Sacramento region wineries are fewer and farther between compared to those of the Lodi area, which is about 40 miles to the south.
In the Sacramento region, it’s about quality and not quantity. Here are ten wineries in and near Sacramento to check out. All ten are within easy driving distance of downtown Sacramento—just off I-5, I-80, or Highway 50.
At the bottom of this post is a Google My Map in which all the listed wineries are pinned.
City of Sacramento Wineries
We'll begin with three wineries that have Sacramento, California addresses.
The Underground Tasting Room
The Underground Tasting Room is located in historic Old Sacramento.
Owners Chuck and Yvette get high marks from Yelp and Google My Business reviewers.
Most visitors also appreciate the ambiance.
While wines were once sourced from Sierra foothills appellations, the tasting room now specializes in Fenton Herriott Vineyards wines.
Fun fact: The tasting room is across the street from the California State Railroad Museum.
Lucid
Lucid Winery offers a variety of organic wines using organic grapes from California's best vineyards. Lucid's wines are vegan, additive-free, and sugar-free.
The tasting room is located on R Street in the W.P. Fuller Building, a distinctive brick building constructed in 1913.
In addition to traditional wines, Lucid also features experimental hybrids such as a Hazy WIPA (a wine/IPA) and a HefeWinezin (Hefeweizen/wine hybrid).
Fun fact: Lucid features a library within its winery. The library contains a variety of rare texts dating over 150 years, with topics that range from agriculture & farming to philosophy, literature, and more.
Patrons can peruse the library and select a book to accompany them with their wine tasting or glass.
Frasinetti
Frasinetti, founded in 1897, was one of the best-known wineries in the City of Sacramento. Since we published this article, Frasinetti has been sold.
The winery was in a small industrial corridor — an area "out in the country" for many years.
Fun fact: The winery survived prohibition by selling table grapes and making "altar wine" for the church.
Scribner Bend
Just east of the Yolo County line, at a bend in the Sacramento River, is Scribner Bend Vineyards.
Scribner’s wide assortment of red and white wines are generally in the $18 to $24 range. While the winery has a Sacramento address, Scribner is technically part of the Clarksburg AVA, which is covered next.
Fun fact: In the 1800’s the river bend was a vital shipping point. Produce, mail, and passengers were picked up and delivered by steamboat.
The Clarksburg AVA
The San Francisco Chronicle called the Clarksburg American Viticultural Area "the little wine-growing region that could."
The Clarksburg AVA touches Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano counties. It is near the northern fringe of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta area.
Bogle
Across the river from Sacramento in Clarksburg is Bogle Vineyards. Nationally, Bogle is the best-known brand from the Sacramento region.
Bogle wines can be purchased at many large retail chains and local wine shops.
The fourth generation of the Bogle family currently manages the operation. They run a tight ship to ensure quality at scale.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Bogle Vineyards the 2019 American Winery of the Year.
Fun fact 1: All 20,000 of Bogle’s wine barrels are hand-stirred once a month.
Fun fact 2: Bogle has grape vines inside Raley Field, home of the Sacramento River Cats.
Julietta Winery
One of the newest wineries in the region, Craig and Julie Russell began Julietta Winery in 2015 after they retired from their careers. They decided to pursue their passion for making quality wines.
Julietta has a wide range of red wines, from Petit Verdot to Cabernet Sauvignon to Zinfandel to Pinot Noir.
Fun fact: A family friend from Italy pronounced Julie’s full name "Julietta." That version sounded so good to everyone that it was adopted as the name for the winery.
Miner’s Leap Winery
Miner's Leap is a family-owned winery just outside of Clarksburg.
A century-old rustic barn and a nicely landscaped site make for an excellent setting.
Fun fact: The patriarch's great-grandfather, Loyal Aubrey Miner, was a bootleg winemaker in Bothell, Washington in the 1920s. He eventually received a Presidential pardon.
Foothills Wineries
East of Sacramento, in the foothills of California's Sierra Nevada, are several wineries that are a quick trip from Sacramento.
Wise Villa Winery
To the northeast of Sacramento in Lincoln is Wise Villa Winery.
Set in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Wise Villa is well known for its vistas and quality service.
Fun fact: Wise Villa was named "Golden State Winery of the Year" at the 2015 California State Fair.
Casque Wines
Le Casque is located in Placer County. The winery specializes in Bordeaux and Rhone-style wines.
The tasting room is dog, family, and picnic-friendly. It has a patio that overlooks a pond and a nursery.
Cielo Estate Winery
Located in Shingle Springs, off Highway 50, is Cielo Estate Winery.
There are 17.8 acres of vineyards planted to Rhone and Italian varietals. Cielo is an excellent setting for weddings and special events.
There are many more foothills wineries in El Dorado County and Placer County.
Map of Wineries In & Near Sacramento
You can zoom in and out on this map. Hover and click in the top right to view the map in a separate browser tab. When you click on a wine glass, you'll see a link to Google Maps in the left sidebar. From there, you can plan your route.
