(El Dorado County, CA) — Two dozen El Dorado County wineries will bring their version of gold from the Sierra Foothills to San Francisco on Saturday, March 20, during an elegant tasting at Postrio Restaurant near Union Square. Consumers and trade members can taste medal-winning zinfandels, Bordeaux, Rhone and Burgundian varietals, all in one luxurious location.

It’s an opportunity to meet the affable El Dorado winemakers who farm and handcraft these wines and taste several varietals rarely available in the Bay Area, due to the wines’ limited production.

A public tasting from 2 – 5 p.m. follows an invitation-only trade gathering that begins at noon at Postrio, inside the Prescott Hotel.

El Dorado’s vintners are known for crafting elegant, well-balanced varietals from Pinot Noir to Syrah to Zinfandel — all grown in a diversity of microclimates in dramatic elevations up to 3,500 feet. Dozens of El Dorado wines recently were honored in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, with awards that included three best-of-class and judges’ choice winners.

The March 20 gathering is the first time the Prescott has hosted a trade and consumer tasting event like this. “We wanted to bring in one of California’s oldest wine making regions, and show this city the quality and diversity that El Dorado is known for,” said organizer Michael Whipple, a San Francisco wine consultant and founder of VinUnderground. The hotel has special rates available for guests attending the event.

In addition to the 100 or so wines available for sampling, guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres including Moroccan braised short ribs, proscuitto-wrapped squab and Hamachi crudo, prepared by local chef Jordan Grosser. Live jazz will cap off the afternoon in the Postrio Salon.

Participating El Dorado Wineries:
Auriga Wine Cellars , Boeger Winery ,
Busby Cellars,
Cedarville Vineyards ,
Chateau Rodin , Colibri Ridge Winery & Vineyards , Crystal Basin Cellars , David Girard Vineyards,,
Fenton Herriott Vineyards , Fitzpatrick Winery & Lodge,
Gold Hill Vineyard ,
Granite Springs Vineyards , Holly’s Hill Vineyards , Latcham Vineyards , Lava Cap Winery , Madroña Vineyard s, Miraflores Winery , Mount Aukum Winery , Narrow Gate Vineyards , Perry Creek Vineyards , Sierra Oaks Estates , Sierra Vista Vineyards & Winery , Single Leaf Vineyards & Winery ,
Windwalker Vineyard

The event is presented by Postrio Restaurant, the El Dorado Winery Association and VinUnderground.com.

What: El Dorado County Winemakers Tasting
When: Saturday, March 20, 2010
Where: Postrio Restaurant in the Prescott Hotel, 545 Post St., San Francisco
Time: 2 – 5 p.m. Public Tasting
12 – 2 p.m. Trade Tasting (invitation only)
Tickets: $38 per person for the Public Tasting, available at www.vinunderground.com