WINE
Helwig Winery features wine caves and an outdoor concert venue . Dave Helwig and his wife , Nancy , opened the winery in 2004 .
Mill in Clarksburg resembles an upscale buffet . Fourteen area wineries operate tasting rooms inside the enormous structures that formerly housed a beet sugar refinery , constructed in 1934 . “ We are like the mall of wineries ,” says Rachelle Wiggins , the wedding director at Old Sugar Mill , and the variety of events at the spacious and picturesque facility rival the variety of wineries .
Old Sugar Mill , which opened in 2005 , is a popular spot for weddings , corporate events , bridal showers , birthday parties , family gatherings and live performances , including a Tower of Power concert in 2019 . ( One of those wineries , Bump City Wine Co ., is co-owned by Roger Smith , the band ’ s keyboardist .) “ We can really capitalize on the fact that we have acres and acres of outdoor space that we can host events in ,” Wiggins says . “ Typically , people are very drawn to our indoor spaces for our weddings , but we have outdoor spacing as well , and we think that we ’ ll see more use of that .”
Although it expects the events business to rally in 2021 , Old Sugar Mill also wants to increase awareness about its wine and tastings . Wiggins says she is surprised by how many people outside the immediate Sacramento area don ’ t know the Old Sugar Mill exists . “ We have various marketing that we do for our weddings and events , but we ’ ll be expanding our marketing for radio as well as print to get the word out for wine tasting ,” Wiggins says .
Working to raise awareness
At Sentivo Vineyards & Winery in Somerset , owner Daniela Devitt faces a similar problem . Its tasting room is a favorite among El Dorado County locals and wine lovers in Western
Nevada , where Devitt estimates that 35 percent to 40 percent of Sentivo ’ s wine club members reside . But awareness of Fair Play among Sacramento wine drinkers remains relatively low , she says . “ In Nevada , especially Reno , Carson City , all of that , we are their Napa , and they ’ ve known about us for a long time ,” Devitt says . “ We just need Sacramento to know we ’ re here .”
Devitt didn ’ t even know about the Fair Play American Viticultural Area until she visited to taste wine in 2010 . She and her family were so impressed by the beauty of the area , they soon purchased the 20-acre property in Somerset .
“ It ’ s what Napa was back in the ’ 80s and the ’ 90s ,” says Devitt of the Fair Play wine region . “ Most of the time , when you come to Napa , you ’ re not going to meet the families that own the winery and really get immersed in their winery
38 comstocksmag . com | April 2021