Wherever you are, and wherever you’d like to be, someone is probably growing wine nearby.
When you recollect of a wine country lam , you credibly have a specific idea in mind . Maybe you ’re picturing an opulent chateau on a peak , face out over rolling hills lined with tidy row of vine . Or maybe you ’ve latched on to something a little more modern , drinking glass walls and a wrought iron legal community where a voguish sommelier decant tiny discernment into oversize glasses . But vacations in wine-coloured country are more versatile than you think : you may have a pamperedweekend of luxuryand solitude or arustic , agrarian expeditionfor a magnanimous group with child in tow .
You also are n’t limited tothe obvious terminus — you really do n’t have to go toBordeaux or the Riojaor Napa to get an incredible wine-coloured country experience . There are vino - growing region spread out across the United States , in the dusty comeuppance of the Southwest and among the historical compound mansions of the mid - Atlantic . So it ’s worth remembering : wherever you are , and wherever you ’d like to be , someone is probably growing wine nearby . Here are just a few of the best wine-coloured region to call in in the US .
California Wine Regions
Napa Valley
This is the obvious one — you know it , you love it , you ’ve paid way too much for a mediocre heavy - bodied Cabernet Sauvignon in it . Yes it has become quite touristy , and prices have only gone up as the crowds have grown , but it ’s worth reiterate : Napa is a magical place . The wine is often outstanding , the climate is ideal , the mise en scene is beautiful , there are aton of fun thing to do , and you willabsolutely eat well too . Thrillist has a handy guide towhich wine maker to chit-chat in Napa , but it ’s hard to go amiss .
Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Barbara is one ofLA ’s favorite weekend getaway , a gorgeous beach town with famously good food and vibration . But more and more vacationer are give-up the ghost through SB ( maybestopping for some tacos ) on their agency over Highway 154 and into the Santa Ynez Valley — Santa Barbara beach life is out , Santa Barbara wine land is so in . You will be surrounded by capital wine , even better restaurants , peal hills , and a lovely marine clime whether you opt to stay in thecharmingly dilapidated township - sized tourist trap of Solvang , thetasting way majuscule of SoCal in Los Olivos , or one of the other surround town like Buellton , Santa Ynez , orLos Alamos . There are outstanding meals to be had at “ Franch ” maven Bell ’s or its sis eating place Bar Le Cote , world - class pastries and loaves at Bob ’s Well Bread , and so much more great nutrient . And the wine-coloured is its catch , whether you ’re see for in - town taste room like Alma Rosa , A Tribute to Grace , and Dragonette , or if you require to get out into the state there are estate wineries like Demetria and Peake Ranch .
Paso Robles
Paso Robles is more casual than Napa , and even more put - back than the Santa Ynez Valley — it ’s not quite the Wild West , but no one will look askance if you show up to a tasting in cowboy boots . The realm is best known for big punchy cherry-red wines , Zinfandels and Rhone varietal like Syrah and Grenache ripen into high - ABV palate crusher in a thrilling way . Herman Story personify that stylus and the sprightliness of the town , with a childlike tasting way and a welcoming grating - and - tumble attitude and a long list of vivid , conversation - starting wines — don’t miss their wildly entertaining savour notes . If you require a hard dose of wine tasting , psyche to Tin City , a sprawling assembling of smack room . Or head out of the urban center to any of the dozens of wineries in the fence in hill — Linne Calodo is passive and luxurious , Tablas Creek is legendary , and Kiamie Wine Cellars is countrified and charming . Then head back into town for ceviche and mesquite - grilled tacos at Finca Paso Robles .
Temecula Valley
There is still another fun vino region hiding in California , about equidistant from LA and San Diego . The Temecula Valley is an up - and - coming AVA , where the wines may not have the far-flung acclaim of California ’s other region — yet — but there are deal of worthwhile winery to try . We ’ve tack abroad usher to the best winery in Temecula , but thing are only improving down there . And there ’s a lot more to do in thiscowboy vino body politic , from horseback riding and mining for cute gems to thepotential to fulfill a sure spicy phantasy in the basket of a hot gentle wind balloon .
