If you experience in Cali and like vino , sure , you ’re gon na go to Napa . But here ’s the thing : Napa stool up only one per centum of the grape grown in California – our country really has over 137 AVAs ( American Viticultural Areas ) that stretch as far north as Mendocino County and as far south as Riverside County , so if you ’re looking to go vino tasting / hit for the weekend , your choices are actually ( almost ) dateless . Some are better than others , though – and here are eight regions worth a sojourn :
Healdsburg, Sonoma
Often overlooked and pick up as a step - minor to Napa , Sonoma is located to Napa ’s western United States and is closer to the sea . The ice chest temperatures and the fogginess are perfect for the pinot noir and chardonnay grape grape . Healdsburg is a magic town located in the northern part of Sonoma County , so direct with a group of friends and remain in a luxury apartment for up to six adults in the warmheartedness of the townspeople atTwo Thirty - Five Luxury Suites , where you could take the air right out the threshold to taste room and restaurants in town or drive a few minutes north to wine maker in Dry Creek Valley for some erstwhile vine zinfandel .
Sebastopol, Sonoma
Thirty second down the road from Healdsburg is the charming town of Sebastopol , another perfect spot to be stationed if you want to explore the Pinot grape noirs and chardonnays of the Russian River Valley . The Barlow district , aright in the heart of town , is a few blocks fill up with some of the area ’s top wine-coloured tasting rooms , restaurants , and artisan galleries . If you need a break from wine , there are craftiness beer taste rooms as well as the tasting way forSpirit Works Distillery , one of the few metric grain - to - glass craft Distilleries in the body politic as well as one of the few distilleries with an all - distaff distilling team .
Monterey County
A drive along the breathtaking Big Sur coastline on Highway One will lead you to Monterey , Pebble Beach , Big Sur , Carmel , and Carmel Valley . A cool - climate region , you will recover grapes such as chardonnay , Pinot grape noir , and syrah . If you want to keep open yourself a drive , dwelling - infrastructure in Carmel - by - the - Sea and pick up aCarmel Wine Walk By - the - Sea Wine Tasting Passport : for $ 65 you get a passport for a self - guided wine spell within one square mile in town , with tastings at any nine of the fourteen participating tasting room . After tasting wine , take a bottle down to nearby pet - friendly Carmel Beach – ‘ do alcohol is TOTALLY ALLOWED on the sand . If you do want to get out into the vineyards , you could take a drive down the River Road Wine Trail into the Salinas Valley to the tasting room at puzzle out wineries , which offer phenomenal views of the Santa Lucia Highlands , and if you wish a picayune adventure you could zip through the vineyard on an ATV Tour at Hahn Family Wines where you could get up - close and personal with the vines .
Paso Robles
If you wish your wines big and juicy , Paso Robles is the place for you . Home to more than 200 primarily boutique and family - owned wineries , Paso Robles is known for its blend of Bordeaux ( cabernet sauvignon and merlot ) , Rhone ( syrah , roussanne and viognier ) and zinfandel varietal wine . The quiet town is centered around a expectant grassy field with a gazebo in the center and finger like quintessential modest - town Americana – like , it ’s surprising it ’s not called Hill Valley . While there are many hotels and bed - and - breakfast in the heart of town , it ’s worth a driving five minutes outside of town to spend the dark at the new opened Allegretto Vineyard Resort , site on 20 demesne of vinery and European olive tree and yield orchards .
Pismo Beach
require to both booze wine and go to the beach ? Yep , you do , and Pismo Beach – a classical California beach townsfolk , is the answer . continue at the frankfurter - favorable SeaCrest OceanFront Hotel , where , on foot , you could wander down the street to Sans Liege Wines , the only wine maker tasting room in Pismo Beach – or to Taste of the Valleys , a wine prevention / shop with more than 1000 wine and 150 wines by - the - glass . site in the center of San Luis Obispo County , the cool - clime wine regions of Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande are only a short drive aside . But for a little surplus fun , drive 20 minutes north to Ancient Peaks Winery in Santa Margarita ( actually locate in the southernmost vinery in Paso Robles ) where you’re able to zip up line of merchandise 125 ft over the vineyards .
Santa Barbara Wine Country
While San Francisco can call Napa and Sonoma theirs , Santa Barbara definitively is LA ’s prize wine region . The wine state of Santa Barbara ( which includes the wine regions of Santa Maria , Santa Ynez , Sta . Rita Hills , Ballard Canyon , Happy Canyon , and Los Olivos District ) , is unique because it is home to the only thwartwise pile compass in North America . This means that the great deal move east - west , instead of north - south , and the sea air floats in from the glide , across the neighborhood , mother one level warm each nautical mile further east – which conduct to unique savour in the grapes . While the town of Los Olivos is most well - known , we recommend guide to the kitschy Danish - inspired town of Solvang . If you do not require an abelskiver for breakfast , hit Ellen ’s Danish Pancake House in Buellton for a full-blooded meal as you persist in 20 minutes west to the Lompoc Wine Ghetto , house to 18 taste room . The context is not extremist romanticist but the selection of wine is top - notch ; as you point back to Solvang at the end of the day , hold back in Buellton at Ascendant Spirits , the first sound still in Santa Barbara County since Prohibition . Enjoy a tipple of bourbon or vodka and then head around the corner for a bit to eat at Industrial Eats .
Downtown Santa Barbara
If you do n’t want to drive the two or two - and - a - half 60 minutes to Santa Barbara wine-coloured country , there ’s now a dandy wine prospect inDowntownSanta Barbara , only an time of day - and - a - half from Los Angeles . Amidst the shopping and restaurants along State Street , many wineries have set up their tasting room , and theUrban Wine Trail– a walk misstep in the warehouse districts with tons of tasting room – is located within blocks of Downtown and the beach .
Malibu
While there are a number of vineyards set command the coastal line , there are only a few situation open to the populace , and if you want to take a quick trip , Malibu is by far LA ’s closest wine - tasting region . Malibu Wines has an outdoor field day area where you may bring your lunch and listen to live medicine while sip from a glass . Rosenthal , The Malibu Estate , has the only tasting way on Pacific Coast Highway , and The Cornell Winery & Tasting Room is the plaza to go if you want to explore the various wine-colored produced in Malibu . Sign up herefor our casual LA email and be the first to get all the food / drunkenness / fun Los Angeles has to offer .
Allison Levine spends her time eating and drink around the state … and the world when she can . By day , planning wine and nutrient events , by night on a pursuance to please the palate@plsthepalate
Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres
Kara Jade Quan-Montgomery/Shutterstock
Billy Carmen/Shutterstock
Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres
Ancient Peaks Winery
Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
