“If wine can have legs frogs can have teeth…” That’s what the owners of the down-home Murphys winery state with wry humor and a lovely sincerity. While the winery is young (its first crush was in 2005) its presence in the community of Murphys is already solid as a rock, and their are wines consistently well-crafted gems — from Torrontes, Pinot Grigio and Fume Blanc to sumptuous reds like Tempranillo, Grenache Barbera.

And they always aim to please with live music offerings from local musicians, mouthwatering pairings and excellent, always-with-a-smile service.

For more information:
Frog’s Tooth Vineyard

WHAT: Frog’s Tooth Vineyard
WHEN: Tasting room open Monday-Thursday: 11:00 AM-5:00ish PM; Friday: 1:00-6:00ish PM, Saturday & Sunday: 11:00 AM-6:00ish PM
WHERE: 380 Main Street, Suite 5, Murphys, California

Murphys is a proud town — proud of its diversity, its fine wines and dining, its beautiful location, its history, its support of local artistry of all kinds and its endurance as a community. Moreover, it could be said that the folks that make up the community of Murphys understand the importance of nurturing and educating the younger generation, as they are not only another key source of pride for the community, but the future and sustenance of Murphys continued endurance as a community.

With this in mind, the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program was created. Administered by the Calaveras County Office of Education and funded by grants, individual community members, and local businesses and service organizations, the organization offers young people in 1st through 12th grades the opportunity to build a relationship and learn from adults outside of their families and peer groups. In an age dominated by electronic media, children run the risk of becoming more disconnected socially. Volunteers with the Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program become positive adult role models and provide support, advice and guidance to young people.

They’ve also created an incredible mentoring program, “Friday Night Live”, pairing high school students with junior high students, combining mentorship with youth leadership. The program was implemented in California as a pilot program in 1988 and, in 2007, Calaveras County joined the program after receiving a grant.

Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program is a truly wonderful program for all participants, young and old. Support the community, nurture relationships, educate the younger generation and enrich your own life in the process. It’s a beautiful thing.

For more information:
Calaveras Youth Mentoring Program

Have you ever noticed the olive trees dotting the stretches of grapevines in Calaveras County’s wine country? What’s their story? Do they benefit the vineyard soil? Are they used in the winemaking process? …Are they just pretty? What’s with the olive trees?

As it turns out, olives and grapes grow in similar climate and soil conditions. California delivers the third largest output of olives in the world so why not throw some olive trees into the mix?

While the plants are quite similar in terms of conditions and timeline — harvest time is September/October and the first harvests tend to be in the third or fourth years — the economics of harvesting and processing the plants differs vastly when one looks at each individual piece while the sum total remains relatively the same. For example, it costs approximately $2,000 a year to maintain an acre of grapes, yet only $500 a year to maintain olive trees. Harvesting costs for grapes are approximately $100 per ton versus $200 per ton for olives. The biggest difference comes when we look at the price of production per gallon, especially when we consider the amount of oil that comes from a ton of olive fruit versus the amount of wine from a tone of grapes. While grape production may be twice the cost of olive production, price of production per gallon of olive oil is twice the price of production per gallon of wine. What does all of that mean? To put it incredibly simply and in very general terms, it pretty much balances out.

So the next time you’re taking your leisurely drive through the Foothills on your way to California Cavern or White Pines Lake or Calaveras Big Trees Park and you notice an olive tree nestled into a hillside vineyard, you can say: “Ya’ know what? Olives and grapes grow in the same conditions and, in the end, make about the same amount of profit for the grower. Didn’t know THAT, did ya’?”

The folks behind Moaning Cavern Adventure Park weren’t lightly tossing out the word “adventure” when creating the park’s title. This park truly offers some unique activities for all levels of the self-proclaimed adventurous.

First, let’s talk a bit about the Moaning Cavern itself. The main chamber is so massive, it could actually enclose the Statue of Liberty entirely. In fact, it is actually the largest chamber available to experience in a public cavern in California. Impressive.

There are three ways to experience the cavern, and the first is a 45-minute guided walk-tour. Visitors descend 165 feet into the caverns as guides explain the history and geology of the cavern, and discuss the explorations that have traced the cavern to its current depth of 410 feet. A fascinating end to the tour is the site at which excavators discovered the bones of prehistoric humans who stumbled into the mouth of the cavern, falling to their death centuries ago.

While the walking tour is an exciting yet calmly paced adventure, the park also offers a rappelling experience for those seeking something with a bit more punch, allowing thrill-seekers to descend 165 feet into the cavern on a 45-minute excursion. All the high-quality equipment — including hard-hats, ropes and gloves — are provided.

