Member Spotlight: From a Leap of Faith to a Tasting Room of Her Own

In an entrepreneur’s world, happiness might come from customer satisfaction, a strong company culture, or seeing an idea finally come to life. For Sacramento entrepreneur Feli Ortega, happiness takes a more literal form: Felicità (feh-lee-chee-TAH), the name of her wine company.

In Italian, felicità means happiness, a fitting name for a business built around Ortega’s passion for wine and the joy of creating something of her own.

Ortega launched Felicità Wine Company in 2015, inspired by women who had taken the leap into entrepreneurship and created something they believed in. She found particular inspiration in successful women across industries and in women winemakers, whose stories she felt were not heard enough within the wine industry.

From Passion to Pour

Ortega’s interest in wine extended beyond the finished bottle. She was fascinated by the winemaking process itself, so when an opportunity arose to make wine and start a company of her own, she took it.

“I was inspired by many women who have taken the leap to become small business owners and to create something they believe in,” Ortega says. That inspiration, combined with her fascination with winemaking, ultimately led her to entrepreneurship. “When an opportunity came up to make and start my own wine company, I jumped right in.”

More than a decade later, Felicità produces handcrafted, small-batch wines spanning a variety of styles. Current offerings include Moscato, Albariño, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc, alongside distinctive releases such as BLISS Sauvignon Blanc Bubbly, PINAY NOIR™ Pinot Noir and Pinay Blanc, a Pinot Noir Blanc.

For years, Ortega built the Felicità name by pouring her wines at farmers markets, community events and other local gatherings. Those experiences allowed her to introduce customers not only to her wines, but also to the person and story behind each bottle.

Like many small business owners, the journey has required Ortega to wear many hats. Producing the wine is only one piece of running the company. Building awareness, reaching customers, developing relationships and creating opportunities for people to experience Felicità have all been part of growing the business.

A Place of Her Own

In December 2025, that growth reached a major milestone when Ortega opened the Felicità Wine Lounge in the heart of Old Sacramento.

After years of bringing her wines to customers, the tasting room gives Felicità a permanent home where customers can come directly to the brand.

The lounge offers wine tastings and wines by the glass or bottle, along with small bites to enjoy between pours. The space also hosts events, giving Ortega another way to bring people together and introduce new audiences to Felicità.

Designed to feel personal and relaxed, the lounge reflects the approachable experience Ortega has created around her wines. Guests may even find the winemaker herself welcoming them in and sharing the stories and care that go into each bottle.

For a business built through years of face-to-face connections at markets and events, the lounge represents more than a physical location. It gives Ortega a space of her own to deepen those relationships and build a community around Felicità.

Growing Through Community

Community has played an important role throughout Ortega’s entrepreneurial journey, including her involvement with the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce.

Through SacAsian, Ortega has found additional opportunities to promote Felicità, connect with fellow entrepreneurs and introduce her wines to a broader audience.

“The Chamber has been helpful in promoting my business by providing exposure for my business within their community,” Ortega says.

Networking mixers and events covering small business topics have also allowed her to build relationships with other business owners. Ortega says those connections have been “rewarding and reassuring,” particularly when meeting entrepreneurs navigating many of the same challenges, cycles and milestones.

One of Felicità’s most impactful Chamber experiences has been participating in the Annual AAPI Night Market. The event has provided another platform to share the brand with the community, and Ortega says she has noticed more customers recognizing Felicità as a result of its presence at the widely attended event.

“It’s encouraging and reassuring to have the support of an organization like the Chamber,” she says. “They provide another platform where I get to share my product and business with their members and the community at large.”

Raising a Glass to What’s Next

More than a decade after taking a chance on winemaking, Ortega has transformed that opportunity into a growing small-batch wine brand, a community of customers and a tasting room of her own in one of Sacramento’s most recognizable destinations.

Her experience has also shown her the value of having a network behind you as a business owner.

“Whether you’re starting out or have been in business for a while, being a part of the Chamber is always a valuable option to include in your business strategy,” Ortega says. “Their network, programs and resources could only help and further your growth and achieve your goals no matter what stage you are in the business cycle.”

Today, visitors can experience Felicità for themselves at the Felicità Wine Lounge in Old Sacramento, whether stopping in for a tasting, enjoying a bottle and small bites, or attending an event.

For Ortega, what began as an opportunity to explore her fascination with winemaking has grown into something distinctly her own. And for a company whose name means happiness, having a place where people can gather, connect and enjoy the wine feels particularly fitting.

Learn more about Felicità Wine Company and the Felicità Wine Lounge: https://felicitawine.com/