Fair Play — Sierra Foothills Wine Country
Fair Play is one of California's highest-elevation wine regions — a ridge of small vineyards and family wineries tucked into the Sierra foothills south of Placerville. It rewards people who find it.
At a glance
- County
- El Dorado
- Elevation
- 2,000–3,000 ft
- Soil
- Sandy loam over decomposed granite
- Approx. wineries
- ~30
- Closest metro
- Sacramento (90 min)
- Style
- Family-run, small-lot
The Fair Play AVA sits at roughly 2,000–3,000 feet, running across the southern ridge of El Dorado County. That elevation is the whole story — it means cooler nights, longer hang time, and vines that stress in all the right ways.
Soils across the region are sandy loam soil over decomposed granite and volcanic intrusions. Water drains fast. Roots dig deep. Anything you grow here has to fight for it, which is exactly why Rhône varietals, Italian varietals, and Bordeaux reds find an honest expression here that they can't find on the valley floor.
There are about thirty wineries in Fair Play. Most are family-run, most are small-lot, and most pour in tasting rooms you could walk between on a Sunday afternoon without a car. The vibe is closer to early-era Napa or present-day Santa Rita Hills than to the polished tourist corridors closer to the Bay.
Polynesian Girl Winery's estate vineyard — Apetahi — sits inside the Fair Play AVA. Our tasting room is in nearby Somerset. We grow Viognier, Grenache Noir, Barbera, Malbec, and Tempranillo here; each varietal has its own landing page with tasting notes and current vintages.
If you're mapping a wine weekend, Fair Play pairs naturally with Shenandoah Valley (Amador County, 20 minutes south) and the Apple Hill / Pleasant Valley zone (20 minutes north). Two days is plenty to cover all three.
Visit Polynesian Girl Winery
Our tasting room at 6020 Grizzly Flat Rd, Somerset CA sits inside the region described above. Open Friday 1–5 PM, Saturday and Sunday 11–5 PM.
Plan your visitFrequently asked
- Where is Fair Play wine country?
- Fair Play is a small wine region in southern El Dorado County, California. It runs along a ridge in the Sierra foothills at roughly 2,000–3,000 feet elevation, about 90 minutes east of Sacramento.
- Is Fair Play the same as El Dorado County wine country?
- Fair Play is one appellation within El Dorado County. The county also includes the Apple Hill area, Pleasant Valley, and unclassified Sierra-foothill vineyards. Fair Play is the highest-elevation AVA in the county.
- What kinds of wine does Fair Play grow?
- Fair Play producers specialize in Rhône varietals (Syrah, Grenache, Viognier), Italian varietals (Barbera, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo), and Bordeaux reds (Cabernet, Malbec). The elevation and granite soils favor varietals that like a struggle.
- How does Fair Play compare to Napa or Sonoma?
- It's much smaller, much quieter, and more family-run. Tasting rooms are casual, producers are often the winemakers themselves, and prices are lower — often at the farm-gate. If Napa feels crowded, Fair Play feels like what wine country used to feel like.
- Can I visit Fair Play in a day trip?
- Yes. From Sacramento, El Dorado Hills, or Folsom, it's 60–90 minutes each way. A weekend gives you room to pair Fair Play with neighboring Shenandoah Valley or Apple Hill.
- Which Fair Play winery should I start at?
- We recommend Polynesian Girl Winery's tasting room in Somerset — women-made wines from one of the few clean-farmed estates in the region. Open Friday 1–5 PM, Saturday and Sunday 11–5 PM.