Two El Dorado wineries have relocated for different reasons. Here’s what to know
Two El Dorado County-based wineries have recently relocated, with one holding its grand opening tomorrow.
Sentivo Vineyards, which had operated out of its winery in Fair Play since 2011, has moved its tasting room to 3040 Ponderosa Road in Shingle Springs, with a grand opening on Saturday, May 16. The location was formerly the site of Cielo Estate, which Sentivo has acquired.
The move is actually almost five years in the making. The year prior to Jimmy Pierson and his family acquiring the Sentivo in 2022, they were in contract to acquire the Shingle Springs property. However, the owner at that time became involved in a multi-year legal battle.
“We ended up in Fair Play. We loved it, loved the property. But also for us as a boutique winery, where a lot of our stuff was outsourced, we were able to kind of learn the process over the last four years. So we felt ready when this property went through the legal process, and the owners called us and said, hey, we’re ready to re-engage,” Pierson said.
The move to Shingle Springs marks a significant evolution in the winery’s production. The Fair Play property is 20 acres, with five acres of planted grapes and a roughly 1500 square foot tasting room.
The Shingle Springs property is about 41 acres, with four main buildings: the tasting room, which is about 2,500 square feet plus additional outdoor tasting space, a production facility, a farmhouse that was built 1892 and a huge grass area with an event venue that holds about 200 people. There’s even a wine cave, for a true winery experience.
“When we bought Sentivo, all their production was already off site. We use different crush facilities in El Dorado, and we have another one in St. Helena, but now with this facility, we will be making, hopefully, all our wine here on property,” he said.
However, the production facility needs some rehabilitation. He estimates production will be up by fall of 2027.
As part of the acquisition, Sentivo retains the intellectual property of Cielo Estate, including its branding, member base and existing inventory, which will be sold under the Sentivo imprimatur.
During the week of the grand opening, the Shingle Springs tasting room will be closed Monday through Wednesday, then will resume its normal hours, according to a social media post.
Sentivo also has a tasting room in Fairfield, in Suisun Valley.
Sentivo’s move is not the only in the region. Crystal Basin Cellars vacated its original facility in Camino on April 1 and moved its production and tasting room to 2850 Cold Springs Road, Suite A, in Placerville. It opened April 8.
The move was a strategic step to rebuilding the company’s finances following a bankruptcy filing in 2024. Crystal Basin’s Camino property was deeded back to the holder of the second mortgage as part of the proceedings.
“Divesting ourselves of the real estate asset was a key element of getting ourselves right sized and continuing to operate at a lower cost level that we’re seeing down in Placerville. (It) is going to allow us to be able to sell our inventory out to faithful customers and make good on all of our obligations in bankruptcy,” owner Mike Owen said.
The approximately 10,000 square foot facility has wine storage, winemaking capacity, a patio on Hangtown Creek and a tasting room approximately twice the size of the previous one in Camino.
“We’ve got more space than we had in Camino at approximately 65% less cost. We’re committed to being one of the 9% of companies that come out of chapter 11,” Owen said.
