While attending the Pride in the Vines event, my friend and I stumbled across this charming winery, and it ended up being one of our favorite stops of the day. The tasting room has a unique personality, with beautiful Tiffany-style stained glass lamps and intricate iron dragons created by Shawn Bayley. It gives the space a warm, inviting feel that's unlike most wineries. Karen took care of our tasting, and she was incredibly friendly and welcoming. She happily answered our questions about the winemaking process, made thoughtful recommendations, and never made us feel rushed. After tasting the Petit Syrah, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, we ended up ordering a bottle of the Pinot Noir to enjoy. The winery also has plenty of seating for both small and larger groups, along with private tasting rooms that can be reserved for events. Wine club members receive discounted rental rates, which is a nice added perk if you plan on visiting regularly. My partner and I have been watching House of the Dragon lately, and the atmosphere here definitely gave us those medieval, dragon-inspired vibes. Between the unique décor, welcoming hospitality, and excellent red wines, we'll definitely be back. read more

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Draconis is a gem inside Old Sugarmill! They have good selection of reds and they started with the reds versus white and I remember the gal explaining why and she was very knowledgeable. Definitely one of the best wines in Old Sugar Mill and I can't express how much I love the dark decor is my vibe in general. Wish we had some breadsticks, but totally understandable as they were food trucks outside when we went, but definitely a good place to bring your friends, celebrate birthdays, or if you just really want to have a good selection, please check it out and get a couple of bottles!!!! I can see why the regulars love this spot and we got a few bottles after our tasting! read more

Draconis - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

Little gem at the Old Sugar Mill. The wine: Well made wines that will likely library well due to the low residual sugars. Not always typical to what you would expect for each varietal profile, but delicious. The service: we went midweek and were the only ones there for most of the time. Gina was attentive, super knowledgeable, engaging, and all around a fun person. The space: if you are into dragons you will be drooling over all the wall sculptures of dragons. Tables appear to be reclaimed and beautifully refinished wood for a classic look. Also classic, all the Tiffany lamps. Overall a neat space to enjoy good wine with knowledgeable staff. read more

Draconis - Entry of the tasting room - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

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In the mood for a little wine tasting Sugar Mill is not very far. Ambiance Very nice atmosphere with beautiful wood grain tables cut from a big tree trunks. Class place. Customer Service Gina was very attentive and described the reds and whites I was about to experience. 2023 Draconis Pinot Noir - nice light red. I purchased this. 2023 Draconis merlot - light then strong finish 2023 Draconis zinfandel - light similar to pinot White Roe Sheen pinot noir rose - a bit dry Roe Sheen Chardonnay - oak, butter, crisp I like it. Getting this next time. 2023 Luminous Rex very syrupy dessert wine pour over vanilla ice cream read more

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Headline: Great vibe and tasty reds! Location: Located inside the Old Sugar Mill. I am not going to lie, the first draw to this place is the interior and vibe. With the metal dragons throughout the tasting room and the darker vibe I was instantly drawn into the location. Service: The tasting room host was knowledgable and attentive. The hostess came around at regular intervals to answer or questions and keep the wine pouring. From the sound of it they have had issues with people leaving a mess so unfortunately they do not allow food generally. However there was exceptions made which was a plus. People PLEASE clean after yourselves! This isn't a cafeteria but a winery and I appreciate the host making an accommodation for our charcuterie board Ambiance: The Old Sugar Mill has its own vibe with exposed brick and a nice cool location with high ceilings. Draconis adds to this with dark accents, lighting and dragon silhouettes throughout the tasting room. They also have two "secret" rooms for rent. Wine: Draconis has a decent selection of reds and whites as part of their tasting. They also have a selection of Reserve and "luxury" wines. I am a big fan of their reds and the variety of what they have. They are a bit lighter on the rose/white but the ones my friends and family tried were enjoyed. A bit pricy on the tastings but definitely worth a try just for the vibe! As a member of their wine club I have enjoyed the wine they have an read more

This is my absolute favorite winery. I love the dragon decor. The first time I stepped in their tasting room i thought i had entered into a mini Game of Thrones movie set...but it was better it came with wine! My absolute favorite and I think their most popular wine is their Zinfandel blend. The first time I tasted it was the 2023 and I was amazed. Their fermentation process is different which helps create their unique taste. I signed up for their membership that very day about a year ago and have been enjoying their wines since. The people working there have always been attentive and fun to talk to. I definitely recommend checking them out if you're ever visiting the Old Sugar Mill. read more

