River Rock Ranch Winery

So, we drove to this place way out in the middle of nowhere. There were signs that pointed us to the winery, but one of the roads was actually washed out by the rains. We finally got there, only to find the tasting room was basically a tool shed behind a house, which you couldn’t see from the road. Everything was locked tight as a drum, and an older abandoned looking car was parked in front of the tasting room. Really creepy. We just left.

Part of the wine trail. Furthest out from Lincoln. Drove past all the small signs. No clear indication.
Pulled up to this house winery. No signs it was open or what to do. Not even sure this was still open.
We didn’t bother knocking on the door. Other reviewers said to knock but really weird.
I would say this place was not open. Probably not going to say it’s open.

My girlfriend and i decided to check out this winery as our last stop for the day on a the Placer County Wine Trail. The drive was peaceful but far away from town and the furthest from all other wineries on the map. We missed the turn as the sign was hidden in tall grass. Once we looped around and got back on track we traveled down a dusty road and finally found the winery (which in this case was in a small shed behind a house). It was at this point that we questioned if we wanted to proceed and try the wine. After several minutes we decided to enter the shack and see what this winery had to offer. Walking inside we were greeted by an elderly man and another couple that had finished tasting wine and purchased a bottle. We made small talk with the couple and mentioned that we found this winery thanks to the event to which the owner of the shack mumbled how much he didnt like this event, which of course made us feel unwelcome.
We then sat down and sampled the wine. None of the wines were worth tasting and left a taste in our mouths that could be described as bitter, soul, and of vinger mixed with a large handful of pepper. Halfway through trying the wine my girlfriend could no longer stomach the horrible taste so as not to be rude i finished her glass. After trying all the wines we kindly said goodbye and thanked the owner. Once we got back in the car to leave my stomach began to curdle and turn and i felt very ill. I can say that the wines we sampled were worse than some of the cheapest wines you can purchase at a gas station. My advice, do no waste you time or money at this winery.

The first time we visited this winery there was no one in the tasting room and we were so sad. Skip to two years later or last weekend and we decided to venture out and try again and crossed our fingers there would be someone available to pour. To our luck there was and it was the owner, a sweet older gentleman who’s wife you will find on his wine label. The small quaint tasting room is next next to his house on land where he grows all his own grapes along with fruit trees to feed his family. I loved it, as it is a small family own winery and I find that these wineries have far more character and personality then the oversize commercialized ones. You might even see his grandchildren hanging from branches in the trees.
If by chance you arrive like we did on our first visit and no one is in the tasting room just go to the house next door and give a knock and he will come out to pour.
This winery is sweet and worth a visit.