Sacramento Valley: Wine in the Farm to Fork Capital

The Sacramento Valley has a rich farming history and is best known for growing walnuts, almonds, cherries, olives, tomatoes and prunes. But, you may not realize that the climate is also ideal for growing wine grapes. From robust reds to floral whites, the wines produced here capture the essence of the land.

Sacramento is not just the state’s capital city, it’s also known as the “Farm to Fork Capital,” since an agricultural bounty surrounds it. The Sacramento Valley’s farms and ranches help feed the nation, providing a variety of fruits and vegetables that pair with world-class wines. 

This is a place where you can picture enjoying a glass of lively Zinfandel while admiring fields that go on seemingly forever. Here’s more about the Sacramento Valley and its winegrowing history.

Where is the Sacramento Valley?

The Sacramento Valley is a large, fertile region in northern California in and around the city of Sacramento. It covers the northern part of California’s Central Valley and extends north from Lodi, in the heart of the California Delta. At over 10,000 square miles, it includes nine counties, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties. 

The Sacramento River shapes the valley, flowing from the Cascade Mountains far to the north. The area boasts a classic Mediterranean climate, meaning a warm, dry growing season with mild weather in the spring and autumn. In the summer, the characteristic “Delta Breeze” from the Pacific Ocean brings cooler temperatures to the western parts of the valley in areas like the Solano County Green Valley AVA. 

Along with the San Joaquin Valley to the south, these valleys are vital to California’s agriculture and produce about 25% of the nation’s food supply. And, of that agriculture, a growing amount is wine.

What is the History of the Area?

The Sacramento Valley was originally home to the Miwok and Maidu peoples, who lived off the land’s rich resources for thousands of years. The Spanish army led European exploration of the valley between 1806 and 1808, and the region’s farming history goes back to before the Gold Rush. Wheat farming became a key source of income in the early 1800s, but as settlers moved to the area, they began to grow many crops, including wine grapes.

What is the History of Wine In the Sacramento Valley?

In the mid-1800s, the Sacramento Valley emerged as one of California’s leading wine regions. The area accounted for approximately 16% of the state’s total vineyard acreage at that time. The valley had a variety of vineyards, ranging from small family plots to large farms.

With time, Sacramento became a major center for wine production, and four wineries operated in the city until Prohibition began. Despite the challenges of Prohibition, many vineyards in the valley survived by focusing on the sacramental, medicinal and home-winemaking markets.

Once Prohibition ended, the region was primed to help California’s wine industry grow. For much of the last century, the Sacramento Valley’s wine grapes ended up in blends made by wineries elsewhere in the state.

Today, however, the area is known for its winemaking. It is home to noteworthy wineries such as Bogle Family Vineyards, Heringer Estates and Clarksburg Wine Company.

AVAs in the Sacramento Valley

The Sacramento Valley covers a large swath of land. It includes or is partially included in 17 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), comprising over 90 wineries and 23,834 vineyard acres. The AVAs in the Sacramento Valley region include: 

• Lodi AVA (including Alta Mesa, Borden Ranch, Cosumnes River, Jahant and Sloughhouse AVAs)
• Solano County (including Green Valley, Suisun Valley and Wild Horse Valley AVAs)
• Yolo County (including Capay, Clarksburg (also in Sacramento and Solano counties), Dunnigan Hills and Merritt Island AVAs)
• Yuba County (North Yuba AVA)

The primary grape varieties grown in the region are well-known grapes like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc. However, you’ll also see old-vine Zinfandel (which Lodi is known for!), Syrah and less-common grapes like Chenin Blanc, Vermentino, Viognier and Petite Sirah. 

Thanks to the soil types and relatively warmer weather, the region focuses on growing red wine grapes that make bold wines. All in all, red varieties comprise 61% of the total production, and white varieties account for 39%. 

When it comes to the terroir, the region is seriously diverse. From the soil types to the topography, there is a little bit of everything in the Sacramento Valley. While some AVAs are flatter, others cross rolling hills or sit at elevation. 

Meanwhile, the soil varies, too. You’ll find well-draining, loamy soils in parts of the Lodi AVA. Meanwhile, the areas around rivers or near historic riverbeds (i.e., Cosumnes River and Merritt Island) tend to have sandy soil that favors aromatic white wines (think Viognier) — adding further to the regional diversity gravelly soils found in higher elevation AVAs like the Sloughhouse AVA.

Bake A Taste Of The Sacramento Valley

Want to get a taste of the Sacramento Valley at home? You’ll want to try your hand at these Mini No-Bake Pumpkin Pies. These sweet treats are a fall favorite and pair beautifully with a glass of California sparkling wine or California Chardonnay.