Explore some of California’s lesser known wine regions.
To many casual wine drinkers around the world, “California wine” means Napa Valley or, more recently, Sonoma. The two wine countries have seen significant in the development of the region with palatial wine-tasting rooms, Michelin-starred restaurants, and luxury hotels. But California, which produces over 80% of the wines in the country, has many other notable wine regions. In fact, as of 2022, there are 147 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in California alone, many of which are producing wines on par with the world-famous Napa and Sonoma, but with fewer crowds, a more relaxed atmosphere, and often at a lower price point.
The diverse micro-climates in California and Baja California, along with the distinct makeup of the soils throughout the state, result in differences in terroir that make wine tasting in California an exciting and limitless exploration. For your next wine country trip planning, here are some vibrant wine regions in California that produce excellent wines and are home to boutique lodgings and destination restaurants.
Santa Ynez Valley
The Santa Ynez Valley is roughly the triangle formed by Solvang, Santa Ynez, and Los Olivos. The wineries around Solvang were propelled to some popularity thanks to the movie Sideways (which is mostly known for popularizing Pinot Noir and getting Merlot unfairly canceled).
The small towns that make up Santa Ynez Valley wine country offer their own unique experiences. There’s the Danish village of Solvang with distinctive Danish-themed architecture and aebleskivers, the cowboy town of Santa Ynez, and the Victorian charms of little Los Olivos.
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The new Inn at Mattei’s Tavern is a good base to walk to all the wine-tasting rooms in the 4×4 blocks of downtown Los Olivos. Carhartt Family Wines’ wine-tasting “cabin” offers a laid-back atmosphere to taste through the diverse varietals they grow, from Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Franc. Around the corner, Liquid Farm focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown in Santa Rita Hills. Get some happy hour seafood at Bar Le Côte, opened by the same team as the Michelin-starred Bell’s in neighboring Los Alamos. From Los Olivos, take a short drive to the vineyards. Some of the wineries in Santa Ynez Valley, including Roblar Winery and Vega Vineyard & Farm, also operate as a farm and offer an excellent farm-to-table menu to accompany the wine tastings.
Paso Robles
The history of wine growing in Paso Robles goes back to the late 18th century when Franciscan missionaries planted grapes in Mission San Miguel, but the viticultural growth in the area did not happen until more recently. The Paso Robles AVA was established in 1983, the same year that the Paso Robles Wine Festival first started, and now there are over 200 wineries in Paso Robles. Paso Robles is actually California’s largest appellation in terms of geography, with 40,000 acres of vineyard, so there is much to explore.
DAOU is known for its Bordeaux-style wines as well as Cabernet Sauvignons, with a cult following rivaling some of the big Napa names. Turley Wine Cellars also expanded their Napa Valley production to Paso Robles with a winery that has been growing Zinfandel since 1923. Spend some time in Tin City, a former warehouse district that’s turned into the city’s hottest dining hub. There are more than a dozen small production wineries in Tin City itself, including Field Recordings, which offers single-vineyard wines. Hidden in Tin City is Six Test Kitchen, a twelve-seat tasting menu counter that garnered Paso Robles its first Michelin star.
There is no shortage of boutique hotels in Paso Robles, and many wineries offer their own lodging, including Allegretto Vineyard Resort and Just Inn at Justin Winery. Book one of the pastel-colored trailers at Alta Colina Vineyard for something unique.
Anderson Valley
Just north of Sonoma, Anderson Valley in Mendocino County has been attracting major producers from Napa and Sonoma who are expanding their production here. The valley was long thought to have too cool of a climate for wine production, but apparently, it’s great for certain grapes like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Most of the grapes planted in Anderson Valley are Pinot Noir, and the area is also known for its sparkling wine production thanks to Roederer Estate opening an outpost here in 1982. Reserve a bubbles and caviar pairing at Goldeneye Winery, which is part of the Duckhorn portfolio. Head to Pennyroyal Farm—a farm, creamery, and vineyard all in one—for some Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir paired with their farmstead cheeses.
The area can still be described as rustic and lodging options are still few and far between, but there is the Italian Agriturismo-inspired The Madrones which offers a luxurious stay, and the self-described modern roadhouse Boonville Hotel recently added two new spacious rooms in the old water tower.
Carmel Valley
Most people associate the name Carmel with the charming beachside Carmel-by-the-Sea, but just twelve miles inland is a landscape of vineyards. The Carmel Valley AVA is relatively small in acreage, which makes this destination perfect for a weekend getaway. The AVA grows predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, though the vineyards on the coast experience a much cooler climate than the western end, making it ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape growing, like those produced by Pelio Estate Wines.
Don’t miss visiting Holman Ranch, a historic ranch that opened in 1928 and now produces estate-grown Burgundy-style wines. Many of the wineries in Carmel Valley operate a tasting room in Carmel-by-the-Sea, such as Talbott Vineyards. Talbott pours wines grown on their estate in Santa Lucia Highlands. For the perfect wine country retreat, stay in one of the well-appointed rooms at Bernardus Lodge & Spa, where guests have complimentary access to the spa’s steam room, sauna, and pool.
Valle de Guadalupe
While technically not in California (though it is in Baja California), the short driving distance from San Diego makes Valle de Guadalupe a popular wine-country destination for Southern Californians. Like other Spanish missions in California, the first grape vines here were planted by priests in the early 19th century, but commercial wine production didn’t ramp up until the 1980s. Valle de Guadalupe has seen significant growth recently and is now home to over 100 wineries, though most of the roads leading to them are still unpaved. The growth has attracted great culinary talent, making Valle de Guadalupe one of the most exciting dining destinations.
Stay at Bruma for its eco-chic suites and taste through their estate-grown wines either at the vineyard or at their on-property restaurant, Fauna, named one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. The family-owned Vinicola Solar Fortún grows grapes typical of Bordeaux and southern Rhône and pairs their fruit-forward wines with a menu of marlin tacos and fried octopus. Vena Cava is fun to visit thanks to both their natural wines and unique tasting room built using reclaimed materials, including salvaged boats from Ensenada. Valle de Guadalupe has a wide range of lodging options, from luxury boutique hotels to glamping. Industrial minimalism dominates the hotel aesthetics in the area, with a few exceptions. For those looking for a resort-style stay, Contemplación Hotel Boutique is a good option with amenities that include an outdoor swimming pool and fitness center.