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10 Wine And Relax Experiences In the Sacramento Area That Are The Perfect Plan For Your Next Daycation

We’re traveling through California’s Central Valley to experience the best wine rooms and tasting experiences. Even if you don’t love wine these spots still offer a great experience.

_ By The Smoking Chair Editors

THE BEST WINE ROOMS IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY

Drink and be merry.

THE UNDERGROUND TASTING ROOM

theundergroundtastingroom.com

 5/5

(69 Reviews)

About the Business

Foothill’s Charm without the drive! A Multi-Winery Tasting Room focused on providing an exceptional educational tasting experience and the ability to purchase directly from the wineries. Described as “One of Sacramento’s Best Kept Secrets” the perfect and very cool wine tasting location located in Historic Old Sacramento on the original level of the city, below the cobblestone streets. Enjoy your tasting viewing the fountain in the historic “Pioneer Square” Brick Courtyard, so quiet, quaint, comfortable, and causal that you forget you are in downtown Sacramento within walking distance to over 1500 hotel rooms. The tasting room hosts two Award Winning Northern California wineries; Rendez-vous Winery from the Clarksburg AVA and Twisted Twig® Winery from the El Dorado County AVA. Both wineries have been business since 2005, offer different wine making experiences known for their quality and complexity and unqiue wines that you cannot find in stores. Enjoy hand selected local cheeses, meats and chocolates. Check out Yvette’s Collection of gourmet jams, dippers, culinary sauces, specialty wine crackers, unique giftware, home decor and custom gift baskets.

History

Established in 2011.

We needed a location to market our award winning wines from the El Dorado County Appellation. Twisted Twig Winery has been a commercial winery since 2005. We have won many awards at local and state fairs and national recogniton. We produce wines that are typically one varietal, one vineyard, one vintage. Our wine making style is old world and more about the celebration of the particular fruit and vineyard and less about trying to blend. Our winery is located in Placerville, Ca and all of our grapes are sourced from El Dorado County AVA. The winery is not open to the public and the only tasting room is located in Old Sacramento. We share the tasting room with award winning Rendez-vous winery from the Clarksburg AVA. We are family owned and operated, take pride in our products and are proud to provide jobs to our community. Keep posted for other wineries to join us in this multi-winery tasting room.

Guest review: “The underground tasting room is a great spot for an intimate date. They have 11 wines on the menu and the tasting is only $12 and you get to try five of them. With two people you can try 10 out of the 11 they have!

The experience was great and the bartender was very friendly and had great recommendations of things to do around old town Sacramento. For the white wines we really enjoyed the Jane way lot 8. For the red wines we enjoyed the jake way lot 12 the most!”

OLD SUGAR MILL

oldsugarmill.com

History

Originally built in 1934 as an operating beet sugar refinery, the Old Sugar Mill now hosts fourteen unique wineries offering varietals from all over Northern California. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sangiovese are just a few of the featured wines. Located in the heart of the Clarksburg AVA, and just 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento, the Old Sugar Mill is the premier destination for enjoying world class wines with friends and family. The Old Sugar Mill is the perfect venue for your next wine trip. Fourteen Wineries. One Location. 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento.

Guest Review

“One stop shop for lovers of Wine.

I honestly have no idea where we were going last weekend. The girls had been meaning to take to this place for a couple of years so I was pumped that I finally had a chance to check it out. When you get there you’ll see a huge parking lot around the sugar mill. You should find no problem finding a park since we had no issues on a Saturday.

If you never been I highly recommend you check this place out. I feel like there are about 10-15 wineries here that all do tastings. Some places weren’t taking walkins so you might want to double check ahead of time if there is a certain winery you want to check out. Overall, every place we did wine tasting had a solid selection of wines. I was surprised at all the Primitivo’s I was able to try that day. Not sure if it’s a thing in the area but I was very impressed by every single one I tried. And to top it all off they have Food Trucks in the back so you can easily take a break for a snack and after jump back into the fray.”

SCRIBNER BEND VINEYARDS

scribnerbend.com

About the Business

We are a premier wedding and event venue in the Sacramento Delta just 13 miles south of downtown Sacramento. Our 5-generation family farm has roots going back to 1893. Our 1918 barn was converted into our winery in 2000. Today, we have our tasting room, barrel and crush facility and indoor and outdoor event spaces. Whether it be a wedding, anniversary,birthday party or a business gathering, we are happy to accomodate your needs

History

Established in 2003.

