21 Best Things to Do in Plymouth, California

By VI Staff on August 30, 2019

Plymouth, California is filled with a range of attractions for locals and visitors alike. It is a particularly popular spot for visiting wineries and vineyards as you will find dozens of them within the city. There is something for everyone in Plymouth and more than enough attractions to occupy your time, even if you plan on staying in the area for a week or more.

1.Turley Cellars

Turley Wine Cellars produces 47 different wines from more than 50 vineyards, most of which are single vineyard designate Petite Syrahs or Zinfandels. All vineyards are currently certified organic or working towards that goal. The winery focuses on old-vine vineyards, aiming to create as well as preserve the unique winemaking culture of the area. The Amador County Tasting Room is open daily between 10 am and 5 pm. Walk-ins are welcome during regular business hours but groups of eight or more should make reservations. The focus of this tasting room is the local vineyards close by, complemented by a selection of wines from throughout the state. The tasting fee is waived with the purchase of two bottles or costs $10 per person. There is also a picnic area now available on the property, in Pokerville, the gold mining camp. You can buy wine by the bottle or glass. Those traveling will also find another tasting room in Paso Robles.

10851 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-3938

2.Vino Noceto Winery

Vino Noceto Winery makes “California’s Best Sangiovese” and has been doing so for more than 25 years, opening in 1987. They make eight Sangioveses plus a slightly sparking Moscato, an Old Vine Zinfandel, a Tuscan Red Blend, Barbera, Pinot Grigio, and others. What began as a little red barn now produces nearly 10,000 cases of wine annually. Joining the Wine Club gives you access to large discounts, special access to limited-production wines, access to special events, and more. Guests can taste the award-winning wines gat the winery, have a private tasting, go on a vineyard tour, have a picnic, or play bocce. The tasting room is open on weekdays from 11 am to 4 pm and until 5 pm on weekends. The farm to glass tours take place daily at 11 am and require a reservation. Groups of eight or more require reservations. Additionally, Vino Noceto Winery donates time and wine to the local community and considers all donation requests despite their limited resources.

11011 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6556

3.Iron Hub Winery

Iron Hub Winery is operated and owned by Beth and Tom Jones plus their children. They founded it following Tom’s experience as the founding Winemaker for Apple Hill area’s Lava Cap Winery and award-winning work there. The 33-acre land for Iron Hub Winery was bought in 2014, launching the label in 2016. You will find handcrafted estate-bottled blends and varietals, spanning both white and red wines. When you visit the Iron Hub Winery, you get personal and attentive service along with the chance to taste current releases and enjoy crackers and cheese bites. There is also outdoor seating so you can get the best views of Sierra mountain and the sloping land. Tastings are complimentary with the purchase of a bottle or $5 per person, and earlier in the day, you can enjoy a seated tasting. Groups require advance reservations at this winery and leashed dogs are welcome on the patio.

112500 Steiner Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6307

4.Helwig Vineyards & Winery

Helwig Vineyard & Winery prides itself on being a premier winery in Shenandoah Valley, complete with sweeping views of lush vineyards and mountains. The winery owns 60 acres of land with grapes in four vineyards throughout Amador and El Dorado Counties. The tasting room is spacious and inviting. The property also has well-equipped conference and meeting rooms, a picnic Pavilion, a wine cave, and a terraced concert amphitheater. The vineyard also regularly hosts private events plus public or private wine cave tours. The tasting room is open every day of the year from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, except holidays, and closes an hour early for Summer Concerts. To visit the Tasting Room or go on a Cave Tour, you must be 14 years old. Stay inside the tasting room itself or sit on the back deck while enjoying award-winning wine. There is also a Wine Club for those who appreciate discounts and other benefits.

11555 Shenandoah Rd, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-5200

5.Amador Flower Farm

For those who love strolling through flowers or want to buy some for their own home, Amador Flower Farm is a great attraction. They have over 1,200 varieties of daylilies, along with regular specials, a nursery, and a gift shop. There are also more than four acres of land filled with landscaped demonstration gardens for you to admire or to use as inspiration. The property also has plenty of picnic areas, including tables by a pond where you will spot frogs and ducks or the area by the 300-year-old Heritage Oak trees. You can even reserve a picnic table ahead of time for a small fee. The gift shop has cold drinks, snacks, windchimes, seeds, and gardening tools. In the nursery, you will find unusual and new plants as well as a potted plant area. In the summer, the farm is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm and in the winter, they open Thursdays through Sundays.

