Young’s Vineyard

Rude! Rude! Rude!
With attitudes like that it turns your wine experience sour!
Get out of the wine business if you don’t like people. Snobby, arrogant, rude, will never return to this place.
It’s really unfortunate because the grounds are beautiful and they USE to be a great little winery 10 years ago!!!

While visiting Amador Co wineries few times in last couple of years for some reason we always skipped Young’s Vineyard. Perhaps because it’s a very 1^st winery we were planing to stop by on the way back, but never did until few days ago. And guess what? From now on I will definitely make it as our first destination! It’s probably one of the most beautiful grounds I’ve been to, and definitely most inviting! Wine is very good and most importantly compares to the best wines Amador can offer.
Wow!!! I’m impressed!!! Can’t wait to go back and sit outside with glass of their red.
PS. Fact, no fiction :) I’ve tried few wineries there but purchased 2 cases only from Young’s!!!

This used to be one of our favorite wineries. My husband and I would always stop here when we went tasting, which was once or twice a month. However in October 2013 we were taking our engagement photos in the Amador area and called several wineries beforehand to let them know. All of the wineries we called were super accommodating and happy to let us use their winery as a backdrop for our special photos. All of the wineries except Young’s. We were told that if we wanted to take photos there, we had to «pay for it.» We were in shock that they wanted is to pay to use their location for a few photos. We have not been back and have no plans to return in the future. I also used to buy their wine when I would go into the Nugget. I stopped doing that as well. It’s a shame because the wine really is delicious.

The wine is good, but it seems as though because of the location (first winery on the road) and the layout of the place is what makes it still in business. Otherwise, the customer service would be enough to put this place out years ago.
For starters, we first attempted this winery back in 2008 on a quiet week day with only us in the building. This didn’t matter, as the woman working the tasting room made it clear us walking in the door was just the worst thing that could happen to her.
We came back a few months later with friends, thinking surely we caught her on a bad day and after all, it is first on the map and a very pretty site. But alas, same woman, same bad attitude.
Fast forward a year or two later of completely driving past this place and I was taking a visiting friend out for her first wine tasting experience. I said to my friend, «Let me show you first a place that is just horrible. We will walk in, most likely the woman will be in the back room and ignore us for the first two-​five minutes before coming out while on the phone and pouring us samples. She won’t bother to tell us anything about the wine, and when she hangs up she will never bother to give us a proper greeting.» And sure as sh** this was EXACTLY what happened.
So, by this time I have completely written off Young’s Vineyard. But, a few weekends ago we were in the area again after moving away 4 years ago. My husband and I looked at each other and said… «Let’s just see…» We walked in, there was I think two other couples already tasting and yup… no greeting (there was more than one person pouring) no «I’ll be with you guys in a minute.» So, we stood for only about 30 seconds before walking out. Our time is more valuable than to be treated like third class citizens.
If you are a chump enough to pay to get married here, or be a wine club member… I can’t be friends with you.

Visited last week this quiet and sedate wine tasting room. The wine was fine, a little overpriced and the label artwork beautiful. We were taken aback, however at the condescending attitude of the woman serving who admitted to turning away limos of young patrons under the guise of being full. Though they don’t charge for tastings, her disparaging remarks about others who had not purchased wine made us feel pressured into buying their wine. Given the number of outstanding wineries in the Shenandoah valley I would probably skip this one.

My wife and I are thinking of visiting Amador County to wine taste this year. About 2 years ago we visited and had a great time, with the exception of our visit to Youngs. The woman was completely disinterested and could have cared less if we were there. I have seen recent reviews that show a better scenario, maybe she got fired or pulled the stick out of her ***. Anyway, the wines are very good. My uncle is a huge fan so we get to try them from time to time. But because of the one experience, we will not visit the tasting room again. Why only 2 stars? Atmosphere is a big part of the wine tasting experience. The wine may be good, but if the experience is lousy it ruins the whole thing.
Just a note, this review is from 2010. Not sure why it posted so late. But as I stated, we have not been back as a result of that visit. First impressions are everything.

Your Barbera is one of my favorites from the area. I want to say Thank you for hosting a group of 11 people this past weekend. You guys are awesome and I have always enjoyed your friendly staff. I also enjoy petting the fury friends of the vineyard!
Your area is perfect for photos in the Fall.
Definitely a must spot if you’re in the area.
Keep up the great job Young’s!

Great staff, great wine and beautiful picnic area. The owner Annette is very friendly. Proud to be a youngster

Staff was rude. Seemed to be some fighting/​arguing going on between a couple of the employees. Wine tastes were too small to properly judge the wine quality. Needless to say no wine was purchased here.

Our favorite! Best grounds and picnic local hands down. Wine quite good. Gorgeous labels. Probably our overall favorite of the dozens if wineries we visit! Petite Syrah really good and quite good Sangiovese too. Should not miss this place.

Found this winery on a chance and was so impressed my wife and I joined the wine club and became «Youngsters» as the wine club members are known. The wines are very good and reasonably priced. Their property is beautiful and the yearly release party was awesome.