As if that wasn’t enough, they also offer a three-hour spelunking tour with the option of beginning the tour with the rappelling adventure. Most areas of the cavern are undeveloped (meaning no lights, stairs, or walkways), so visitors are offered an exhilarating opportunity to explore by climbing and belly crawling with lighted helmets to show the way. This trip is conducted by experienced, highly trained guides, so no experience is necessary.

Not all the excitement happens hundreds of feet below the foothills, however. Above ground, Moaning Cavern Adventure Park also offers a brand new 32-foot custom designed climbing tower, offering routes for beginners and experts. The tower comes equipped with a belay system, allowing visitors to be harnessed and clipped to the route of their choice. When finished with the route, climbers simply jump back for a smooth, automatic descent.

The last attraction, but certainly not the least adventurous by any stretch, is the zip lining. Moaning Cavern now offers three above ground, no experience necessary zip lining adventures. The Regular Zip sends adventurers zooming over the gorgeous grounds at speeds exceeding 40 miles an hour, while the Tandem Zip allows the experience to be shared by two. For those who’ve secretly longed to fly like Superman (or Supergirl, for that matter), the Super Style Zip has a harness which offers visitors the chance to experience the zip line in true superhero fashion, soaring like a bird over the park. You’ll need to provide your own cape, however.

Moaning Cavern Adventure Park is truly a park for those with the desire to experience something a bit different. With so many options at your fingertips, you could easily bring the family or a group of friends and know that there will be something for everyone. AND it’s just a ten-minute drive from Murphys.

For more information:
Cave and Mine Adventures: Moaning Cavern Adventure Park

WHAT: Moaning Cavern Adventure Park
WHEN: Open daily, hours change seasonally
WHERE: 5350 Moaning Cave Road, Vallecito, CA

The Calaveras Arts Council has had one goal since its inception in 1981: to support, awaken and nourish the arts in our community. And that’s just what they’ve done as they continue to champion the arts in all their forms throughout the year. From the Music in the Parks series in the summer to the Ovations series in the winter months, the Calaveras Arts Council has worked tirelessly to spotlight local artists and inspire young talent by presenting a multitude of events, performances and showcases.

The council’s Music in the Parks series features – among other genres – Rock-infused Samba, Celtic Folk, Cajun tunes, Blues, Ragtime and Western Swing as it moves from park to park throughout the county during the summer months. The Calaveras Gallery on 22 Main Street in San Andreas features themed showings of local artists which change every two months. Their most enduring – and, perhaps, most endearing – project is their Artists in the Schools Program. Established in 1981, the program has been providing workshops and performances by professional artists, musicians, storytellers, and more, to local public schools.

For more information visit the The Calaveras Arts Council Official Website.

Have a drink and a nosh, screw your courage to the sticking place, get up and sing your heart out! That’s what the folks at Cactus Jacks’ Dawg-House are inviting you to do, with a little help from a local DJ.

For those who’ve never been, you might be asking, “What exactly IS Cactus Jack’s?”

Well… First riddle us this: what do you get when you toss together a sports-bar, a stadium-style hot-dog joint and a neighborhood haunt? Clayton and his crew pondered the very same question as they were pretty darned sure that combination was just what Murphys was missing. The result: Cactus Jack’ Dawg-House in downtown Murphys.

They’ve managed to pick a winning combination, indeed, focusing on a simple stadium-style menu (which includes dogs & sausages, nachos, chili, potato skins, giant pretzels, churros and… wait for it… Kraft mac & cheese!), a fine assortment of brews and a smattering of wines and other beverages. Keepin’ it simple means focusing on the offerings and serving ‘em up to perfection time and time again.

Belly up to the bar on game night, cozy up with some chili in a bread-bowl and watch one of the local bands do their thing, or toss back a couple brews to fortify yourself for a night of good, old-fashioned karaoke!

The folks at Cactus Jack’s Dawg-House have managed to do a bang-up job creating a fantastic neighborhood joint — great service, tasty food, awesome atmosphere and brilliant company. AND they serve food until 1:45 AM on Friday and Saturday nights!

WHAT: Cactus Jack’s Dawg-House
WHEN: Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week
WHERE: 415 Main Street, Murphys, CA

Today’s Chatom Vineyards is the result of over thirty years of passion, dedication and fine craftsmanship, thanks to owner Gay Callan. A native of San Francisco, Gay purchased the property in 1980 — a gorgeous piece of land in Esmeralda Valley originally home to fruits, nut trees and field crops. With a keen eye, Gay understood the land’s potential and was gleefully determined to plant a vineyard. The valley’s warm days and cool nights, coupled with the variable soils, made it a prime area for growing grapes.

And that’s just what Gay did, to incredible results. In the past three decades, Chatom has grown into a full-fledge vineyard of award-winning fine wines. The vineyard’s 13 varietals produce wines offered throughout North America, and all of the grapes are crushed “in-house”. The vineyard and tasting room have become not just an area fixture — hosting dinners, film festivals and tasting events — but also a welcomed part of the Murphys community.

