California isn’t just home to world-class wineries—it’s also full of experiences that turn tastings into a daylong adventure. With more than 100 grape varietals throughout the state, you can pair exceptional wines with one of your passions—from yoga and hiking to art and wildlife watching.
Yoga and Wellness Experiences at California Vineyards
At Placerville’s Boeger Winery, Wine + Yoga=WOGA! sessions combine outdoor vinyasa-style yoga with the reward of a glass of wine following class.
In the shade of a pavilion overlooking the vines, you can rejuvenate with a yoga class at Bricoleur Vineyards in Sonoma County’s Windsor.
Find your bliss as you gaze out at the grapes during morning yoga and sunset Pilates sessions at Akash Winery in Temecula.
Red Car in Sebastopol offers three-hour guided forest bathing experiences at its Zephyr Farms Vineyard that also include tastings of estate wines produced from these vines.
Architecture and History Tours
California’s oldest continuously operating winery, Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena, takes visitors on its Estate Tour & Tasting for an in-depth look at the 150-year-old property (a designated National Historic District). Or try Beringer’s tour that focuses on the history and architecture of the 1884 Rhine House, the winery’s landmark Victorian.
Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga leads tastings and tours that explore this authentically designed and constructed castle that required 15 years—as well as 8,000 tons of chiseled local stone and a million antique European bricks—to complete. It’s like a vision of medieval Tuscany right in Napa Valley.
The Antonia Bartholomew Legacy Vineyard Tour & Tasting tells the story of nearly 200 years of winemaking on what is now Bartholomew Estate Vineyards and Winery. It offers a rare look at the Sonoma Valley home of 19th-century California wine pioneer Count Agoston Haraszthy.
Art-Focused Wine Experiences
Just outside the city of Napa, Hess Persson Estates is home to the remarkable Hess Art Collection, which includes works by the likes of British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy and American mixed-media artist Robert Rauschenberg. You can see the collection as part of the winery’s Estate Tastings.
Both Hall Rutherford and Hall St. Helena showcase owners Craig and Kathryn Hall’s impressive collection of contemporary works by internationally acclaimed artists.
Dr. Warren Frankel, the owner of Sculpterra Winery & Sculpture Garden, created a destination in Paso Robles that brings together the art of wine and the world of fine art. You’ll see striking works by artists who worked here as sculptor-in-residence, including John Jagger’s monumental 18-foot-tall bronze Dancing Horse.
Not only is The Donum Estate in Sonoma renowned for its impressive contemporary architecture (check out the Vertical Panorama Pavilion which boasts a roof of more than 800 multicolored glass panels) but, guided and self-guided tours let visitors discover the winery’s globally significant sculpture collection.
Nature and Animal Adventures
Red-tailed hawks and other raptors are frequently observed soaring over California vineyards. At Napa Valley’s Bouchaine Vineyards, the Falconry in the Garden experience gets you up close and personal with birds of prey while explaining the role they play in protecting grapes from pests.
The beekeeping and crafting experiences at Cass Winery outside Paso Robles put the buzz into winery visits by giving participants an introduction to this ancient natural art.
Discover the Central Coast wine country’s wild bounty as you hunt for black truffles at Caelesta Vineyard near Templeton.
Spenker Family Farm in the Central Valley city of Lodi not only grows and hand-harvests its own sustainable grapes, but it also operates a Grade-A goat dairy that produces small-batch, fresh cheeses. The boutique, family-owned winery offers summer farm tours and tastings, as well as private snuggle sessions in the goat playpen. Other seasonal offerings include goat yoga in the spring, as well as “goodnight goat” sessions where you can cuddle with babies before they drift off to dreamland.
At the 400-acre Presqu’ile estate in the Santa Maria Valley, visitors are invited to explore the vineyards via horseback. This guided tour and tasting experience begins with a scenic trail ride through the mountains, hills, and valley, followed by a spread of food and wine on a private terrace overlooking the grounds.
- Watch crashing waves below and keep an eye out for migrating gray whales in the distance at Pacific Star Winery, located on ocean bluffs in Fort Bragg.
Outdoors and Active Winery Experiences
Take to the skies and go ziplining above the vineyards of Ancient Peaks Winery in San Luis Obispo County.
Keep yourself grounded and hike through the Pinot Noir vineyards of Santa Barbara County’s Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards or the mountainous terrain of Malibu Wines on the historic Saddlerock Ranch above the Malibu coast.
Dating to 1893, Garrod Farms Estate Winery & Stables in Saratoga has its own equestrian operation with guided trail rides leading to views overlooking the vineyards.
For some fun and games, the Whale Rock Disc Golf Course at Templeton’s Castoro Cellars is considered one of the world’s best winery courses. Not only is the rolling terrain of vineyards and oak trees gorgeous, but the course even has three bonus holes.
Perhaps the perfect wine pairing isn’t another charcuterie board, but rather a crystal-clear pool ready for splashing. Rent your own cabana at Bottaia Winery in Temecula, and with it comes a carafe of sangria. Also available to rent are chaise lounges and a cabin for storage.
- Bring the whole family to the Yorkville tasting room of Meyer Family Cellars in Mendocino County: There’s a playground for kids plus a disc golf course for the whole family.
- Dink your heart out playing pickleball at Anaba Wines in Sonoma. Its Serve Then Sip package includes an hour of time on the winery‘s private pickleball court, plus a wine tasting flight with a “welcome splash” followed by four Anaba wines. Bring your own paddles or use the winery’s if you need them.
Play a game of bocce ball on one of the six Olympic regulation courts at Brutocao Family Vineyards in Hopland (just make sure the courts aren’t reserved for local league play). The winery also features a historic schoolhouse plaza and a charming white wedding chapel.