We originally started out as a farm operation. We have been in the same family for over 100 years. George Washington Scribner was the first to farm the land that the current generaton farms. He grew peaches and pears that would be picked up by steamboat en route to San Francisco. Mark G. Scribner Jr. is now the farmer of the family land. In 2003, he refurbished a 100 year old barn and turned it into the winery it is today. Due to the rich farm land of the Sacramento Delta and the generational expertise of farming the land, Scribner Bend Vineyards is producing award winning wine.

Guest Review

“If you are looking for a cute local winery to host an event or just check in with friends and family in Sacramento, this is a great place to do so. They have food from Paesano’s on site and the wine is delicious. They also have a tent that can be used to host events rain or shine. I had the opportunity to attend a wedding and the venue was perfect from a vineyard ceremony to a cocktail hour and the reception.”

ACHESON WINE COMPANY

achesonwinecompany.com

History

Acheson Wine Company began as many wineries do with two old friends talking while over a nice bottle. Brian and Steve met back in 1997 while working together at Enotria Café and Wine Bar on Del Paso Blvd. One was a manager and the other a bartender. Over the next 20+ years they went along very different paths in the wine industry but remained close friends. The Manager took the path of sales which led him to become one of the top wine professionals in New York City and the Bartender graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and went on to create over 400 wine brands here in California.

Guest Review

“I was first introduced to Acheson Wine Company via a Yelp Elite event. My husband and I have since been back and really enjoy their wine and hospitality. The staff is always extremely pleasant, and I like their wine.

Prior to the most recent stay-at-home order, Acheson sold wine floats one weekend. Of course I had to try it, and it was delicious! I tried the vegan ice cream with the zinfandel. I’m not vegan, but I wanted to try something new. Anyway, the float was refreshing and it was just nice to sit outside and socially distance chat with other patrons. AND it felt good to support local business. A definite win-win situation.”

NICO WINE

nicowine.co

About this Business

At Nico Wine our mission is to make wine more accessible and enjoyable. We want to welcome customers to a new wine culture that is bright, energetic and affordable. Our program emphasizes flights, helping customers navigate the flavors of natural wine through expert-led progressions. The retail selection will follow monthly themes, becoming an everyday source for the newly indoctrinated.

Guest Review

“Well this was a SundayFunday afternoon Score!
Situated in the Ice Blocks district with a super clean inviting vibe.
I especially love a “front yard” patio where you can just watch people walking by shopping meandering or doing what they do. Nico is so gracious as is the entire staff, and he has a Fantastic Sense of Humor as our crew got “flighty” with our Flights. I just can’t say enough about keeping your minds open to some quite interesting flavors and names of the wines .. and makes sure to pair with amazing chocolate Truffles from my hometown – Chicago.
Best thing you can do is come check it out for yourselves .
Well deserved 5 stars !
Cheers!”

BAILARÍN CELLARS WINERY & TASTING ROOM

bailarincellars.com

About the Business

Bailarin Cellars is a Sonoma County winery, with a Tasting Room in Sacramento. We offer a premier wine tasting experience without the drive. Featuring small lot, single vineyard, 90+ point WE award winning wines from iconic vineyards and renowned AVA’s. We offer tasting flights, wines by the glass, bottle sales, small bites and club membership. Our Tasting Room is an ideal event space for receptions, wine tasting parties and more. Our Tasting Room also includes an espresso bar featuring local roaster Insight Coffee.

History

Established in 2014.

Bailarín Cellars was created by a collective of family and friends, each who follow their passions in life. From the harvest of grapes to wine production to company management to our hand drawn logo and more, we strive to accomplish our goals through contributions of people who love what they do. Together, these combined efforts create exquisite, hand-crafted wines. We are proud to share the fruits of our labor and love with you.

Guest Review

“Made a reservation for 5 on a Saturday. Be aware that they do charge a $15/pp fee that gets applied to your visit on any food or beverage. Once we arrived, we were paired with Reese who gave us phenomenal customer service. I learned so much about their wine and appreciated his shared knowledge during the tasting. We also ordered their mix charcuterie boards. This was the best one I’ve ever tried, and I go wine tasting often! Even my friends who normally call me the “boujee” friend enjoyed it too. I appreciate that they use all local businesses and even have cheese from Cowgirl Creamery. This was a great way to spend time catching up with friends over good wine, cheese, and laughter.”

