There’s a reason California wine country is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Besides offering some of the best wines, Oenophiles are given the opportunity to experience the true terroir of the unique places where wines are grown, harvested, and transformed into magic in a bottle. With countless estates and tasting rooms to visit, the folks at Vintage Wine Estates have assembled the ultimate visitor’s guide to Wine Country featuring some of the most popular wineries throughout Napa, Sonoma, and the Central Coast:
Napa Valley
Napa may be the most visited area of California wine country and is home to some truly exceptional estates. Why not start at the less-traveled northernmost top of Napa Valley in Calistoga, known for its hot springs, mineral pools, and destination winery Clos Pegase. Renowned for its award-winning Michael Graves architecture, the estate boasts 20,000 square feet of caves and is situated beneath a volcanic knoll. The property features a stunning, drought-resistant gardenand a long-time commitment to estate-grown Napa Valley wines, Clos Pegase has a forty-year winegrowing heritage, producing Bordeaux and Burgundian varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Girard Winery, located just across the lane from Clos Pegase, has been making exclusive and small-lot high quality Bordeaux varietal wines since 1975. Not long ago, Girard completed a stunning new winery featuring a state-of-the-art production facility and cellar. Most people elect to enjoy their wine and the perfect weather on the expansive veranda overlooking the estate vineyards.
But it doesn’t end there—peaceful Sonoma Valley is just west over the mountains.
Sonoma
Located between the Mayacamas range which separates Napa from Sonoma and Sonoma Mountain to the west is Sonoma Valley. Here, the stop is B.R. Cohn Winery, founded by Bruce Cohn, long time manager of The Doobie Brothers in 1994. A direct reflection of the quality of its vineyards, the wines include standout Olive Hill Estate, named for the nearly five hundred 160-year-old olive trees on the estate.
Up the road from B.R. Cohn is the century-old, five-generation, 1850-acre Kunde Family Winery, known for its acclaimed iron-rich, ancient red volcanic soils. Kunde is family-owned and operated with a hands-on team of 4th and 5th generation family members who remain committed to innovation while maintaining a deep, personal commitment to certified sustainable winegrowing and preserving the land for future generations. The mountaintop tasting high above the valley floor is the ideal place to sip wine and gaze out over the unforgettable vista.
Featuring a Tuscan-inspired tasting room and marketplace, the best stop to find you very own “house red” is Viansa Winery, which crafts wines to be enjoyed every day. Viansa is located at the southern entrance to Sonoma Valley and perched high above the wetlands of San Francisco Bay. Guests can taste wine and experience the view from one of the cozy outlooks or enjoy wood-oven pizza or a snack from the marketplace.
Central Coast
Heading south along the dramatic California Coast is the beach town of Arroyo Grande. It’s also a wine region overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Here the grand dame is Laetitia Vineyard & Winery. Founded by an established French Champagne house known for mėthode champenoise sparkling wines, the winery also produces still wines made from the traditional Champagne varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Laetitia is proud to be a SIP Certified Winery (Sustainability in Practice). A favorite site in the vineyards are herds of sheep and goats who keep the weeds down naturally.
Please let me know if you are interested in running a summer travel guide piece on wine country. We would love for you to consider the Vintage Wine Estates wineries mentioned above which is also a partner of Travel + Leisure Wine Club. In addition to offering exclusive wine selections, members are given the choice between two exclusive wine clubs that offer unparalleled in-person estate experiences at any of the estates we’ve mentioned.
