Discover Somerset: Vineyards, Cellars and Nature

Somerset offers several distinct wine and landscape experiences to consider when planning a trip: a guided tour from vineyard to cellar, waterbird watching at a pond, a hillside setting beside a wooded creek, and a tour to a summit that requires a reservation. Experiences range from watching wildlife by the water to guided outings through vineyards and forest. When choosing a hotel in Somerset, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay.

Location at the Somerset Four Corners

The tasting room of Polynesian Girl Wine is located at the Somerset Four Corners, at the intersection of Bucks Bar Road and Mt. Aukum Highway, right next to Gold Vine Grill. It is in the El Dorado County wine region. The two street names and the neighboring restaurant provide especially specific location details; at the same time, the reference to the wine region places the location in a broader regional context. This landmark differs from the wineries and guided tours defined by their landscapes: its location at the Four Corners is its distinctive feature.

Vineyards and landscapes

E16 Winery is built into a hillside vineyard in Somerset, bordering a wooded creek. The grounds include a footbridge and a shaded patio. The character of this place comes from the combination of the vineyard and hillside with the wooded creek; the bridge and patio are additional features of the grounds. If you consider landscape when planning your trip, this offers a different focus from a tour that goes from vineyard to cellar.

At Chaney Family Winery, a guided tour leads from the vineyard to the cellar. It connects two clearly defined areas: the vineyard as the starting point and the cellar as the destination. This makes the experience different in format from a seated wine tasting or a tour that combines vineyards, forest, ponds, and a summit. If you plan to make a guided tour an important part of your stay, this route is a specific factor to consider. Tour arrangements may change, so check the visitor information in advance.

Waterbirds and guided experiences

Visitors to the grounds of Element 79 Vineyards can regularly watch many different species of waterbirds at a pond. The nature experience here centers on the pond and the bird species that can be seen there. If you are interested in waterbirds, this viewing opportunity is a distinct aspect of trip planning, alongside tours and wine tastings.

Element 79 Vineyards also offers a guided tour through vineyards and forest that passes ponds and reaches a summit 2,401 feet high. It is available by reservation only and subject to availability. There is also a guided seated wine tasting with house-made charcuterie boards. The tour is defined by its route and summit destination, while the tasting brings together wine and food in a seated format. Keep the reservation requirement and availability in mind when planning the tour; details of the charcuterie boards may change.

Discover more destinations: Echo Lake, Cameron Park, South Lake Tahoe, Upper Forni, Camino, Kyburz, Rescue, Pollock Pines.

For the broader travel overview: El Dorado.