- Why is California's climate ideal for wine production?
- California’s climate is perfectly suited for growing grapes and producing wine.
- What makes Napa Valley special for wine lovers?
- The wineries located in the state, particularly the Napa Valley, are home to some of the best wines in the world.
- Is wine tasting in California a good experience?
- You won't be disappointed if you are planning to go wine tasting.
- How much wine does California produce compared to the rest of the U.S.?
- In fact, the state of California makes approximately 90% of the wine produced in the United States.
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1. Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Francis Ford Coppola Winery sells their wines all over the world, and has been voted Winery of the Year by several international wine competitions.
From the flagship Archimedes vintage to the Diamond Collection Claret in its distinctive bottle wrapped with gold wire, Francis Ford Coppola Winery has some beautiful and exquisite wines in its library, but that’s just half the fun.
The winery has a beautiful tasting room, a restaurant, a weekly dining event called A Tavola, and even a poolside cafe for guests to enjoy.
Games, a park, and some beautiful locations for events such as weddings or retreats round out the deal at Francis Ford Coppola Winery, as well as events sponsored by the venue, such as live music and even movie nights.
300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441, Phone: 707-857-1471
2. Matthiasson Winery
Matthiasson Winery has been named as the Bay Area's winemaker of the year by Food and Wine and The San Francisco Chronicle, nominated for a James Beard Award in 2018 and 2019 for its stellar refined wines and blends.
The company, which is helmed by married duo Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson, is best known for its high-quality white wines, focusing on grape varietals originally cultivated along the Italy-Slovenia border such as Ribolla Gialla,and Tocai Friulano.
High-quality red wines are also produced, including traditional Bordeaux and Merlot varietals. Guests can tour the winery each morning and sample the winery's delicious lower-alcohol-content wines, known for acid profiles making them perfect for food pairings.
3175 Dry Creek Rd, Napa, CA 94558, Phone: 707-637-4877
3. Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery
Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery was founded by Samuele Sebastiani, who left his native Tuscany for California in 1895 and started his own winery in the hills of Sonoma less than a decade later. During Prohibition, Sebastiani Vineyards was the only winery in the region to continue making wines, albeit restricted to medicinal and religious purposes. The winery persevered through Prohibition and the Great Depression by becoming a community center for the population, with a skating rink, theater, hotel, and other services offered on site to keep it running. The winery remained in the family after Samuele’s death until 2008, when it came under new management, though it still carries on his tradition of a fine community and even finer wines.
389 Fourth Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476, Phone: 707-933-3200
4. Ram's Gate Winery
Ram's Gate Winery is a Certified Sustainable Vineyard in Sonoma that was opened in 2011, focusing on small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals. The winery strives to cultivate the best wines possible from the Sonoma Valley's prime viticultural conditions, with all wines expertly tasted and perfected by company chefs to bring out unique flavors and textures. Tastings are available at the company's tasting room by advance appointment, offered Thursdays through Mondays during the morning and afternoon hours. A variety of tasting experiences are offered regularly, including Gateway Tastings for new visitors, vineyard tour and tasting combination experiences, and exclusive chef's table tasting events, which pair fine culinary selections with wines.
28700 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, CA 95476, Phone: 707)-721-8700
5. Landmark Vineyards
Landmark Vineyards is an elegant Kenwood winery originally founded in 1974 by a group of investors that included the great-great-granddaughter of famed American inventor John Deere. The vineyard produces a wide variety of high-quality white and red wines today throughout California's spectacular Sonoma and Russian River Valleys, including exclusive estate Chardonnay and pinot noir varietals. Guests can make reservations for private tastings and tours at both of the winery's facilities, highlighting the company's winemaking process and allowing visitors to taste a selection of the company's best small-production wines. Horse-drawn carriage vineyard tours are offered at the Sonoma Valley facility, with picnic opportunities provided at both locations.
101 Adobe Canyon Road, Kenwood, CA 95452, Phone: 707-833-0053
6. Alfaro Family Vineyards and Winery
Alfaro Family Vineyards and Winery is a 56-acre estate-grown winery in Corralitos, helmed by married duo Mary Kay and Richard Alfaro since their 1997 acquisition of a former apple farm facility. The Santa Cruz-area winery has been acclaimed as the Corralitos region's best winery by regional publications such as Good Times Magazine and The Register-Pajaronian, bottling fine varietals of classic wines such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay alongside its unique Gruner Veltliner wine. Visitors can taste wines at the company's intimate tasting room on weekends, with complimentary tastings offered to the company's Wine Club members. A spacious back patio space allows guests to bring picnic lunches and enjoy wines alongside family members of all ages. Wine club pick-up parties are also open to the public, showcasing live music performances.
420 Hames Road, Corralitos, CA 95076, Phone: 831-728-5172
If you are interested in sustainable wine, be sure to check out this video.
7. Jordan Winery
Jordan Winery is a family-owned California winery located in Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. Jordan produces only two wines: Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Jordan Vineyard & Winery was founded in 1972 by Tom and Sally Jordan. The Jordan Chateau, located in the heart of 1,400 acres of hills and vineyards was designed by the architecture firm Backen, Arrigoni & Ross and was completed in 1976, the same year the first vintage of Jordan was harvested. Three quarters of the land is protected as a natural habitat. In 2013, the Jordan Estate became open to the public through an Estate Tour & Tasting experience. There are five wine tours and tastings at their Alexander Valley estate in Healdsburg, which include food and wine pairing. Reservations are necessary.
1474 Alexander Valley Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448, Phone: 707-431-5250
8. Burrell School Vineyard and Winery, California
The tasting room at Burrell School Vineyard and Winery is open Friday, Saturday, and Sundays from 11am to 5pm, and during these times, visitors can come to the winery to try some of their fantastic product in the historic carriage house of the 19th century Burrell School where the winery is located. Burrell plays on this theme a lot, hosting ‘back to school’ wine tasting dinner events, and even offering a club membership to fans of their wines. Members of the Sippers’ Club get to taste every wine that Burrell makes, via quarterly shipments of bottles, with added benefits like complimentary tastings, members-only events like ‘sippers sessions’, and ongoing discounts on purchases.
24060 Summit Road, Los Gatos, CA 95033, Phone: 408-353-6290
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