A Winter Wine Trip? Stay In a Winery/Lodge on the Way to Ski Country

El Dorado County's only organically grown wines can be found at Fitzpatrick Winery and Lodge, a five bedroom log cabin bed and breakfast located in Fair Play, south of Route 50 and north of Route 88.

If you're heading to South Lake Tahoe, it's a 45 minute detour off Route 50 to get to the winery which boasts a roaring fire and a giant Christmas tree in the lodge.


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Owner and founder Brian Fitzpatrick, a U.C. Davis graduate with a degree in soil and water science, arrived in the region in 1980 and started the first winery in Fair Play, which is located in the southern portion of El Dorado County. There are now 19 wineries in Fair Play and 34 total in the county.

Fitzpatrick's is the only organic one among them. Here's a view of the vineyards.



Fitzpatrick, who is Irish, and only to happy to explain the contribution of the Irish to the history of wine in America, and his wife Diana, who is of Basque descent, offer plenty of hospitality in the lodge, which is located at the top of a hill at 2,500 feet of elevation. There are 360 degree views from the property.

They also name their wines with homages to their native traditions - their Sauvignon Blanc is named "Eire Ban Sauvignon Blanc," their Basque Heritage Red "Tippitonia," and, most uniquely of all, their Sangiovese is named Tir na nOg or "our Irish Chianti."

Ah America.

And as if that wasn't enough frivolity to make you curious enough to visit and try their wine (tasting is free), check out their friend's fire breathing dragon, from this video made at the winery.



There are many more videos about Fitzpatrick Winery and Lodge on YouTube. Click here for more.