Page 40 - 2023-2024 Travel Guide to California

WINE COUNTRY
SYRAH VINEYARD in Kelseyville, right; Yorkville
Cellars Winery, Mendocino County, bottom;
Napa Valley Vineyard, page 36.
here, with more than 400 wineries open for
tastings along Highway 29 and the Silverado
Trail. While the majority of visitors go to the
big-name wineries such as Robert Mondavi,
Beringer and Sterling, those in the know are
heading for Coombsville.
For serious wine collectors, Auction
Napa Valley has been the premier charity
event of the season for over 40 years. Love
music and wine? Make plans to attend
BottleRock in May; it’s the hipster festival
of the year. Prefer something more pas-
toral? Wind your way up Highway 128
in Mendocino County to Anderson Valley
for two exceptional festivals: the highly
regarded Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Fes-
tival in May; and the Winter White Wine
Weekend 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
38 2023-24 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA
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 build-
ings and over two dozen tasting rooms
equal parts rustic and sophisticated. The
El Dorado Hills Art, Beer & Wine Festival is
the perfect place to view fine art from over
80 artists along the town center boulevard
while enjoying food, live music and tast-
ings from local wineries and breweries.
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 Winemakers’
Celebration in Carmel-by-the-Sea where
you can stroll the charming streets,
sample some of the area’s best wines and
enjoy light-bites from popular local
restaurant 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 more than two dozen wineries.
Looking to meet the next great wine-
maker? The Garagiste Wine 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
SHAY BAKSTAD/SHUTTERSTOCK; KERRICK JAMES