Had a great afternoon at Lava Cap. Our hosts, Jennifer and Sarah, were fantastic. The wines are delicious. We ended up talking home with us the Viognier, American River Blend, Syrah, and Petit Sirah. The Petit Sirah is probably the best I've had in years. Full bodied, bold, with an incredible finish. Ready to drink now or in seven to ten years. It will be served with steak this weekend! read more

Lava Cap Winery - A view from Lava Cap's back patio. - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

The pulling up to the tasting room is impressive. You see the rolling Vineyards. It's beautiful. They have a placard outside explaining about the winery. There are lots of tables and grounds for ood social distancing. Service is a little slow. Only negative. read more

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Nevada Day 2019 was simply a gorgeous day in Apple Hill. So we didn't go into the tasting room, we sat on the huge deck, tasted, ate and enjoyed the view. Expecting the Nevada crowd, they had a large tasting area set up on the deck. They also had available a simple menu charcuterie and cheese baskets to purchase. We had the family basket for around $35. It included a block of cheddar and a block of Monterey Jack, a bag of potato chips, a box of crackers, a small container of olives, a pack of meats- salami, prosciutto, and ham. A knife, cutting board and plates were also provided. Sitting outside here with a basket was a fantastic way to kick back and enjoy this winery. We just walked back up to the tasting bar and told them where we left off on the list. Plenty of easy parking. Dogs not allowed inside or on the deck. read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

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This was the last winery my wife and I went to on our first day in the area and I have to say, it was worth going to. The view from the deck was amazing. They greeted us like they really were happy to see us. The service, even though the place was absolutely packed, was quick, pleasant, and made us feel relaxed. No pressure to buy or leave quickly. We purchased their American River Red blend after paying for the tasting. As many places do, they wave the fee if you buy a bottle. Of all of the wineries we visited, this one and Boeger are the only two I would say we will absolutely go back to. Not that the others three we stopped at were bad or anything. The setting and everything about it was 5-star all the way. read more

We went for one of the last summer concerts and it was so fun! Everyone was so nice, the band was great. The wine was delicious! Good times were had by my family. We'll definitely be coming back. read more

This is the second time I've been here and it is alway a great experience. The view is amazing and beautiful! Drinking your wine whilst looking at a beautiful blue sky winery hillside is magical. The wine is really good too. For all you kitty lovers they have a cat named Mr. Kitty running the property and he is the best. read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

What a lovely visit to Lava Cap Winery. We were greeted promptly when we walked in and were given the opportunity of where we wanted to sit on the outdoor patio. Anywhere you sit is really a beautiful view of the valley below and what a perfect day this was! It was a little chilly but all of the heating lamps on the patio were perfect to keep us warm. There were even a few families with kids so definitely a family and pet friendly place. From what I understand, they also have concerts during the summer which is pretty cool. I really loved the trays and the little glasses that were provided for each of the tastings and everything comes already pre-poured so you don't have to wait for them to keep coming back to the table and giving you the next pour. Our favorite was the Chardonnay of which we ended up buying a bottle. I didn't care too much for any of the other ones but did enjoy the Chardonnay for sure. Service was great and staff were very friendly. read more

Lava Cap Winery - View from the patio - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

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What an amazing experience! Lava Cap's wine tasting is such a great time. The staff are highly knowledgeable of not only their product, but the whole Apple Hill area. The deck has a great view of the vineyard, as do the patio and picnic areas. I will 100% return to Lava Cap Winery the next time I visit Apple Hill. read more

On a beautiful Sunday we decided to take a long ride from San Jose to Placerville. Since we were in town decided to by some sandwiches and stop by Lava Cap. Loved the wines and the landscape was gorgeous as well. Dog friendly is a big plus since our furry was with us. I wish I was closer to visit more often! read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

Rolled in here (because it was one of the only places that was open at 10 am on a Thursday) with no real expectations, but ended up pleased enough with both the wines and the experience that we joined their club. We enjoyed all of their wines (red, white, and rose), and walked away with bottles of viognier and Sangiovese. But even better was the relaxed atmosphere and environment, getting away from the craziness of Napa Valley. Bonus was their folk/bluegrass/Americana playlist they had going (including some of my favorites, like Mandolin Orange) read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