22001 Shenandoah School Rd, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6660

6.Scott Harvey Winery

Scott Harvey Wines was the first wine line within the portfolio known as “Creative Wine Concepts.” It was the result of demand for wine from Scott and it focuses on his roots, Syrah, Barbera, and Zinfandel from the Sierras. These wines are full of fruit and food-friendly. There are two locations for Scott Harvey Winery with the Shenandoah Winery & Tasting Room in Plymouth and the Sutter Creek Tasting Room in Sutter Creek. The Shenandoah Winery & Tasting Room is open every day of the week from 11 am to 5 pm with a cost of $7 for the tasting. For every bottle you buy, the tasting fee is waived. The wine club from this winery is very customizable, letting you choose how many bottles to get per shipment, the type of wine you want, and how to receive your wines. You also get special savings and exclusive access to events and special wines.

10861 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-3670

7.Sobon Estate

Sobon Estate is one of the wineries from Sobon Wine. It began with Shenandoah Vineyards in 1977 and continues to be a family-run company, including the winemaking team. Sobon Wine strives to be as natural as possible when producing their wine, taking extra care with every barrel and bottle. Shenandoah Vineyards is now the original location with Sobon Estate beginning in 1989. Sobon Estate is in the historic D’Agostini Winery, which is a California State Historic Landmark. The grapes are sustainably farmed and estate grown while the vineyards have choice soils and micro-climates. The winemaking relies on state-of-the-art techniques and 60 years of combined experience. Some of the wines include vineyard designated Zinfandels, Rhone varietals, and dessert wines. There is also a wine club, the ReZerve Club, but it is only open to 250 members. You can, however, join the wait list.

14430 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-4455

8.Karmere Vineyard and Winery

Karmere Vineyard and Winery offers complimentary wine tastings in their gorgeous French-style chateau tasting room. The vineyard covers 67 acres of estate grown vines along gentle slopes in an ideal environment for producing wines. Karmere Vineyards uses sustainable farming practices, including organic practices, and each vineyard is named after a female family member. When in the tasting room, you can try the popular releases as well as get the chance to try an upcoming release right from the barrel. They also have local specialty products available. The tasting room is open daily from 11 am to 5 pm, including most holidays. If you can only visit at another time, make an appointment. Check their schedule for special events, such as release parties, Mother’s Day celebrations, and more. You can also buy many of the Karmere wines online via their website.

11970 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-5000

9.Terra d’Oro Winery

Terra d’Oro Winery follows the tradition of fortune seekers visiting the Sierra Foothills for over 150 years, but wine has taken the place of the gold this winery is named for. Terra d’Oro Winery produces handcrafted wines made from some of the most historic vineyards in Amador County, each of which is rich and full of intensity and character. The history of Terra d’Oro wines began in 1973 with the Montevina label, which was the first winery in the county to produce wine since the end of Prohibition. The winery has a reputation for Barbera, Zinfandel, and other full-flavored red wines. The winery has 400 acres of gorgeous estate vines that include a few historic vineyards with old vines. They now produce Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Petite Sirah, Chenin Viognier, Moscato, and Zinfandel, among others. The winery is open daily between 10 am and 4:30 pm for tastings as well as sales.

20680 Shenandoah School Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6942

10.Cooper Vineyards

The Cooper family began producing high-quality fruit to create varietal wines since 1979. The vineyards now feature 17 varietals that produce more than 20 unique wines over 90 acres of land. Cooper Vineyards has been a tasting room since 2004, serving as a boutique winery with a tasting flight that changes during the year. This lets visitors experience new wines with every visit. You can visit the tasting room on Thursdays through Mondays, between 11 am and 4:45 pm. Like many other small wineries in Amador County, Cooper Vineyards cannot accommodate groups of seven or more without an appointment because of the size of their space and typical amount of staff on hand. There is also a wine club with new releases and limited-edition wines at special prices, other discounts, and access to exclusive events. In addition to wine club events, Cooper Vineyards also has other events throughout the year, such as the Big Crush and Barbera Festival.

21365 Shenandoah School Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6181

11.Wilderotter Winery

Wilderotter Winery began in 1990 when the couple behind it bought 40 acres of land and started growing premier wine grapes. From the beginning, the winery has used the latest growing techniques and plenty of care to produce high-quality, consistent grapes. They began making their own wines in 1999 and bottled their first vintage for sale in 2003. Now, there are 80 acres of land that produce 21 varietals and leads to production of 5,000 cases of wine annually. They also produce 30 gallons of olive oil annually. Production even includes unique blends like Ambrosia and Rhone. The Tuscan-style tasting room opened in 2004 and the winery now even has luxury all-suite lodging plus space for events. Visit the tasting room any day of the week between 10:30 am and 5:00 pm, enjoying the award-winning handcrafted wines plus a complimentary artisan cheese plate. If you choose to stay on site, choose from a suite at the Grand Reserve Inn or a night in the winery’s Cottage.