We visited The Sugar Mill on a Wednesday for some wine tasting. Draconis was one of two shops that were open that day. The space was very cool, with metal dragon figures throughout, it felt like a castle. The wine was out of this world good. Gina provided us each with our tastings and presented the wines in an order she said would be best. BOY WAS SHE SPOT ON!!!! The wine was some of the BEST we've ever had and the service Gina provided was exemplary. She gave us an incredible amount of attention and insight on the winery. Gina made us feel like family. The wine was incredible, but Gina pushed the experience over the top!!!! We bought 3 bottles this visit. We will ABSOLUTELY be back before we head back to Florida for another tasting and additional bottles. read more

Draconis - Entrance - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

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Matt and his whole team make the wine tasting experience a hoot. Good wine across the board and a real nice atmosphere. We have been members for a couple years and have yet to be disappointed. Good stuff! read more

Draconis - Great wine. - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

Love this spot! Everyone is friendly and welcoming; especially Gina! I remember first tasting their wine outside of the Old Sugarmill when they first started. It's invigorating to see them grow and expand to their own facility within the building now. Their reds are great and their whites are refreshing when you want something lighter to drink. Their new dessert wine is a great addition. I love bringing my friends here for a quick break when they come and visit. :) read more

Great wine!! Winemaker Matt made it a special tasting experience!! Highly recommend!

My 2 friends and I were put off by the owner by his smug attitude. I spent over $400 & now I can't even get on their website to check further wines. My husband was not impressed - 2018 Cabernert Sauvignon. Not good business. I recommend not returning -.I will go to other wineries which are more open. read more

Oh the Tiffany lights...this tasting room in The Old Suagr Mill had a vibe. It was dark and moody with the soft light from these colorful lamps and the rustic wood slab counters. Definitely a dragon feeling to it. Hubby and I shared a flight since I like whites and he likes reds. They charged us for just one tasting and I believe we got a discount for buying a bottle...or 2. The Rosè and the Petite Syrah were very good here. I recommend just coming in and hanging out here. Have a tasting, then get a glass or two and just soak in the ambiance. read more

Draconis - Petite Syrah - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

Wow. Wow. Wow. This place is IT. They make their wine completely different than what "we" are used to. Less tannins, more robust fruit flavors. Also as their wine ages the taste gets softer. We tried the 2019 Merlot, 2018 Merlot, and the flavor was very different. Tried the entire tasting and it was $15 per person (which is waived with the purchase of a bottle). Let's just say we left with 3 bottles. Likely my favorite winery at The Old Sugar Mill. read more

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Enjoyed a delicious wine tasting here on a Saturday afternoon in July. Draconis is located in the beautiful Old Sugar Mill building right across the river from Sacramento. Their space is decorated according to their name with dragon statues and a dark red and black color scheme. The Tiffany lamp shades are quite eye catching as well. We did the $10 tasting and enjoyed everything we tried. I'd definitely stop in for a bottle next time I get to visit the Sugar Mill. read more

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Really iconic interior and such friendly and knowledgeable staff. The day I went it was so busy and the two staff working that day still found the time to educate me on their wine, in addition to keeping the pours coming along. They have a large fan base and I would say that if you like full bodied wines with tannins then this is for you. I have whacky taste buds (an injury to my mouth damaged half of my taste buds), so the wine was a tad heavy for me. But that, my friends, is why there are literally hundreds of wineries in California! Taste (and taste buds) are subjective! If you're at Sugarmill and want to hang out in an epic environment while sipping some robust reds, then make your way here! read more

