Calling all former members of the Sacramento Home Winemakers Club: An important anniversary celebration is coming up, and the group would like to see you and your wines.
The club will celebrate its 40th anniversary on April 17, and the festivities include some friendly wine competition and groovy 1970s-style nostalgia. Participants are asked to bring their oldest bottle of homemade wine for tasting, and everyone will vote for a favorite.
The event also serves as a reminder that the 135-member club seeks new members. Its monthly meetings include discussions of winemaking techniques, peer evaluations and guest speakers.
Randall Grahm, the celebrated vintner of Santa Cruz's Bonny Doon Vineyard, attended the January meeting and led a tasting plus a discussion of terroir and biodynamic practices.
Many members of the Sacramento Home Winemakers Club have since launched successful bonded wineries, including the vintners behind D'Art Winery and m2 Wines of Lodi and Lone Buffalo Vineyards of Placer County. Darrell Corti, the local grocer and food expert, has also been a member and longtime supporter.
The club was named 2012 Wine Club of the Year at WineMaker Magazine's International Amateur Wine Competition.
Gin Yang, the club's membership co-chair, says the group has seen an influx of young members and interest in grapes beyond the typical Bordeaux varietals and usual consumer favorites.
"We're hoping to recruit younger members and retain them," Yang said. "People are making wines for different reasons than they were 15 years ago. They're interested more in drinking wine with food vs. just standing around like we do in California. People are also making more ports and fruit wines."
The April 17 event for current and past members starts at 7 p.m. at the Turn Verein meeting hall, 3349 J St., Sacramento.
Club meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Turn Verein. For membership information and other details: www.sachomewine.com.
Call The Bee's Chris Macias (916) 321-1253. Follow him on Twitter @chris_macias.
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
• Read more articles by Chris Macias
Order Reprint
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "Report Abuse" link below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.