The drive from San Francisco to Sutter Creek is about 2 1/2 hours, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a scenic drive with various interesting stops along the way. Take your time as you cruise through the Delta. The journey is part of the adventure with gorgeous scenery and quite a bit of history.
From San Francisco, head across the Bay Bridge to Hwy 24E through the Caldecott Tunnel. You will reach Antioch which marks the geographic gateway where the urban landscape drops off and the Delta begins.
Antioch to Rio Vista (Entering the Delta)
Cross the expansive Antioch Bridge on CA-160 North to elevate above the flatlands. You will immediately trace the edge of the water, passing right next to Brannan Island State Recreation Area. The scenery morphs instantly into expansive marshlands, windsurfer-speckled waters, and narrow roads flanked by channels.
Key Stop: Make your way to Rio Vista, a classic river town perfect for catching your breath, checking out the waterfront docks, or stopping for a bite to eat at a local diner.
If you want to get a little local history, stop by Foster’s Bighorn, a legendary main street pub. Established in the 1930s, it is world-famous for its massive, museum-like collection of vintage taxidermy plastering every inch of the walls. It’s a true, old-school Delta experience for a burger and a cold beer.
Walnut Grove to Locke (The Heart of the Levees)
This is arguably the most scenic, historic stretch of the drive, taking you past quiet orchards and aged drawbridges. Arrive in Walnut Grove, a historic delta hub. From here, you can easily cross the river to visit the historic, wooden enclave of Locke—the only town in the U.S. built exclusively by early Chinese immigrants.
Key Stop: Al the Wop’s (Al’s Place) in Locke — Just a minute north of Walnut Grove and a scenic drive from our Amador County wine tasting rooms, the historic wooden town of Locke is a must‑see Delta detour. In the center of town sits this legendary steak‑and‑pasta spot, operating since 1934. It’s wonderfully unpretentious: dollar bills cover the ceiling, the vibe is loud and welcoming, and every table comes stocked with jars of peanut butter and marmalade to spread on your bread while you wait for your steak or juicy burger. It’s a classic Delta dining experience and a fun stop before or after wine tasting in Plymouth, Sutter Creek, or the Shenandoah Valley.
Sutter Creek Wine Tasting (The Grand Finale)
Once you climb out of the Delta and arrive in downtown Sutter Creek, you can park your car once and explore the “Wine on 49” collective—a series of fantastic boutique tasting rooms all within easy walking distance on historic Main Street. Amador County is world-renowned for its bold, old-vine reds.
Scott Harvey Wines: Scott Harvey is a legendary figure in Amador County winemaking with roughly 40 years of history in the area. His Main Street tasting room is the place to go if you want to try world-class, bold Amador Old Vine Zinfandels and Barberas.
Bella Grace Vineyards: Located in a beautifully restored 1860s Victorian cottage right on Main Street. They serve exceptional estate-grown Zinfandel, Barbera, and Syrah. A major highlight here is their complimentary artisan olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting, and they have a lovely, shaded garden patio out back where you can slow down and enjoy a glass.
Yorba Tasting Room: Tucked just off Main on Hanford Street, this room pours exquisite, meticulous Rhone-style varietals and field blends sourced from the highly acclaimed Shake Ridge Vineyards just east of town. You can enjoy your flight on their glassed-in porch or down on the stone patio under a grand old cypress tree.
Baiocchi Wines: Touted by Wine Enthusiast Magazine for their Rhone inspired blends as being “some of the most exciting in the area, Baiocchi Wines is a family-run vineyard producing high quality, small lot wines from their estate-grown grapes.”
Raven’s Reach: Raven’s Reach provides a different experience: different grapes, different wine-making styles and different blends. They seek out small lots of grape varietals that most people have never heard of from vineyards in Amador County and surrounding areas. They are more for adventurous wine lovers who seek out something new and novel.
La Mesa Welcome to our tasting room, full of historic Gold Country charm and contemporary style. La Mesa makes 20+ unique and award-winning reds, whites and specialty wines made ranging from popular varietals to rare Rhône and Italian grapes that are locally sourced and estate-grown in our nearby Shenandoah Valley vineyard.
We hope to see you when you arrive in charming Sutter Creek at our Scott Harvey Tasting Room. Let us know if you enjoyed this route