Casino Mine Ranch Winery
World Class Wines. Exceptional Experiences.
Press Kit
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CasinoMineRanch.com
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Who We Are
No flash. No formulas. Just grit, vision, impeccable farming, and the best damn wines you have never tried.
Casino Mine Ranch sits on rugged land first claimed by Simone Vanophem Shaw, a pearl-wearing, rattlesnake-shooting powerhouse who staked her claim in 1936.
Eight decades later, her great-nephews Jim and Rich built a winery here in her spirit—rooted in family, independence, and a little irreverence.
And it is here where we are creating simply outstanding wine.
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Amador County, California�
Founded: 1936�
Winemakers: Andy Erickson & Jessica Tarpy Shaheen�
Farming: Dry-farmed, sheep-managed, sustainable practices�
Varietals: Grenache, Vermentino, Greco, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, Grenache Blanc, Teroldego, Zinfandel
Website: CasinoMineRanch.com
Contact: Inquire@CasinoMineRanch.com
Casino Mine Ranch, At-A-Glance
ORIGIN STORY TIMELINE
1902 Brussels. Casino Mine Ranch’s inspiration, Simone, is born, the daughter of a proud mining engineer.
1914 Simone and her family escape out the back of a Brussels tavern, literally seconds ahead of invading Germans.
1907-1919 An unusual education. Geology and engineering at the feet of her father. Geography and ecology on countless trains, ships, and horses. Literature and the arts while watched by her mother and aunties (and games of chance when unwatched). Ax, hunting, and trapping skills from Alaskan experts.
1936 Simone moves to Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley. She names the land Casino Mine Ranch because of the big risk she’s taking. “Sim comes out here in 1936 and mines for gold in the middle of nowhere. Who does that?”
1936-1945 Simone rolls up her sleeves to work in the mine and on the ranch. She hosts countless lavish events, because anything can be a cause for celebration.
1945 The family needs extra help on the farm. They hire Marcel, a war vet who can fix anything. He quickly becomes family to Sim.
1960’s - 1970’s Young Rich & Jim spend their summers at Casino Mine Ranch. Exploring the mines, tending to the land, and learning that this glamorous lady in pearls has no trouble shooting rattlesnakes if they cross her path.
1999 A decision has to be made about CMR’s future. Rich, with Sim’s inspiration, begins a whole new adventure, a vineyard. Jim confirms he’s not interested.
2015 Rich wears Jim down, and he joins Rich’s mission to create incredible wine. Brilliant winemakers Andy Ericson and Jessica Tarpy come on-board. Soon the wine is in a class of its own.
2016 CMR’s first bottle is produced, a Vermentino with hints of lemon, guava and honey.
2023 CMR’s tasting room opens. Built in the spirit of Simone. Elevated. Approachable. At ease with the land and its guests.
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ORIGIN STORY FOUNDERS
Jim & Rich
We’re in Amador today because of our great aunt, Simone. She brought us here, she taught us here, and let the Valley toughen us up. Thanks to those roots, we know the value of hard work and insist on doing things the right way instead of the easy way. With a family work ethic that was hardwired from the start, we both found success on our own. But when the opportunity came to reclaim Casino Mine Ranch and build something lasting together, it was the chance for us to succeed as a family. It was risky, challenging, and tested us in every way. And it was exactly the kind of thing Simone would’ve done.
We knew great wine could come from here, but only if we were the ones making it. Not because we’re perfect. Because we won’t stop until we win. No shortcuts, no grandstanding. Just keeping our heads down, staying in the fight, and letting the grapes speak for themselves. Our wine can back us up on that.
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Jessica Tarpy Shaheen
Jessica has been making wines in Napa, Sonoma and Amador for 17 years. She and her husband, Andrew Shaheen, make Amador County Tempranillo under their own label, Gather, so she gets us. Jessica became a winemaker because she spent a summer in Pisa eating gelato and decided to major in Italian and one thing led to another. There were the Florence years, the wine retail years, and the postbac (that’s the European way to say “postgrad”) studies in enology and viticulture. Jessica has made wine in many interesting places, including Klein Constantia in South Africa. With Andy Erickson and Annie Favia, she owns the experimental label ROOM and is also the winemaker for Favia. She describes the diverse mix of grape varieties grown here on the ranch as a “gumbo pot.” Her experience here, in addition to working as part of a consulting winemaking team has given way to oenological cross-pollination that has been invaluable.