This is one of my favorite wineries. The views are beautiful and the wines are delicious. The older lady pouring was very knowledgeable, friendly and very personable... I give her a A plus... The winery has a beautiful wood deck as well as a nice patio for picnics or you can order small plates of foods to pair with your wine choices. So relaxing and a nice winery. I got a bottle of Chardonnay and it was absolutely Awesome ... Parking is great, service outstanding, wines delicious and views beautiful... read more

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This was such a beautiful winery to visit this fall season. They take reservations and walk-ins for their wine tasting on the deck. The gorgeous lower patio is open to guests (first-come, first-serve) where you can indulge in your wine and food. The tasting fee is only $15 and well worth it since it is waived with a bottle purchase. We had Ken as our sommelier during our wine tasting. He was very nice and approachable throughout the tasting and gave generous pours! If you're looking for great views and a socially distanced outing during the pandemic, visit this winery! They also have a cat on their grounds who is so sweet and friendly! read more

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I looked at my wine rack on 6/8/2018 in the morning: I was shocked, beside myself~ALL my Napa and Sonoma, and Mendocino wines were all inhaled . . . GONE! EEEEK!!!! I freaked out, screaming, "Augh~I have no more Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino wines drinking with eating my gourmet meals!!!! WHAT am I going to do? DRIVE three and a half to four hours to Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Wineries? NO FRICKEN WAY I'M DOING THAT!!!!" Alright, that's it~I gotta go to my Bella Capelli hair appointment first then, I'll go find a few wineries near my favorite, Boa Vista Orchard . . . Maybe, I should inquire with Bella Capelli's Hair Stylist, Michael Schmidt for his winery recommendations? At my hair appointment, Michael highly recommended Lava Cap as his favorite winery and I discovered the reasons for Michael's recommendations while visiting Lava Cap: The wines produced here possess a full-bodied flavor I noticed neither Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Wineries do not have . . . Is it the soil? Is it the lavender growing around the grapevines? Is it the volcanic, mineral content? Is it the H2O? Something about the scintillating flavor Lava Cap's wines possesses . . . Gee~I can't seem pin-pointing what that something is but, all the wines I tasted have this awesome flavor I can't seem to figure out what that "IT" is! Anyway, I immediately bought the following: One bottle of wine is for my son-in-law's 6/7/2018 birthday present I'll give to him when I see him . . . And one bottle of wine is for my empty wine rack! read more

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My favorite vineyard, hands down! Their wine is amazing and so is the staff. Beautiful outside views from their patio, as well. read more

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Lava Cap Winery is one of those places that we love to stop by when we are in the Apple Hill area. It is beautiful looking out over the vineyards. We took our daughter there for her 21st birthday, thinking it would be a great place to teach her about some wines and enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately the weather turned out to be a little drizzly, but the staff were handing out blankets for everyone to bundle up under. We enjoyed the wine tasting and purchased a charcuterie plate which was just the perfect mix of cheese and meats and nuts and bought a bottle of their port, which was quite delicious. All in all, the experience was really good. It was pretty crowded and the staff was great at the wine tasting, but getting a bottle of wine to go was a little more difficult. It just seemed to get off our server's radar, and we were left waiting until we just decided to go up to the cashier and get it ourselves. Besides that though, the experience was great. read more

Beautiful winery with incredible views. They have a great wine club (two 6-bottle shipments per year) that's not very expensive and includes free tastings for you and guests whenever you want. Friendly helpful staff. Down to earth and not snooty. The wine is good across the board but I wouldn't say spectacular. Overall, a very fun place to go and enjoy some wine. read more

Thankyou for literally everything Linda! The view is just superb. the wines were great. the community was friendly .. they have a really solid membership. i came prior to the quarterly members only music/bbq/wine event the rose is amazing. Just do it. thanks for a great experience and quality wines! read more

Lava Cap Winery was a pleasant surprise! Visited with a friend who moved close by. Despite being quite busy, the lovely weather made it all the more enjoyable. There were plenty of tables available, and the views were absolutely stunning. We brought our lunch, ordered a charcuterie board, and of course some wine (Rosè). A perfect spot for a relaxing and scenic wine-tasting adventure! read more