Dragon-Blessed Zinfandel! SITREP I am not really a fan of Red Wine. I'll dabble with Rose, and perhaps find a glass of Merlot that I really like, but I'll avoid other reds. [Still not a fan of Cabs, no matter what.] But I have to admit I was taken aback by the Zinfandels we found here! THE SETUP Located inside "The Sugar Mill" - a cooperative of several different wineries in Clarksburg, CA that reside, yes, in an old sugar mill - Draconis is a delightful boutique winery that features some pretty impressive reds! My work-crew were actually were looking forward to coming out to Draconis today as part of a team-building outing this past weekend, but one that didn't really focus on work, but rather to just HAVE FUN! And here we were... https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/draconis-clarksburg?select=pxXRVqDrUQLvQcrF0RZVnw&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w THE MYSTERY OF DRAGON LORE! Clearly fans of dragon lore will enjoy the spirit of this winery that actually arises from the dragon breath of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), even though everyone is to free associate the lore of Game of Thrones as well! [And there is an OBVIOUS phonetic-connection to the name "Draconis" to the Khaleesi-command of "Dracarys" that Daenarys Targaryan gives Drogon when he is to weaponize his fire-breath and consume the queen's enemies!] https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/draconis-clarksburg?select=Y55tYZQq8ibDauygVB5q7Q&reviewid=4zFTV7zqu5eoi7HiK_Wiig THE TASTING ROOM! We were greeted right away by the delightful Arlene who ushered us into the pleasures of Draconis wine! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/draconis-clarksburg?select=AC81hFakoaA0_scHPScY4Q And our wine-tasting was conducted by vintner-owner Matt Powell himself! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/draconis-clarksburg?select=sr9T12MZspVl4BX3L2B78A And his lovely wine-docent Carla prepped up purchases as wonderful mementos of our enjoyable wine-tasting experience that we will no doubt relive over the Holiday season! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/draconis-clarksburg?select=OblbWuvEtYS8cO9NB-9Z9Q THE VINTAGES! Amongst the winners are my favorite wines of theirs: * 2014 Petit Sirah Classic, but also their even more impressive * 2014 Dark Style Zinfandel; and the, * 2014 French Style Zinfandel https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/draconis-clarksburg?select=kYERAajNTOsSmue9AA5tDA [Ironically, the one selection of white wine - the 2014 Roisin Dubh Voignier - I was not as smitten with as their reds. But no matter, Draconis has the reds nailed down!] THE LOWDOWN Draconis is King of the Zinfandels! read more

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I had the unfortunate experience of meeting the potential owner. He stated he was the owner. Regardless,he refused to give his name(classy). It's not surprising he has bad reviews. This place was so disappointing. Anyway, I'm glad I didn't support this business or sugar mill for supporting unprofessionalism and miss -treating patrons. I watched him tell a mother and infant child to leave and said "out you go" First experience, won't be back. Was in a happy mood now angry mood. Thank you. read more

My friend and I sat down for literally one minute here to meet with our other friends before a waitress came up and asked what we would like. I was still deciding and the waitress said "no rush or you can always come back". She was really sweet as I was looking at the menu. The owner came up less than a minute later in a very hostile manner and told us "out you go". There was no "hey, we need to reserve these seats for paying customers as today is a big event." Or ANYTHING of that nature. He wouldn't give his name either. The most unprofessional and rude encounter I have ever been involved with when it comes to customer service. We were about to leave for the food truck and come back for wine here later but I will NEVER come back. We ended up leaving the Old Sugar Mill because our mood was ruined. I would avoid this particular winery if you decide to visit the Old Sugar Mill. read more

For a tasting room, I'd rate this place as great. Wine was relatively affordable but definitely a good bang for it buck. Tasting was 6 wines and included if you bought a bottle. Plenty of seating and the people serving were super nice and knowledgeable. Lots of dragons everywhere read more

It was my first time at the Old Sugar Mill and I didn't know which winery to choose for a tasting. I'm only good for a pour so my choice had to be spot on to make the best out of my excursion to Clarksburg. Draconi's beautiful room with its warm glow, stained glass lamps and magical dragon seemed to promise a legendary experience. Well we didn't get to sample in the room because of current restrictions and were instead led outdoors. The day was beautiful and we had a great host, "D", who has a passion for wines, wine making and the industry as a whole. We loved hearing his explanations about the wines and wine in general, and walked away with nuggets of knowledge plus a wonderful bottle of wine. The Zinfandel Dark Style is bold, jammy and could complement just about any meal or mode of drinking. Choosing Draconis was a wise choice indeed. read more

Draconis - Learned that Lodi soil makes for fruitier Zins than higher elevation Zinfandels - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

A new winery in the Sugar Mill, yay! This one is outside around the back in one of the creepy-yet-cool old abandoned factory rooms. Their wines are surprisingly good and unlike the others in the Mill, they're priced by the vintage alone. The tasting fee is $5 but waived with a purchase. The zins were my favorite of the bunch and it's pretty neat how they do it -- all single vineyards but one batch in French oak and the other in American. Word on the street is that they're also doing beers, but that wasn't available during the time of our last visit. read more

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As with most wineries/vineyards/tasting rooms it all comes down to the overall experience. Did I like all the wines? No, but that should be expected. Lots of varietals that are just 'not for me'. That being said, Matt was great in explaining the process of what the wine goes through before ending up in the bottle and it is absolutely fascinating. The wine is so smooth and drinkable and Matt is completely engaging and intelligent and funny. The tasting room is gorgeous too. I will be going back and purchasing several bottles. I highly recommend stopping in for a tasting and the experience. read more