19890 Shenandoah School Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6016

12.Amador 360 Winery Collective

Amador 360 is a wine tasting room set up to serve as the tasting space for local boutique wineries without their own tasting rooms, like Fate Wines, Los Portales, and Fiddletown Cellars. They serve highly-rated wines from Amador County that you cannot get anywhere else and wines that aren’t available locally but are made from Amador grapes. In addition to the wines, you will find local olive oil, honey, crafts, and lavender products. Amador 360 Winery Collective also organizes and founded the Barbera Festival, which attracts more than 2,000 people each year to sample wines from over 80 wineries across the state. The same team also created the Amador Four Fires Festival, which is an immersion into the food and wine culture of the county. In addition to finding a range of wines in the Amador 360 tasting room, you can also purchase over a hundred different bottles online, with quantity discounts, sampler packs, and discounts for wine club members.

18590 Highway 49, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6600

13.Andis Wines

Andis Wines opened in November 2010, aiming to bring modernity and freshness to Amador County’s winemaking traditions. They search for the best vineyards within the sierra Foothills so they can create wines that have complexity, varietal correctness, balance, and character thanks to innovative and traditional winemaking techniques. Their building has a green design and is state-of-the-art with 22,000 square feet. The vineyard surrounding the winery dates back to 1978 and was bout in 2009, with 20 acres under vine. Visit the tasting room to enjoy panoramic views of vineyards. There are also daily tours of the winery, picnic areas, and a bocce ball court. Of course, the tasting room also has wine on tap. It is open every day except Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Thanksgiving from 11 am to 4:30 pm. If you want to join the Andis Wine Club, you will get discounts and exclusive access to events and wine.

11000 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6177

14.Borjon Winery

Borjon Winery is a family-run winery with more than 30 years of experience growing grapes. The winery quickly developed from Borjon Vineyard & Labor Services, a vineyard service company which still exists and manages as well as produces grapes for many of the area’s prestigious wineries. The tasting room is open on Thursdays through Mondays from 11 am to 5 pm. If you order a tasting flight, the fee is waived if you purchase a bottle from the flight in question. Those in larger groups should make reservations. You can also book a tour that includes wine tasting, complimentary salsa and chips, and a tour of La Cava (the wine cellar). Pets are welcome in the outside areas of the property. Those who want to stay on site can rent La Casa, which is just steps from the bistro and winery yet has plenty of privacy, three bedrooms, and 2.5 baths.

11270 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-3087

15.Deaver Vineyards Winery

Deaver Vineyards has followed the family tradition of growing grapes for more than 150 years. The vines were planted in approximately 1854 by the great-grandfather of the current owner, with his son planting the Zinfandel after another decade. Throughout most of its history, Deaver was a vineyard solely and sold the grapes from the old vines to home winemakers. This changed with the Lakeshore label on Deaver Vineyards Zinfandel in 1985. Now, the winery is known for producing velvety Zinfandels. You can visit the Deaver Vineyards Winery any day of the week between 10:30 am and 5 pm. Groups must make a reservation ahead of time. Be sure to also stop by their gift shop where you will find home and wine accessories that you will not spot anywhere else. Plan a picnic lunch by the winery’s pond. Those who want to stay nearby will notice that the Amador Harvest Inn is next door and includes a home-cooked breakfast.

12455 Steiner Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-4099

16.Bray Vineyards

Bray Vineyards was established in 1996 on 50 acres of land. By 2001, the vineyard was supplying local well-known wineries grapes. In 2004, they hired a winemaker and opened their own winery. Bray Vineyards currently uses 30 acres of their 50-acre property at a time, growing 22 varietals and producing a range of wines. They also produce extra-virgin estate-grown olive oil from olives grown on the property. The Tasting Room has a tasting fee of $5 per person, but that is waived if you buy a bottle. Because the space is small, groups of eight or more require reservations. The tasting room is open on Fridays from 11 am to 4 pm and on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm. Be sure to check their schedule for special events like Winefest and Black Friday Weekend. Unsurprisingly, Bray Vineyards also offers several wine clubs with free tastings and discounts on purchases.

