Chenin Blanc, Petite Sirah, and Delta charm minutes south of Sacramento. Updated for 2026.
Just south of Sacramento, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers braid into a maze of sloughs and islands, lies one of California's most overlooked wine regions: Clarksburg. Set in the cool, breezy heart of the Sacramento River Delta on deep, rich silt soils, the Clarksburg AVA (established in 1984) has long been known for its Chenin Blanc, once a mainstay of California white wine, alongside bold Petite Sirah and a growing range of other varieties. It is flat, green, and watery rather than hilly, with historic farm towns, a landmark converted sugar mill full of tasting rooms, and multi-generational farming families, a laid-back, uncrowded escape just minutes from the state capital.
Below are the Clarksburg wineries we recommend most, from the region's famous family name and its historic tasting-room hub to an old-vine specialist and riverside family estates. These are a mix of walk-in and by-appointment tastings; reserve ahead where you can. Current as of October 2026.
The region's great family name
Clarksburg's most famous winery, Bogle was planted here in 1968 by Warren Bogle (on a family farm dating to the 1800s) with Chenin Blanc and Petite Sirah, the region's signature grapes. Now a nationally known, family-run label, its Clarksburg home is the natural anchor for a Delta wine visit.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Clarksburg.
Our tip: Taste the Chenin Blanc and Petite Sirah where Bogle's Clarksburg story began in 1968.
A historic hub of tasting rooms
Built in 1934 to process sugar beets and later restored as a wine destination, the Old Sugar Mill now houses more than a dozen wineries and tasting rooms under one historic roof, the beating heart of Clarksburg wine country and the easiest place to taste many producers in one stop.
Good to know: Multiple tasting rooms; historic mill. Clarksburg.
Our tip: Start here; you can taste a dozen-plus Clarksburg wineries under one historic roof.
An old-vine specialist
Run by veteran winemaker Matt Cline (longtime winemaker at Cline Cellars) and his wife Erin, Three Wine Company specializes in old-vine Zinfandel, Mataro, and Petite Sirah from historic California vineyards, poured at the Old Sugar Mill, a must for lovers of characterful, old-vine reds.
Good to know: Tastings; at the Old Sugar Mill. Clarksburg.
Our tip: Try the old-vine Zinfandel and Petite Sirah; serious, characterful, historic-vine reds.
Seven generations of Delta farming
The Heringer family has farmed the Clarksburg area for seven generations, and its estate winery pours a broad, well-priced range (its tastings count toward a bottle), a genuine, down-to-earth Delta farming family stop with deep local roots.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Clarksburg.
Our tip: Taste the estate range at a seven-generation Delta farming family's winery; great value.
Portuguese heritage and the mill's revival
Of Portuguese heritage, the Carvalho family makes a range that includes a rich, smooth Port, and founder John Carvalho championed the restoration of the Old Sugar Mill into the wine destination it is today, a warm, characterful stop with a key place in local history.
Good to know: Tastings; at the Old Sugar Mill. Clarksburg.
Our tip: Try the Port; the family helped turn the Old Sugar Mill into Clarksburg's wine hub.
A riverside family winery
A small family-owned winery on the banks of the Sacramento River (farmers since 1893, winemakers since 2001), Scribner Bend pairs estate wines with a scenic riverside tasting room and event setting, a relaxed, picturesque Delta stop.
Good to know: Tastings; riverside estate. Sacramento / Clarksburg.
Our tip: Taste by the river; a scenic, relaxed riverside family winery.
Delta terroir in a glass
Named for the rich Delta silt that defines Clarksburg's soils, Silt Wine Company makes small-lot wines (including a well-liked sparkling rose) that express the region's terroir, poured by reservation, a boutique, terroir-driven Delta stop.
Good to know: Tastings by reservation; boutique winery. Clarksburg.
Our tip: Book ahead and try the sparkling rose; small-lot wines built on Delta silt.
Clarksburg is one of the easiest wine regions to reach in Northern California, just 15 to 20 minutes south of downtown Sacramento along the Delta. The single best starting point is the Old Sugar Mill, a historic 1934 sugar-beet mill that now houses more than a dozen wineries and tasting rooms, so you can sample many Clarksburg producers (including Three Wine Company and Carvalho) in one visit. From there, branch out to Bogle's nearby estate, the seven-generation Heringer Estates, and riverside spots like Scribner Bend. Because the Delta is flat and laced with rivers and sloughs, the drives are scenic and easy. Base yourself in Sacramento or nearby, plan three or four stops, book the reservation-only boutiques like Silt ahead, and note that Delta breezes keep things cooler than the inland valley, though summer afternoons still get warm.
Do not overlook Clarksburg because it is close to a city and flat rather than hilly; its Chenin Blanc heritage and Delta character make it genuinely distinctive. Do not miss the Old Sugar Mill, it is the easiest way to taste many producers in one stop. And do not assume everything is walk-in, some boutique wineries are reservation-only, so check ahead and book where needed.
Which are the best wineries in Clarksburg?
A well-rounded list includes the famous Bogle Family Vineyards, the historic Old Sugar Mill (which houses more than a dozen tasting rooms), the old-vine specialist Three Wine Company, the seven-generation Heringer Estates, the Port-making Carvalho Family Winery, the riverside Scribner Bend Vineyards, and the boutique, terroir-driven Silt Wine Company, a mix of the region's famous name, its historic hub, and family estates.
What wine is Clarksburg known for?
Chenin Blanc above all, historically one of its signature grapes and once a mainstay of California white wine, along with bold Petite Sirah and a growing range of other varieties. Clarksburg's cool Delta breezes and deep, rich silt soils give its wines a distinctive character, and the region remains one of California's most under-the-radar sources for interesting, well-priced bottlings.
Where is Clarksburg wine country?
In the Sacramento River Delta, just south of downtown Sacramento (about 15 to 20 minutes away), where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers braid into sloughs and islands. The Clarksburg AVA was established in 1984 and spans parts of Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano counties, a flat, green, watery landscape of historic farm towns rather than rolling hills.
What is the Old Sugar Mill?
The Old Sugar Mill is a historic building in Clarksburg, built in 1934 to process sugar beets and later restored as a wine destination. It now houses more than a dozen wineries and tasting rooms under one roof, which makes it the easiest and most popular place to taste many Clarksburg producers in a single visit, and the social heart of the region's wine scene.
Is Clarksburg a good wine day trip from Sacramento?
Very. It is only about 15 to 20 minutes south of downtown Sacramento, which makes it one of the most convenient wine escapes in Northern California. You can spend a relaxed day at the Old Sugar Mill's many tasting rooms and a few nearby estates, enjoy the scenic, flat Delta drives, and taste distinctive Chenin Blanc and Petite Sirah far from the crowds of Napa or Sonoma.
Independent reviews, verified listings, and no pay-to-play.