In California, you don’t necessarily need to score a reservation at a Michelin-starred restaurant to taste extraordinary culinary offerings. Here, visitors can treat their discerning palates to next-level food and wine pairing experiences at dozens of wineries across the state. Golden State vintners have raised the bar in recent years, with some hiring chefs away from fine dining restaurants to create elevated, multicourse menus that put the traditional cheese and crackers to shame. They also allow visitors to spend even more time relaxing at the wineries, immersing themselves in the experience.
Here's just a sample of wineries throughout California, listed north to south, that offer incredible food and wine pairings. Menus often change with the seasons, so be sure to check winery websites for the latest offerings.
Foursight Wines, Boonville
Foursight Wines takes its food-pairing show on the road with its half-day Guided Food & Wine Tour of Anderson Valley. Each tour is customized to guests’ tastes and interests, so whatever your foodie fantasies entail, Foursight can make it happen—from visiting a farm to meeting a local chef. They’ll even be your designated driver as you sip and taste your way around the valley.
Flowers Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg
The House of Flowers tasting room, set amid lush gardens dotted with luxe tasting cabanas, is the place to sample top-notch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with fancy bites from the Flowers culinary team. Opt for the Estate Vineyard Immersion to experience four site-specific, coastal wines with elegant small plates like Dungeness crab croquettes and mushroom and leek gratin.
Jordan Winery, Healdsburg
Explore Jordan Winery’s 1,200-acre estate aboard a luxurious Mercedes Sprinter van, stopping along the way for wine and food tastings. The Ultimate Healdsburg Wine Tour finishes with a tasting of the estate’s j and a hilltop wine-pairing lunch at Vista Point, prepared with live fire by resident chef Jesse Mallgren—formerly with Michelin-starred The Madrona in Healdsburg.
Bella Union Winery, St. Helena
The Jewel Box Tasting at this winery whisks guests up to a glass-walled, second-story room with sweeping views of Napa’s famous Rutherford district. The tasting includes a selection of limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon blends and gorgeously presented seasonal pairings created by Bella Union’s talented chef.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards, St. Helena
The Taste of Place experience at Joseph Phelps Vineyards pulls out all the stops with a multicourse food and wine extravaganza. Expect pairings of seasonal plates with single-vineyard wines from the Napa Valley—including the latest vintage of Phelps’ celebrated Insignia red blend.
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Santa Rosa
The five-course Wine & Food Pairing, held in St. Francis Winery’s private estate dining room, is a showcase for Sonoma County’s agricultural bounty and ingredients from local purveyors. Chef Peter Janiak crafts mouthwatering matches for the winery’s Zinfandel and Bordeaux-style wines, including such dishes as green garlic and ricotta risotto, and five-spice pork belly.
Scribe Winery, Sonoma
Vibrant, expressive wines are reason enough to sign up for the Scribe Viticultural Society wine club, but there’s an extra perk that’s just as enticing: The Hacienda Tasting. Drink in the “old California” vibe at the restored Spanish-style hacienda while sipping an array of estate wines—from Riesling to Pinot Noir—paired with small plates inspired by the culinary garden.
There’s also a picnic option for a smaller lunch that comes with local fruit, a selection of meats and cheeses, a salad, baguette, crudités, and spreads. On-property tastings are reserved for Scribe Winery members; however, members are welcome to bring guests to join them.
Lynmar Estate, Sebastopol
In the rustically beautiful setting of Lynmar Estate’s Quail Hill Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, the Collectors Lunch Pairing guides guests through a multicourse lunch showcasing produce from the winery’s garden—all paired with Lynmar’s elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines.
Ashes & Diamonds, Napa
With a different theme each season, the A&D Wines + Food experience features seasonal, family-style dishes paired with Ashes & Diamonds’ Old-Napa-Meets-New-Napa style. Recent delights have included grilled kombu chicken and Sea Ranch oyster mushrooms with cured egg yolk.
Domaine Carneros, Napa
Sparkling wine is a great match for just about everything, and the globally themed Bubbles & Bites tasting at Domaine Carneros provides delicious proof. The latest menu, for example, explores the flavors of Peru to create bubbly harmony with dishes from mahi-mahi ceviche to pork stew with lime and apple.
Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards, Acampo
Step into the 100-year-old barn at Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards for the Elevated Tasting Experience. Sip four Rhône-inspired white and rosé wines, thoughtfully paired with savory small bites—from soup shooters to spreads—crafted by the winery’s in-house chef. It’s a truly special experience at this winery located just north of Lodi in the Central Valley.
Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys
The winery’s Elevated Experiences pair Ironstone Vineyards’ reserve and limited-release wines with elegant canapés created by the winery’s culinary team. Guests also learn about the winery’s history and winemaking techniques as they taste wines made from century-old vines.
Myka Estates, Placerville
The menu at Myka Estates in Gold Country’s Apple Hill includes enticing, wine-friendly dishes—like roasted pear and gorgonzola dip, wild mushroom ragu toasts, and ham and truffle flatbread—paired with wines from Myka and nearby 1850 Wine Cellars. Myka is known for its award-winning Barbera, plus Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and more.
Justin, Paso Robles
During the Estate Tasting and Lunch, visitors can experience the cuisine that earned The Restaurant at Justin both a Michelin star for quality and a Green Star for its sustainable practices. Led by a resident wine guide, the tasting highlights Justin’s winemaking practices while pairing the latest vintages with dishes from the seasonal á la carte lunch menu.
Le Cuvier Winery, Paso Robles
The gorgeous hilltop location at Le Cuvier Winery in Paso Robles is almost reason enough to opt for the Wine & Food Pairing Tasting Experience, but the food and wine ultimately steal the show. The sampler presents five small bites pairings—including bites like confit chicken leg tamal— matched with Le Cuvier’s Rhône- or Bordeaux-style wines.
Presqu’ile, Santa Maria
The private Food + Wine Tour at Presqu'ile guides guests on a walk through the extensive cave and winery, then up to the scenic hilltop pond. At the private lookout terrace—boasting 280-degree views of the estate vineyard, the San Rafael mountains, and the Pacific Ocean—visitors sip sparklers and single-vineyard wines paired with food prepared by the estate chef.
Altisima Winery, Temecula
Book the Restaurant Tasting Experience at this buzzy Spanish-style winery and settle in for a guided wine tasting with your meal at Altisima’s stylish onsite restaurant. With views of the surrounding hills and vineyards, Gaspar’s at the Vineyard draws crowds for modern takes on Spanish classics like Catalan-style shrimp and artisan empanadas.
Bottaia Winery, Temecula
Anyone who thinks charcuterie can’t make a meal has never visited Bottaia Winery. The Seated Charcuterie Pairing + Tasting includes five Italian-varietal estate wines paired with a choice of an antipasto platter, charcuterie board, or Mediterranean vegetable platter. Artfully displayed, boards include tasty components like Genoa salami, prosciutto-wrapped grissini, grilled baby artichokes, and basil burrata.