Wine lovers know that the southern California area has many great vineyards famous for producing fine tasting wines that are known for their reliability, consistency and high quality. These wineries produce a nice selection of both white and red wines. This area of California has three major wine producing regions. The areas are the Cucamonga Valley best known for Zinfandel and dessert wines, the Temecula area famous for its Merlot, Syrah and Carbernet Sauvignon and San Diego County with its Merlot, Chardoney and Syrah varieties the most popular. The following are ten of the top wineries of the southern California area in no special order.
The Bernardo Winery
Producing wine for more than 100 years, the Bernardo Winery is only 25-Miles form downtown San Diego. In addition to the beautiful winery, there are also small cottages that house shops including a glassblower and a goldsmith. Open daily, the tasting room offers wine at 5 tastes for $5 and you get to keep the glass which has the winery logo on it.
Thornton Winery
The Thornton Winery sits in the heart of the Temecula Valley wine country. Producing award winning wines and champagnes for twenty years, this winery offers a tasting room, champagne jazz concerts and an award winning restaurant. There is also a gift shop, champagne lounge, herb gardens and a breathtaking and elegant fountain terrace. Prices range from approximately $15 to $38 per bottle.
Stuart Cellars Winery
Located in the Temecula Valley, the Stuart Cellar’s vineyards produce approximately 150 tons of grapes each year which yields about 16,000 cases of delicious wine. Have a family picnic on their beautiful grounds, visit the gift shop and enjoy their wine tasting room. Stuart Cellars produces more then twenty varieties of wine.
Fess Parker Vineyard
Owned by actor Fess Parker, well known for his television role as Davy Crockett, the Fess Parker Vineyard is located near Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez Valley. Located a few miles away is the Fess Parker Country Inn and Spa, where you can spend the night as you tour the other local wineries in the area. Fess Parker wines are priced from approximately $12 to $55 per bottle.
Blackjack Ranch
The Blackjack Ranch is owned by Roger Wisted who started studying about wines and wine making when he was only fourteen. A lifelong passion for wine making, Roger fulfilled his dream when his vineyard was planted in 1996. The winery produces fine tasting premium wines.
Ferrara Winery
Located in San Diego County, the Ferrara Winery is owned by the oldest active grape growing, wine making family in San Diego. The Ferraras have been making wine there since 1932. In 1971, the State of California named the winery as a State Historical Point of Interest. In addition to premium wine, the wine tasting room also offers wine vinegar, grape juice and wine marinade.
Oak Mountain Winery
Nestled in the Temecula Valley, this charming winery is the only one in the area that house two distinct wineries in one building. Wines from the Oak Mountain Winery and the Temecula Hills Winery, both owned by the same family, are sold and tasted from the same location. The wines are priced from $12 to $32.
Santa Barbara Winery
Opened in 1962, the Santa Barbara Winery is the oldest winery in Santa Barbara County. It was also the first winery to open after the prohibition years of the 1930s. This winery features a wine tasting room, special large sized 1.5 and 3 liter bottles and many special events.
Bridlewood
Set on a hillside in Santa Barbara County, the Bridlewood Winery is set on spectacular grounds. The Mission style building takes you back in time as you sit on the beautiful verandas in the stone courtyard. Visit their wine tasting room and meet their head winemaker, David Hopkins. The Syrah produced at Bridlewood is their speciality.
Miramonte Winery
Considered a boutique winery, this family-owned business has won many awards. Set in the Temecula Valley at an elevation of 14,000 feet, the Miramonte Winery offers wine tasting and special events throughout the year.
Visiting wineries is a fun way to spend a day. Many of them offer wine tasting rooms, picnic areas, gift shops and restaurants. Whether you choose to visit one winery or take a wine tasting tour of a specific area, you are certain to have a memorable and enjoyable experience.
