County farm advisors, backed by campus-based research specialists, search out practical, research-based solutions to a wide variety of challenges -- developing more productive crop varieties, better ways to manage livestock waste, new marketing approaches and more. Amador County has many characteristics that make it an ideal area for growing grapes... Varying altitudes give rise to a wide selection of varieties. Rolling hills provide frost protection in the early spring, by promoting air movement. The low fertility of the soil reduces crop yield, but contributes to high quality grapes. Pure, high quality water that is free of contaminants. Amador County not only has unique growing conditions, it has a unique history also. Grapes have been grown in the county since the 1850's. A Swiss immigrant, Adam Uhlinger, was the first to plant Mission grapes in 1852. The Shenandoah Valley, an area of approximately 10,000 acres, is the center of grape growing in the county. Settled by former Virginians, who named the valley after the one in Virginia, which caused a dispute that wasn't settled until 1983. Gold was discovered in 1848, and the Mokeloumne River, the gulches of Drytown, Volcano, and Ione were mined extensively. The increase in population prompted the formation of Calaveras and El Dorado Counties, and in 1854, each of those counties donated a section of land that became Amador County. In 1856 and 1857, more land from El Dorado County was added, and the boundaries of Amador County haven't changed since. In 1963, Charles Myer a home winemaker then (now owns Harbor Winery), bought some Zinfandel grapes from grower Ken Deaver. Darrell Corti, a Sacramento wine merchant, tasted some of the wine made from these grapes, and acquired some of it. Corti then introduced Robert Trinchero, winemaker at Sutter Home Winery, to a bottle. Trinchero began buying grapes from Deaver in 1968. The first year he bought 20 tons, and by 1972 he was purchasing all of Deaver's grapes plus those of his neighbor, Ken Ferraro. This was the beginning of the viticulture boom in Amador County.