FINDING A CARAMEL APPLE... in the hot heart of summertime? But finding apple-themed treats all in one pomme-tastic place is the province of autumn, though some of California's best-known apple orchards and farms don't wait for September. Look to High Hill Ranch in Placerville, a charming spot that is synonymous with apple joy, and mark Aug. 15 on your apple-adorned calendar. For the 21-and-over guests, there is apple beer, and apple wine, too, and hard cider. Are you eager to get to know the other growers, ranches, and farms of Apple Hill, which wends scenically through the Sierra Nevada foothills?