Monday, June 18, 2012

Expect Grape Things in Fair Play California Wine Country

If, by chance, you are looking for a romantic spot in Fair Play, California to spend some long deserved "off time" this is the place! The cottage décor is Wine Country and Sierra Mountain inspired, giving guests the true feel of Gold Country. Completely furnished and equipped with all the comforts of a first class accommodation, your winery excursion, vacation or holiday stay at the cottage is sure to leave you pleasantly surprised.

"The Rest of Your Days Depends on the Rest of Your Nights" and Relaxing in the cottages Gold Country Charm after wine tasting makes the day complete. The cottage has a bubbling outdoor hot tub for relaxing after a long day on the trail. Self-serve complimentary breakfast is convenient and ample while you prepare for a day of wine and fun. Guests can utilize wifi to stay connected with the outside world, and a new 42" Flat Screen is perfect for watching your favorite movies. The cottages wide plank flooring gives an old country feel throughout the nearly 900 Square Feet of living space, and gives you plenty of room to spread out during your stay. The vaulted ceiling living room has a Tuscan Country feel and the dining area with antique ice cream parlor set seats 4 and is perfect for special occasion dining. The fully equipped kitchen provides all the needed wares for preparing and serving your specially planned meals, and don't hesitate to use any of the specialty cooking oils, spices and fresh garlic left out for all visiting culinary artists. The master bedroom with King Iron 4 poster bed is tastefully decorated and features wall-to-wall luxury carpet and plenty of dresser and closet space for any traveler's needs. Satellite TV includes music channels and a Hi-fi Stereo System for your listening pleasure.

The rental's property is heavily vegetated and dotted with granite rock outcroppings, huge walnut and cedar trees, as well as old stone walls that provide charm and ambiance to the grounds. Private and serene you can enjoy outdoor barbequing in your private back yard, or just lounge under the trees and enjoy a glass of wine and enjoy a good book. Also on property are 2 lovely quarter/paint horses, so don't forget your carrots!

Fair Play is located in the Sierra Foothills of California and consists of a contiguous area of granitic sandy loam soils in the "mountainous uplands" of El Dorado County, as defined by the USDA.The granitic, sandy loam soils of Fair Play impart distinctive signature characteristics in the resultant wines from grapes grown in the Fair Play region. The terrain is generally composed of rolling hillsides and rounded ridge tops. At an elevation of 2,000 to 3,000 feet, each vineyard's topographic location in relationship to the immediate surroundings is of utmost importance to minimize the negative effects of late spring frosts. Most of the vineyards are situated on ridge tops or hillsides, allowing cold air to drain to lower ground.

The elevation of the Fair Play region plays a role in the amount of rainfall, generally about 35 to 40 inches in an average year. Rainfall increases as the elevation increases, roughly 3 to 4 inches for every 1000 foot rise in elevation. However, the length of the growing season follows a reverse pattern; as elevation increases, the growing season decreases. Fair Play enjoys an average growing season of between 230 and 250 days, with areas to the west and southwest showing over 250 days Fair Play originated as a gold mining camp in the Sierra Foothills during the California gold rush. The first recorded settlers at Fair Play, as it was originally spelled, were N. Sisson and Charles Staples in 1853. Fair Play was a prosperous little mining town with several stores and hotels.

According to local tradition, the name arose from an incident in which an appeal to "fair play" forestalled a fight between two miners. Although Fair Play was at first only a mining camp, the town later became a trading center and post office for drift and hydraulic mines in the area. Provisions were shipped to Fair Play and to Slug Gulch to the east, over steep mountain roads.

In the 1880's, agriculture was the principle economic activity, although a stamp mill still operated. The California gold rush came to an end when the State Legislature restricted hydraulic mining, leaving only a few surviving hardrock mines. Most mining camps like Fair Play dwindled and all but disappeared, except for the occasional store and school to serve the remaining farmers and ranchers after the miniers drifted on. Only two businesses (the grocery and hardware), the former schoolhouse (now a residence), and the old cemetery remain.

The reawakening of Fair Play as a wine growing region didn't really occur until the planting of an experimental vineyard on Ben Simm's Diamond Bar Ranch in 1967. By studying the trial vineyard, it was determined, that among others, but most notable, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay could be expected to produce excellent dry table wines in the Fair Play region.
Currently, the total acreage of wine grapes is approximately 350 acres, of which about 250 acres are currently in production.

So no need to go to Napa, Fair Play offers Northern California visitors a convenient and affordable alternative. Fair Play wineries have been competing in the California State Fair and have brought home the infamous Golden Bear Award for Winemaking Excellence, so don't miss out, tastings are generally free and wine club prices at all wineries cannot be matched. Expect Grape Things from your visit!



This news article is brought to you by EXTREME - where latest news are our top priority.

No comments:

Post a Comment