13 Best Wineries in California (Taster’s Guide)

Whether to relax or energize you to take up adventures, wine is a witty option you can resort to. And lucky you, California homes world-class wineries to serve you delectable wines. Here are the 13 best wineries in California you can choose from to save time searching.

1. Melville Estate Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 5185 E Highway 246, Lompoc, CA, United States
  • Phone: +1 805-735-7030

If you’re looking for a place to have in-depth knowledge of how to craft fantastic wines, you might want to visit Melville for its variety of winery tours. Learn about geography, the process from pruning to production, and the importance of sun exposure in its 90-minute tours and tastings.

After the tour, you can sit in Melville’s relaxing estate winery and tasting room while sipping your delicious drinks. And if you can’t get enough of Melville’s award-winning wines, you can sign up for its free membership club to enjoy wines three times a year at your home.

 

2. St. Francis Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 100 Pythian Rd Santa Rosa, CA 95409
  • Phone: +1 888-675-9463

 

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With over 50 years of expertise, St. Francis runs as a 100% Certified California Sustainable vineyard and winery. Thanks to its 457-kilowatt solar energy system and abundant nearby creeks and waterways, the winery flourishes to craft the best-tasting wines.

You can enjoy St. Francis’ widely renowned farm-to-table Wine and Food Pairing in the Vineyard Portico, which offers breathtaking mountain views. But if you can’t step out of your home for some reason, St. Francis has Virtual Wine Tastings that you should try with your family or workmates of 10 and more.

 

3. Buena Vista Winery

  • Price: $$$
  • Address: 18000 Old Winery Rd Sonoma, CA 95476
  • Phone: +1 800-325-2764

Buena-Vista-Winery

Any of Buena Vista’s two locations in California will surely give you a classic drinking experience. Its tasting room in Sonoma Square was built in 1857 and the other in Napa dates back to 1929.

Have a great time exploring the interactive Wine Tool Museum in the Sonoma Square location’s Champagne Cellar and Bubble Lounge, or experience wine and caviar with cabernet and chocolate in the Napa location’s art deco-inspired tasting room. Whichever place, you’ll surely enjoy Buena Vista’s distinct collection of one-of-a-kind wines.

 

4. Gundlach Bundschu Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 2000 Denmark St Sonoma, CA 95476
  • Phone: +1 707-938-5277

Gundlach-Bundschu-Winery

A family-owned since 1858, Gundlach Bundschu farms organic grapes on its 320-acre land. Each vine in the land receives rigorous care throughout the season, including introducing beneficial predators like owls, mites, and beetles to the vineyard to reduce the use of herbicides.

The efforts of Gundlach Bundschu resulted in ultra-premium quality wines, which you can taste in its family and dog-friendly tasting room. Outside food is not permitted on the premises, but charcuterie boards and an assortment of cheese are available inside.

 

5. Presqu’ile Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 5391 Presqu’ile Dr Santa Maria, CA 93455
  • Phone: (805) 937-8110

 

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Presqu’ile, rooted in a French word, means peninsula or almost an island, and true to its name, Presqu’ile Winery owns a 200-acre land. This place holds the finest Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah, as the winery specializes in crafting the said cool-climate wines.

Considered one of the most beautiful wineries in California, Presqu’ile Winery boasts picturesque ocean views as it is situated just 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Visit Presqu’ile and get a taste of its 12 tasty collections of wines.

 

6. Scribe Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 2100 Denmark St Sonoma, CA 95476
  • Phone: +1 707-939-1858

 

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Founded in 2007, Scribe was administered by fourth-generation Californian farmers and brothers Andrew and Adam. The two believe that the best wines result from a healthy relationship between man and nature. They may have taken excellent care of their vineyards as Scribe produces the most notable terroir-driven wines.

Scribe Farm visits are exclusive to the Scribe Viticultural Society, as the members get first-hand access to the growing and making of Scribe wines. But need not worry because you can still taste Scribe’s wines via shipment, or maybe you should sign up for the membership for free.

