Wine With a View — the Patio at 3,200 Feet

Pull up a chair in Camino, pour something cold, and look out over the vines that made it. This is the Apple Hill afternoon you came up the hill for.

Patio seating overlooking Biama Vineyard at Morton Family Cellars in Camino, Apple Hill

Our patio sits right beside Biama Vineyard at 3,200 feet — among the highest vineyard elevations in El Dorado County. From your seat you're looking at steep, hand-tended hillside vines in the Sierra Foothills, with nothing between you and them but a railing and a glass of wine. It's not a view of wine country; it's a seat inside it.

The curious part? How those steep volcanic hillsides grow the grapes in your glass is its own story — we cover the farming side on the Biama Vineyard page. Out here, your only job is to enjoy the result.

  • Patio seating beside the estate vines
  • Bring your own food — picnics welcome
  • Leashed, well-behaved dogs welcome
  • Wine by the glass, bottle, or slushie
  • Kids welcome during daytime hours

Four Seasons of the Same View

At this elevation the vineyard actually changes with the calendar — and every version is worth a visit.

Spring & Summer

Green hillsides, long evenings, and golden hour that earns the name — late-afternoon light pouring across the vines is the patio at its absolute best. Summer is also wine slushie season, which pairs with a hot afternoon better than we can describe in writing.

Fall & Winter

October brings harvest color and Apple Hill season, when the whole ridge fills with apple ranches, pie, and pumpkin patches — a glass on the patio is the natural finish to a farm-trail day. And in winter? Snow regularly blankets the vines. Yes, a snowy vineyard, an hour from Sacramento.

Make an Afternoon of It

The patio rewards lingering. Bring a picnic (we don't sell food, so you're not just allowed to bring your own — you're encouraged to), claim a table, and work through a tasting or a bottle while the light moves across the hillside. Dogs are welcome out here too — the patio is their part of the winery, and our dog-friendly page has the details.

If you're building a full Apple Hill day, the patio slots in perfectly after the farm stands and before the drive home — our plan-your-visit guide has directions, hours, and seasonal tips. Come on a Friday evening and the view gets a soundtrack: Vineyard Karaoke takes over the patio in warm weather.

Patio & View Questions

Can we bring a picnic to the patio?

Please do. We don't sell food, so bringing your own is genuinely encouraged — pack a picnic, pick up something from the Apple Hill farm stands, and pair it with a bottle or a glass on the patio.

Is the patio dog-friendly?

Yes — leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio. The full details are on our dog-friendly winery page.

Do I need a reservation for patio seating?

Walk-ins are welcome. We only ask that groups of 7 or more reserve ahead so we can make room — call (530) 464-8006 or email info@mortonwine.com.

When is the best time of year for the view?

There isn't a wrong one. Summer brings long golden-hour evenings, fall turns the vines amber during Apple Hill season, and in winter the vineyard is often blanketed in snow — at 3,200 feet, we get real seasons. Spring is bud break and green hillsides.

Is the patio open in winter?

On cold days the cozy move is indoors — our restored 1960s speakeasy tasting room. The vineyard view from the property is still worth the trip when the snow is on the vines; check the weather and our hours before you come up.

The View Is Waiting

Open Friday through Sunday at 2875 Larsen Drive, Camino — minutes off Highway 50 in Apple Hill. See everything there is to do on our visit page.

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