Winery Sacramento Pixabay Public Domain
3-Day Sacramento Vine to Wine Trail
Day 1 You’ll See:
- Old Sugar Mill
- Bogle Vineyards
- Downtown and Vine
Day 2 You’ll See:
- Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
- Underground Tasting Room
- The Firehouse
Day 3 You’ll See:
- Cabana Winery
- The Painted Cork
Within the foothills of California's Gold Country, along the scenic waterways of the California Delta, you will find a wine-filled wonderland unlike any other. With over 200 wineries in the region, Northern California Valley holds 70% of the states wine grapes, making Sacramento one of the hottest spots for wine selections, wine education, and wine-related agriculture. Your group will have three full days of tasting, eating, learning, and shopping all the finest local wines, of which many are considered to be some of the finest in the country.
There is an additional option to add on 2 more full days to this sample itinerary, with suggested winery selections in two nearby wine regions, Amador and Lodi, Lodi being one of the biggest in reputation. For more information on the full itinerary call us and ask for Maria, she has all the extended information on this trip from VisitSacramento.
Of course, your group may want to add in some filler activities to keep your sobriety and sanity while in Sacramento, so click here and see all of our options for non-wine-related Sacramento Attractions.
Day One
Old Sugar Mill- Start your trip off right at the Old Sugar Mill, just 15 minutes away from downtown Sacramento in Clarksburg. This complex is extremely popular with local winos, holding 13 different wineries inside plus ample picnic grounds to enjoy a relaxing meal outside. Enjoy tastings from such popular local winemakers from Heringer Vineyards, Clarksburg Wine Co., Three Wine, Todd Taylor, and Draconis. Most tasting rooms are open 11-5 daily and only charge between $5 and $10. Pack a picnic basket and enjoy the scenery in between tastings, or maybe plan your trip around any of the many wine festivals, community gatherings, or food truck events that take place here.
Bogle Vineyards - Bogle Vineyards is also in Clarksburg, a vineyard comprised of several different ranches totaling at 1600 acres, 1200 of those here in town. While visiting you will be able to enjoy a wide variety of delicious spirits, from Chardonnay to Petite Sirah Port. Visit the tasting room, barrel room, and onsite store before making your way to the balcony overlooking a lush lawn, the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of your favorite flavor from Bogle. There are often movie nights and outdoor events here to enjoy during the summer as well.
Downtown and Vine - End the first day of your whirlwind wine adventure at Downtown and Vine, a popular boutique bar serving local and global wines alongside artisanal meats and cheeses. This spot ‘brings wine country to Sacramento’, offering guests local Sacramento, Napa, and Sonoma flavor selections as well as a broad range from around the world. You will have delicious small plate options with your wine selections as well as opportunities to taste craft beers on tap. One great thing about ending your day here is if you want to stay out on the town for a bit afterward you are only minutes away from the Community Theater, so check and see if there are any exciting productions tonight!
Day Two
Winery Pixabay Public Domain
Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science - Within the University of California, Davis, you will find the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, a college within the Agriculture and Environmental Sciences branch that offers courses in Viticulture and Enology (VEN), as well as Food Science and Technology (FST). Here your group can see exactly how various worldwide scientists and engineers come together with students, industry pros, and policymakers in order to better understand and produce quality wines and foods. This school is a global innovator in research, education, and outreach in everything that is wine, brewing, and food science, and a visit here will show you the behind the scenes in the winery, brewery, and food and milk processing lab, not to mention the onsite Good Life Garden.
Underground Tasting Room - A true ‘exceptional and educational wine tasting experience’ awaits you next at the historically unique and interesting Underground Tasting Room in Old Sacramento. Located on the original level of the city of Sacramento (a level flooded long ago) you will find two award-winning Sierra Foothill wineries, each providing high-quality wines, excellent food pairing recommendations, and direct winery access. Both Twisted Twig and Rendez-vous Wineries will give your group similar tastings of red, white, and dessert wines, though each winery has two very different methods of production. This is a deliciously historic winery you simply can’t miss while in Sacramento.
The Firehouse - We are keeping the history train running with our next stop, dinner at The Firehouse. This award-winning fine dining experience will provide your group with the most extensive wine collection in Central Valley, with 2,100 individual labels and over 16,000 bottles total. The food is sophisticated and superbly satisfying, with such choices as dry aged beef carpaccio, Hudson Valley foie gras, and Pacific diver scallops, each pairing excellently with the various wines available. The incomparable dining experience here has been perfected for around 55 years, though the gorgeous building itself has been around much longer, being Sacramento’s No.3 Firehouse in 1853.
Day Three
Cabana Winery and Bistro (If weekend)- Your last wine-filled day in sunny Sacramento will start out at Cabana Winery and Bistro, a popular wine and food stop open for lunch on the weekends and brunch on Sundays (and dinner each night throughout the week). Enjoy a visit to the tasting room as you select samples from several different award-winning wines from Napa and Lodi, the sommelier here holding 25 years experience in harvesting, fermenting, aging, and bottling. You will also be able to purchase gourmet appetizers, cheese trays, or wood-fired pizza with herbs grown on site while enjoying your wine.
The Painted Cork - Your trip is coming to a close but all the fun isn’t over yet, as your last stop is the fun Midtown Sacramento art studio, The Painted Cork. This paint and sip art studio allows you to sip your favorite wines or beers while you paint a masterpiece, a fun and hip activity that no artistic wino can turn down. The professional art instructor will go step by step with you in a 2 to 3 hour acrylic on canvas painting class, so even the most un-artistic guests will be able to create something resembling art (depending on how much you sip, of course). All supplies are included, though alcohol is not, so break out one of the many bottles you bought this trip and enjoy! Be sure to arrive at least 20 minutes early before your course to get a seat and set up your personal food and wine table.
