Sweet deal

Rather than sit in traffic trying to get to Napa Valley, why not select a much closer, less pretentious and less expensive wine country getaway? It takes about 15 minutes to drive to Clarksburg from downtown Sacramento, and at the Old Sugar Mill (35265 Willow Avenue) alone, you can taste pours from 11 wineries. It gets sweeter on Saturday, February 13, and Sunday, February 14, which is the annual Port & Wine Chocolate Lovers Weekend. Sure, going to anything deemed a “Lovers Weekend” might feel over-the-top, but it’s quite the deal. A $40 one-day ticket gets you the equivalent of up to three glasses of wine per winery—yes, you did the math right—plus barrel, port and chocolate tastings. An extra $25 gets you buffet lunch at Breedlove’s Bayou Bistro, featuring jambalaya, roast chicken, smoked brisket, salads, bread pudding and multiple cakes. Learn more at http://oldsugarmill.com.