Underrated California Wine Regions to Visit
California is best known for Napa Valley and Sonoma County. But California's wine scene is much, MUCH larger than just those premium wine regions. In fact, all on its own, California is among the top five wine producing locations worldwide. Here are ...
North Coast
Situated close to Napa Valley and Sonoma County, Lake County not only boasts the state's largest freshwater lake, but also one of its most vibrant wine scenes.
After taking in the majestic sights of Mendocino County's redwood trees, you can sip on their incredible wines, which are exceptionally fresh thanks to the region's foggy mornings.
Solano County sits just across from the San Francisco Bay, and is truly a hidden gem among CA's wine regions.
Central Coast
Livermore is a place of living history for California wine, and is the original source of some of the most widely-planted Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vine types in the state.
Whale watching, wine tasting, and gorgeous coastal vistas are all a part of the Monterey County experience.
Just a short hop from the city, the San Francisco Bay also grows grapes that make excellent wines.
Known more for being a wold-leading technology hub, Santa Clara Valley has been growing wine grapes since the 1970s.
More than just surfing and cute towns, San Luis Obispo County has a bustling urban wine scene and several growers of world-class wine grapes.
Sierra Foothills
Amador County is home to some of the state's oldest vines, and some of its best wine bargains.
Local produce and local wines are the big draw in this region situated near the Sacramento Valley.
An historic area for the California Gold Rush, Calaveras County is starting to make a name for itself in wine, and now boasts more than 30 tasting rooms for visitors.
Another former Gold Rush area, El Dorado County is home to some excellent older vine Zinfandel.
Southern California
In the early 1900s, Cucamonga Valley was an important area near Los Angeles for wine. It still has a bustling wine scene today.
Known for its beaches and Southern CA lifestyle, Ventura has many small wineries crafting excellent wines.
It should come as no surprise that Temecula Valley has great wine; they have been growing wine grapes since the 1700s!