In Grass Valley alone, three new tasting rooms have opened recently: Avanguardia Wines has come to town; Sierra Starr Winery has relocated to a bigger location); and Smith Vineyard is opening a new tasting room, just down the street from Lucchesi’s tasting room.

“It’s the location and the unique space that drew us downtown,” says winery co- owner Christine Smith.

Smith renovated a building from 1871 that used to be Bunce’s Place, a well-known watering hole. Bunce’s was popular for its outdoor bar, located between its entrance and the sidewalk on Mill Street.

Smith built a splendid wooden bar there instead, making it a perfect spot for wine tasting, visiting and people watching. “There’s something about tasting that is a little intimidating, and I like that it’s open and inviting,” says Chris.

The bar also has a flat-screen television that presents slideshows about the nearby vineyard and winery, a reminder that you can’t grow your grapes downtown.

Inside, there’s a long bar, artwork and handsome used brick walls. A grand opening celebration is set for May 1-2, 12-6 p.m.

Neighboring tasting rooms embrace the trend—they call it “co-opetition,” observing that people like to try a few wines on their visit. They also report improved sales.

Restaurants, art galleries and other merchants support the trend too, because it draws more visitors to town.

Grass Valley isn’t alone. Nevada City, Auburn and Truckee also have their own wine tasting spots. Downtown tasting rooms are gaining popularity in other wine growing regions too, including Healdsburg, Sonoma and Paso Robles.

Credit: Lisa Redfern

Smith will open its tasting room at 142 Mill Street, where Bunce’s Place was located. The winery has renovated a building that dates back to 1871, when Ulysses Grant was president.

“We like being part of the downtown community,” said co-owner Chris Smith.

The Smith family’s winemaking tradition began in 1987 with Gary’s father, Dr. Wayne Smith, and his three sons. The family business is now three generations strong, as Gary and Chris, with their own three sons, handcraft small lots of classic varietals.

Smith becomes the fourth tasting room in Grass Valley, behind Avanguardia, Sierra Starr and Lucchesi.

Meanwhile, SummerThyme’s — a popular Grass Valley deli and bakery — is opening an outlet at Book Town Books, at 107 Bank Street, on April 23. The “baby” SummerThyme’s, as its owners like to put it, will feature art from local artists as well.

A wine tasting room featuring four wineries, called the Grass Valley Wine Company, is planned this summer. The wineries include Pilot Peak, Solune, Montoliva and Bent Metal.

Strawberries dipped in chocolate from a fountain at Wild Plum in Grass Valley

The annual event during the late winter doldrums lets you sip wine from local wineries and taste food from area restaurants. One decadent example: Strawberries dipped in chocolate from a fountain, courtesy of Lazy Dog ice cream. Tickets sold for $40 and $30 in advance.

Event-goers, most of whom were wearing big smiles, wandered throughout the downtown, visiting the shops for a taste of food or sip of wine. I also saw some of the merchant’s cash registers ringing.

Some other observations:

•Smith Vineyard’s new tasting room at the former Bunces Place on Mill Street has a fine-looking wooden bar near where the old once stood outside, as well as a handsome brick interior.

•There’s a new winery called Bent Metal, which will open a tasting room this spring out on McCourtney Road.

•Sierra Starr and Avanguardia were showing off their new tasting rooms in downtown Grass Valley, helping to draw visitors and locals into town to buy wine.