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Our Winemakers
Andy Erickson
It was a drunken promise, made half-seriously at a party, years ago. As far as Andy knew, Casino Mine Ranch was a wild old rambling property with abandoned mining caves where he and Rich went skeet shooting and drank PBR. But then Rich really did put in a vineyard. And it was a fine vineyard, planted with exotic treasures like Teroldego and Vermentino. Meanwhile, Andy had achieved demigod status among winemakers, making his mark at Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Staglin Family Vineyards, and Mayacamas Vineyards. He and his viticulturist wife, Annie Favia, have two daughters, and helm their own wine labels, Favia Wines and Leviathan. But Andy still helps us out, and it is possible that he has not outgrown skeet shooting and PBR.
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Our Winemakers
Our approach to winemaking is rooted in a deep respect for the land and a relentless pursuit of quality. We believe that exceptional wine begins in the vineyard. By prioritizing sustainable practices, we nurture the vineyard’s natural balance while ensuring that each vintage reflects its unique character.
To preserve the integrity of our fruit, we harvest at night, receiving the grapes in pristine condition. Our white varietals are gently whole-cluster pressed to capture their brightest expression, with fermentation tailored to each wine—stainless steel barrels for Vermentino, Rosé, and Greco, and a mix of new French oak and neutral barrels for Grenache Blanc. For our reds, we destem into tank and ferment on the skins for 10 to 20 days, aiming for optimal fruit expression without over-extraction. Aging is carefully managed in a combination of new and neutral French oak—10 months for Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, and Zinfandel, and 20 months for Tempranillo, Marcel, and Simone. Every decision in the cellar is guided by a gentle touch, allowing the vineyard’s true character to shine.
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Our Winemaking Philosophy
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Casino Mine Ranch Winery crafts quietly rebellious wines that skip the spotlight and go straight for the soul.
Uncommon varietals meet small-lot precision.
Our winemaking philosophy: get out of the way and let the land speak.
Expect clarity, character, and confidence in every bottle.
Our Wines
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Red Varietals
Grenache Noir�
Our Estate vineyard produces a Grenache Noir with depth and singular typicity. The warm California sun allows this wine to achieve ideal ripeness while the significant diurnal shifts, temperature differential from day to night, endow the grapes with a distinct freshness and lively fruit flavors. Fermented on the skins for twenty-one days, our Grenache Noir is aged in 30% new French oak, with the balance in neutral French oak, for 10 months to capture the freshness and spirit of the vineyard.
Tempranillo�
Our best-behaved vine variety. It ripens beautifully. We break with Spain and put it in French (not American) oak in an effort to refine it. All the same, its cowboy qualities cannot be stifled. We like to imagine Hollis and Sam Shaw, sitting by a campfire and clinking glasses of this red, saying, “¡Salud!”
Mourvèdre�
Unlike those ornery ink pots from Bandol, our Mourvèdre is earthy and straightforward, calling to mind the elusive wild Sierra currant and the rugged granite that forms those mountain peaks. It’s the sort of beverage you’d want to take to the pond just over the ridge. While you’re skewering a raw chicken liver on your hook and dropping your line into the water for catfish, dunk that bottle of Mourvèdre in the water, too, and let it chill. There is really nothing better than this.
Zinfandel�
This vibrant ruby wine opens with aromas of peach preserves, ripe cherries, and sweet tobacco. The warm flavors of cinnamon and sun-kissed raspberries remind us of the simple joys—good friends, hearty food, and the crackle of the fire. Its smooth finish, laced with spice, is like the last light of dusk fading over the view of the Sierra Foothills from the tasting room. Perfect with lamb chops fresh off the grill, this Zinfandel was made for gathering around the fire and savoring the moment.
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White & Rose Varietals
Réserve Rosé�
Our Réserve Rosé is a nod to the classic rosés of Southern France, where Rolle, otherwise known as Vermentino, and Grenache are frequently amongst the cast of characters. The result is the epitome of purity. Full stop.
Flicka�
Gently whole cluster pressed, this wine is fermented in stainless steel barrels, with minimal lees stirring and bottled shortly after harvest to capture its inherent freshness. Striking in the glass, its brilliant citrine hue exposes a twinkle of malachite at the meniscus. Crisp, clean and delicious!
Vermentino�
This Sierra Nevada Vermentino is a whole different kettle of fish, vigorous and bountiful, soft yet crisp. Our ice-cold nights and sun-soaked days bring out its brightness. It drinks best after a year in the bottle, when it releases its pretty aromatics and flavorful notes of mangosteen, lemon meringue, and grapefruit pith.
Grenache Blanc
A juicy, tannic, trenchant white with a mouthfeel like butter and a long finish spiced with cinnamon. It’s more about minerality than fruit, and more gold than clear, which feels right to us since it’s grown over an old gold mine. It is magnificent in its richness. It goes great with rattlesnake.
