End of Nowhere: How the Sierra Foothills’ Rich Wine History Drives Amador County’s Only Natural Winery | Eater SF

"Operating from a 20-acre vineyard on the property he grew up on in Pioneer, End of Nowhere is Walsh’s natural-wine project that brought low-intervention winemaking back to Amador County; he sourced organic grapes while his own vines matured, made his first 2015 vintage in a 600-square-foot garage, and shifted production in 2020 into a former auto shop on the family property. I produce a range that showcases what the foothills can do—traditional, lower-alcohol zinfandels inspired by 1970s styles, a zinfandel rosé and a carbonic zinfandel to highlight the grape, plus two styles of pinot gris (red and white), mourvèdre, and barbera—using no-till and dry farming on volcanic, high-elevation sites and avoiding designer yeasts so the fruit and place speak. I opened a small tasting room in Amador City in November 2018 that functions more like a laid-back wine bar—hosting live music, guest chefs selling burgers or pizza, and showing local artists—and while I don’t want to be called a “pioneer,” I’m generally regarded as the first based-in-Amador producer working in a fully natural style." - Dianne de Guzman