Household budgets are pretty tight this year, but booking a California Wine Country tour has never been so affordable and inviting. Getting there is the price of an airline ticket and rental car. You can easily find deals and discounts online, through the winery, tourism board, hotel properties and airlines. You can book your whole tour through websites set up for this purpose, or you can plan your visit yourself by doing a little research on California wines and vineyards.
Where can you find the very best California vineyards and wineries? You’re in luck: California is brimming with vineyards and wineries in places like Central Coast, Central Valley, Lake Region, Mendocino, Napa, North Coast, San Francisco Bay, Sierra Foothills, Sonoma, South Coast and, even, Southern California. From humble beginnings, California wine is big business today, and these vineyards and wineries await your visit. How to decide where to begin your wine tour? Start with the wine. If you don’t like the wine, you don’t need to visit the vineyard or winery. Don’t worry: there’s plenty of good California to choose from, and lots of great vineyards and wineries to tour.
Check out this insider’s Guide to the Top 5 California Wineries, each one selected for its award winning wine and wine selection, hospitality, location, landscape, and sensational views. Sure to become your favorites as well.
Clos du Bois Winery
Website: http://closdubois.com
19410 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville, California 95441
Telephone: (800) 222-3189 (tasting room)
Hours of Operation: 10am-4:30pm daily (except major holidays). 10am-3pm New Years Eve. Closed for Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Location/Directions: Eight miles outside Healdsburg at the northern end of Sonoma County, about 1 hour from San Francisco, due north on Highway 101.
Admission: Open to the public. Reservations recommended for groups over 15. $10 for premier wine tasting fee. Check online for wine tasting coupons and other discounts.
Founded in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County in 1974, award winning winemaker Clos du Bois offers classic, reserve and propriety wines. Classic wines include Cabernet Sauvignon Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Zinfandel, and Rose, crafted from grapes grown in the different Sonoma County appellations, as well as North Coast regions of Napa, Lake, Mendocino and Solano counties. Clos du Bois Reserves are more refined wines, and produced in small quantities. These include Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Chardonnay, Reserve Merlot, Reserve Pinot Noir, Reserve Shiraz, Reserve Tempranillo, Reserve Zinfandel, and Reserve Fume Blanc. Winery features a great tour, tasting room, wine shop, and picnic area. Visitors are welcome to bring lunch or select from an array of deli cheeses, salami, pate and spreads to complement sensational Clos du Bois wines. Enjoy the delightful wines and awesome scenery at Clos du Bois vineyard and winery. Check out winery’s seasonal and special events. Where to stay? The Geyersville Inn (from $155), which combines the “comforts of a modern hotel” with the “charm and service of a small country inn.” A short drive from Lake Sonoma and steps from Clos du Bois and other wineries.
Merryvale Vineyards
Website: www.merryvale.com/
1000 Main Street, St. Helena, California 94574
Telephone: (707) 963-7777
Hours of Operation: Open daily 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location/Directions: North of San Francisco, on Highway 29, one mile south of downtown St. Helena.
Admission: Open to the public. Private tours, events available. Tasting prices: ‘Signature’ selection $10 per person, ‘Prestige’ selection $10 per person, ‘All Reds’ selection $15 per person.
You simply cannot visit Napa Valley without stopping at Merryvale, a family-owned Napa Valley winery dedicated to crafting fine wines that rival some of the best in the world. Merryvale’s Historic Cask Room is lovely and a favorite location for event planners. Merryvale is situated in an old winery, the first built after repeal of Prohibition, in downtown St. Helena, adjacent to Tra Vigne restaurant and Taylor’s Refresher, steps away from shopping and dining. Merryvale is committed to crafting “elegant, complex world-class wines in the finest European style” and delivery quality over quantity every time. Merryvale hosts a great “Wine Component Tasting Seminar” Saturday and Sunday mornings ($20 per person) that includes a sensational tour of the winery. Merryvale-Beckstoffer Vineyards wines include some tasty offerings, like Merlot, Las Amigas Vineyard, Carneros, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vineyard X, Oakville, Cabernet Sauvignon, Clone Six, Rutherford. Signature & Single-Vineyard wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Antigua’ Muscat de Frontignan, among others. Where to stay? Check out The Harvest Inn (from $249) for a truly unique AAA for “bed & breakfast charm” combined with four-star “luxury and elegance” on eight acres of beautifully landscaped gardens. A perfect complement to your visit to Napa Valley.