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Another wonderful winery at the Sugarmill in Clarksburg. Matt the owner and all the staff are so friendly and helpful you can't help yourself you will have to go in and taste the menu of delicious choices being poured. Has wonderful atmosphere, comfortable couches, quiet sitting room if want to grab a bottle and relax. We have been members several years and I absolutely love this business. Stop in , you won't regret it. read more

I was first drawn to Draconis years ago when wine maker, Matt Powell had just a website which mirrored his own, shall we say "devil-may-care" attitude. Intrigued, I was there in the early days when Draconis first opened in the Sugar Mill annex. My wife had club memberships to two other wineries in the Sugar Mill, but I had to try this one. First impression? Matt is like the mad scientist of wine makers. We've never looked back and it's our only membership. His wines are full and flavorful. I may not have a "trained" pallet but to me it's akin to sipping velvet. Even his Squirrel and Chicken beers were tasty and I hate beer. So, why the delay in posting a Yelp review for Draconis? Frankly, it's more in opposition to a recent opinion, since I doubt Matt gives a $hit about what most people think about him personally. Matt makes wine he likes to drink, period. Is he confident? Absolutely! Is he arrogant? Absolutely not! But he is prideful and it's his integrity you taste consistently in every single bottle. Bottom line, if having your butt kissed is more important than the wine you drink, by all means, there's tons of wineries to choose from. We used to have memberships to a couple. Hell, I probably still have some bottles left over somewhere. But, if you want a red wine you'll enjoy so much you'll have to visit the Sugar Mill to supplement your membership, you'll know where to find it. read more

Draconis is not in the main building of the Old Sugarmill but out back. sharing a space with Perry Creek. We hit up the tasting counter and it was topped with a nice piece of wood for the counter top and underneath there were hooks! Love when I have somewhere to hang my bag. We did a tasting and it costs but I don't even know what because I didn't pay for it. I didn't taste a wine that I loved but then again.. I had been drinking already, tasting at other wineries prior to this stop. But, I'm saying... Matt, the owner, was there and so was his or his ex-wife's labradoodle, and the pourer and they made it a great time for a tasting. I'd come back again and pay myself.. read more

Draconis - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

We had a really weird experience here. They have a good setup for Covid outside and just enough space to distance. We came here with a friend who is a member, and though they were not overly busy we were greeted with rushed and abrupt service, bordering on rude. I came away feeling like we had done something wrong, even though we had bought a bottle of two after our tasting and had been perfectly polite and patient; it was all very strange. Probably won't be back, though I love the Old Sugar Mill, so it won't deter me from visiting other wineries in the building. read more

Don't believe the "Monday through Friday" business hours for Draconis listed on the Old Sugar Mill's website. We drove 50 miles last Tuesday with the express intent of tasting Draconis wines -- only to find the winery closed up like a drum. Not the least bit cool, and not a lot of encouragement to make return visits to Old Sugar Mill. read more

Draconis - Fake hours - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

So, Matt Powell, winemaker extraordinaire, is an acquired taste. But his Zinfandel will curl your toes! He makes no excuses that he sets himself apart from "expert" wine snobs who craft vino by the set rules. Matt cares about the taste. Period. And he let's you know it. We tasted his wines Sunday and our group of 5 were his first of the day so he comped the fee! The French Style and Dark blends were so smooth we bought immediately. He gave us directions to let it warm to room temp and to air it for 20 mins. It truly is the best Zin ever. Pricey, but for the best, worth it. So why only 4 stars? I'm waiting for his CabSauv so I can say, "fuck the rest." His words! And if you can't take adult language, you'll be offended. Seriously, give his Zin a try. After one sip, your new wine adjective will be "fawwwwk." read more

Draconis - Wineries Near Me - Clarksburg, California

Upon arrival at the empty Draconis counter, the man said to us, "This wine is different than any wine you have ever had." I always keep an open mind when wine tasting. However, after hearing and seeing the smugness in his voice and on his face, I decided to pass on the tasting. Mr. Smug explained that his wines were different because he destroys the wine with vinegar and then brings the wine back. That sounded interesting, and I was actually contemplating tasting these concoctions until my friends all started making funny faces and no longer looked like they were enjoying themselves. I walked over to one of my friends and she whispered, "This is really sour and acidic. You can definitely taste the vinegar." She wanted to pour out the wine, but Mr. Smug scowled at her and seemed offended that she would even consider wasting his valuable wine. He dismissively waved his hand towards a bucket and told her she could pour her wine in there. Geez mister. People are entitled to their opinions. No need to get angry if someone does not care for your wine. Once Mr. Smug realized that my friends did not like his wines, he rushed everyone through their tastings. One of my friends still had wine in her glass. She was trying to decide whether she should drink it to appease Mr. Smug or dump it in the bucket. Before she could make a decision, he poured the next wine into her glass and mixed the wines together. The general consensus was that the wines were too acidic, undrinkable, overpriced, and of course, no one cared for Mr. Smug's poor attitude. To top it all off, my friend got heartburn shortly thereafter, and we had to call it a day early. read more

