Across Sac: An Urban Wine Tour

Ro Sham Beaux

An Urban BY CARRIE BOYLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUSAN YEE Wine Tour

In Sacramento, wine bars, wineries and wine tasting rooms are popping up at an astonishing rate, led by creative, passionate entrepreneurs.

As a younger group of wine drinkers explores and experiments, they are choosing wines that are not only delicious but have interesting stories or styles. Starting on page 11, we share a few to try.

Fizz Champagne & Bubbles Bar

Vibe: Casual but chic tasting salon

Fizz is Sacramento’s only lounge dedicated specifically to sparkling wine. Since it opened in DOCO in 2018, bringing bubbles from around the globe, it’s made the beverage an everyday go-to. Fizz’s staffers are passionate, well-informed and more than willing to guide you through your sparkling adventure, no matter your budget or taste. Enjoy sparkling-wine-friendly bites that are thoughtfully curated and prepared, from the rustic (white bean crostini topped with fried sage) to the upscale (oysters on the half shell, caviar service). 615 David J. Stern Walk; (916) 573-3909; fizzinsac. com; IG @fizzinsac

Bailarín Cellars

Bailarín Cellars

Vibe: Traditional tasting room that pays homage to Sacramento’s history

The name Bailarín is Spanish for dancer and, says executive director Chris Ryan, “is meant to represent people who love what they do,” including the farmers who grow the fruit from which Bailarín Cellars’ wines are made. Wines include Russian River chardonnay and pinot noir, Alexander Valley cabernet sauvignon and more. Order from a small food menu that features truffle popcorn, lavosh flatbreads, and cheese and charcuterie boards. The tasting room also doubles as an espresso bar that serves locally roasted Insight Coffee drinks. 720 K St.; (916) 754-2937; bailarincellars.com/tastingroom; IG @bailarincellars

Good News Wine

Vibe: Wholesome neighborhood diner

Good News Wine feels both retro and modern; it’s easy to settle in and get comfortable at one of the counter seats or booths. Says owner Bennett Cross: “We require that the wines that go on the menu be very delicious, made from grapes that were farmed organically or biodynamically, fermented with native yeast without anything added in the cellar except for a smidge of sulfur from time to time.” Good News also serves up sherry, vermouth, beer, ciders and nonalcoholic beverages. The food menu offers an array of simple but tasty options: bread and butter, olives, cheese and meat boards, toasties (toasted sandwiches) and seasonal salads. 1050 20th St.; (916) 400-0533; goodnewswine. com; IG @goodnewswine

Nico Wine

Vibe: Cheerful wine café

With colorful wine labels lining the walls and a breezy patio, Nico Wine feels cheery and whimsical—more like a candy or soda shop than a traditional wine bar. Its wines are thoughtfully and responsibly made. Sample wines from underrepresented regions, like the Canary Islands, or wines made from grape varieties you won’t find on grocery shelves, like Mission and Cortese. Events are offered frequently, and guests are invited to come drink wine with winery owners and winemakers, learn their story, appreciate their artistry and create connections. Among pre-packaged snack options: artisan cheeses, madeleine cookies and bonbons. 1710 R St.; (916) 400-9925; nicowine.co; IG @ nico_wine_sac

Ro Sham Beaux

Ro Sham Beaux

Vibe: Fun, chill speakeasy

Ro Sham Beaux is tiny but cozy, with plenty of hipster vibes to go around. Enjoy an eclectic selection of natural wines, by the glass or bottle, that are environmentally friendly and responsibly farmed. Many reflect lower levels of alcohol and sulfites. The wine list is reasonably priced and user-friendly, with abbreviated but descriptive tasting notes for each wine. Staff is always happy to make suggestions. The food menu includes brie grilled cheese on sourdough. For a small, simple nosh, you can purchase tinned fish or a pack of chips. Artisan sodas, beer, craft cocktails and nonalcoholic highballs are also available. 2413 J St.; (916) 3651216; roshambeauxbar.com; IG @ roshambeauxbar

Acheson Wine Company

Vibe: Gathering spot for wine and dog lovers

Lemon-yellow walls greet you as you enter the tiny tasting room that is Acheson Wine Company in Midtown. On one wall, you’ll see posters of murals and artwork that can be found in neighborhoods around the capital city. On the opposite wall, you’ll see a chalkboard listing the available wines, many of which are sourced from Lodi vineyards. What you won’t see are cases upon cases of wine stacked anywhere, because you have walked into a “winery on tap.” The Acheson label started in 2015 as a traditional wine project

but morphed into something less conventional by the time the tasting room opened in 2019. Founders Brian Scott (sommelier) and Steve Burch (winemaker) knew glass wine bottles were heavy to transport and rarely recycled, contributing to the issues of global warming and ever-filling landfills. As a solution, they send wine lovers home with refillable 1-liter wine bottles (with flip tops instead of corks) and encourage them to reuse and refill those bottles with Acheson wines that are stored and poured from kegs. 1629 19th St.; (916) 329-8928; achesonwinecompany.com; IG @achesonwinecompany

Revolution Winery + Kitchen

Revolution Winery + Kitchen

Vibe: Family-run restaurant and winery

Joe and Gina Genschlea started Revolution Winery in 2007 with the idea of bringing wine back to the city as it had been in pre-Prohibition times. Since then time, the operation has expanded, and now Revolution serves not only as a full-production urban winery, but also as a tasting room and restaurant. The grapes are harvested from local vineyards within a 60-mile radius of the Midtown winery. Revolution specializes in low-intervention wines that embody a sense of place. Revolution’s restaurant offers a menu of seasonal and locally sourced foods, with a wide variety of plant-based and gluten-free options. The vegan charcuterie board features housemade vegan burrata, smoked carrot lox and crostini, and there’s a vegan chocolate mousse for dessert. 2831 S St.; (916) 444-7711; rev.wine; IG @ revolutionwines

Franquette

Lucid Winery

Vibe: Traditional winery meets microbrewery

While wine is the focus at Lucid Winery, the atmosphere is more like that of a brew pub, a place where you can play corn hole or beat on a drum while sipping your wine.This tasting room and event space on Sacramento’s R Street is cavernous, but the welcoming staff and décor bring a sense of coziness and comfort. On display is a variety of plants, eye-catching local art and lots of books, and there’s plenty of room to wander and play. The feeling of community is strong, and the winery donates to charity for each bottle sold. Lucid’s core offerings are organic, vegan and naturally made wines served via tap. For nonimbibers, several creative mocktails are available. You can purchase prepackaged snacks or order food from surrounding local eateries. 1015 R St.; (916) 384-0076; lucidwinery.com; IG @lucidwinery

Franquette

Vibe: Modern sidewalk cafe/ wine bar

Located in West Sac’s hip Bridge District, Franquette is a French-inspired gathering spot from the team behind Canon, the Michelin-recognized restaurant in East Sac. At Franquette, the focus is on lesser-known producers and regions whose wines are reasonably priced, terroir driven and made with a light hand. Franquette offers French wines that are bright and balanced, making them agreeable partners to a wide range of foods. Order a French cheese, such as a luscious Brillat-Savarin served with baguette and wildflower honey, or indulge in a heartier dish such as duck confit or potatoes au raclette. The food is delicious and noticeably understated, and the wine is integral to the enjoyment of the food. Franquette does everything right and nothing to excess. 965 Bridge St., West Sacramento; hellofranquette.com; IG @franq.uette