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!

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 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.

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 visited the vineyards yesterday and had lunch. The…read morehamburger was delicious we also had the chicken sandwich and the 3 cheese broccoli soup Everything was delicious Great atmosphere

It was my first time to Murphy's and this tour showcased the highlights. Tour guide Laura was very…read moreknowledgeable, personable and fun. Every place we visited gave us a feel for the variety and uniqueness of the town. The company (Local Roots) also does tours in Sacramento so we'll be trying these other tours as well.

The Best of Murphys, CA in one fulfilling three hour tour!…read moreOK, everyone is hearing about how wonderful the little town of Murphys is, but how in the heck can you get the whole experience? Well, with these people. I went on this tour today and I got a wine tour, a food tour and a history tour all in one. Every place we went to (9 total) was very informative about their foods, wines, and/or wares. Though the menus will change I fill I should say something about each and every place they were all THAT good. but instead I'll lastly mention the gal that operates the tour. Her name is Shelby, and wow, what a guide she is. I know this tour just started up, but she must have done this in another life because she knew so much about the town, it's history, the people living there, the businesses and the wine. Delicious food, great wine and awesome history of the town. Oh a few steps here and there but really easy no hills to climb.

Transportation to/from a concert in Murphys was on time and David was so pleasant. Really…read moreappreciate that MLA ran the shuttle even though there were just a handful of us!

From giving a quote to picking us up for my daughters Yosemite wedding, EVERYTHING was…read moreprofessional. mother lode even gave us weather and road advice and no problem when we had to move everything up 3 hours due to snow. HIGHLY RECOMMEND and the owner is hands on, helpful and the sweetest!

A great stop near Arnold, Murphys town, and snowboarding! We really enjoyed tasting a couple of…read moreoptions and also went home with a couple of bottles to relive the experience! They have ample indoor seating as well as some pleasant outdoor seating as well! Great friendly staff :)

What makes a wine tasting experience great is more than just the wine itself. It includes all of…read moreyour senses. Locke Vineyards checks all the boxes. They are located just outside of Main Street where most of the tasting rooms are located, so it is a perfect place to stop on your way in to town. The grounds are charming and filled with a garden and outdoor pavilion for wine club members. A perfect place to enjoy your wine flight on a lovely day! Upon stepping inside you feel a sense of calm not only for the cozy atmosphere but the lovely lavender fragrance from the lavender bundles. Kirsten the owner is a fantastic hostess. She is a wealth of knowledge about her family's winery and history in the farming industry. The wine list was presented to us and we were encouraged to relax and enjoy the experience. Don't mind if we do! We made our way to the tables within the barn and commented what a perfect place to gather with friends and family while enjoying some delicious wines! Our flights were brought to our table on the cutest little serving tray along with some tasty treats to enhance the experience. Every single wine was delicious! I'm not a fan of big jammy reds at all and none of the reds gave that taste. I'm obsessed with their rosé and Aspen white blend. The Sequoia red blend is also a favorite. We were so impressed with the quality and flavor of the wines as well as the entire tasting experience. If you are looking for a new wine tasting experience in Murphys I highly encourage you to give Locke Vineyards a try. Cheers!

Every glass was amazing. Truly, I enjoyed the journey of their wines. My favorite has to be High…read moreCountry - it smelled the way you'd want your man to smell, leathery, warm, strong, comforting. It was devine. Johanna, the sommelier, was very personable and friendly, while pouring. I will be back.

Love sitting outside here and doing a chill wine tasting. Great wines too. Outdoor area is very…read morewell taken care of.

Upping my rating to 5 stars. Stopped by on a rainy day no one was there. the server was Florence…read moreand she was delightful and seemed glad to have the company. It was a fantastic tasting we tasted a lot of different wines and bought several. The quality is good here better than most Murphys wineries and we have tasted quite a few however you will pay a premium they are bit pricey as well. I was tempted to join the wine club but we belong to so many already and I didn't want to commit to quarterly pickups if they had a semi annual option I probably would have joined. We will be back!

To call this place a hidden gem fits it perfectly…read more As a Sommelier I enjoyed all of the wines. Ken, who was working the wine bar was experienced and knowledgeable about the wines and the region. Another couple in my party joined the wine club. I totally recommend them.

First time here and we enjoyed our visit and Sue was delightful and let us taster quite a few…read moredifferent wines. Tasting room is very small so this was the first time after trying a couple previous times we found room to sit at the bar and taste. I really wanted to like the wines more since it was a good experienece but to my palate they were pretty average for Murphys nothing really stood out as a must buy. We left with a couple bottles wines but will stick to our favorite wineries in the area for future tastings.

Gossamer Cellars has a friendly, welcoming tasting room, and the owners are incredibly kind and…read moreknowledgeable. They take time to talk with everyone and make you feel comfortable. We'd definitely recommend it and can't wait to come back!

Review for Above the Rush…read more Great vibes and wine. Best experience, service, and wine selection in Murphy Area. I'm a Bourbon & Rum drinker and there were some really cool wines that compliment. The server and staff were friendly and had great conversations with them.

This was my favorite winery in Murphy!…read more They have a sister winery closer to Angel camps. It's called Above The Rush and that one offers bites with wine pairing, tasting fee is still waived with bottle. The bites were delicious really brought out the tastes of their wine!