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    Crystal Basin Cellars

    4.5 (154 reviews)
    ModerateWineries
    Closed • 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Crystal Basin Cellars Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Crystal Basin Cellars

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    Our boss man!
    Willy W.

    Always the right choice! Mike is an awesome host, Barbara is just wonderful, KZ is great & the wine is kick a!! Their new label, El Dorado Wines is so fantastic! If your in the Camino area, it's a must! 4 tasting rooms all in the same place so just park & mosey around & check them all out!

    Crystal Basin Cellars outdoor tasting area.
    Chuck J.

    Crystal Basin Cellars, EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS! Our second visit to Crystal Basin Cellars was as delightful as our first 5 years ago. We were greeted by Mike [owner], he led us not only through a wonderful tasting but also an educational conversation on grapes and wine making. ZEE our pup also enjoyed a delicious treat tasting [pup friendly]. The tasting area is warm and inviting lending itself to a causal relaxing environment for tasting. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND if you are in the South Lake Tahoe area stopping by Crystal Basin Cellars and enjoying their wide selection of excellent wines. We left with four cases and will be back our our next journey to the area. Chuck

    Award winning wines.

    Love their award winning wines! It's a must to come check out! Customer service was amazing! Mellissa and Mike are great to talk too!

    Grapes
    Cory D.

    Very friendly staff, but I probably won't come back due to an unrequited rant about recalling Governor Newson by the owner. We were not particular fond of the wine - I didn't finish my tasting. We got a white and red sampler. It was well priced for the sample, and they let you try six wines. I liked "Dozer" best, and the sparkling. Still, i found their wines a bit lighter than I like, and though lots of bright red fruit and acidity, not much complexity for the price point. Also, we we treated to a long rant about how Covid efforts are arbitrary, no one wore a mask there, and lots if hatred spewed about Governor Newsom's "reign" of terror. I'll take my wine free of political hatred and pandemic denial, thank you.

    One of the non-alcoholic treasures we found.  These have a mild kick that builds after you eat them.
    John C.

    We spent a very enjoyable hour talking about and sampling a variety of wines. Chris was very helpful and did not steer or push us in any way. We will be back!!

    Pamela F.

    Crystal Basin recently threw open its cellar doors to welcome a group of enthusiastic Yelpers for a terrific midday tour. The event included some initial bubbly tasting, a few welcome remarks from the event hosts, then a stroll across Carson Road for some Zinfandel grape tasting straight from the vine. We then sampled some fine 2015 Zinfandel right there in the vineyard. Upon returning to the main barn where the cellar and tasting room are located, we had the opportunity to taste 2018 Zins from three different blocks and then the really fun part commenced: we got to play mad wine scientists and make our blends! The owner, Mike Owen, told us about the process of "punching down" to mix the macro bins of grapes, which hold a half ton of what is arguably the ~real~ magical fruit. After the official event ended, we bellied up to their tasting room bar and tried all of their offerings. Ended up with a half case and new members of CBC's Ascendance Club. Thanks, Crystal Basin Cellars!

    Mimi N.

    Ahhh man, whats not to love about this place? Delicious wine in Apple Hill? Count me in! I haven't been in this area for years and so glad I got invited to the Wine Yelp Event. Although I love drinking wine, I'm still very new and know little about the wine making process. Mike was super informative and was able to show us the vineyard right across the street from the place. We were able to taste the grapes straight from the vine! Whatt?? Being a new wine lover, I haven't developed a taste for red wines yet BUT after tasting a few of their samples, I had to stay after the event to do another tasting. I bought me a bottle of Merlot and the bubbly which were both yummy! I would definitely be back in this winery, despite the terrible Apple Hill traffic, my experience here was great.

    Julie B.

    What a beautiful day to spend learning about the making of wine in the enchanted Apple Hill area. We were graciously invited to spend the day with a walking tour of the winery and an educational presentation filled with information about the wine making process and a chance to be one on one with the experts at Crystal Basin Cellars This is my first time officially doing the wine tasting thing and it was a pleasant surprise nestled along the trees in the beautiful Camino, California area. The winery itself has the amazing aroma of wine, grapes and oak wine barrels that I have learned last usually around 5 years or until they begin to leak. We tasted a multiple variety of red wines and got to see how the wines were processed and how the origin of the names of the wines were given. Mike the owner was very informative and answered many of the groups questions and even gave every one of us a Passport for future wine tastings. The winery also has lots of wine oriented items for sale. I definitely will be visiting again soon.

