Quick answer
A Placer County Wine Trail day trip from Roseville is one of the easiest group outings in the area: about 20 small wineries sit in Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis, Newcastle, Granite Bay and Rocklin, most within half an hour. Pick one of the trail's three routes, book three wineries ahead for a group of six or more, pack a picnic and settle who drives before anyone pours.
Key takeaways
- The Placer Wine Trail has about 20 small, mostly family-run wineries in Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis, Newcastle, Granite Bay and Rocklin, all close to Roseville.
- Pick one of the trail's three routes (Auburn, Wise Road or the Loomis Loop) and plan three wineries, not six.
- Many wineries cap walk-in groups: Casque asks groups to stay under eight, and Viña Castellano takes reservations for six or more.
- Most tasting rooms open Thursday to Sunday, so plan the day for a weekend or a Thursday or Friday.
- Choose a sober driver for every car or hire a licensed charter, and check its TCP number with the state.
In this guide
Why the Placer Wine Trail suits a group
The Placer Wine Trail is a set of small, mostly family-owned wineries in the Sierra Foothills, and it is the closest wine country to Roseville. You skip the drive to Napa, the tasting rooms are quieter, and you often meet the people who made the wine.
For a group, the short distances are the point. Wineries on the same route are a short drive apart, so the day has more time at the tables and less in the car. Several wineries welcome picnics, so lunch can come from the house.
If you are new to the area, our Roseville group trip guide covers the rest of a weekend, and our guide to day trips from Sacramento for groups covers Napa, Sonoma and Gold Country if you want to compare.
Three routes from Roseville
The Placer Wine Trail suggests three day-trip routes, and each makes a full, relaxed day from Roseville.
| Route | Towns | Wineries the trail lists | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn area | Auburn | Bonitata, Lone Buffalo, PaZa, Rappé Family Vineyards, Viña Castellano, Mt. Vernon | Old Town lunch, a hike at Hidden Falls |
| Wise Road area | Lincoln, Newcastle, Auburn, Penryn | Rancho Roble, Ciotti, Dora Dain, Dueling Dogs, Smokin' Barrel, Wise Villa, Dono dal Cielo, PaZa, Lone Buffalo, Lecavalier | A sit-down lunch at Wise Villa |
| Loomis Loop | Granite Bay, Loomis, Rocklin | Mount Saint Joseph, Twin Rocks, Casque, Hill Top Oaks, Secret Ravine, Cante Ao Vinho | Shortest drive from Roseville |
The Auburn route reaches Auburn's wineries via Old Town or Highway 49. The trail suggests pairing it with a hike at Hidden Falls Regional Park, then following the wine trail signs. Viña Castellano, on this route, has indoor and outdoor seating and a pond where picnics are welcome.
The Wise Road route strings together Lincoln, Newcastle and the edge of Auburn, in either direction. Wise Villa Winery in Lincoln has a full bistro, which makes it the natural lunch stop for a group that doesn't want to pack food.
The Loomis Loop winds through Granite Bay, Loomis and Rocklin, which border Roseville, so it has the least driving. Mount Saint Joseph Wines in Granite Bay opens in the evenings from Thursday to Saturday with live music weekly, which suits a group that wants to end the day there.
Booking a group tasting
Most Placer wineries welcome groups, but many want notice once you pass six or eight people. Rules from the wineries' own pages:
| Winery | Town | Hours listed | Group rule | Food |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casque Wines | Loomis | Thu to Sun, 11am to 5pm | Groups under eight walk in; email ahead to hold a patio table for more | Picnics welcome on the patio |
| Viña Castellano | Auburn | Thu to Sun, 12pm to 5pm | Reservations for groups of six or more, by phone | Picnics by the pond; no outside food in the tasting room |
| Mt. Vernon Winery | Auburn | Thu to Sun, 11am to 5pm | Call ahead | Ask the winery |
| Lone Buffalo Vineyards | Auburn | Check the winery's site | Call ahead | Picnics welcome on the patio |
| Wise Villa Winery | Lincoln | Check the winery's site | Call ahead | Full bistro on site |
Tasting fees vary. Casque, for example, lists $15 per person for a tasting of five to seven wines, free for wine club members. For the rest, check the current price on each winery's site.
How to book well:
- Call each winery a week ahead with the group size, arrival time and whether you are bringing food.
- Space the bookings about 90 minutes apart. That leaves time to taste, buy and drive without rushing.
- Tell them about kids and dogs. Casque, for one, welcomes supervised children and well-behaved dogs during regular hours; others may differ.
- Ask about bad weather. Patio bookings may be moved if the weather turns, so ask what happens in rain.
