awkward but sat at the counter. We were brought small plates of food and were started on the tasting. The woman continued on to tell us they would not join the festival again next year as it was overwhelming and exhausting for her. It was an uncomfortable conversation. The husband and owner then came and joined in chatting. We asked about how they chose to get into wine and as we chatted the conversation lightened up a bit and we talked about travel. The woman really seemed like she wasn't interested in being there. Repeatedly she said she would never live in this area as if it were beneath her. I thought that was odd given the beauty of the valley and the ownership of a winery but she was adamant that the Bay Area was where she would stay. The wine was good overall. There wasn't any that "knocked my socks off" but the winery is still new. My husband liked the dessert wine so we bought a bottle. Overall, I was disappointed with the vibe of this place. The previous owners encompassed the charm of the valley as they were so friendly and welcoming, always making guests feel like family. That is one of the main reasons we love FairPlay, El Dorado, and Amador wineries. We love that we can drink good wine, support small family owned businesses and make relationships with the owners and employees. This was not the experience here! After we left we more or less checked this off the list and we will most likely not return. The off putting greeting and exasperated personality is uncomfortable. While a few places here and there in the El Dorado and Amador region ask for reservations it's very rare and really the only ones that do this are corporate owned and are not the reason we visit this area. We avoid them in general. The one or two family owned ones that ask for reservations do it as a remnant of COVID and they are very small which helps them not being completely overcrowded but in general would still take a walk in of 2 people. This has the feel of the Bay Area money and style where you are only welcome if you are wealthy and bougie. We are not stuffy wealthy people. We just enjoy a weekend away in the vast views of rolling hills, wineries, and relaxed atmosphere places. This was not relaxed at all. I also find it ironic that the website about us page expresses the woman's desire to be an event planner! I feel that may not be an ideal role given being overwhelmed by 1 day of Passport festival, which granted is busy but very casual and overall guests are coming and going but overall are easy going and not demanding. I'm not sure what event would be less "overwhelming and exhausting" to her liking? I'm guessing that the reservation style they are seeking is to have fewer guests and charge more for the private experience. Does not light my fire. We like to find the wineries that feel like family, join their wine clubs, and bring friends to share the experience with. We may not be wealthy but we heavily support the wineries in this area. We live just over the hill in Reno so it's just about 2 hours away from home. We visit 3-4 times a year at minimum and we have tons of family and friends that also come over just as much so it's unfortunate that this place was so stuffy. read more

Amazing Thanksgiving Celebration meal! They do events throughout the year and we decided to attend this one. Had an amazing professional jazz band and fine dining! Super wonderful! read more

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Highly recommend visiting! The service is top notch but what really stands out is the wine. They grow a Portuguese varietal and it's uniqueness shows through in a variety of wines. From whites to ports. We were here for the soft opening, and can't wait to see what is next! read more

Château d' Estienne - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Somerset, California

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This is a newer winery in El Dorado County, and definitely worth visiting. Beginning with the drive, it is beautiful. It is also nice because there is not so much traffic to the wineries in El Dorado and Amador counties as when driving to the wineries of Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa. The wine that we tasted was wonderful. I have not tried much wine from this region, and they were all pleasantly unique. The wines were rich in flavor and paired very well with the charcuterie board. We also enjoyed the port tasting with the delicious dessert pairings. The seating is nice because there are indoor and outdoor options, and the view of the hills, vines, and trees is beautiful. Overall, it was a wonderful experience! read more

Very excited for the future of this winery!! Owned by an incredibly sweet couple, the husband is from Portugal and the wife from Russia, they're a younger winery but are already making a name for themselves. Quite a few if their wines have already won awards and we could see why. What we really liked about it is they don't have your standard wines, they have ones we had never heard of and could hardly pronounce. It was really fun exploring new areas of wine. A couple of times, the owners came out to talk to us and check on us. You can tell they're eager for their future and it's hard to not catch their excitement. They also brought out some delicious hors d'oeuvres, flaky empanadas, mushroom caps and chocolate cheesecake. It was a beautiful day and they have a huge deck where we could take in the sun and amazing view. This is a lovely winery that should be on everyone's radar! read more

Château d' Estienne - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Somerset, California

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My husband and I literally just left here. Their wines are very delicious, they are a new winery and I love the direction they are going in! The owners have a lot of great ideas and we can't wait to watch them grow and thrive. The wines were fantastic! Our favorite was the Souzao, it was very fruit forward. The owner does a cheese plate with the tasting and it's a nice touch and she said she has no intention of getting rid of that. I highly recommend, the views are amazing and the wine is so good. With a new winery you never know what to expect, but what they have done with the wine and grapes they were left with is very good! They are releasing a champagne soon and she also mentioned doing a rose of barbera and tawny port. Excited to be new members! read more

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The best!!!! We are so impressed by this beautiful winery. The cherry on top is how wonderful the owners are. Rasha and Iman are great people who truly care about the experience they offer their guests and varietals they create. We will continue to enjoy their wines and their amazing club! Thank you for all your hard work. read more

For the people that enjoy or going wine tasting - Chateaud'Estienne is a must!! My first visit there was a total surprise as it is a beautiful property with a breathtaking view. Sitting on outside patio in nice weather just might be the best view in all of Fair Play / Amador County wine country. But of course it's wine you're going for and their wine is exceptional. Especially of note are the three Portuguese wines they make which are not found anywhere else in the area and are delicious. A bonus are the owners who are so down to earth and can't do enough to please you. Every year we have a group of 10 we call the Wine Posse and visit different wine regions in California, Washington, Oregon and even Canada. This past year we included Chateau d'Estienne on our three day winery visit to Amador County and Fairplay. We enjoyed the entire time there, but we rated Chateau d'Estienne as the number one visit. In fact of the 10 people in our group , 4 joined their wine club. read more

Château d' Estienne - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Somerset, California

Cannot say enough great things about this winery! My girlfriends and I loved it! It's got a gorgeous deck with an awesome view and lovely on the inside. The owners are very friendly and passionate about the wine they sell. The wine and food pairings they served were wonderful. The Souzao is my favorite! I bought several bottles and highly recommend it! read more

Château d' Estienne - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Somerset, California

Beautiful tasting room. Gorgeous views, wonderful service and excellent wine WITH a cheese board. Will definitely be back. Joined the wine club. read more

The wine is excellent. The view amazing. The owner gracious and friendly. Nice place to enjoy the day and enjoy the cheese plate. Nice deck, beautiful inside seating, we expect to be back regularly. read more

I visited the winery today as part of the Fair Play Harvest Festival. As a food and food connoisseur I was so blown away by how good the wines were that I joined their wine club. I am looking forward to what the owners have in store for the future. This is a first-class operation in a very beautiful setting. read more

Beautiful winery with breathtaking views, an elegant tasting room and some truly remarkable wines. The new owners have done an excellent job. Don't miss this one! read more