Discover the serenity of Amador County… where sounds of footsteps on the boardwalks echo off the overhanging balconies. Lean on a hitching post, where dirt once supported the hooves of horses. Imagine a time past, yet preserved, in the small communities that still dot these rolling hills.

From one perspective, not much has changed in Amador County. From the mines of old to the wines of new, Amador has progressed through a natural change of nature’s assets. Although the mining head frames still appear on distant hills, they have been quieted over time. The remnants of deep shafts reflect a proud heritage of hardworking emigrants who braved long journeys in search of new and better lives in California. Those who discovered better lives, relished in them. Those who failed, made an even greater mark on history, for they are the ones history books are written about to illustrate the solid American values of self-reliance and hard work.

With their hands and hearts, settlers built towns out of tents… with each filling a special need. Drytown was dry. Jackson was the center of trade and commerce, while Sutter Creek – just two hills over – centered its energies on entertaining the weary and wealthy. Amador City, Volcano, Plymouth, Fiddletown, Ione, and others, completed the synergy of all the towns and people that made the historic 49er era one of the most notable periods in American history. It is, perhaps, the pinnacle of the settling west.

Journey with us as we rediscover Amador County, a place of hidden vines in golden times.