Designated drivers and getting around
Every car needs a driver who isn't drinking, or the group needs a hired driver. Settle it the night before, not in the first parking lot.
Two ways to do it:
- A designated driver per car. Two or three cars from one house, each with a driver who skips the tastings or only sips and spits. Give the drivers something to look forward to: a free lunch on the group, or first choice of bedroom.
- A hired driver or charter van. For a group of 10 to 20, one vehicle keeps everyone together and lets every adult taste.
Other ways to keep the day safe and pleasant:
- Eat a real breakfast at the house and a proper lunch on the trail.
- Bring a case of water and keep it in each car.
- Use the spit bucket. Nobody at a small winery will mind.
- Ship or carry bottles in the trunk, out of the sun.
Picnics, food and holiday weekends
Food makes a wine day work for a group, and on the Placer trail you have three options: a picnic from the house, a bistro lunch, or food trucks.
- Picnic. Casque and Lone Buffalo welcome picnics on their patios, and Viña Castellano allows them by its pond. A big kitchen at the house makes it easy to pack sandwiches, cheese and fruit for twelve.
- Bistro lunch. Wise Villa in Lincoln has a full restaurant. Book for the whole group.
- Food trucks. The trail notes that food trucks often appear at wineries on Saturdays and during events. Check each winery's site for that week's schedule.
The trail's own events page lists two holiday weekends this season:
| Event | Dates | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Weekend on the Wine Trail | Thanksgiving weekend; check the trail site for this year's dates | Wineries open for visitors; not a ticketed event |
| Holidays in the Hills | Early December; check the trail site for this year's dates | Sip and shop around the trail, with live music and food trucks |
Check the trail's site for times and any tickets before you go. If the group is in town for Thanksgiving, our guide to Thanksgiving in a vacation rental with a big family covers the cooking side of the weekend.
A sample wine day for a group of twelve
Example: a Saturday on the Loomis Loop for eight adults who are tasting and two designated drivers, plus two older teens.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| 9:30am | Breakfast at the house; pack the picnic and water |
| 11am | First winery; taste and buy |
| 12:30pm | Second winery with a picnic patio; lunch |
| 2:30pm | Third winery |
| 4pm | Back at the house; drivers off duty |
| 6pm | Dinner at home with the bottles from the day |
If the group has kids, swap the middle stop for a winery that welcomes children, or send them with one adult to a park or Golfland in Roseville for the afternoon.
Where to stay for a wine weekend
A wine day ends best at a house where nobody has to drive again. A large home in Roseville puts the whole trail within easy reach and gives the group a kitchen for the picnic, a table for dinner and parking for every car.
See our Roseville homes, including the five-bedroom Roseville House, or our homes in nearby Sacramento. For a celebration or friends' weekend, our group getaways page has more ideas. Pets are welcome too: up to 3 per stay with a $100 pet fee per stay, and service animals are always free.
The bottom line
The Placer County Wine Trail makes an easy day from Roseville. Pick one route, book three wineries a week ahead if you are six or more, check that each one is open (most open Thursday to Sunday), pack a picnic, and settle the drivers before the first pour. Check the trail's site for this year's Thanksgiving weekend and early December holiday events, and end the day at the house with the bottles you bought.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Placer Wine Trail from Roseville?
Close. The trail's wineries are in Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis, Newcastle, Granite Bay and Rocklin, which border Roseville or sit a short way up Interstate 80. Auburn is about 20 to 30 minutes from Roseville.
Do Placer County wineries take large groups?
Many do, with notice. Casque Wines in Loomis asks that groups stay under eight and asks larger groups to email ahead to hold a patio table. Viña Castellano in Auburn takes reservations for groups of six or more. Call each winery before you go.
When are Placer County wineries open?
Most small tasting rooms open Thursday or Friday through Sunday. For example, Casque Wines and Mt. Vernon Winery list Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm, and Viña Castellano lists Thursday to Sunday, 12pm to 5pm. Check each winery's site for current hours.
How much is a wine tasting on the Placer Wine Trail?
It varies by winery. Casque Wines lists $15 per person for five to seven wines, free for its wine club members. Check the current price on each winery's site.
Can you bring a picnic to Placer County wineries?
At several, yes. Casque Wines and Lone Buffalo Vineyards welcome picnics on their patios, and Viña Castellano allows picnics by its pond but not outside food in the tasting room. Ask each winery about its rules.
How do we check that a limo or wine tour company is licensed?
In California, charter carriers are licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission. Look for the TCP number on the vehicle and confirm it, and the company's insurance, through the CPUC's online portal or by phone before you book.
