Wheelchair-Accessible Murphys Wine Tasting
Calaveras County played an integral part in the California Gold Rush, as folks flocked to the area in hopes of striking it rich. Today the 49ers are long gone; however there’s another rush in this famous county — a wine rush, of sorts. The mining equipment of yesteryear has been replaced with vineyards and tasting rooms, as over two dozen wineries now dot the county.
And there’s no better place to enjoy the fruits of the harvest then in the tiny hamlet of Murphys. Located two hours southeast of Sacramento, this quaint town is a wine lovers paradise, as it boasts a gaggle of tasting rooms along the main drag. And even if you can’t walk or roll very far, there are still some excellent wheelchair-accessible wine tasting choices in this Calaveras County gem.
Getting Around Downtown
Although Murphys is a historic town, access upgrades have been added over the years. Accessible parking can be difficult to locate, but the Murphys Creek Theater lot on Algiers Street has the largest number of accessible parking spots. The lot is located about 150 yards off of Main Street, but manual wheelchair-users may require some assistance getting up the steeper section of Algiers Street to access the main drag.
There is also one accessible parking spot next to the City Park restrooms, just down the street from the theater. Additional accessible parking is available in the public lot on Church Street and in the lot behind the Victoria Inn, both of which offer level access to Main Street. And if you can’t walk far, there are two tasting rooms close to accessible parking in Country Square on Main Street.
Most of the sidewalks in town are relatively free of obstructions, and once you get on Main Street, everything is pretty level. Although there are a few steps here and there, it’s still possible to navigate downtown in a wheelchair. Granted, some shops are housed in historic buildings with one or two steps, but all of the tasting rooms mentioned below have barrier-free access.
Take a Wine Stroll
The Bodega del Sur (bodegadelsur.com) tasting room, which is located on Algiers Street just shy of Main Street, makes a good first stop on any Murphys wine tasting stroll. There’s level access to the tasting room with plenty of room for wheelchairs and scooters inside. This boutique winery features wines made from locally grown grapes, with a decidedly Latin influence.
The Tanner Winery (www.tannervineyards.com) tasting room is a short walk away on the corner of Algiers and Main Streets. There is level access to the tasting room, where samples of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Barbera, Mourvèdre and several blends can be had.
Mineral Wines (mineral-wines.com) which is known for their fruity Petite Sirah, is just a short roll up Main Street. There’s a ramp down to the tasting room, which features barrier-free access, and plenty of room for wheelchairs. Their Viognier, Zinfandel and Cabernet Franc vintages are definitely worth a taste.
Wrap up your Murphys wine tasting stroll at Newsome Harlow (nhvino.com), which is located on Main Street, near Church Street. The tasting room offers level access through the courtyard, with plenty of room to roll around inside. A Murphys favorite, this winery is heavy on the reds and it produces some excellent Zinfandels.
Stay Put and Sip
If all that strolling is a bit too much for you, you can also opt to park close to a few tasting rooms in Country Square. Accessible parking is located off of Main Street, but it can only be accessed by vehicle from the back entrance. From Main Street, turn north on Church Street, then make a left at the stop sign. Country Square is the third driveway on the left, past Murphys Pourhouse and Murphys Professional Center. And as luck would have it, the accessible parking space is right across from the Frog’s Tooth Winery (frogstooth.com) tasting room.
There’s ramp access up to the Frog’s Tooth tasting room and the adjacent deck. Inside you’ll find wood floors, plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair and a lowered bar. Frog’s Tooth is known for their small batch locally produced wines. Favorites include Tempranillo, Syrah, a variety of red blends, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Rose.
And if you’d like to try another winery, Jazz Cellars (jazzcellars.com/) is located just across the courtyard from Frog’s Tooth. There’s barrier-free access to this tasting room, which features wide doorways and level access. Have a taste of their award-winning Barbera, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel or Syrah. And in keeping with their name, you can also often find live music at Jazz Cellars. It’s a great way to top off any Murphys wine tasting experience.
