Page 53 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

SANTA BARBARA WINE COUNTRY,
opposite; Santa Rosa vineyard tour, right;
wine tasting in Temecula, bottom.
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 Mendocino County to Anderson Valley
for two exceptional festivals, the highly
regarded Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Fest
in May, and the Winter White Wine Fes-
tival in February, 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 January,
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 Murphys 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 alongside other Italian
varietals including Montepulciano, San-
giovese, 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 10th Annual Garagiste Festival
in Paso Robles will introduce you to the
small guys with bright futures.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA &
CENTRAL VALLEY
Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills, Santa
Ynez Valley, Los Olivos, Temecula,
Lodi, Madera, Clarksburg
The Southern California coastal region
vineyards in Santa Barbara, Santa Rita Hills
and Santa Ynez Valley produce primarily
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Santa
Ynez Valley became the poster child for
2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 51