Again another vineyard I love (no I do not love every one, just thought I would review my favorites first, i’ll get to the others)
Ok reasons I love this place, small intimate setting, the wine is really top notch. I like strong bold wines, Fruit forward, bit of spice and good tannins. Even if you just came for the wine that would be enough.
However, they also have lovely grounds, a pond, picnic tables with big red umbrellas beautiful garden setting surrounds the small house type tasting room.
I have had only good experiences with the staff. Their friendly, informative and not pushy.
Their Syrah is probably my favorite, but really you can’t go wrong with their wines.

Been here a couple times. Love the scenery.

Not good about showing their wine, you just stand there and the attendant is rude and seems bothered when you ask questions. The wine was pretty delicious.

I have never had rudeness from Annette (owner) or anyone else at Young’s. I have found them to be very accommodating if you have a group and call ahead, same for picnicking on grounds or whatever. Sometimes there is a fee. That landscaping doesn’t keep itself. ;-)

The wine can be **incredible** — but come to their release party in April or they’re sold out of the tastiest stuff. Probably some of the best wine I have ever had, and I grew up in Sonoma and Napa counties. Even took a bottle on the QE2, Queens Grill Class, and shared with the sommelier back in ’96. Great place, good people.

The wine was not very good, which was too bad.
The customer service was perfectly fine.
The grounds are beautiful. The yacht in the pond is a must see. I would totally have a commitment ceremony here.

I’ve been there on three different occasions, and have received very rude customer service every time. In talking with other vineyards and locals around the area, this seems to be the consensus.
Oh, and their wine isn’t anything to write home about, either. The best thing about this vineyard is their golden retriever.

We came just at close… We’ve been here many times, but it was just a reminder of how freindly folks are around here when they stayed to give us a tasting.
The expansive grounds are vibrant and amazing. What a fun place to relax and enjoy a picnic.
The tasting room opens up to the lake and grounds. It is very nice inside.
The bottle labels here are notably artistic. The wines are good, but young (no pun intended). Some tasters may be put off that their wines aren’t necessarily ready now to drink. Lay them down a few years, they’re built to last.
The Zinfandel is the stand out of the four pours we had.

The grounds are beautiful! The day I visited there was live music and the view was amazing!
I don’t remember much about the wines because the service was the only thing that stood out that day. Such awful service for a beautiful place! It really is a shame because that is all I can focus on!
I’d really like to believe that I caught this place on a bad day, but after reading the other reviews this just seems to be the theme. For the one lady that loves it she can have this winery there are plenty more to choose from with great wines and friendly staff.
Don’t waste your time!

My fellow Unilocalers must be having a totally different experience than I’ve had, and it’s really sad. I’m not doubting their experience, but it’s just simply very different than mine.
First, as you arrive you can not help but notice the attention to detail that goes in to maintaining this beautiful property. They have a plethora of amazing rose bushes and every one of them seems to be producing an abundance of great looking flowers, but it’s not just about the roses. They have an amazing array of quality flowers, and I’m sure that the serious horticulturist will enjoy this. You truly do understand why every weekend is booked for the rest of this summer and all of next for marriages and receptions on the property. They were setting one up yesterday as we visited.
Second, I’m just happy the place is open. For years we drove be and all we saw was the ‘sold out’ sign on the main gate.
Third, these are some of the most attractive labels in the Amador El Dorado Wine region. They are little works of art, and you are encouraged to stop for a moment and appreciate them.
Lastly, the wine is worth the visit. Please don’t assume that the wine is not good based on the fact that it’s fourth on the list, but this is where the visit really pays off. They have a spectrum of wines to taste, and their reds, like the entire region, are the strength of their line. We bought two bottles, and loved our visit.
Here’s the problem, and it’s a bittersweet problem for them to have. They’ve got a great property, they demand for their wine far outstrips the supply, they take the time to produce a great looking bottle, and now the word has gotten out. People love it. How do you possibly have all of this happen without attracting crowds. Yesterday was the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and the crowd was big and they were setting up for a wedding while we were having our taste. It almost reminded me of Rombauer on any Saturday afternoon.
What’s the answer? I don’t know, I’m not in the industry, but most wineries in Napa charge for their tastings. Would that keep a few folks away and improve the experience for those that want to taste? Probably, but I, for one, don’t want to see that happen. So, my suggestion would be for all of us to remember that crowds happen, patience gets short, and everybody wants to have a positive experience. Grab a glass of wine here, take a stroll, enjoy the property and great people you arrived with, and slow down a bit. You can try this, or maybe you can come and taste mid-​week. Beyond this, it might be as simple as re-​emphasizing good quality customer service for the employees. There is no simple answer.
In closing, my hope is that my fellow Unilocalers experiences are considered by the folks at Young’s and that they work on some of the very serious issues discussed, and that they work to make every customer matter. For me, I’ll be back, and I’ll continue to appreciate what they are doing so well.