The list includes Malibu, Napa Valley, and Sonoma Valley to name a few. These picturesque wineries are scattered throughout California and each are uniquely beautiful. The best part is that the views are free, though most people want their mouths to feel the same pleasure as their eyes. Melville Winery & Vineyards Where: Santa Ynez Valley (Lompoc, CA) Relatively near to Santa Barbara, the grounds in the Santa Rita Hills are centered around a Mediterranean-style villa where the tasting room is. The French doors open to an extensive patio where you can enjoy a picnic lunch with a glass of small-lot estate-grown Pinot Noir. Melville’s specialties are clones of the Pinot Noir grapes, and they are pointed out by signs in the vineyards only steps from the patio. More Info: tel. 805/735-7030; www.melvillewinery.com
Photo by Kirk Irwin
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards Where: Santa Ynez Valley (Buellton, CA) This laid back winery can be accessed by a long gravel road where at the end you are rewarded with perfect views of Santa Rita Hills. There is an outdoor tasting session on weekends in the quaint backyard with a fountain to only add to the casual ambiance. Bottles produced at Alma Rosa are mostly Pinot Noirs, which is what the area is famous for. More Info: tel. 805/688-9090;
www.almarosawinery.com
Photo by Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards
Stryker Sonoma Where: Sonoma County (Alexander Valley, CA) The glass-walled tasting room provides some of the best views of Alexander Valley and the terraced vineyards on the property. Following her dream, Pat Stryker opened this estate winery in 1999. Here you will experience a perfect afternoon trying out Bordeaux varietals, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay, all of which are primarily grown at Stryker. More Info: tel. 800/433-1944;
www.strykersonoma.com
Photo by Gordon Emberley
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery Where: Sonoma County (Healdsburg, CA) Some of the best views of Sonoma County are on right off of Dry Creek Valley Road at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery. Known for their Chardonnays, which come from a variety of regions such as Russian River Valley, Carneros, and Alexander Valley, this winery has a new underground tasting room called Enoteca Reserve Tasting Bar & Lounge. In the spring, don’t miss the five-acre gardens that are home to some 10,000 tulips each year. More Info
: tel. 707/433-6700;
www.ferrari-carano.com
Photo by Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery
Flowers Vineyard & Winery Where: Sonoma Coast, CA This property was bought with the intent to make wine back in the late 1980s by Walt and Joan Flowers. It works, as the vineyards today produce award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, however, the view is the real winner. Tours are available and will take you through the vineyard, and then on to the tasting room to try two or three wines where spectacular views of moss-covered tress and tall pines are abundant. More Info: tel. 707/847-3661;
www.flowerswinery.com
Photo by David Keatley
HALL Wines Where: Napa Valley, CA HALL has two different tasting rooms in two different locations. The first is along Route 29 and it sees more visitors. The second is up on a hill on Auberge Road. It is smaller and therefore more intimate, and looks like a stylish home with its windows facing the vineyard. There is room is the elegant underground cellar for private tastings and events. The place is decorated with unique modern art. Visitation is only allowed if you phone ahead. More Info: tel. 707/967-0700;
www.hallwines.com
Photo by Hall Wines
Sterling Vineyards Where: Napa Valley (Calistoga, CA) Sterling Vineyards adds an interesting twist to traditional wineries. The tasting room is only accessible by aerial tram because it is so high up. Along with an elevated tasting room, the facilities also have elevated walkways so that visitors can see the wine making process through glass windows. The architecture follows the white buildings found in Crete, Greece, and there are also some art galleries. More Info: tel. 800/726-6136;
www.sterlingvineyards.com
Photo by Sterling Vineyards
Domaine Carneros Where: Napa Valley, CA The French-style estate sports a wide deck with awesome views. Domaine Carneros is actually owned by Tattinger, a well-known French Champagne producer, and therefore is ranked among the best sparkling-wine houses in California. It also offers uncommon table service on its terrace. Not only can you order sparkling wines or bottles, but also European-style pastries, caviar, cheese plates, and smoked salmon. It doesn’t get much better than that. More Info: tel. 800/716-2788;
www.domainecarneros.com
Photo by Rocco Ceselin
Yorkville Cellars Where: Mendocino County (Yorkville, CA) 1,000 feet above sea level but still close to the coast, Yorkville boasts magnificent oak trees, under which you can relax in the shade, snack on some artisan-farmstead cheese, and take in the view of the fruit orchards, redwood forest, and close by sheep ranches. The walkway to the estate is lined by about five hundred red roses. This small production winery produces Bordeaux-style blends, Malbec, and Semillon. More Info: tel. 707/894-9177;
www.yorkville-cellars.com
Photo by Yorkville Cellars
Semler Malibu Family Wines Where: Los Angles (Malibu, CA) Malibu is a smaller scale version of the famous Napa and Sonoma wine regions, but it has a lot of potential. It’s more accessible as it is very near to PCH and Santa Barbara, at the peak of the Santa Monica Mountains. Semler is situated on 65 acres of land filled with wildflowers, beautiful views of the countryside, and some old barns. In the tasting room visitors can sip on an ice wine, a sparkling wine, a light Sauvignon Blanc, or an intense red Semler King of the Mountains Cuvee. There is plenty of variety for all types of wine drinkers. More Info: tel. 818/865-0605;
www.malibufamilywines.com
Photo by Lisa Semler
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