We have been here twice before and both times took advantage of there beautiful scenery and enjoyed a nice picnic. Staff are helpful and nice. Place is very clean. They have wine tasting and in order to enjoy there amenities all you have to do is purchase a glass or bottle . Lovely place . read more

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Great venue for wine tasting. Great selection of tasty wines. We really liked the cab franc! Great picnic area and wonderful views of then valley. Our server John was so friendly and efficient and always made sure we had enough water and had our glasses filled. Highly recommended. Will be back soon! Have to tryout their food next time! read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

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Nice, semi-rustic, facility in a beautiful location. The deck is comfortable and overlooks grapevines and a canyon. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and quick to pour. I enjoyed their Grenache, Zinfandel and Petit Syrah. It is disappointing that their food options are premade and not cook-to-order from a kitchen, but this is common for El Dorado and Amador County wineries. I would come back and spend some time, but plan to bring my own food. read more

it was. nice place but the food was confusing to understand how to order BUT overall a nice spot and good wine read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

Jim was the best! full of great information and very friendly/attentive . Come back just for Jim !!!

If you have one winery to stop at during a visit to Apple Hill, this is the one. I frequent the area, bring up lots of friends, and this winery is always the fan favorite of any group I have ever brought up for years - well before I ever became a member of the Wine Club. A great Petite Syrah is not the easiest to find for me, so when I saw the consistency of theirs over the years I became a fan. Zinfandel here is also amazing year after year. Recently attended a wine event for members that allowed me to bring a group of 10 friends to introduce to the winery. What an amazing time! They pulled out all the stops, paired delicious bites to each wine, had a great jazz band playing live, and even had Clyde the Great Dane roaming around to greet everyone. And, thankfully, they cracked open the library so I could buy a few more bottles of the 2010 petite syrah :) Even if you're not a member, this winery is hands down a must try for the area. They have a cozy patio where you can sit and enjoy a cheese plate that they offer to nibble on as you sip outside overlooking their vineyard. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon I assure you. read more

Lava Cap was a nice stop coming down from Lake Tahoe. We enjoyed all the sampled wines, and we had our lunch on the lower patio. The Winery and the grounds are all family owned, and operated. This winery was placed here because of the lava in the soil. We bought two bottles of the Reserve Chardonnay (one to give away) and one bottle of the Cab. read more

We loved Lava Cap! Our group of 5 + 1 dog sat in a nicely shaded lower patio overlooking the beautiful vineyards. I love that they provide a map to show exactly where each grape was grown! The tasting went over beautifully. My only "gripe" (if even that) is that we ordered the charcuterie board and it arrived in store packaging with sealed plastics and paper plates stacked in a container. Otherwise, the wine was excellent and we decided to take a multitude of bottles home which forgave the tastings. read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

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The location is ok. Wine is ok. What they should have on their website is the dog policy. That is no dogs allowed on the decks. You can only have them down below in the picnic area. Lava Cap people it takes 3 lines of code to put that on your website. We heard of Lava Cap because of a gift of their Merlot. Which we like. So we decided to make a trip up the hill to see them. First there was nobody to check you in and get you seated. We waited and were ready to go seat ourselves when someone showed up. The pours you get were tiny. I mean super tiny. The wines we tasted were not that great. But we did want another bottle of the Merlot and grabbed a bottle of the Grenache. The decks had heaters, the picnic area none. We ordered a bottle of something we liked and were going to stay and have it as we wanted the heater to keep us warm. We went through the tasting quickly which with the small pours you will be done less than 15 minutes. We were told we had to go down below to drink the bottle. I was shocked. No where is it mentioned you have to move. They had tables open they were turning away people that were showing up. They could have let us stayed for 45 minutes to finish it or 30 minutes but nope you gots to go! We left. Paid up after telling the person 3 times the bottles I wanted to buy. I will not be going back, will not buy their wine. I will take a bit farther trip to Amador. Like Ironhub, who lets you stay under the tent, has blankets for sale, great wine, better views and a much friendlier staff. If you are going during the winter hours bring a blanket or better yet stay home build a fire and buy a bottle from someone else. Cheers! read more

