Winery of the Month
October 2022
Séka Hills tasting room and olive mill in Capay Valley
Séka Hills | Brooks, CA & The Old Sugar Mill, Clarksburg, CA
Each of our Yolo County wineries are unique in their own right. From boutique wine tasting pop-ups and sunflower experiences to full-scale wedding destinations, Yolo County wineries provide one-of-a-kind entertainment and local products to our community. Séka Hills in the Capay Valley is no exception. The winery is owned by the The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Native American Tribe, who has one of the longest histories of farming in Yolo County. For centuries, the Tribe has strived to uphold the highest standards for stewardship of the land, and they are succeeding.
Séka Hills, meaning “blue hills” in the native Patwin language, highlights the fertile land of the Capay Valley through local, natural products. The Tribe-owned winery has been producing fine wines crafted from grapes grown on 36 estate acres since 2010, and their olive mill debuted in 2012. Today, the Tribe sustainably manages over 25,000 acres, grows more than a dozen crops, partners with organic growers, and grazes a growing herd of over 700 cattle. Guests are able to enjoy these organic products, including an array of red and white wines, olive oils, honey, nuts, and luxury body care products at either of their two locations in the Capay Valley and in Clarksburg.
Q&A WITH SÉKA HILLS
Q: How long has the tribe been producing organic products in Yolo County?
A: We started farming in 2006, and by 2008, Yocha Dehe Farm & Ranch planted its first olive orchard. Our first vintage of wine was in 2010. The Tribe now has 36 acres planted to vine in the Capay Valley, which is the Tribe’s homeland.
Q: What other crops do you farm?
A: We manage over 25,000 acres, and grow more than a dozen crops (including olives, wine grapes, almonds, walnuts, asparagus, wheat, chickpeas, sunflowers, and more). Of the 3,000 acres under cultivation, there are 500 acres of olive orchards, and 250 total farmland acres are organic. The Yocha Dehe farm and ranch operations vividly exemplify the Tribe’s long-term view toward stewardship and environmental sustainability, and it is one of the most diverse farming operations in Yolo County.
Q: What wine varietals do you specialize in?
A: We produce a variety of white wines and red wines, including: Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tannat, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Grenache.
Q: What makes Séka Hills a unique Yolo County winery?
A: We are owned by the The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Native American Tribe. The Tribe shares the bounty of the valley through Séka Hills’ estate extra virgin olive oils, estate grown varietal wines, honey, nuts, beef, hummus, and pickled asparagus. A new line of luxury body care products, using Séka Hills Extra Virgin Olive Oil, were introduced in December 2021. We also have two tasting rooms where guests can enjoy wine tasting: our olive mill and tasting room is located in the Capay Valley and our second location is in Clarksburg at the Old Sugar Mill.
Follow along with Séka Hills at sekahills.com or @sekahills, and don’t miss their Olive Crush Festival and 10th Anniversary of the Mill celebration on November 13th!