Tucked away in the Livermore Valley, where sun, soil, and breeze meet in quiet harmony, Sakura Winery is a small, family-owned operation built on connection—both to nature and to each other. At the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards, the winery made a strong impression, taking home four medals for its Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Grigio.

We spoke with Jennifer Sahara, co-founder of Sakura Winery, about the journey that brought her and her husband from engineering careers in the South Bay to winemaking in Livermore.

“Really it was just very good luck that we ended up here,” Jennifer explains. “We weren’t looking to start a winery, and four years ago I knew nothing about wine other than that I liked to drink it. My husband and I were both engineers in the South Bay, and we thought we’d try moving someplace with our daughter that would connect us to nature and give us a bit more space in case any of our parents wanted to move in with us. We fell in love with this property in Livermore that had a small vineyard on it and the rest just sort of happened. The best surprise about Livermore was how welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative everyone is here. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to enjoy this journey.”

Source: Sakura Winery

The winery’s name and philosophy are rooted in personal history.

"The inspiration for Sakura Winery came from my mom who fully embraced life and lived in each moment,” Jennifer shares. “I thought about her as I was brainstorming winery names, creating the logo, and trying to capture the spirit of this new endeavor. ‘Sakura’ means cherry blossoms in Japanese. The fleeting beauty of the sakura is a gentle reminder to hit pause and allow yourself time to savor special moments with family and friends. Big moments, little moments, or anything in between.”

That sense of presence and appreciation carries through every part of the winery’s identity. Jennifer credits her daughter as an ongoing inspiration.

“My daughter is also a big inspiration for me as I look to the future. She is amazing and embodies the same vibrant joy for life that my mom always had. Her spark inspires me every day to stay centered, keep going, and focus on what matters most.”

Following the loss of her mother, Jennifer turned to winemaking as both a creative outlet and a tribute. The winery’s Instagram account confirms that personal hardship played a significant role in shaping Sakura’s mission. Living in the moment is more than a philosophy—it’s central to their winemaking process.

Technically, Sakura Winery emphasizes clean, crisp profiles in its white wines and rosé. According to Jennifer, this is largely due to the winery’s use of stainless steel tanks for fermentation—an intentional choice that defines the style of their lighter offerings.

Source: (https://www.livermoredowntown.com/go/sakura-vineyard-and-winery)

We asked what she believes makes their wines stand out.

“My goal is to create elegant wines that pair well with sushi and Japanese cuisine in general. The rosé and white wines in particular have received very positive feedback in terms of their crispness and fruit-forwardness working well with Japanese dishes.”

As the winery continues to grow, the team is currently preparing to open its tasting room in Livermore. In the meantime, Sakura offers customers a way to sample their range at home.

“Our wines are available on our website. We also offer the Sakura Sampler, which is a tasting kit with five of our wines that people can enjoy in the comfort of their own home. It’s a fun way for people to try our wines before the tasting room opens, and they’ve been popular for people to give as gifts. Within Livermore, we have some of our wines at the First Street Wine Company, Kiseki, and the Cheese Parlor.”

Source: Sakura winery

Sakura Winery may be relatively new to the California wine scene, but with a clear identity and a strong sense of purpose, it’s already turning heads—and earning accolades. As with any good wine, the story behind the bottle makes the experience that much richer.