I have not yet been to the winery, but I did order two wines online. A viognier and a red (I think Petite Syrah). They were both good solid wines, very enjoyable. However, I want to also give a shout-out to the customer service team and the excellent assistance I received. Through not fault of the winery, the shipper brought to us in excessively hot weather. Resolving this took some tenacity on the part of Lava Cap, and they kept in touch and made sure it was taken care of. I hope to visit the winery one day, and I'll write a separate review then! read more

I have never been so disappointed thought I would give this Winery a try I was seated by the young lady in the picture and then I was ignored not sure what the reason was, I hope it wasn't the color of my skin, everyone else around me was being served, but my wife and I. several times we were overlooked. 20 minutes later as I looked and she was still severing others. We left. Lava Cap natural beauty with human ugliness. read more

Lava Cap Winery - This sever obviously Racist, sat us down and never came back - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

Lava Cap remains to be one of my top favorite wineries in Apple Hill and all of California. The family that owns and runs all aspect of the operations ensures that your visit and subsequent experience of their wines remain magnificent. Top critics like the SF Chronicle and Wine Enthusiast have given their wines consistent high marks, but if you don't like wine critics, come visit and taste yourself. My top favorites are their Chardonnay, Barbera, Grenache, Barbera, and Petite Sirah. Their fortified wine is also to-die for! read more

This was my second time enjoying wine at Lava Cap. My first however, since covid19. They do a great job social distancing outside. The wine tastes phenomenal. Loved the service! read more

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Great events. Great staff. Great wines. Awesome views. Relaxing and quiet. I live nearby and always enjoy dropping by when we get the chance. read more

Beautiful view and amazing wine - what could be better? Maybe some food offerings would complete the experience: crackers and cheese perhaps. read more

Great service from Shane. Great wines! View from the patio was killer. Lots of hummingbirds. Cool patio cat. read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

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Wow! I LOVE this winery! I have been meaning to check out Lava Cap, so despite the fact that we arrived with just 20 minutes before the tasting room closed at 5pm, we were determined to check it out. (FYI, the deck is open until 5:30pm) Lava Cap is located in the Apple Hill area, which is convenient if you want to explore some of the other wineries in the area or pair your trip with some other Apple Hill shenanigans. The tasting room at Lava Cap is lovely and cozy. When we arrived, the place was bustling with activity with multiple groups and multiple associates helping with tastings. We were immediately helped by a lovely woman (whose name I have forgotten! Sorry!) who walked us through our tasting. We opted to do two tastings ($5 for 5), so ten total, which just so happened to cover their entire reds menu. Perfect. Lava Cap is one of those few magical wineries where I liked almost all the reds that we tried. Favorites were the Zinfandel Reserve 2014 and the Petite Sarah 2014. Our tasting associate was very friendly and helpful and gave us just enough description of each wine while still being ambiguous enough to let us come to our own conclusions about the wines. Lava Cap itself is beautiful-- there is an absolutely gorgeous view of the vineyard and a lovely patio with plenty of space. tl;dr: Lava Cap is fast becoming one of my favorite wineries in the Apple Hill area. Good wine and good views-- what more can you ask for? read more

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Have always loved visiting this winery and have purchased wine and club membership at various times over the years. However, my most recent visit last month was quite unpleasant due to the very unfriendly table service. I was there with an elder friend of mine, who wanted to taste a couple of different options before ordering her glass of wine. I also wanted to taste a couple before purchasing several bottles. The young woman serving us was very Un-gracious and snooty when asked to taste a couple of standard wines before ordering. My elder friend felt very unwelcome. Seems the service has gone down. read more

First time visiting winery showed up 1/2 hour before closing but they treated me like they had all night to let me taste and talk Left with three excellent bottles of wine will return next time I am passing thru read more

We were lucky enough to have an attentive host by the name of Kevin. It takes a good people person to do this job well. The overall location, ambiance was very enjoyable. No wine was a disappointment. We became Club Members. read more

My absolute favorite winery!! Not just the most delicious wine but the best employees!!! read more

Lava Cap Winery - Wineries Near Me - Placerville, California

1 of the more incredible properties on the Apple hill wine trail. Loved the customer service and the farm cats. All very friendly. Soliddd barbera & cabs but unfortunately wasn't crazy on any of their other wines. Even with the majority of the wines just being mediocre, all of the other positive features totally outweighed the minor problems. Recommended in my book read more