Beer, Wine & Spirits in Diamond Springs

Casual visitors to Harmony Wynelands Winery might be forgiven for thinking the vineyard’s name derives from its perfectly balanced wine selection, but a surprise waits in the blue and white barn amid the rows of grape vines. There presides owner Bob Hartzell’s prize possession: the 2/11 Robert Morton organ that was originally installed in the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. The winery satisfies music lovers with regularly scheduled concerts, enophiles with on-demand tasting experiences, and both at the same time with finger-licking wineglass players. The musical theme is also reflected in the vineyard’s Orchestra wine club, which fans can join at a Soloist or Maestro level to receive wine shipments and special offers.

For four generations, the Watts family has been growing grapes beside the Mokelumne River, and their fresh and fruity wines have drawn accolades at state and county fairs across the country. They began by simply growing grapes for other wineries and their pet bats before their first efforts at fermentation, and their long experience in viniculture show in a fruit-focused philosophy that seeks to draw out the best properties of their riverside microclimate. An intimate, recently built tasting room done up in vernal green welcomes oenophiles to try the latest blends or a sip from the Butterfly line, whose proceeds help support pediatric-cancer research.

At Wines of Wine OT’s polished, granite-topped wine bar, wine connoisseurs pour small sips of vintages from Six Hands Winery and Sorelle Winery. Catering completely to diehard oenophiles, the storefront stocks a vast inventory of handmade wine-barrel furniture. Artisans dismantle barrels and reassemble them into Adirondack chairs, cocktail tables, and fire pits. Additionally, they stock hundreds of white oak wine barrels, which customers can repurpose as home decor or fish-shooting galleries.