California and wine — name a more iconic duo. From the misty coastlines of San Francisco to the sun-drenched valleys of Napa and Santa Barbara, the Golden State is practically synonymous with vineyards, varietals, and vino-fueled adventures. But here’s the thing: Wine tasting in California is about so much more than sipping from a glass.
Wine tasting in California is hot air balloon rides over rolling vineyards at sunrise, road trips that hug the Pacific Coast Highway, and afternoons spent wandering through charming towns where tasting rooms spill onto sunlit patios.
Cheers to California — where wine, travel, and adventure always meet. (Photo Credit: Spencer Demera)
We’ve done the legwork — and the tastings — to bring you a fresh, inspired shortlist of wine country experiences that go well beyond the basics. Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or simply love a good excuse to explore, these ideas will have you reaching for your calendar, rallying your travel crew, and planning your next California escape.
Northern California: Where Indulgence Meets Abundance
Yountville
In Yountville, food, wine, and music come together in the most unforgettable way. This Michelin-star-studded hamlet in the heart of Napa Valley plays host to the annual Taste of Yountville food and wine festival — a weekend that blends culinary artistry, world-class vintages, and live performances into one irresistible celebration.
Think intimate chef’s dinners with legends like Bottega’s Michael Chiarello, cult wine tastings featuring beloved local vintners, and headline concerts from chart-topping acts such as Mayer Hawthorne and the Goo Goo Dolls.
Organic pours and fresh bites taste like Sonoma sunshine. (Photo Credit: Josh Bean)
Wine country moments are made even better with good friends and blue skies. (Photo Credit: Josh Bean)
Sonoma
In Sonoma, wellness and wine flow seamlessly together. Body Flows Wine & Yoga Retreats offers an inspired way to balance mind, body, and palate, blending hatha and vinyasa flow yoga with the best of wine country living.
Picture yourself practicing under the redwoods, then winding down with a glass of organic Nebbiolo, savoring farm-fresh bites, and connecting with others in a setting that’s equal parts restorative and social. It’s a one-day escape — or a full retreat — that pairs wellness with Napa-worthy pours.
Where to stay: In San Francisco at Kimpton Hotel Enso or Kimpton Alton Fisherman’s Wharf
Central Coast: California’s Next Big Star
Goleta and Santa Ynez
For an intimate taste of the central coast wine country, Goleta and Santa Ynez deliver experiences that are as personal as they are unforgettable. Think private or small-group tours that highlight sustainable, boutique vineyards where you can stroll the rows, linger over a vineyard-side lunch, or glide along oak-studded backroads.
Experience a perfect pour against the backdrop of the Pacific Coast Highway. (Photo Credit: @bitemesb)
From oak-studded backroads to boutique wineries, the Central Coast shines. (Photo Credit: @canaryhotel)
With its focus on eco-friendly practices and insider access, Sustainable Wine Tours shines a spotlight on the region’s hidden gems — wineries that may be under the radar today but are destined for star status tomorrow.
Santa Barbara
If snapping the perfect food-and-wine shot is your love language, Santa Barbara has you covered. Join Eat This, Shoot That for a guided insider tour that takes you off the beaten path and into the city’s vibrant urban wine scene.
From the trendy Funk Zone to the historic El Presidio neighborhood, you’ll sample small bites at tucked-away eateries, sip your way through top-tier wineries, and pick up expert photography tips to elevate your Instagram game. Along the way, you’ll uncover local stories and flavors that make Santa Barbara as picture-perfect as it is delicious.
And don’t forget about one of the best parts of wine tasting — the food. (Photo Credit: @canaryhotel)
Lompoc
The name alone sets the tone — the Lompoc Wine Ghetto is anything but traditional. Forget chandeliers and hushed tasting rooms. Here, in a humble cluster of industrial warehouses, award-winning winemakers are the ones pouring your glass, eager to swap stories and share their latest vintages.
Tucked along the western edge of the Santa Rita Hills appellation, this offbeat enclave embodies the spirit of the Central Coast: Unpretentious, experimental, and refreshingly focused on what truly matters — what’s in the bottle.
Where to stay: In Santa Barbara at Kimpton Canary Hotel
Southern California: Reinvented and Radiant
Malibu
You probably picture Malibu as a playground of surfers, celebrities, and oceanfront estates — and you wouldn’t be wrong. But Malibu also boasts serious wine country credentials, thanks to its very own Malibu Coast AVA (American Viticultural Area).
From surfers to sommeliers — Malibu has it all. (Photo Credit: Joel Mott)
Stretching 46 miles along the Pacific, this appellation is home to more than 50 wineries, from intimate boutique vineyards to sprawling estates like Malibu Wines, which cultivates 1,000 acres of vines. One of the most memorable ways to experience the region is at Malibu Wines’ rustic, open-air tasting area, where leafy trees provide shade and the canyon views stretch for miles.
Temecula Valley
Add this to your California must-do list: Hot air ballooning and wine tasting in one unforgettable weekend. Each May, Riverside County comes alive with the Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Music Festival, a vibrant celebration that blends vineyard sophistication with carnival-style fun.
Sip your way through local wine tastings, sample global flavors at the food pavilion, and enjoy live performances that keep the energy high. For the ultimate thrill, take to the skies in a colorful hot air balloon — or, if you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, simply marvel at the breathtaking sight of dozens of balloons drifting across the horizon at sunrise and sunset.
Raise a glass to Southern California’s reinvented wine scene. (Photo Credit: @bobby)
Where to stay: In Los Angeles at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Beverly Hills, Kimpton Hotel Wilshire, Kimpton La Peer Hotel, or Kimpton Everly Hollywood