Wine Regions in the Pacific Northwest
Willamette Valley
Oregon wine has become make love for one big thing in recent years — excellent Pinot Noir . The Pacific Northwest ’s nerveless climate lends itself well to the temperamental grape , and the Willamette Valley is the best place to get a taste . McMinnville or Dundee are majuscule options for a home infrastructure , about 45 minutes to an hour southwest of Portland , and you ’ll recover outstanding Pinot all around the area . Some highlights include Beaux Freres , Alexana , and White Rose , but there are also a ton of non - winefun things to do in the Willamette Valleytoo , from outdoor activity to craft brewery , and if you happen to be there in June make certain you chequer outQueer Wine Fest at Remy Wines .
Walla Walla
It ’s a turn of a hike from the major cities , but the Walla Walla vino area is deserving the 4 - 60 minutes drive from Seattle or Portland . The region stretch across the border in Southeast Washington into Oregon , with some truly excellent Rhone varietals growing in both state , and a generous smattering of Bordeaux blends too . rather of the typical mountains and wood that you might picture in the Pacific Northwest , Walla Walla is fix amongst roll hills with a Mediterranean clime — though it does still get quite insensate in the wintertime , so you might be better off visiting in fall or spring . There are a ton of winery to take from , including highlights right in town like Spring Valley , Kontos , and Time and Direction . Head out into the country for Devison , Abeja , or south into the wild Rocks District for Rotie Cellars .
Yakima Valley
The Yakima Valley is a young and lesser - known Pacific Northwest winemaking area , but there are still some 90 wineries and tasting rooms break up across the verdant farmland in south - central Washington state . The cooler , high - elevation section of the vale bring forth lovely white wines admit some majuscule Riesling , and the warm , gay section are best known for Bordeaux varietals and Syrah . Cultura , Sheridan , and Gilbert are some of the country ’s top producers . And if you ask a good luck from wine , the Yakima Valley is also one of the most important record hop - growing regions in the world .
Wine Regions in the Southwest
Sonoita
high up in the red-hot , arid J. J. Hill about an hour south of Tucson , ahandful of challenging winemakers are growing grapes . ferment hard against the heating plant , the frost , the dust , and the desert in this unconvincing home , they are produce some unfeignedly excellent wines . Conditions are n’t easygoing for growing , but it ’s still quite endearing for a visit . The scene is dramatic , the wines are unspoilt , and there really are n’t any crowds . Check out Rune for a beautiful , modern space and excellent red wine , then head to Deep Sky or Callaghan for more large tastes . And do n’t drop the first-class Neapolitan - style pizza at Pronghorn , which also happen to be attached to another very whole winery , Dos Cabezas Wineworks .
Texas Hill Country
The hustle greenery and knobbly oak trees of Texas Hill Country are a beautiful reason todrive out of Austin , for aquick lake getaway , afloating pond , orworld - social class beer . But there are also a ton of wineries concentrate along 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg . There were about 60 options at last count , and many of them are make excellent wine-colored , even if a lot of the grapes amount from vinery in the Texas High Plains AVA to the northwestward . There are a circumstances of varietals raise in the area , but the climate and the soil seem to lend themselves well to Spanish varietal wine like Tempranillo and some of the fond - atmospheric condition French grape . Among the many great wineries , fan favorites include Calais , Siboney Cellars , and Inwood Estates , and for the natural wine-colored fans , Crowson is a great stop with unfeigned zero - zero wines .
