Sightseeing Sacramento Post IFBC 2017 – visit to El Dorado Wine Country with food and wine tasting and exploration of Old Sacramento.
IFBC 2017 was not limited to just the events at the Convention Center but extends to some very interesting excursions to the surrounding region. We had signed up for the El Dorado Sip, Savor, & Stroll Excursion which took place on Saturday. Since our flight only left on Sunday afternoon, there was sufficient time for us to explore Old Sacramento, a quaint part of town that has not changed very much from its 19th century architecture and layout. Both these places tell us a lot more about how the Gold Rush shaped and formed the destiny of the state of California. It provided us with a window into the rich tapestry of food and culture that makes this area unique.
El Dorado Wine Country
One of the highlights of IFBC 2017 was the post conference excursion to El Dorado Wines. This was a full day excursion of sight seeing, meals, and wine tasting. Our tour started with brunch and wine pairing at Skinner Vineyards.
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The amazing brunch was prepared by Chef Kim of Table Nectar with appetizers, salad, main, and dessert. Several wineries in the area provided a free flow of wines throughout the brunch.
• Lava Cap Winery
• Gwinllan Estate
• Madroña Vineyards
• Shadow Ranch Vineyard
• Smokey Ridge Farm and Winery
Tour of Placerville, Downtown
After brunch we took a drive to Placerville, Downtown. Our first stop was at Delloree’s Confections for chocolates, strawberries, and wine from Fenton Herriott Vineyards. Next, we made a short stop at Winterhill for olive oil and wine from Perry Creek Winery. Then we walked over to Dedrick’s Cheese for more wine tasting. This time we tasted wines from Nello Olivo Wines and Rucksack Cellars.
We also checked out Historic Cary House Hotel. Before leaving town, we had a delicious snack at The Farm Table with wines from Lava Cap Winery and Holly’s Hill.
Culinary Extravaganza Dinner
We wound round the hills to dinner at Boeger Winery. Chef Mike from the Beef ‘N’ Brew Restaurant prepared tomahawk and hanger steaks, roast duck, and a variety of sides and salads. Boeger Winery provided the cookies, cheese, nuts, and wines. The other participating wineries were…
• Everhart Cellars & Hart 2 Hart Vineyards
• Mount Aukum Winery
After dinner, we made our way back to the hotel tired and stuffed. That was a memorable excursion! El Dorado Wines, together with the local tourism authority, and vineyards did a fantastic job of showcasing their region and products!
Sightseeing Sacramento
After a good night’s rest and breakfast at the hotel, we walked over to the California State Capitol Museum and Park. I was delighted to see orange trees at the park laden with Seville oranges. It was my first time seeing orange trees. Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped at the McKinley Rose garden to “smell the roses”. 🙂
We had lunch once again at Petra Greek before checking out of the hotel and driving to Old Sacramento. This town is a throwback to the mid 19th century with 53 historic buildings registered as a National and California Historic Landmark. After a brief walk around, it was time to head to the Sacramento International Airport to catch the plane home to Minnesota.
Disclosure: This is one of three blog posts I am writing in exchange for a discounted rate to attend IFBC 2017. Dinner at Petra was at our own expense. Dinner at Pizza Rock was provided by the restaurant. Apart from the free meal, no other compensation was given. All opinions are my own. For full disclaimer, please click here.
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