By escaping to California wine country for the weekend you can recharge your batteries and restock your wine fridge. Sounds good right? Often, we only have a few days to enjoy the beauty of the vineyards before returning home. That means it’s essential to have a plan. You can use our guide as a starting point for your planning. Then you can use the other resources on www.californiawineryadvisor.com to finalize and save your tasting itinerary. There is so much to love about California wine country! We hope our guide helps you get the most out of it.
After you use our guide, please share it with any California wine country lovers you know. Our goal is to encourage people to get out into the vineyards, meet the winemakers and get the most out of our amazing wine country!
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STEP 1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT CALIFORNIA WINE REGION FOR YOUR TASTES
There are several unique wine country options in California. When planning your California wine country weekend consider:
- Grape varieties you enjoy: Each region has unique weather patterns and soil types. These impact which grape varieties grow well. This means each region has dominant grape types and wine styles. When planning your trip, you can even consider "micro-climates" within a region. These small pockets of weather patterns can impact the grapes planted in the immediate area. As an example, Santa Barabara county has a number of "micro-climates". As you move away from the ocean, the average temperature increases rapidly. Wineries in the west of Santa Barbara wine country will focus on Pinot Noir because it grows well in that "micro-climate". The wines change to Rhone varietals like Syrah as you move east into warmer pockets. Love Pinot Noir, focus your tastings on the west side!
- Natural features like proximity to the mountains or the ocean: Part of the joy of wine tasting is connecting with the region as a whole. If you love the ocean, target wine country with easy access to the coast like San Luis Obispo. Want to spend some time in the mountains during your trip, focus on the Sierra Foothills wine country.
- Access to nearby amenities and leisure activities: You will probably want a little downtime from tasting and having some enjoyable diversions will make the weekend more memorable. The wine country around San Diego is beautiful and you are close to family activities like Lego Land and the San Diego Zoo. You may want to mix in a hike through the local vineyards or a hot air balloon ride. It's good to plan these activities out in advance. You will have more options by planning ahead.
- Local dining and accommodations: Some wine country regions like Napa have an abundance of both affordable and higher-end dining and hotel options. Others wine regions will require you to do a bit more legwork. The good news is, you can typically find something that suits your budget and taste no matter where you go in California wine country.
An example of weighing your options might be; Santa Barbara wine country for wonderful Pinot Noir and easy access to the city of Santa Barbara with its nightlife and beaches or Mendocino wine country with its great sparkling wines and redwood forests.
STEP 2. RESEARCH THE WINERIES OF CALIFORNIA
Finding the perfect winery is a bit like going on a blind date. The more information you have up front the higher the chance of finding a match. When you do find one that fits your tastes, you will realize the time was well spent.
- Using a search engine makes it easier to target the wineries that have the wines and amenities you enjoy.
- Consult top 10 and best of lists. These can be a nice starting point to building an itinerary. Choose a few from the list and then mix in some nearby wineries that appeal to you.
Consider wine tasting costs as part of your California wine country research. The costs can vary widely depending on the region and winery. There are some over the top California wine country tasting experiences that can cost you hundreds of dollars per person. That is before you buy any wine! You should research ways to save on wine tasting fees before making your final plans.
STEP 3. CREATE YOUR CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY TOUR MAP
With your time often limited, this simple bit of planning can make the difference between a memorable wine country experience and a feeling you missed out.
You should choose a comfortable number of wineries to see in a day. This is a personal choice that depends on your temperament. You should remember that on weekends and some holidays, popular tasting rooms get crowded, so give yourself enough time to enjoy a tasting before moving on to your next stop. Many wineries in Northern California now offer timed appointments. This makes it easier to predict how long your tastings will last.
You’ll also want to plan your lunch and dinner stops. A good lunch can be the key to a successful day of tasting!
STEP 4. PLAN YOUR TRANSPORTATION
A day in wine country is a unique pleasure. To make it both safe and enjoyable, it helps to have a plan in place for getting around. There are tour companies, car services and in some cases, public transportation options that allow you to enjoy your wine country tour without the danger and hassle of driving yourself.
STEP 5. GIVE BACK
Help your fellow wine travelers by writing reviews! We all benefit from sharing our experiences.
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