Page 38 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to California

WINE COUNTRY
ROBERT MONDAVI WINERY, Kalon Vineyard
entrance, with statue of St. Francis of Assisi by
sculptor Beniamino Bufano in the foreground,
right; cycling among the vines, Paso Robles, below;
dining in the vineyard at Vina Castellano in
Auburn, previous page.
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.
Healdsburg in Sonoma County boasts top
tasting rooms, with annual highlights
including Winter Wineland in January,
Barrel Tasting in March, and November’s
Wine and Food Affair. Nearby, Livermore,
just east of San Francisco, is known for its
Chardonnay and historic wineries like
Wente and Concannon.
SIERRA FOOTHILLS
El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras
Once gold mining hubs, towns like Plac-
erville, Amador City, and Sutter Creek now
attract wine lovers. Murphys’ historic
main street is lined with tasting rooms
blending rustic charm with modern
sophistication. The El Dorado Hills Art,
Beer & Wine Festival offers fine art, live
music, and local tastings.
CENTRAL COAST
Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands,
Paso Robles, Edna 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.
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
wine tourism when the 2004 film Sideways
confirmed its status as a Pinot Noir hot spot
(or cool spot, as Pinot grapes don’t like too
much heat). But the ghosts of Sideways’
Miles and Jack are long gone and it’s safe to
drink Merlot again. The end of September
brings the annual Celebration of Harvest,
four days of wine and culinary experiences
in Santa Barbara Wine Country.
In the Central Valley, Lodi Row x Row is a
famous and long-running festival for Zin-
fandel lovers. Lodi is recognized as one of
the top wine regions in the New World, a
hotbed of production growing more than
100 varieties in addition to its legendary Zin.
Vineyards inland in Southern Cali-
fornia’s mostly hot and arid region are
gaining notice, and Temecula in particular
is generating an ardent following for its
wines and sheer determination to grow
grapes in a challenging location.
San Diego may be known for beaches,
but an hour north, vineyards thrive. The
San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew Cele-
bration lets visitors sip wine among
exotic animals.
California wine festivals and events fill
the calendar all year long, like a roulette
wheel of juicy prospects. Whether you plan
ahead, or spin the big wine wheel and see
where it lands, the odds are delicious.
ARNIEBY/SHUTTERSTOCK; JAY SINCLAIR