I was really surprised at the quality of the wines here. I had tasted a few at Sugar Mill before, and wasn't too impressed. This one blew me away. Of the five we tasted, we loved four - which are great odds. The only problem was that they were expensive. Our favorite was $50 a bottle! Ouch! Oh, and they definitely win for intriguing bottle label at Sugar Mill... at least, if you like dragons. read more

The spot is a new winery located outside the Sugar Mill, around the corner and in the back in this abandoned room with broken windows and no doors. It's super cool looking though! The tasting was $5 but Matt was super cool and didn't even charge us. We sampled some of the wines (I forgot which ones, this was the last stop so I was pretty faded, lol but I'll have to go through my photos and write an update later) and I thought two of three we sampled were really good. He also gave us some beer to sample and the beer was REALLY good! I can't say the names of the beer but I can say that my sister and fiancé wanted to order cases of it for their wedding but he wasn't able to produce the quantity they wanted. The wine glasses were super cool as well. He's pretty new but I can already tell that Draconis will be a hit once people are aware of it. Check this place out when you're visiting Sugar Mill! Don't forget you have to go through the back doors, turn right and around the corner to your left. Tell them the drunken Asians referred you!! LOL read more

I love Draconis wines, the reds are amazing and the Rose' was my go to. We had a long conversation with the older gentleman about Dungeons and Dragons and the connection to Draconis, very interesting. read more

Can you give less than one star for the "I could care less whether my customers think I have integrity" attitude to the egotistical owner of this winery? If So, can someone please send me the link. This owner is a zero. As a first time buyer, I bought a $70 bottle of wine and within 2 minutes Matt Powell convinced me his lack of integrity was worth more giving the wine back. Integrity starts at the top but first it's got to start. Maybe someday with this guy until then good luck. read more

This was our first trip to the Old Sugar Mill. I wasn't impressed with the tastings we did until we found Draconis. Thank you Matt Powell for bottling the nectar of the gods! Your Zins are velvety smooth and delicious. It was a treat meeting you - it is evident that you are passionate about your craft and it shows. If you want rich, smooth, full bodied, delicious Zins check out Draconis. Old Sugar Mill visitors should seek out Draconis -- its worth it !!! read more

Draconis Rocks. Truly one of the special wines in town. Definitely worth stepping into this tasting room and experiencing this incredible wine. And owner Matt is the coolest, most non-pretentious wine guy I have ever met. Here's a guy who loves what he does, loves his product, and enjoys the people who want to try it. It's a party over here, and I'm always happy to be a part of it. Club membership gets you progressive discounts depending on how long you've been a member. Two bottles, three times a year - I'm in, and staying in. If you haven't been here yet, you're missing out! read more

By far my favorite place for red wine! We happened upon Draconis while visiting the Old Sugar Mill location as they are around the backside of the building. Wow, thankfully we did as we are never disappointed. These wines are incredibly delicious and smooth like no other that I've tasted before. Yes, there's that place called Napa that has some "decent" wines too, but why bother with snobbery, loads of cash and traffic congestions when you can find superior quality right here. Matt (the owner) is very knowledgeable about his wine and the processes that he uses to make the wine what it is..God's nectar! My particular favorite if I had to choose just one is the Petite Syrah...just amazingly smooth and before you know it the bottle is gone! Please dare yourself to break away from the Napa mystique for awhile and try Draconis as I'm assured that you'll be impressed and quite possibly a member in no time. Cheers! read more

Always good when the guy who makes the wine, pours the wine. Tasty stuff and that's all I can really ask for when it comes to wine.

Draconis was the greatest experience of the day for me at Old Sugar Mill. Matt was very knowledgeable, friendly, and honest. They provided an excellent level of customer service and were a blast to chat with. They were also not pretentious and snobby like some of the other wineries we tried flights at. read more

a pleasure to have the owner explaining and pouring his wines. Matt was able to explain the process he uses and discussed the biochemistry with our friend who has a PhD in same. Will be back as the wines are wonderful and Sugar Mill is a pleasant place to visit. read more