2025 Event To Feature 20+ El Dorado County Wineries on a Single Ticket
March 4, 2025 (Placerville, CA) — The El Dorado Winery Association’s (EDWA) Passport returns for its 34th year on April 26-27, 2025. The popular annual event allows guests to experience 24 family-owned wineries throughout El Dorado County, with each winery featuring signature food and wine tastings, reserve wines, and other surprises. An exceptional value, all winery offerings are included on a single Passport ticket.
“We love sharing the vast array of El Dorado mountain-grown wines, grown in unique and diverse microclimates at high elevations. This versatility makes up our amazing wine growing region,” said El Dorado Winery Association President Teena Hildebrand. “Passport showcases our delicious wines, offering guests the opportunity to taste over 30+ wine varieties and blends, paired with creative food in a festive setting, always making for a fun and memorable weekend for our guests to explore our entire region.”
Many wineries offer unique and entertaining experiences this year that are sure to captivate both new and returning Passport guests.
Like last year, everyone is a “VIP” at Passport 2025. Guests can choose from three ticket types: one-day, two-day, and Designated Driver. Tickets will be available through April 26 at eldoradowines.org/passport.
Wineries will offer a range of unique experiences, including educational opportunities, delectable food pairings, a chance to chat with winemakers, and wine club members-for-a-day specials. Participating wineries include the following:
Boeger Winery: Taste a stellar line-up of wines, including unique grapes that grow well in high-elevation vineyards and curated library selections. Guests will enjoy a charcuterie box full of goodies to pair with each wine and learn more about the history of their enchanting estate. Passport guests receive discounts on wine purchases made during their visit! Reservations required.
Bumgarner Winery, Camino: They’ll be featuring a Country Fair theme with wine and Hard Ciders, featuring apple donuts, gourmet popcorn, and hand-dipped corn dogs.
Bumgarner Winery, Fair Play: Enjoy French-style wines and a foodie experience.
Busby Cellars: Join them for delicious food and hand-crafted limited-production wines while taking in panoramic vineyard views from the courtyard and picnic grounds. Enjoy their newest releases, old favorites, and modest prices! Located just one mile from Somerset Corner.
Château d’ Estienne: Indulge your senses and sip on exquisite, award-winning wines while soaking in the stunning surroundings. Enjoy Portuguese varietals and the best Port in North America, voted by the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, paired with delicious hors d’oeuvres. Reservations are required.
Chateau Davell: Sample a selection of current releases, library wines, and barrel tasting with small bites and wine discounts for Passport attendees.
Crystal Basin Cellars: They’ll host a western-themed day at the winery with pork ribs and cowboy rice to accompany excellent wines.
Fenton Herriott Vineyards: Join them for food pairings, live music, and wine specials and discounts.
Findleton Estate Winery: New this year is their Bubbles and Bites experience—reservations are required.
Golden Leaves Vineyard & Winery: Experience exceptional food, wine, and warm hospitality regardless of the weather. Enjoy an assortment of bites paired with bubbly, white, rosé, and red wines. Vegan, dairy, and gluten-free options are always available. Passport guests will receive access to case specials.
Holly’s Hill Vineyard: Embark on a culinary adventure at Holly’s Hill, where Winemaker Josh will amaze you with his artisanal pizzas and delight your palate with a unique fusion of wines and beers. Sip on the rich flavors of estate-grown Rhone wines, including inventive twists like Dry-Hopped Viognier and Frizzante Vermentino.
Lava Cap Winery: Join the Jones Family at Lava Cap Winery to taste high-elevation wines grown in our unique volcanic soil. Relax to some smooth music whilst sipping wine paired with classic Americana-inspired cuisine.
Madroña Vineyards: One of the original Passport pioneers, Madroña Vineyards will feature a memorable food and wine pairing. Reservations are recommended, as this is a sit-down experience.
Medeiros Family Wines: Come visit for live music, barrel tasting with small bite pairings, and special discounts on wine for passport holders.
Mellowood Vineyard: Enjoy KK’s famous Kenyan BBQ and Kachumbari and taste award-winning wines, with seating on the beautiful patios overlooking the oak grove and vineyard or inside the barrel room/event room. Take advantage of club-member-for-a-day discounts on wine purchases, mix & match specials, and case specials.
Meet and chat with the owner andand winemaker about his wines and his journey from Kenya to Fair Play wine country. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and warm hospitality on the southern end of the Fair Play AVA.
Narrow Gate Vineyards: Experience certified Biodynamic® grown wines: Rhone & Bordeaux varietals & blends, El Dorado classics, and our infamous Chocolate Splash. Sample their famous Passport Panini (Gluten Free & Vegetarians are welcome!). Enter to win a date with the winemaker, Frank Hildebrand: An “Adult Biodynamic field trip” in the vineyard and picnic-style gourmet wine pairing lunch in the cellar for six—date to be arranged based on mutual availability of the winner and winemaker.
All Passport attendees will enjoy wine club status, which includes delicious food, a generous tasting line-up of our new-release wines, discounted wine purchases, and warm hospitality.
Nello Olivo Winery (both locations): Their iconic “Godfather Experience” happens only once a year—and only at Passport! Start your day just two blocks from downtown Placerville at our historic (and haunted!) Sequoia Mansion tasting room. Indulge in 10 top-awarded wines paired with delectable Italian bites. Take advantage of special offers and play a themed game for prizes. The costumed staff and epic music add to the movie-inspired atmosphere.
Shadow Ranch Vineyard: They’ll serve their delicious Greek nachos to pair with incredible wines. Enjoy live music from 1 to 4 pm each day to get your groove on! The weekend will feature great food, dancing, and discounts on selected wines!
Skinner Vineyards & Winery: With a breathtaking view of Fair Play and music on the patio, guests will be offered a tasting flight of our unique Rhone varietals. Guests will also enjoy fig jam crostini, sausage bites, and more.
Toogood Cellars: Receive a flight of 6 wines paired with a flight of artisan cheeses. Explore Placerville’s rich history while sipping delicious wines.
Toogood Estate Winery: Enjoy small bites while tasting 10+ wonderful wines in the Wine Cave.
Vista del Mirador Winery: Meet the Mirador winemakers, sample wine, and feast on wood-fired pizza while learning about the importance of terroir, the history of the vines, and the techniques used during the wine-making process.
Windwalker Vineyard: Enjoy seasonal food pairings with select wines.
Information on tickets and participating wineries can be found at: https://eldoradowines.org/passport.
About El Dorado Winery Association
El Dorado Winery Association member wineries are a select group of small, independent wineries that meet the association’s strict criteria and embody the region’s spirit. They are independent producers who are invested in the county’s agriculture and source and produce locally. They exclusively feature wines from their legal AVAs: El Dorado, Fair Play, and Sierra Foothills. El Dorado wineries embrace uniqueness, diversity, and excellence in wine types and styles. Visit their website at eldoradowines.org to learn more.
