Andis Wines Review

Address: 11000 Shenandoah Road Plymouth,California 95669.
Phone Number: 209-245-6177
Tasting Hours: Daily 11:00-4:30

Region: Sierra Foothills AVA, Amador County, California Shenandoah Valley AVA, California
Reviewer: Yvonne Kochanowski
Review Date: 4/20/2012
Reviewer: Yvonne Kochanowski
Rating: 3

The Review

Round a corner and there it is, its metallic aerodynamic structure set on the hilltop seeming to fly through the constant breezes. Surrounded by vineyards in the heart of Amador County, Andis Wines presents classy wines resulting from innovative production concepts and staged with modern appeal.

The Place: &nbspThe first thing striking feature on the drive up to the Andis winery is the wall of recycled barrel staves extending the length of the building. Geometric patterns hint at the modern winemaking techniques and the clean, crisp lines exhibited by the resulting wines. Surrounding the glass walls of the tasting room, a large lawn and tables shaded by umbrellas provide a striking view of the area, a place to picnic if you’ve brought one and wile away an afternoon. Andis throws terrific events, such as their luau and other happenings that are unusual for the area.

The Experience: &nbspThe tasting room itself is expansive with a long bar area and tables for standing and sipping as well. Bottles of white wine for purchase are available chilled in case you want to lounge in the comfortable lawn chairs for a time. The cool modern feel of the building and grounds can extend to the staff too though. On this second visit when we were the only visitors, we again felt like we were being rushed, with little discussion about the wines themselves unless we asked very specific questions.

The Wines: &nbspAndis is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, and its sparkling wine is rich and creamy. The winery is also rightly proud of its Cabernet Franc, Barbera, and Painted Fields (a blend), as well as the Zinfandel and Syrah for which this region is well known. Unfortunately, the tasting list is very short with only six wines available. Most wines are distributed through the wine club or to local restaurants and retail wine shops.

The People: &nbspIf there is one thing Andis could definitely improve upon, it would be customer service. Tasting room staff on both occasions appeared to care little about their visitors and knew little about the sources of the grapes, wine production methods, or history of the winery. On a previous attempt to join the wine club, numerous calls produced no response. On this visit, we were not even asked if we’d like to join.

Insider’s Tip: &nbspThe winery has a private tasting room available for events, with a window into the barrel room and doors leading out to the lawn. The spaciousness of the tasting room overall handles large groups well. While customer service remains a concern, and the list of available wines is brief, the wines offered are well worth the drive for those with patience.