Page 53 - 2019 Travel Guide to California

For serious wine collectors, Auction
Napa Valley has been the premier charity
event of the season for more than 37 years.
Love music and wine? Make plans to attend
BottleRock in May; it’s the hipster festival of
the year. Prefer something more pastoral?
Wind your way up Highway 128 in Mendo-
cino County to Anderson Valley for two
exceptional festivals, the highly regarded
Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Fest in May, and
the Aromatic White Wine Festival in Feb-
ruary, focusing on Alsace-style white wines.
In Sonoma County, Healdsburg reigns as
the king of the tasting rooms in California.
The three most popular annual events in
the area include Winter WINEland in Jan-
uary, Barrel Tasting in March, and foodie
favorite Wine and Food Affair in November.
One of the oldest regions, Livermore, is
just 30 miles east of San Francisco and best
known for its Chardonnay production and
the well-established winery estates of
Wente and Concannon.
SIERRA FOOTHILLS
El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras
The mining towns of the Sierra foothills—
Placerville, Amador City and Sutter
Creek—used to draw prospectors in search of
gold, but now wine lovers come in search of
riches in liquid form. The main street of Mur-
phys is lined with Gold Rush-era buildings
and more than 20 tasting rooms equal parts
rustic and sophisticated. The Barbera Festival
is the perfect place to sample Barbera along-
side other Italian varietals including Mon-
tepulciano, Sangiovese, Vermentino, Pinot
Grigio, Nebbiolo and Aglianico.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands,
Chalone, Carmel Valley, Paso Robles,
Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande, Santa
Clara Valley
The Central Coast is one of the largest and
most diverse wine growing regions, and
Monterey is home to the granddaddy of all
wine festivals, the Pebble Beach Food & Wine
Classic in April, where you can sip fine wines
and enjoy small plates by star chefs.
If you are a Pinot or Syrah fan, head for the
highlands, the Santa Lucia Highlands, an
appellation with many noteworthy wineries
such as Morgan, Mer Soleil and Hahn.
Santa Clara Valley, one of the oldest wine
regions in California, was founded by Italian
immigrants in the early 1800s and has now
grown to approximately 25 wineries.
Looking to meet the next great wine-
maker? The Southern Exposure Garagiste
Festival in Solvang will introduce you to
the small guys with bright futures.
DINING IN THE VINEYARD at Vina
Castellano in Auburn, opposite; wine
tasting at the Caraccioli Cellars tasting
room in Carmel by the Sea, top; the grape
harvest begins in Napa, above.
2019 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 51