Wine Lovers' Weekend

It’s an annual tradition, one that brings people out of the Sacramento apartments and down to Old Sugar Mill for a weekend of excitement. Once they reach that enclave of delight, that winery just south of Downtown Sacramento, they congregated and enjoy a range of port, wine, and chocolate pairings, barrel tastings, live music, and much more.

What tradition could we be referring to? The Port, Wine & Chocolate Lover’s Weekend, of course. It’s one of the most well-known regional wine events, but in case you’re not that hip to what’s going on, we’re going to go over some of the pertinent details so you can get ready for all the action.

Background Information

First, let’s take care of the background info and major details. You might be curious what The Historic Old Sugar Mill is all about. They’ve got perhaps the most succinct description:

“Originally built in 1934 as an operating beet sugar refinery, the Old Sugar Mill now hosts fifteen 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.”

So, as you can see, wine is their specialty. As for the date, time -- that sort of thing.

Date: Saturday February 10th & Sunday February 11th
Time: 10:00AM to 5:00PM
There will be several ticket tiers for individuals interested in attending.

Early-Bird Tickets: $20.
General Admission Tickets: $40; includes commemorative wineglass, wine tastings at thirteen wineries, barrel tasting, chocolate tastings, port/barrel tastings, sweet & savory pairings, live music, and entertainment.
Designated Driver Ticket: $10; Includes edible samples, bottled water, and soft drinks.
There are also a few special features and deals:

$29.50 Online pre-purchase General Admission / Per Person.
$125 BonTemps Package for 6 (Includes 6 regular tickets for one day general admission).

And let’s not forget about the food trucks, cigar lounge, bottle your own port event, and additional vendors all for your enjoyment. For those intending on enjoying the full breadth of wine the event has to offer, dropping a few extra dollars on some designated driver tickets might be a good idea. Remember, as there will be copious amounts of alcohol, you must be 21 or older to attend this event. No dogs permitted (except for service animals), and you’ll need your ID to gain entry. Now, onto the main event.

What It’s All About

The main draw here is the fact that you’ll be getting a chance to sample wine, and not just a little bit. Admission to the event grants those with tickets the ability to sample two wines from every winery participating, of which there are fifteen:

Todd Taylor Wines
Three Wine Company
Perry Creek Winery
Rendez-Vous Winery
Elevation Ten Winery
Due Vigne Di Famiglia
Draconis Wines
Heringer Estates
Clarksburg Wine Company
Carvalho Family Wines
Bup City Wines
Batia Vineyards
Bonitata
Kirchoff Wines
Seka Hills

Let’s take a closer look at these well-respected participants in the event, Old Sugar Mill’s featured wine suppliers.

Todd Taylor Wines

Specializes in single vineyard designated wines with grapes selected from “vineyards that produce premium fruit.” They use handmade techniques to achieve excellent flavor in all of their varieties.

Three Wine Company

Three wine company is the brainchild of Matt Cline. They are producers of the S3x brand, and have wines ranging from Zinfandels, to Mataros, to Petite Sirahs.

Perry Creek Winery

Located in the heart of the Sierra Foothills, Perry Creek Winery specializes in planting vines on soil that consists of decomposed granite. This gives them low yields while adding a distinct taste.

Rendez-Vous Winery

Rendez-Vous Winery is the creation of Larry Dizmang, who has made a return to wine-making after much success in the 1980s.

Elevation Ten Winery

This is a small production winery and a collaboration between three different families. Their commitment to community is just as strong as their love for producing great wine.

Due Vigne Di Famiglia

Due Vigne Di Familia is something of an evolving concept, as winemaker Ken Musso studied the wines of his father and grandfather. Due Vigne wine is all about balance, something you’ll note while tasting it.

Draconis Wines

Officially Draconis By Matt Powell, this “underground” brand is known for being the finest in handmade perfection, with a silky smooth taste wine lovers enjoy.

Heringer Estates

Heringer Estates brings award-winning, hand-crafted wines from premium grapes in the Clarksburg area, and has been farming in the area since 1868. They’ve got a true connection to the land and understand how to make wine like no others.

Clarksburg Wine Company

The Clarksburg Wine Company knows that the Clarksburg appellation makes “some of California’s most coveted wine grapes,” which is why they’ve been using them in their wines since 2010.

Carvalho Family Wines

From the villages of Portugal now in the heart of California, the Carvalho family has been making wine for generations, and they are dedicated to the craft in the way few other families could ever be.

Bump City Wines

They say the wine is as smooth as the music, and if you recognize the name “Bump City,” you’ll quickly realize this winery is the brainchild of Tower Of Power keyboardist Roger Smith, combining his passion for music with his love of fine wine.

Batia Vineyards

Created in 2011, the Batia Vineyards are a boutique-style winery that limits production to bring a product that has much more focus.

Bonitata

Small, boutique, and experienced are the hallmarks of Bonitata. They were started back in 1999 and have been making quality wine varieties ever since, direct from the Sierra Foothills.

Kirchhoff Wines

On the Sacramento River Delta lies the Kirchhoff family farm. Here, they make best use of the land, climate, and environment to grow their grapes and produce their well-loved wine with a distinctive “hands off” approach.

Seka Hills

Seka Hills wines are a product of the “unique qualities of the Capay Valley,” and include a wide variety of distinct flavors that most wine lovers are quite impressed with.

The Apartments In Sacramento Are Nearby

If you’re interested in taking a weekend to try all of the fabulous wines from the multitude of area wineries, you’d do well to take up residence in a closely located community like The Arbors At Antelope. Here, the spacious floorplans and modern conveniences make for great living near the city. Give it a look, and learn more today.