For more information:
Chatom Vineyards

WHAT: Chatom Vineyards
WHEN: Tasting Room open daily 11:00 AM — 5:00 PM
WHERE: 1969 Highway 4, Douglas Flat, CA

Murphys is part of a wonderful collection of towns and communities that make up Calaveras County — a county rich with stunning natural beauty, a vibrant arts community, a wonderful culinary scene and a brilliant assortment of vineyards. …Now take all of that and wrap it in a Presidents’ Day celebration. The result: a fete for the senses as some of the area’s finest wineries and musicians come together to serve up scrumptious food and wine pairings, live music, a good handful of remarkable deals, and a joyful gathering of friends and neighbors and visitors.

Take a look at what’s on the menu:

• Hatcher’s pulled pork sandwiches and house-made coleslaw
• Stevenot’s local home-made sausages on sourdough French bread served along with a sampling of appetizers and cheeses
• Milliaire’s savory meatballs, tapenades and chocolates
• Coppermine’s lovely pairing of Bordeaux and chocolate
• Chiarella’s featured wines and live music
• Val du Vino’s smoked turkey gumbo with corn bread and Chocolatiere Andrea will display her own chocolate confection Ciocco
• Frog’s Tooth’s meatballs marinated in cranberries and Tempranillo, live music from Nick Lefler and a mind-blowing case sale (40% off!)
• Tanner’s savory sausages, cheeses and raspberry brownies

For more information:
Calaveras Winegrape Association
Or call 209-728-9467

WHAT: California Winegrape Association’s 16th Annual Presidents’ Wine Weekend
WHEN: February 18 and 19, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM
WHERE: At participating tasting rooms!

The Sierra Foothills are home to a number of cave systems — California Cavern, Moaning Cavern, Mercer Caverns and Black Chasm Cavern. Designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1976, the cave opened for guided walking tours in the fall of 2000. Part of the beauty of this cave is in how it has been developed using an ecologically friendly platform, stairs and walkway system that enhances rather than detracts from the underground experience. This attractive trail system keeps visitors off the fragile floor of the cave while affording them spectacular views.

The 50-minute guided walking tour will take visitors through the cavern’s several unique chambers and spaces — from the Collossal Room with its brilliant turquoise lake, to the Landmark Room with its spectacular display of stalactites and sparkling white helictite crystals. The Labyrinth tour takes visitors through a labyrinth of incredible natural bridges and tunnels to witness some fantastic rock formations as they navigate through such intriguing spaces like the Marble Corridor, Madrone Alley, Treasure Cove, Jason’s Chute and Dead Man’s Drop. While the walk-tour is suitable for folks of all ages and abilities, the 3-hour Labyrinth tour is a bit more physically challenging and involves hiking, climbing, crawling, and sliding through the ancient cavern.

Black Chasm Cavern is justly famous for its variety of formations including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and the vast arrays of rare helictite crystals. Yet these incredible natural formations aren’t the only source of fame for Black Chasm Cavern. The main chamber of Black Chasm was used as a model for the Zion cave in the second and third Matrix movies.

For those who’d rather stay above ground, the Zen Garden Hike is a self-guided walk through the gorgeous landscape of standing stones. The cavern is actually situated in a unique environment that is actually a transition zone between two ecosystems, resulting in a wide variety of plant and animal life.

For the wee ones, there’s the oh-so-fun chance to become a junior prospector as they mine for gemstones and pan for gold.

Black Chasm Cavern offers enough variety and excitement to keep most groups busy for a day, so add this to the list of day-trips

For more information:
Cave and Mine Adventures: Black Chasm Cavern

WHAT: Black Chasm Cavern
WHEN: Open daily, hours change seasonally
WHERE: 15701 Pioneer Volcano Road, Volcano, CA

al•le•go•rie (a) a form of expression that conveys a greater meaning beyond it’s origin. (b) the metamorphosis of grape to wine to ambrosia

Murphys is replete with incredible wine experiences as the area continues to produce artfully crafted fine wines from Calaveras County’s diverse population of vintners. One such wine experience combines sumptuous tastings with fine art installations by local artists.

Allegorie Wine and Art is a tasting bar and art gallery located on Murphys historic Main street. Offering Allegorie wines crafted at Val du Vino Winery and a beautiful collection of art, jewelry and ceramic sculpture, the combo tasting room and gallery also hosts parties and events and even offers Wii night in its courtyard!

For more information:
Allegorie Wine and Art

WHAT: Allegorie Wine and Art
WHEN: Open daily 12:00-5:00 PM
WHERE: 432 Main Street, Murphys, CA