Golf & Sierra Foothill Wine Country

10–30 minutes from Grass Valley RV Resort

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Food, Wine & Downtowns · Quick Facts

Closest golf: Nevada County Country Club — 10 minutes; Alta Sierra CC — 15 minutes
Wine region: Sierra Foothills AVA — zinfandel, barbera, syrah
Tasting rooms: Downtown Grass Valley & Nevada City, plus estate wineries
Cost: Modest green fees; most tastings $10–20, often waived with purchase
Best season: Year-round golf; harvest tastings September–October

Grass Valley sits in one of California's oldest — and most underrated — wine regions, with a pair of friendly golf courses thrown in for good measure. If your ideal vacation day involves a morning tee time and an afternoon on a winery patio, the resort puts both within a thirty-minute drive, minus the crowds and prices of Napa.

The golf: Alta Sierra Country Club, fifteen minutes south, winds 18 championship holes through pines and oaks with Sierra views; the semi-private course welcomes public play. Closer still, the Nevada County Country Club offers a relaxed, walkable nine right at the edge of town — perfect for a casual round.

The wine: Sierra Foothills vines date to the Gold Rush, and Nevada County's family-owned wineries pour estate zinfandel, barbera, syrah, and crisp whites in settings that range from downtown tasting rooms to vineyard barns where the winemaker pours your flight personally.

Building a Golf & Wine Day

The formula our guests swear by: an early round at Alta Sierra while the air is cool and the fairways quiet, lunch in downtown Grass Valley, then two or three tastings in the afternoon. Downtown tasting rooms let you stroll between pours; estate wineries along the Nevada County wine trail reward a short country drive with vineyard views and picnic tables.

Barbera is the local star — the foothill climate suits it beautifully — and old-vine zinfandel is the region's heritage grape. Most tastings are inexpensive and unhurried, and hitting a winery during harvest (September–October) adds crush-pad action to the visit.

Practical Notes

Book tee times a few days ahead for weekend mornings; weekdays are wide open. Both courses rent clubs if yours didn't make the trip. Wine trail maps are available at our front desk, and several tasting rooms sit within a block of each other downtown — designate a driver or simply walk between them from a downtown lunch.

Want the flavor without the driving? The Market at our lodge stocks a rotating selection of Nevada County wines, so you can taste the region from your own patio, and the resort's own bocce court stands in nicely for a back nine.

From Our Front Desk

Insider Tips

Barbera is the local specialty — order it anywhere you see it poured.
Weekday tee times at Alta Sierra are easy to get and beautifully quiet.
Visit wineries during September–October harvest for crush-season energy and release pours.
The Market at the resort stocks local wines — try before you drive the trail, or restock after.

Good to Know

Golf & Wine Country FAQs

Where can I golf near Grass Valley RV Resort?

Alta Sierra Country Club (18 holes, semi-private with public play, ~15 minutes) and the Nevada County Country Club (a relaxed 9-hole course ~10 minutes away) are both an easy drive from the resort.

What wines is Nevada County known for?

Sierra Foothills zinfandel and barbera lead the list, alongside syrah and crisp whites — poured at family-owned estate wineries and downtown tasting rooms in Grass Valley and Nevada City.

Do I need reservations for wine tasting?

Walk-ins work at most downtown tasting rooms; smaller estate wineries appreciate a call ahead, especially for groups. Our front desk keeps current wine-trail maps and hours.