    Barrel Room
    Amy C.

    This is by far the best winery I have ever been to and the wine was delicious! We got to go back into the barrel room for barrel tasting. Super educational, fun, different experience, personalized, relaxed, engaging and mind blowing. So FREAKING cool!!! The vibe here was super relaxed and fun! Delicious wines! Affordable tastings, bottles and cases. LOVED all the home decor and unique gifts! Super fun!!! Right off Hwy 50 AND delicious BBQ next door! Loved this place! We will be back for sure!

    Kristin B.

    Like another reviewer stated, "I'll take my wine free of political hatred..." I concur. I have been a regular at Crystal Basin in the past, so much so that the owner, Mike Owen was one of my Facebook friends. In fact, we had planned to go back up to Crystal Basin for a visit in 2 weeks to replenish our wine supply. That all changed when I recently posted on my personal Facebook page about the Supreme Court confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett. Mr. Owen posted a comment in response, to which I replied with a respectful comment. I was dumbfounded when Mr. Owen responded by saying "yeah, I hate women judges almost as much as you." Let this review serve as a warning to future patrons of Crystal Basin (especially women). I think the attached photos speak for themselves. The wine at Crystal Basin isn't good enough to subject myself to abuse from its owner.

    Wine-tasting menu
    Stacy S.

    This was our FAVORITE winery in the Camino area... in fact, in all of Amador and El Dorado area! The wines are all amazing, with smooth tanins, creative blends and amazing taste! We arrived about 1/2 hour before they were officially opened, but the lady welcomed us with open arms and immediately began pouring/sharing their wines with us. Her name, by the way, was Danielle, and she was an AMAZING hostess! We started with their Featured Red Wines, and then moved on to their Asendance Wines (blends) and ended with their dessert wines. And yes, they got a club membership out of us (see attached 5 photos of their menus and wines that I posted on Yelp)! As we were wrapping up our wine tastings, we asked Danielle if she knew of some good restaurants in the area. Lo and behold, we learned that Crystal Basin has a new Bistro located adjacent to their winery! For info about their bistro, please check out the Crystal Basin Bistro review. We loved this winery and not only was Danielle gracious, fun and informative, but the other staff members were as well! I highly recommend this winery in the Camino area!

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    4 years ago

    Great atmosphere, entertainment and wine. Great tour and overall service. Defiantly recommend

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    Mike O.

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    Mike O.

    Thank you for the review, we greatly appreciate it!

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    Bring the puppies! WE love them!

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    Thanks for the post Roshanda!

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    Very bad service. Must have been having a bad day. Unfortunately, it showed in their hospitality.

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    Page 2 of 4

    Ask the Community - Crystal Basin Cellars

    Review Highlights - Crystal Basin Cellars

    “We bought the Groupon and did the barrel tasting early on a Saturday and were thoroughly entertained by Chris and KZ.”

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Starfield Vineyards & Winery - Winery front

    Starfield Vineyards & Winery

    4.1(221 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    •$$

    The major feature of Starfield Vineyards is obviously their vineyards and gardens, but this…read morememorial weekend, their pizzas were a highlight!! My personal favorite was the Artichoke Florentine because the mint pesto is so refreshing for the summer. I also appreciate the low alcohol options, as it allows me to join in the fun despite my alcohol sensitivity. The vineyards and gardens are spectacular as usual; I highly recommend the main lake trail/loop for the shade it offers during the hot summer. The turtle pond is secluded and pleasant, but it's further and lacks shade, so I recommend bringing a parasol.

