Sipping with a Super Star

A new tasting room opened in West Sacramento, so of course I had to go check it out. I’ve been to new wineries before, but there was something special about this one. This one has a draw like non other that I have visited. This one invokes passion beyond wine. It invokes the passion of professional sports, a passion so great that men have made great sacrifices for their favorite team(s).

Being a life-long San Francisco Giants fan, both my wine and my sports passions were aroused, once I read the story of Baker Family Wines opening a tasting room in the Sacramento area. The Giants are huge in Northern California, especially with their three World Series championships in five years in the 2010s, and now that the Athletics’ farm team, the Rivercats, have now been replaced by the Giants’ farm team, where prospects and rehabbing pros play.

Dusty Baker managed the Giants from 1993-2002 having great success in their “Dustiny” era, with Dusty taking them to the post-season, including the 2002 World Series. He went on to manage other teams, but in 2019 started Baker Family Wines as a co-owner with winemaker Chik Brenneman.

The tasting room is in an industrial part of West Sacramento and it looks more like an office building than a winery, but once you’re inside and see barrels on racks, people hanging out having a good time, and the bar, it doesn’t matter what the facade looks like.

Since I had read about Baker Family Wines coming to town and learning that Dusty was so into wine he’s become a grape grower, I couldn’t wait to get out there and do some tasting. Only… I really wanted Dusty to be there when I went, which of course I had no control over. As luck would have it, he was there. He was talking to fans of his baseball and of his wine, signing autographs, and posing for pictures. I was delighted to see him there, this sports legend and likely future Hall of Famer whom I had followed for so many years while he was with the Giants.

I was so excited to see him that I immediately went into photojournalist mode and started firing away, after finding a good spot to choose from, just inside the group that had gathered to talk to him. I must have startled him, because in the middle of signing an autograph, he looked up and said, “Man I thought you were with the press or something.” and went back to finishing the autograph.

I continued to enjoy my tasting, watching Dusty graciously work the room. Everyone wanted a piece, a photo, an autograph, a memento, and of course… some of his wine. I was so awestruck being there in the room with him, I could barely say anything intelligible when I actually had the chance to chat with him for a few seconds. Before he could get away, I shook his hand and wished him well in Houston, his next managerial assignment. I couldn’t believe it… Dusty was at the winery when I decided to come visit and I got to talk to him, shake his hand, and wish him well on his next adventure, which he was leaving shortly to pursue.

Baker Family Wines features a wide selection of California wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel (Sierra Foothill and Russian River), Syrah, plus a couple of nice blends, a Proprietary White and a Proprietary Red.

As I write this, I’m still in disbelief. That will be one of my all-time favorite wine tasting experiences, in fact, you could say that it was an All-Star Moment. Thanks Dusty… not only do I wish you well in Houston, but I really want to see Baker Family Wines knock plenty out of the ballpark.

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