SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Imagine a leisurely afternoon of wine tasting, where the winemaker pours you a glass as she tells you about the grapes grown nearby. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and perhaps best of all, your tastings are affordable and delicious. While this may sound like the California wine country of the past, the Sacramento region continues to offer a wine experience that is truly reflective of the Golden State - diverse, welcoming and overflowing with award-winning varietals.
The Sacramento region and surrounding counties are home to more than 200 wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms, and most are within an hour's drive from the city. Area wineries, as well as wine bars, are tapping into the region's bounty to serve dozens of varietals grown and made in the area. It's a little-known fact that a large portion of the grapes used to make world-famous Napa wines actually come from the Sacramento region.
From small, rural tasting rooms to downtown wine bars, there's something to please every oenophile's palate in the Sacramento region. To help you plan your journey, the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau recently released the 2015 Wine Guide, a convenient online wine "manual" with winery listings, tips and tricks, maps and more. You can also order a complimentary, hard copy guide to take along on your next wine adventure by calling 916-808-7777.
"While California has always been known for its outstanding wines, commercialization, overly-crowded tasting rooms and high prices have turned off some visitors to well-known destinations," said Nick Leonti, director of tourism at the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The Sacramento wine region remains somewhat of a hidden gem, allowing travelers intimate access to some of their favorite wineries and winemakers. We make wine tasting an approachable, friendly experience for everyone."
Beyond exploring the Sacramento region's wine bars and tasting rooms, visitors can sample local flavors at a host of wine events. In June, wine lovers can once again taste from dozens of regional wineries at the annual SaveMart Grape Escape (June 6). This popular warm-weather event will expand in 2015 to include an entire weekend of wine-themed activities, including a winemaker's dinner and champagne brunch in the city's downtown Kay District. In September, travelers will have the unique opportunity to sample and discover more about some of the region's most celebrated wines, as selected by two of Sacramento's internationally recognized culinary powerhouses - Darrell Corti and David Berkley - at the Legends of Wine, part of the Farm-to-Fork Celebration. For more wine events, visit farmtofork.com.
About the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCVB) is a non-profit organization funded by the City of Sacramento, the County of Sacramento a local hotel self-assessment and business membership throughout the greater Sacramento region. As the premier economic development and services organization for the region's $2.04 billion convention and tourism industry, the SCVB develops and executes sales, marketing and customer service programs to help strengthen the regional economy, as well as the bottom lines of our member businesses and marketing partners. Divisions of the SCVB include the Sacramento Sports Commission and the region's ongoing farm-to-fork program.
The SCVB's dedicated volunteer board represents all aspects of the industry's most important stakeholders, including lodging, meeting facilities, attractions, restaurants, arts and culture, government, retail, and transportation.
