Gold Country – Color is Yet Undiscovered

Narrow Gate Vineyards (10/13/12) John Poimiroo

Today, we traveled through the Gold Country, from Folsom along U.S. 50 to Placerville and Pleasant Valley.  15 – 30% of the sycamore along Iron Point Rd in Folsom are exhibiting their lovely chartreuse tones.   In El Dorado Hills (800′) exotics like sycamore and Chinese pistache are just beginning to show chartreuse and hints of purple.

At Narrow Gate Vineyards, harvest is near complete and yet the vines are just beginning to show color.  Their just-released Cab Syrah scores 100% in our book, though this superb wine will begin to peak in a year and reach peak in five.  We bought futures and are grinning with anticipation of  the peak to come.

On Pleasant Valley Rd, south of Placerville, from 0 – 15% of sumac have turned bright yellow.  These trees are numerous in the Sierra foothills and along with bigleaf maple provide lots of yellow in the woods.

0 – 15% – Gold Country – Although there are patches of bright color, most foliage in the Gold Country are not showing much color, as yet.