Clarksburg's Old Sugar Mill, the Delta's multi-winery tasting room and wedding hotspot, has quietly changed hands, and the new owners say they are focused on steadying the ship and bringing back large-scale events. Highland Pacific Capital bought the complex out of foreclosure late last year and tapped Jobin Randhawa to oversee day-to-day operations. Randhawa says his first moves will be re-signing tenants' leases, restarting the custom-crush operation and relaunching the events side of the business. Tenants who kept the tasting rooms open through 2025 say they are relieved, but they are also staying cautious.
As reported by The Sacramento Bee, Highland Pacific Capital purchased the Old Sugar Mill out of foreclosure in late 2025 and has laid out an initial roadmap to revive the property. Randhawa told The Sacramento Bee he envisions a three-pronged strategy: get tenants' leases renewed, bring weddings and events back onto the calendar, and restore the custom-crush facility so winemakers can process fruit on site again. He also said the four-story sugar mill building, currently used for storage, could be repurposed as another event venue or broken into smaller artist suites. Randhawa added that the company will be careful about bringing in craft-beer or distilling tenants if those uses might chip away at the existing tasting-room businesses.
Tenants Stepped In To Keep Things Running
After the property's owner died in June 2025 and foreclosure documents were filed, tasting-room operators formed the Old Sugar Mill Tenants Group to keep tastings and bookings going while the future of the site was up in the air. Members of the group pooled money to cover landscaping, utilities and other basic bills, and they kept events on the books so the venue did not go dark. That grassroots effort preserved revenue and delivered a cleaner handoff to the lender once the sale moved ahead. As the West Sacramento News‑Ledger reported, many tenants said they were relieved that the new owner appears inclined to "build up rather than tear down."
What Tenants Say About Production And Bookings
Some wineries shifted production off site during the legal limbo, finishing last year's vintages at outside facilities so that tasting rooms in Clarksburg could stay open. David Ogilvie of Silt Wine Company, who led the tenants' group, told CapRadio that the immediate goal was to keep the doors open and honor events while the property changed hands. Ogilvie and other operators say they welcome an owner willing to invest in the core wine-production and events businesses rather than carving up critical space for other uses.
Licenses And Next Steps
Randhawa confirmed that the custom-crush facility and some liquor licenses were registered in the late owner's name, and that Highland Pacific is working through the transfer process while also applying for new permits as a backup plan. "ABC says there is a path forward," he told The Sacramento Bee, though he added that the company wants fresh licenses in hand if transfers bog down. The timing for the return of full production and larger events will depend on permit approvals, any required inspections and the completion of lease talks with existing tenants.
What It Means For Visitors And Brides
For now, the tasting rooms remain open and the venue continues to market weddings and private events, with many wineries taking reservations directly through their own tasting-room pages. The Old Sugar Mill website still lists weddings and corporate events among its services and promotes on-site programming while management works through the paperwork behind the scenes. Visitors are encouraged to check with individual wineries about reservations, but tenants say weekend tastings and food-truck lineups are still happening for the time being. OldSugarMill.com
Legal Implications
Transfers and changes to alcohol licenses in California require formal applications and approval from the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and can be subject to local protests or other administrative review, which may stretch timelines. That process, outlined on the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's licensing pages, is the main regulatory hurdle Highland Pacific will need to clear to fully restore production and large events at the site. The company, its tenants and local officials will also need to coordinate on zoning, inspections and lease terms as the property settles into new ownership. California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
