Sacramento hot spot kicks off monthly dinner to celebrate underrepresented winemakers

Marcus D. Smith

Downtown Sacramento’s Tiger bar and restaurant is collaborating with Last Supper Society for “Dinner At Tiger,” a new monthly dining option on Fridays and Saturdays that organizers are calling a “love letter to Sacramento and a celebration of the diversity of our city.”

After removing traditional vino options from their wine list, Tiger has added Diverse Wine Residency, which will feature underrepresented winemakers throughout the greater Sacramento area and surrounding regions.

Their mission is to highlight a new brand every month that is either owned or produced by someone who is Black, female, queer, Hispanic, Indigenous, Asian or Pacific Islander, and more.

The first vintner to be featured is Sacramento native and former Major League Baseball All-Star Greg Vaughn who will showcase his brand 23 Wines during a meet and greet as he educates guests on the significance of his bottles.

Retired Major League Baseball All-Star Greg Vaughn stands in front of a vineyard at E2 Family Winery in Lodi on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. The winery produces Vaughns 23 Wines label. Vaughn, who played at Kennedy High School, is one of a handful of local athletes who has become a winemaker in retirement. Some of the proceeds from his wines benefit his charity Vaughn’s Valley Foundation, which aims to raise awareness and find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

“I like good food and I like good wine so this is a win-win for me,” said Vaughn. “I don’t just label something, I try to be involved as much as I can. I know about the paper process, the harvesting season and I get to have a say in what I want the wine to taste like.”

On Saturday, Vaughn will be at Tiger during the special dinner service pouring wine and sharing his vision of improving his community.

There will be flight options and dinner pairings. You can also buy 23 Wines by the glass or bottle.

A glass of 23 Wines rosé reflects the landscape at E2 Family Winery in Lodi on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. The label is the product of retired Major League Baseball All-Star Greg Vaughn, who grew up in Sacramento and played at Kennedy High School.
A glass of 23 Wines rosé reflects the landscape at E2 Family Winery in Lodi on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. The label is the product of retired Major League Baseball All-Star Greg Vaughn, who grew up in Sacramento and played at Kennedy High School.

“Tiger this week is going to be special because…you don’t think it’s possible for a kid from Meadowview but I’ve always had a vision to be able to contribute to where I came from. That’s why this weekend is special,” said Vaughn.

Vaughn said a portion of the proceeds will go to his nonprofit organization, Vaughn’s Valley Foundation, which focuses on resources and awareness to finding a cure to Type 1 diabetes.

Reservations for “Dinner At Tiger” can be made here, or by visiting Tiger’s website.

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