10590 Shenandoah Rd, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6023

17.Bella Grace Vineyards

Bella Grace Vineyards is in the Sierra Foothills and has two tasting locations. You can visit the vineyard and wine cave plus enjoy tastings in Plymouth or sample the wine at their Victorian cottage within historic Sutter Creek. The couple behind Bella Grace Vineyards bought 50 acres of land with 20 acres filled with wine grapes in 2006. They began by supplying grapes to local wineries and soon began to produce their own wines as well. In 2011, they built a custom-designed-and-engineered cave for wine where the current handcrafted vintage ages in oak barrels. Visiting the tasting room to try the weekly lineup also includes the chance to have a picnic on the Plymouth property. Groups of eight or more should make reservations before visiting. Those who join a wine club get complimentary tastings, advance notice for limited-production wines, discounts on wine, and exclusive access to special events. There are also olive oil clubs with similar benefits.

22715 Upton Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-267-8053

18.Amador Brewing Company

Amador Brewing Company builds on the long tradition of Amador County producing fine wine and beer. They hope to reignite the more than 150 years of excellence in local brewing by creating high-quality craft beer. You will find a range of common and less-than-common beers to choose from. These include “Dirty Blonde,” IPA, Double Goat, Altbier, Kolsch, “Kit Carson Pale Ale,” Deep Hop Red, “Night Hike Porter,” “Martha,” Citrachicoe IPA, “Gimme the Juice,” Big Bounty, Pool Floatie Wheat, and Milk Stout, some of which are seasonal or have limited releases. In addition to enjoying a beer from Amador Brewing Company in their tasting room, you can find them at local restaurants and bars or take home a keg. Bring an appetite when you visit the tasting room as there are food trucks. The tap room is open on Fridays from 2 to 8 pm, on Saturdays from 11:30 am to 8 pm, and on Sundays from 11:30 am to 6 pm.

9659 Main St, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-507-1900

19.Young’s Vineyard

Young’s Vineyard features award-winning wines along with gorgeous grounds. There are beautiful gardens just waiting to be explored. The owners bought the property in 1992, at which point it was an operating winery with seven acres of grapes and production of 1,000 cases. Since then, they expanded to 30 acres of land and 3,000 cases. Ten of those acres of picnic grounds, lawns, gardens, and a tranquil pond, which visitors love to explore. The tasting room is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:30 am to 3:45 pm, on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 4:45 pm, and on Sundays from 10:30 to 3:45 pm. If you will only be around on Mondays, you can make an appointment. You should also check Young’s Vineyard regularly for special events, like Wine Club Release Parties, which typically include music and food, like artisan pizzas.

10120 Shenandoah Rd, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-3005

20.Taste

Taste is located on Main Street, giving easy access to delicious dining in Amador County. Taste strives to serve healthy, seasonal, and flavorful meals. Their menu constantly changes. On Mondays, you can try the special Prix Fixe menu from the chefs. At the Wine Bar, enjoy bites like caprese, crispy sardine, a cheese plate, or a Taste sandwich. The lunch and dinner menus include dishes like Creekstone Farms Filet Mignon, Rosen Farms Rack of Lamb, Seared Duck Breast, and Sweet Corn & Peaches. There are also several desserts and an extensive wine and beer menu. They serve dinner from Thursdays to Tuesdays, opening at 4:30 pm on weekends and 5 pm on weekdays. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Taste serves lunch between 11:30 pm and 2 pm. They recommend reservations for seating in the dining room. The Wine Bar has the full Dinner Menu plus the Wine Bar menu but open seating. There are also occasional special events like wine lunches.

9402 Main Street, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-3463

21.Jeff Runquist Wines

Jeff Runquist Wines produces 22 red varietals that come from 9 appellations, with grapes originally from all across the state of California. Their wines are balanced and can be enjoyed while still young or gain complexity with time. The wines have a fresh fruit theme that reflects the varied flavors in the grapes. The team launched its own label in 1995 following 18 years of producing wine. The winery was built on land purchased in 2006, opening in 2008, joined by production facilities in 2010 and 2013. The tasting room is open from Thursdays to Mondays between 11 am and 5 pm. Because of the space, groups of six or more must make an appointment ahead of time. For a unique experience, consider staying in the “R” Vineyard House, a 3,600-square-foot home with views of the winery and vineyards. It sleeps eight comfortably and has a fully-equipped kitchen, multiple decks, and a saltwater swimming pool.

10776 Shenandoah Road, Plymouth, CA, Phone: 209-245-6282