Grand Valley
Colorado may be best - known for beer , but on the western edge of the state near Grand Junction and Palisade they ’re also making great wine-coloured . Of course even within the area wine-colored is a secondary crop ; Palisade salmon pink are justifiably notable , and the local stonefruit in cosmopolitan is splendid . But that has n’t always been the case — in 1900 there were 1,000 farms growing wine-colored grapes in the region , and business was booming until Prohibition , when almost all of those grape vine were torn out and replaced with peaches . The wine diligence did n’t really restart in the region until the 1970s , but thing have only trended upward since . Now there are about 30 wineries in the high-pitched - altitude neighborhood , leaning towards Bordeaux varietals . Wine quality is sound and always improving , and the gamey desert setting right on the Colorado River is striking and beautiful . Some local winery to jaw let in Bookcliff , Maison La Belle Vie , and Carboy , among many others .
Wine Regions on the East Coast
Finger Lakes
The 11 lake and dramatic waterfall innorthwestern New York statedon’t necessarily read ‘ wine country ’ right off the bat . But the part has a strong agricultural comportment , and farmers gain greatly from a strong lake effect , which curb temperature extremes on both end . Unlike many of the other wine region on this tilt , the clime does n’t really liken to Bordeaux or the Rioja — or else , its airless analog is the Rhine river in Germany . That means the Finger Lakes have a short ton of Riesling , and there are excellent examples all around the orbit , include at Hermann J. Weimer , Red Newt , and Ravines Wine Cellars . The Ithiel Town of Geneva is belike your best bet as a home radical , and if you ’re a dedicated ruby toper do n’t worry , there are plenty of great wines around for you too , especially Cab Franc and cool - climate Pinot Noir .
Monticello
Head to Central Virginia wine-colored country for some grape juice with a historic bent-grass . The orbit is build up up around Charlottesville , but it ’s known as the Monticello AVA after Thomas Jefferson ’s land , which is just alfresco of town , and where in the 1770s the Founding Father partnered with Italian winemaker and eventual soldier Filippo Mazzei on a large plot of mostly unsuccessful vineyard . The AVA was n’t officially designate until 1984 , though that does make it the oldest in the Commonwealth . Check out some of the Bordeaux blends from Barboursville Vineyards and Michael Shaps Winery , and a variety of flair from the fabled Gabriele Rausse Winery . Charlottesville is also agreat town to chew the fat , with plenty of outdoorsy activities , history , and food .
Piedmont Plateau
Wine has only been great business in Maryland since the 1980s , when several grape growers connexion were formed and — more importantly — the Maryland Wine Festival began . The MWF is now one of the most important wine festivals on the East Coast , with more than 25,000 attender , which help oneself to do the upright work of raising the wine visibility of the whole neighborhood . If you ’re snuff it to visit Maryland vino country there are a lot of choice , and a lot of diverse climate within the country , but the Piedmont Plateau in Central Maryland is probably your near bet . Venture out from Baltimore or DC for a daylight head trip , or stay in Frederick or Westminster to make it a weekend affair . Old Westminster Winery is the trendy name in Maryland vino decent now , and it create for a lovely visit to try some of their pet - nats and funkier wines . But do n’t overlook Black Ankle , Linganore , and Boordy , either .
Wine Regions in the South
Dahlonega Plateau
It may not exactly live up to its challenging byname , the Napa of the South , but Georgia ’s Dahlonega Plateau is plenty charming , with some lovely wines to kick . It ’s about an 60 minutes outside Atlanta , with over 100 acres of vineyard and enough try elbow room to support several visits or a very full weekend . CeNita , Three Sisters , and Cavender Creek are local front-runner in the growing region . Get in now , before it really does become the Napa of the South and the crowd and prices skyrocket .
Middle Tennessee
Tennessee is n’t a traditional wine - acquire region — it ’s more of a whisky res publica . But did you really think that Nashville , the city of a million bachelorette parties , could n’t indorse a winery or 40 ? There ’s plenty of great agricultural ground in the shopping centre of the state , and Nashville also has a solid crop of winemakers with tasting elbow room in town , so you may get your urban and your rural wine maker set up all in one . Arrington Vineyards is the most illustrious one around , a sprawling estate about 45 minutes south of Nashville , but you ’ve got good deal of options : here ’s a piffling guidewe put together a few year ago , and thing have only improved since .
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Photo by Ben Mesirow for Thrillist
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