Sierra Foothills wineries to pour at Blackhawk event

California’s vast Sierra Foothills American Viticultural Area, spanning 2.6 million acres along the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, encompasses an array of elevations, microclimates and soil types ideal for grape growing.

On Sept. 19 from 3-6pm at the Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, wine lovers can experience the richness and diversity of this legendary, high-elevation wine region at a tasting called “Moving Mountains: the Sierra Foothills Wine Experience.”

More than 40 wineries from Calaveras, Amador and El Dorado counties will pour their finest wines – from great-old vine Zinfandels to varietals and blends crafted from classic French, Italian and Spanish varieties – paired with Mediterranean-style finger foods and live flamenco guitar music.

One of many harvest-season events in September as part of California Wine Month, the “Moving Mountains” tasting benefits the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties, which will receive 100 percent of the proceeds from an on-site silent auction.

The “Moving Mountains” tasting is the inaugural event of the newly formed Sierra Foothills Wine Alliance, comprised of the winery associations of Amador, Calaveras and El Dorado counties, which represent the vast majority of Sierra Foothills wineries. It provides a rare opportunity for wine lovers, in one place and on one day, to explore the Sierra Foothills AVA, which was formally established in 1987, but dates to the early days of the Gold Rush, when grapevines were first introduced by European immigrant fortune-seekers.

Tickets for the “Moving Mountains” tasting are $35 in advance at or $50 at the door. More information is available here.