JJPFISTER DISTILLING COMPANY

jjpfister.com

About the Business

We are an organic craft distillery creating the finest spirits. We make our spirits from raw ingredients. The vodka is potato based and very smooth. Our gin is made from 9 botanicals and is very well balanced. Coming soon is our silver rum. The whiskies are in the barrel.

History

Established in 2016.

We are an organic distillery making high end spirits. We are named JJ Pfister Distilling Company after our great grandfather who pioneered a knitting business in San Francisco with highest quality and customer service. We use ingredients that are sustainably farmed and we donate to create habitat for the Pacific Flyway.

Guest Review

“This place is amazing!!!
This is the 2nd time coming here and everything I tried so far is soooo good. The drinks are on point and the food is absolutely delicious. You definitely wont be disappointed. I highly recommend this place if you want a high quality drink and a delicious bite to eat.”

TWO RIVERS CIDER

tworiverscider.com

About the Business

Two Rivers Cider Company now has a Tap Room! We are the only Cider exclusive tasting room in the Sacramento area. Come on out and try our specialty ciders that can only be tried at our tap room, as well as your old favorites.

History

Established in 1996.

Started in 1996 by Cider enthusiast Vincent Stern, Two Rivers Cider has remained a small production facility producing high quality Ciders made with a variety of apples from Apple Hill. Our tap room allows us to be more experimental and produce small batch Ciders with seasonal ingredients.

Guest Review

“Two rivers is our go to spot! I love that they’re super dog friendly and welcoming to my year old covid raised puppy in need of socializing. The cider is AMAZING they’re always coming out with new flavors which makes us excited to always come back. The staff is always so friendly and helpful ready for assist you with anything you may need from cider recommendations to bringing you out a fire pit to your table on a cold night. Two rivers also has incredible bands and I love how diverse and unique they are. Not only does two rivers have great music they also have some fun activities like yoga, triva night, open mic night, line dancing, ect. The owner Vince treats all his customers like family and is a great guy! Don’t hesitate to come check this place out and enjoy their delicious cider.”

SACRAMENTO RIVER CRUISE

sacrivercruise.com

About the Business

Sacramento River Cruise offers an intimate wine & beer tasting experience that will leave you with a lifetime of memories. Located at the Clarksburg Marina, we offer three daily 2 hour boat cruises featuring flights of local wine, craft beer, and delectable cheese & charcuterie plates. Climb aboard our custom cruising vessel “Roccus” as Capt. Emil Gagliardi takes you on a journey through the pristine Sacramento River while viewing unique wildlife, gorgeous vistas, and the panoramic California Delta. Choose from a menu of local wines and craft beers ranging from Clarksburg, Amador, Lodi, and other surrounding areas. Halfway through your cruise, you will be served a wonderful cheese and charcuterie plate utilizing products from local farms and farmers markets. At Sacramento River Cruise, hospitality is our #1 goal and Capt. Gagliardi will be sure to give you and your party a safe and elegant experience you will never forget.

History

Established in 2018.

Sacramento River Cruise was established in 2018 and is located in Clarksburg, CA. Currently in the heart of Sacramento’s wine country, they depart out of Clarksburg Marina.

Guest Review

“My son got me this cruise for my birthday. We finally got to do it. My wife and I plus my son and his girlfriend got to go today. 3-13-22. We had the greatest time in this cruise. Captain Emil was the best. He explained everything before we left. Poured our wine descriptions of each of the wines. We brought some snacks with us too. We shared with Captain Emil. I don’t think he’ll ever forget the Leprechaun bait. He was a great host on our trip. Dropped anchor halfway through for the cheese and charcuterie board. It was was delicious. Even the blue cheese and I don’t care for it. It was a beautiful day to be on the river. I definitely want to do this again.”

SILT WINE COMPANY

siltwineco.com

About the Business

We specialize is Reserved Private Tastings – by appointment only. Please call us to receive an invitation to enjoy Clarksburg as much as we do.

History

Established in 2014.

Silt Wine Company is the reserved and private Clarksburg vineyard experience that grew from our national label, Muddy Boot Wine.

Guest Review

“This is the Silt I remember! I’ll count the last experience as some COVID-Crazy blip on the radar of otherwise fabulous visits.

The full wine tasting menu is back and glorious–lots of whites and reds to sample and each one is different and tasty. I was especially surprised by the Merlot which had very intriguing black pepper and cumin notes to it. A spicy Merlot I can get behind! Yum!

Carey was a wonderful host holding down the fort solo. I was cared for and entertained throughout my stay.

Thanks, Silt and Carey, for a great afternoon.”