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Perfect Blends
Marcel�
Here in the craggy foothills of the Sierra Nevada range, our Teroldego could be the rugged yokel cousin of the fruit grown by the relentless Elisabetta Foradori on the lush lower slopes of the Italian Dolomites. It’s pitch-black (it stains our hands when we work with it), with a juicy black-cherry simplicity that’s balanced by a thorny intensity. Added to our Tempranillo, it makes a wine that’s like the man himself: It’s tough as nails, but will melt your heart.
Simone�
The Simone is a succulent, spicy, seductive blend of Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre. Like its namesake, it’s elegant yet tough, and brims with joie de vivre. It’s a wine for feasting, both opulent and earthy, best enjoyed while wearing dungarees and boots. Or, alternately, diamonds, furs, and pearls. Simone would serve it alongside her famous Belgian Stew. Simone was a force of nature and we believe she would have been very, very proud of this wine. (But just between you and us, Marcel feels that his wine is superior.)
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A Tale of Two Terroirs
Amador County
Terroir: High-elevation foothills, decomposed granite
soils, extreme diurnal temperature shifts
Dominant
Wines: Powerful, full-bodied, spicy, brambly reds
Acreage: 3,700 acres
Tasting Fee: $15 - $25
Average Bottle
Price: $25 - $70 for benchmark wines
Visitor
Atmosphere: Rustic, authentic, uncrowded, personal
Napa County
Terroir: Valley floor and mountains, diverse soils
(volcanic, alluvial), marine fog influence
Dominant
Wines: Structured, elegant, complex, age-worthy reds
Acreage: 46,000 acres
Tasting Fee: $80 - $85+
Average Bottle
Price: $100 - $200+ for benchmark wines
Visitor
Atmosphere: Polished, luxury, crowded, professional
Amador County is what Napa was a generation or two ago. Friendly, approachable, rustic, authentic, uncrowded, personal.
With bolder, more powerful wines.
Intentional Design
More than a modern, elevated space, the Casino Mine Ranch tasting room reflects the brand's deep respect for the rugged natural landscape. Inspired by the Sea Ranch philosophy of “living lightly on the land”, Rich & Jim reached out to award-winning architect Don Jacobs, to bring those same principles to this special place. Designed to minimize its environmental footprint, the building itself integrates thoughtfully into the terrain, connecting to the land, rather than dominating it.
A calming space created to make people feel like they're part of nature. What better way to enjoy great wine?
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Our Tasting Room
Commitment to
Sustainability
Our environmental stewardship is woven into every step of our process. We embrace sustainable farming by using sheep for natural mowing, minimizing irrigation through dry farming, and reducing inputs to maintain vineyard balance. Thoughtful viticultural practices help mitigate disease pressure, eliminating the need for chemical interventions. In the winery, we uphold a philosophy of minimal intervention—harvesting at peak ripeness, encouraging healthy fermentations, and avoiding excessive manipulation.
With a commitment to both quality and sustainability, we craft wines that not only express the beauty of our vineyard but also honor the land for generations to come.
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Coverage & Recognition
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Select Articles & Awards
2025 Sunset International Wine Competition
2024 Vermentino – Gold, 92 points
2021 Grenache Blanc – Gold, 90 points
Complete list of award-winning wines from Casino Mine Ranch
https://www.casinomineranch.com/collection/award-winning-wines/
13 Award-Winning Estate Grown Wines Rooted in the Rich Soils of Amador County
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Customer Verbatims
“I am a proud member of this winery in the Amador county and it is so much more than just a winery. In addition to having a great wine selection, a gorgeous tasting room + outdoor space and friendly/knowledgeable staff, it often offers fun events for community engagement and it provides opportunities to promote local artists. I highly recommend visiting this place and I highly recommend joining the membership, you won't regret it.”
“Casino Mine Ranch is one of those gems in Amazon County that you want people to know about because it's excellent and beautiful, but you also kind of want to keep for yourself. However, I want them to continue to be a success! … The Simone red, the rose and the Vermentino were my favorites but all of the wines are excellent. There are no bad or even middling wines here so you cannot go wrong. I can't think of more pleasant setting to enjoy some excellent wine. Napa Valley, eat your heart out.”
“Had an absolutely delightful time at the Casino Mine Ranch. Madison was delightful and recommended the vermentino which was delicious!! The tasting room is beautiful and the outdoor seating area was relaxing and beautiful. Candice was so knowledgeable and recommended their Grenache Noir - now my favorite red over cabernet. Absolutely worth the trip to Amador county!!!”
“Love the Ranch CMR”
Photography & Marks
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Need More?
Media Assets
Photos, logos, bottle shots, and architectural images are available upon request.
Please email inquire@casinomineranch.com for access to our media assets.
Interview & Visits
Interested in featuring Casino Mine Ranch? We’re happy to coordinate:�
CasinoMineRanch.com | inquire@CasinoMineRanch.com