 

7. Viansa Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 25200 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, CA, United States, California
  • Phone: +1 800-995-4740

Viansa-Winery

Established by husband and wife Sam and Vicki Sebastiani in 1990, Viansa is now managed by their sons Chris and Jon. Throughout the years, Viansa has made it a standout destination for Italian varietal wines.

Delight in Viansa’s Tuscan-inspired tasting room and Italian Marketplace, relax in the main lawn’s picnic tables or Adirondack chairs and have authentic Italian treats as wine pairing. Bring your paw friends, too, as the winery is dog-friendly.

 

8. Ledson Winery & Vineyards

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 7335 Hwy 12 Kenwood, CA 95409
  • Phone: +1 707-537-3810

If you fancy classic wine drinking, Ledson might suit you the best as it offers a castle for its tasting room. It is an architectural showpiece with 16,000 square feet of French Normandy structure. The place offers a stunning setting, making it a perfect place for a romantic getaway.

With a bit of handling of vines to preserve its organic melding and using French oak barrels, Ledson crafted the highest caliber sets of wines. The winery’s countless accolades are ready to prove that its crafts are superb.

 

9. Francis Ford Coppola Winery

  • Price: $$$
  • Address: 300 Via Archimedes Geyserville, CA 95441
  • Phone: +1 707-857-1400

If classics are too dull for you and you’re looking for adventure, check out Francis Ford Coppola Winery. Here, you can get a hold of various tasting experiences, music, dancing, games, swimming, and performances of all kinds to entertain your whole family.

The winery features two swimming pools in its central park with lounge chairs, cabins for changing and showering, and incredible vineyard views. Francis Ford Coppola Winery has a movie gallery to view different movie memorabilia.

 

10. HALL Wines

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 401 St Helena Hwy S Saint Helena, CA 94574
  • Phone: +1 707-967-2626

 

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Established by Craig and Kathryn Hall, Hall Wines specializes in producing critically acclaimed artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and classic Bordeaux varietals from two of its locations in St. Helena and Rutherford.

The owners are also avid fans of art. In the winery, you can enjoy expressive art, which features works of most internationally acclaimed artists such as Jim Campbell and Nick Cave. You can also witness impressive architectural designs in Hall’s tasting rooms, making both locations memorable wine country destinations.

 

11. Frog’s Leap Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 8815 Conn Creek Rd Rutherford, CA 94573
  • Phone: +1 707-963-4704

 

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Like a frog leaping, John William opened Frog’s Leap and now stands majestically for more than 30 years. It uses a dry farming technique since the owner believes that historic wines have been made with non-irrigated grapevines.

True enough, Frog Leap’s wines leave a remark for having natural, mouth-exploding flavors. Enjoy Frog’s Leap creative drinks in its interactive tours, or enjoy them at home via Frog’s Leap Virtual Tasting Experience, free of charge.

 

12. Fess Parker Winery

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd, Los Olivos, CA, United States, California
  • Phone: +1 805-688-1545

Established in 1989, the winery’s name came from its founder Fess Parker, who bought a 714-acre land and planned to create a business there. Many years later, his land is still used by his second and third-generation families to continue his wine-making legacy.

Besides its tasting room and vineyards, Fess Parker also boasts its Wine Country Inn, perfect for romantic getaways and weddings, and Epiphany wine garden with a wine tasting led by wine educators. Finally, Fess Parker has a Ranch Horseback Adventure if you love wild escapades.

 

13. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

  • Price: $$
  • Address: 24724 Arnold Dr. Sonoma, CA 95476
  • Phone: +1 707-931-7516

Founded by Fred Cline in 2007, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards serves as a way to honor the owner’s grandfather. Even the stonework and design of the vineyards and The Olive Press building are a tribute to their family home in Casarsa, Italy.

Its Tuscan-inspired grounds and Italian architecture, Jacuzzi Family, make it a perfect setting for any private, corporate, and team-building event. Here, you will get to taste mesmerizing wines and Italian-derived recipes.

 

Summary

From classic, romantic, laid-back, and adventurous, California wineries offer a variety of atmospheres for you to choose from. Most of the wineries here as well were established hundreds of years ago. So, rest assured that visiting any of these 13 best wineries in California will give you a perfect drinking experience.

Best Wineries in California

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