    I took my husband out on the town for his birthday, and Starfield was one of our first stops--what…read morea fabulous choice. The ambiance, the guided experience, and the overall vibe were exactly what I had hoped for. Our waitress was exceptional--knowledgeable, incredibly friendly, and she made us feel right at home. We truly couldn't have started his birthday any better. As for the food, I was a bit bummed that there wasn't a lunch or more robust meal offering. It slightly diminished the overall poshness of the experience, as we would have loved something beyond charcuterie while enjoying the wine. That said, we still had a wonderful time--and even became members--so that says a lot. I do hope they expand their food options in the future. If you're looking for a great atmosphere and delicious wine, I would absolutely recommend checking them out.

    Photos
    Starfield Vineyards & Winery - Table ambience

    Table ambience

    Starfield Vineyards & Winery - Lake Pavillion views.

    Lake Pavillion views.

    Starfield Vineyards & Winery - Snacks

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    Snacks

    Cappelli Wine - Charcuterie for 2

    Cappelli Wine

    4.7(30 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    •$

    We had a great experience! I forgot the gal's name who helped us but she did a great job presenting…read morethe wines, offered us a few visits to wines, and even waived one of the tasting fees which are only $12 a person and wines prices between $16-$18 a bottle.....absolute steal for how good the wines are. We left with a rose, a red blend, and Alicante Bouschet. Great little spot right on the strip and inviting Italian decor....we will be back with my empty bottles which we will get $2 back per bottle or that towards a refill using tbe bottles.....it's a win win!

    I visited Cappelli Wine Tasting Room in December 2025, and it completely exceeded my expectations…read more Marco Cappelli's wines are simply incredible--you can taste the care and craftsmanship in every sip. Add a glass of their Syrah or Pinot, and it doesn't get much better than that. You can tell Marco Cappelli is a master of his craft. They're sustainable, high-quality, well-made wines and unlike anything I've had before. I was there on the weekend and treated myself to their pizza, which was amazing! Perfectly cooked and paired beautifully with the wine. I also tried their charcuterie platter, which was the perfect complement to the tasting. I loved how thoughtful their wine club is, too--it's a refillable bottle system, which makes it eco-friendly and super convenient. This spot is an absolute hidden gem, and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Placerville.

    Photos
    Cappelli Wine - Wine flight for $10, enough to share for 2!

    Wine flight for $10, enough to share for 2!

    Cappelli Wine - Now Serving 8" Pizzas!

    Now Serving 8" Pizzas!

    Cappelli Wine - Wine tasting includes tastes of six wines

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    Wine tasting includes tastes of six wines

    Madrona Vineyards - Crackers and cheese

    Madrona Vineyards

    4.5(109 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    •$$

    Came as a walk-in on Labor Day with my partner and our two dogs. They have an indoor standing…read moretasting room that would be perfect for those cold and rainy days or days when it's too warm outside. The outside seating were picnic tables under beautiful trees providing enough shade and coolness to be comfortable for the experience. At one point, I was in awe of two hawks flying over that were making noise adding even more beauty to the experience. My partner and I opted to taste through their whole flight as they had 4 different flight options and all of them sounded so lovely. Our host brought out the flights in three and are poured in advance versus pouring each individual one which gives a great opportunity to pace yourself through each tasting and discuss as needed with anyone else that is tasting with you. We were lucky enough to meet the co-owner and winemaker, Paul, who was super sweet and engaging. I got to ask a few questions related to harvest and he was happy to talk about it and also share some history with their previous beautiful dogs that were part of their family before their passing. We LOVED their Grenache and Cab Sauv and took home three bottles of these. We look forward to coming back and tasting their delicious wine again and enjoying the great hospitality and experience!

    This was our second stop, and it did not disappoint! The wines were very nice and they put the…read moreminimal amount of additives needed in wine making which was a plus. I loved their 2018 Cab which I purchased. Great prices and tasting fees were waived! I will be back! Oh I should add, I called them at 4:25 to see if we could get a tasting and they said, come on down! The gal was so friendly and knowledgeable about the wines at this winery!

    Photos
    Madrona Vineyards - Flight 4 - The 23's Have It!

    Flight 4 - The 23's Have It!

