Born in Los Angeles, once residing in San Diego and with family in San Francisco, I have traversed most of California—except for Sacramento, which elusively never rang my “mission” bell despite its alluring Gold Rush history and gateway access to the Golden State’s 450-mile-long agricultural heartland, the Central Valley.
Good things reward those who wait. Answering the call of California’s capital on a culinary-driven press trip last September was a feast of discovery, from Michelin-rated restaurants and farm tours to two signature annual events, Legends of Wine and the Tower Bridge Dinner.
Like the hundreds of vegetables, fruits, nuts and specialty crops that flourish year-round in the Central Valley’s expertly engineered fields and Mediterranean climate, Sacramento’s group market is basking in the sunshine of a visionary rebranding strategy championed by Visit Sacramento President and CEO Mike Testa. Centered on culinary events, the bold repositioning and diversification plan has more than doubled visitation to the city over the past five years alone…