Baily Vineyard and Winery
Website: www.bailywinery.com/
33440 La Serena Way, Temecula, California 92591
Telephone: (951) 676-9463
Hours of Operation: Open 11am-5 daily, 10am-5pm, Saturdays.
Location/Directions: Less than 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in Southern California.
Admission: Open to the public. Tastings from $10.00- Person, includes tastings of any 5 different wines, (no restrictions), 19 oz logo tasting glass as gift.
Baily’s a great place to tour and visit. More than 14 years in operation. Several different dining options. Baily Vineyard grapes come from 32 acres of grapes in four different locations in the Temecula Valley. Check out Baily’s Bordeaux varieties (Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Meritage) in particular. Baily is located in Temecula, long prized for its championship golf courses, hot-air balloon adventures, and award-winning wineries. Temecula Valley has built a reputation for being, “the wine country of Southern California.” Where to stay? What about the Inn at Churon Winery (Rates from $179 ), beautifully appointed and serene hotel property at one of the 21 wineries in the Temecula Valley, or Pala Casino Spa and Resort (from $119) for Four Diamond Award winning accommodations, lively atmosphere, and stunning mountain views.
Bianchi Winery and Tasting Room
Website: www.bianchiwine.com/
3380 Branch Road, Paso Robles, California 93446
Telephone: (805) 226-9922
Email: info@bianchiwine.com
Hours of Operation: Open daily 10am-5pm daily
Location/Directions: 20 miles inland from Pacific Ocean, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Central Coast wine region, spanning Monterey County to the north and Santa Barbara County to the south. From Hwy. 101, take Hwy. 46 East.
Admission: Open to the public. Wine Club available. Check online for deals and discounts.
Check out Bianchi Winery and Tasting Room, a lovely vineyard and winery on 40 acres in Paso Robles, with a state-of-the-art winery and super Tasting Room overlooking Koi Lake. Bianchi wines run the gamut, from Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel to Italian wines like Refosco and Barbera. Breathtaking views, hospitality and gift shop. Where to stay? Try the Adelaide Inn (from $96), or Hotel Cheval (from $275) one of Paso Robles’ “finest boutique luxury hotels, located in the heart of Downtown.
Black Stallion Winery
Website: www.blackstallionwinery.com
4089 Silverado Trail, Napa, California 94558
Telephone: (888) BSW-NAPA (toll free) or (707) 253-1400 (local)
Hours of Operation: Open daily 10am-5pm. Closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Location/Directions: Centrally located on historic Silverado Trail, about 2.5 miles north of Trancas Street, minutes from Napa’s central business district.
Admission: Open to the public. 4 wine tasting from $10 per person. Reserve wine tasting from $25 per person. Cheese pairings extra. Gourmet food and wine pairings, weekends only.
Here’s a little gem of a winery that’s off the beaten track, but an absolute delight. Black Stallion Winery became the latest addition to the small collection of wineries in Napa Valley’s newly designated Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley. Oak Knoll appellation is distinguished by a temperate climate that is a little bit cooler than other regions within Napa Valley, with a growing reputation for producing wines that are elegant and complex. Black Stallion Winery creates ultra-premium wines of character and distinction, and nine different varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and a Dessert Wine. Black Stallion Winery’s total case production is 3,800 cases and these wines are not sold in any stores, making a trip to Black Stallion a must. The winery itself is located on a lovely section of the Silverado Trail. The Black Stallion estate recalls the historic and rustic charm of early California, featuring century-old olive trees, natural grasses and Mediterranean plants. Situated on the grounds of an old equestrian center. Where to stay? Check out the luxurious Hotel Luca (from $295), a new 20-room property with all the bells and whistles, or Milliken Creek Inn (from $225) which always make the shortlist for its lovely views and incredible accommodations.
Resources
California Wine Tours
www.californiawinetours.com
Discover California Wine
www.discovercaliforniawine.com/
Wine Institute
www.wineinstitute.org
