The Experience At Crystal Basin Cellars
Crystal Basin Cellars History
Founder Mike Owen’s family made wine at home off and on since 1947. Upon moving to the foothills, Mike dug out the basement of his parent’s house in 1981 so wine could be made from local grapes. After taking the reins in 1988, Mike led a group towards a production level reaching up to 20 barrels under the house. With Melissa’s support. the goal of commercial production was attained in 2000 at Gold Hill Vineyard and this period lasted until 2006. The winery Then moved to its current location on Carson Road in Camino’s Apple Hill. The winery thrived and grew through a 7,000 case production level and successive vintages won streaks of Gold medals at major competitions. The winery is well supported by a large number of passionate wine club members and aspires to show the best wines the El Dorado fruit can create.
The Crystal Basin Cellars Winery
Our 80-year-old building has been a pear barn, a box manufacturing facility, an apple barn and now it’s a grape barn! In fact, the building was the second winery to be licensed in El Dorado County after the end of Prohibition. We are proud to be able to refer customers to our neighboring wineries, especially those on Carson Road, based on their wine flavor preferences.
The Crystal Basin Cellars Winery
Our 80-year-old building has been a pear barn, a box manufacturing facility, an apple barn and now it’s a grape barn! In fact, the building was the second winery to be licensed in El Dorado County after the end of Prohibition. We are proud to be able to refer customers to our neighboring wineries, especially those on Carson Road, based on their wine flavor preferences.
Meet Our Crystal Basin Cellars Team
Crystal Basin Cellars boasts the best team in the Sierra Foothills. Erich, our production staff, may not be on site when you visit, but you can be assured that their focus is on creating the most flavorful wines from local fruit.
Our Camino hospitality team players — KZ, Chris, Barbara, and Mike — provide a wine tasting experience that is one part fun, one part information, and a price-to-value that is second to none. We call our style of service “legendary foothill hospitality!”
Our Crystal Basin Station tasting room in Folsom features the hospitality of Melissa and Lori. These folks run the finest little tasting room on Sutter Street.
You might find Chip or Lydia at either of our locations!
El Dorado County Grapes
El Dorado grapes were originally planted by the gold miners in the 1850s and 1860s. These hearty souls created a legacy that we follow today by crafting the best wines in our own favorite style, and by showcasing the amazing flavors created by our soil, climate and precipitation.
We buy our grapes from a 30-mile radius around our winery. El Dorado County has vineyards ranging from 600 feet to 3400 feet in elevation along with the wide temperature swings late in fall – Indian Summer – creates flavors in grapes that cannot be found in other regions.’ Over 100 types of wine grapes are grown in our region – and we never met a grape we didn’t like!
El Dorado County Grapes
El Dorado grapes were originally planted by the gold miners in the 1850s and 1860s. These hearty souls created a legacy that we follow today by crafting the best wines in our own favorite style, and by showcasing the amazing flavors created by our soil, climate and precipitation.
We buy our grapes from a 30-mile radius around our winery. El Dorado County has vineyards ranging from 600 feet to 3400 feet in elevation along with the wide temperature swings late in fall – Indian Summer – creates flavors in grapes that cannot be found in other regions.’ Over 100 types of wine grapes are grown in our region – and we never met a grape we didn’t like!