Just 15 minutes from Sacramento, an undiscovered, unhurried California wine region beckons visitors seeking off-the-beaten-path wine-tasting experiences. Known as Clarksburg Wine Country, this appellation resides within the California Delta. Its scenic landscape has earned it the nickname, “Gem of the California Delta.”
When you cross the historic Freeport Bridge and enter Clarksburg Wine Country, life slows down. Its magical qualities make it feel like a world away from Sacramento’s skyscrapers, urban center, and state politics.
Clarksburg AVA
The Clarksburg AVA spans three counties in the Sacramento Valley. It includes Sacramento County, Yolo County, where the town of Clarksburg resides, and Solano County. The two main gateways to the appellation are via Interstate 5 and Highway 80. It’s bordered by I-5 on the east, the Deep Water Channel on the west, the town of Freeport on the north, and Twin Cities Road on the south. Its rich farm region runs alongside the winding Sacramento River in the California Delta and is full of pear orchards, vineyards, small towns, and California history. Soils include loam, silt, and dense clay.
Warm summer days and a delta breeze that travels up the river from San Francisco Bay to cool the region’s grapes at night, make it an ideal wine-growing region. Chenin Blanc, Petite Sirah, Viognier, and Chardonnay grapes grow well here, along with 30 other varietals.
Although Clarksburg Wine Country officially became an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1984, it emerged as a wine region when the Bogle Family planted vineyards in 1968. Today, Clarksburg Wine Country has over 20 wineries and 10,000 acres of vineyards. 90% of the wineries are family-owned and operated. Some offer expansive outdoor settings with views of the vineyards, while others operate tasting rooms out of the historic, repurposed Old Sugar Mill.
California Delta
The California Delta is formed by the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. It’s a vast, diverse, and important system that delivers water to other parts of the state. This expansive estuary also provides an ideal growing region for agriculture.
Swinging bridges and weighted drawbridges across picturesque waterways provide access to the mainland and islands throughout this network of rivers and sloughs. Traveling down the river road, past Rio Vista, the Sacramento River suddenly widens and changes, flowing towards the Antioch Bridge. It eventually makes its way to San Francisco Bay. Fog and cool breezes from the San Francisco Bay keep the area cooler at night than its nearby neighbors, Sacramento, Lodi, and Stockton.
Where to Taste in Clarksburg Wine Country
Discovering wine tasting in this region offers an easy and relaxing adventure. Its family-run wineries provide inviting stops to sample the region’s varietals.
Bogle Winery
One of the largest and most well-known wineries in the Clarksburg AVA, Bogle Winery sells more than 2 million cases of wine around the world. It ships across the United States and to more than 40 countries. But the winery hasn’t lost that personal touch. Third-generation winegrowers Warren, Jody, and Ryan Bogle still run the business. Although the winery has expanded over the years, the tasting room remains on the original ranch site. The historic family home is a stone’s throw from the tasting room.
Bogle Winery offers the ideal location to spend an afternoon wine tasting. Its upstairs tasting room provides indoor and outdoor seating with expansive views of the vineyards. Bogle is open daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm for wine by the glass or the bottle. Thursday – Sunday, the winery offers a 90-minute seated tasting. Guests create their own flight or select a curated one. At the end, each guest selects a glass of their favorite wine to take with them as they wander down to the picnic grounds. The tasting is $20 per person or $15 for club members.
Alternatively, guests can reserve a picnic table for parties of up to six. The reservation fee of $50 comes with a bottle of wine and reusable wine glasses. The reservation is free for club members.
Bogle produces a wide variety of wines, many at extremely reasonable prices. But Bogle is best known for its fresh and lively Chenin Blanc and its jammy, luscious Petite Sirah.
Julietta Winery
Transplants from Napa, Craig and Julie Russell opened Julietta Winery ten years ago. Over time the winery expanded its offerings to include food. Appetizers, salads, soups, and dessert provide extensive choices, which makes Julietta an excellent choice for lunch or a late afternoon snack.
The tasting room offers indoor and outdoor seated wine tasting and is surrounded by colorful rose bushes, lush lawns, oak trees, and views of the Coast Range. Sunsets from Julietta are stunning. Guests choose which wines they want to try in a flight of four wines for $15.
My favorite is Romeo’s Rosé with notes of raspberry and hint of strawberry. The Beverly’s Inspiration, named after Julie’s mother, is a variation of a GSM with a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre.
Old Sugar Mill
The Old Sugar Mill, a renovated sugar beet production facility, houses fourteen tasting rooms. Although the facility does not have a restaurant, food trucks are on site Saturdays and Sundays. Many of the tasting rooms also sell snacks.
You’ll find delicious wines and lovely settings in any of the tasting rooms within this historic brick building. A few of my favorites include Todd Taylor for his delightful Tempranillo, Rendez-vous for its luscious Chardonnay, and Kirchhoff Family Wines for its refreshing Chenin Blanc.
Carvalho Family Winery, of Portuguese heritage, makes a rich and smooth Port. John Carvalho championed the effort to restore the Old Sugar Mill and repurpose it for wineries.
With the advent of the Sugar Mill, wine tasting in Clarksburg blossomed. Days and hours vary from winery to winery, so check ahead at Old Sugar Mill.
Scribner Bend
Scribner Bend, farmers since 1893 and winemakers since 2001, features a spacious tasting room, daytime gazebo rentals, and a gorgeous wedding venue on the bend of the Sacramento River. The winery is on the opposite side of the river from Clarksburg about 3.5 miles south of the Freeport Bridge. Extensive outdoor seating, surrounded by vineyards and a rose garden, provides a lovely setting for wine tasting.
Tasting is available Friday through Sunday from 11:00 am – 4:30 pm. Walkins are welcome for groups of up to five people. Larger groups require reservations.
Paesanos Pizza, baked fresh in the courtyard’s pizza oven, draws hungry visitors to this inviting winery. An extensive deli case features charcuterie meats, cheeses, and more.
The Black Hat Tempranillo, with notes of berries and plum and a bit of pepper in the flavor, remains a favorite of mine.
The Magic of Clarksburg Wine Country
I promise if you visit the Clarksburg Wine Country in the California Delta, you’ll fall in love with this part of Northern California. As you drive along the River Road in search of nearby wineries, the winding Sacramento River will cast its magic spell over you. Then when you settle down alongside the vineyards with a glass of wine in hand, you’ll begin to understand how this relaxed and beautiful wine region came to be known as the Gem of the California Delta.
If You Go
Where to Eat
In addition to the wineries offering food, there are two places to eat in Clarksburg. One is Husick’s Taphouse and BBQ. The other is the Dinky Diner, a simple food truck, across from Husick’s, that features grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries.
Where to Stay
Nearby Westin Sacramento, overlooking the Sacramento River, is a short drive on Interstate 5 to Freeport, the gateway to the Delta.
Home – Visit Clarksburg for more info.