    Madrona Vineyards - Wine tasting

    Wine tasting

    Madrona Vineyards - Wine tasting flight

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    Wine tasting flight

    Lewis Grace Winery - Front of the property

    Lewis Grace Winery

    4.3(100 reviews)
    5.1 mi
    •$$

    This was a really cute winery in Placerville and the wine was delicious! I was a little…read moredisappointed that they didn't waive the tasting fee with purchase of a bottle. I didn't realize it until we left which I would've probably not bought the bottle, especially being in the industry. However, the wines were nice and I ended up purchasing the GSM. Will I come back? Probably not with so many wineries in the area that DO waive the fee with bottle purchase. Happy wine tasting!

    We were on our way to another orchard and decided to stop by this winery for a tasting! The main…read morebuilding had a cute patio right outside that overlooks their vineyard. We ordered at the bar inside and then the wines were brought out to us on the patio. It took longer than expected to get our flights, and then we were a bit disappointed that the sommelier didn't spend much time telling us about the wines. She brought them out and told us what each wine on the flight was, then left and we never saw her again. We've had several amazing tasting experiences in wine country where the sommelier tells you many more details about the wines including where on the property the grapes are grown, how it is made, and what different notes we will taste in each wine. It was a pretty basic explanation and we didn't feel that it was very personable despite it being a slow weekday. We ordered two tastings but all the wines were brought out in small carafes, we couldn't tell if each one held enough wine for one of us or both of our tastings combined. This wasn't ever explained either, so we assumed it was for both of us to share. We still enjoyed having our wines on this beautiful property, and we were able to have our baby with us which was nice. We weren't very impressed with the wines themselves and did not have any favorites that we needed to purchase bottles of. It is $10 for a glass or a tasting which was quite the deal. The prices and atmosphere were great, but the wine and overall experience was average.

    Photos
    Lewis Grace Winery
    Lewis Grace Winery
    Lewis Grace Winery - Front entrance of the building

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    Front entrance of the building

    Chateau Davell Boutique Winery - Wood fired pizzas friday nights, Jun - Oct

    Chateau Davell Boutique Winery

    4.3(79 reviews)
    6.4 mi
    •$$

    Went to celebrate my best friend's big 50th. They had live music and a warm inviting outside…read moregathering. Service was excellent and food was delicious pizza and wine. My favorite was the margarita so yummy with a drizzle of pesto to make the flavors pop. The wine bottles were all decorated artistically of Davell's family. Her son painted the labels. The owner Davell was very friendly and informative of the different wines she offered. They also have a very cute friendly dog, welcoming all the guests. Relaxing day or night. Come visit this beautiful place and enjoy a glass of vino.

    As most posts begin- We wanted so badly to love this place. Ambiance amazing, music great (Shane…read moreQ), and service dreadful! To start, we called on the phone first to make a reservation for our anniversary, we announced we had a Groupon to use, and we were never informed at the time of booking that it could not be used during their pizza and music nights. We arrive, lady setting us for our table (We also mention Groupon, another opportunity for them to alarm us, still nothing.) We get to our table, explain the Groupon to the server in which she declined the Groupon. We asked for a little more time to decide what we would order instead, server NEVER comes back. Takes us 20 mins to flag down another server who also never comes back after our wine is dropped off. Once our original server comes back around about an hour later after our glasses are empty, she is stumbling on her words (clearly has been drinking) and makes an offer for the Groupon that didn't even make sense lol. I want soooo bad to be able to go back again but damn I'm disappointed. As a server myself this is unacceptable. Even for our anniversary we weren't expecting anything special just honest and attentive service. The experience left such a bad taste in our mouth. She mentioned being short staffed but the vibe at a winery to begin with is slow paced and never an excuse to just outright avoid your tables entirely. I did not see any pep in this persons step, so to me it did not appear busy. Sorry, but have to knock down the score just for that

    Photos
    Chateau Davell Boutique Winery - Original art labels

    Original art labels

    Chateau Davell Boutique Winery - The *Love Shack*

    The *Love Shack*

    Chateau Davell Boutique Winery - Flights, charcuterie, and a great view.

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    Flights, charcuterie, and a great view.

    Crystal Basin Cellars - wineries - Updated September 2026

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