California's Classic Wine Roads

About 2 hours north of San Francisco, this winding drive can take you through Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley, as well as the relaxed town of Guerneville (a favoured destination for LGBT visitors) and luxurious Healdsburg, with in-town tasting rooms and destination dining at Michelin-starred Farmhouse Inn, and luxurious accommodation at sleekly appointed Hotel Healdsburg. While many wineries do charge a tasting fee, you can get a single-or multi-day pass, good at more than 80 participating wineries. The Wine Road also sponsors numerous special events throughout the year; autumn's annual Wine & Food Affair has wineries presenting wines paired with small plates—delicious.

Here’s the best of the best, a country road lined with shady oaks and world-class wines, with so many wineries you could travel it for a week straight and still not visit them all. The first permanent road linking the town of Napa to Calistoga, roughly 30 miles south, the Silverado Trail is the country-road counterpart to busier Highway 29, which roughly parallels the route. Drive—or better yet rent a bike and pedal—along this tranquil, scenic route, snuggled up against the valley’s eastern hills. 

'Here’s the best of the best, a country road lined with shady oaks and world-class wines.'

The biggest challenge is figuring out where to stop first. Prestigious wineries with Silverado Trail addresses include Joseph Phelps, ZD Wines, and Miner Family Winery, just three of the dozens of wonderful places to sample Napa Valley’s infamous Cabernet Sauvignon and other big-bodied reds. Sparkling wine fans will want to stop at Mumm Napa, where you can sip bubbly on an elegant patio, in a tasting salon or reserve a seat on the intimate Oak Terrace. Other turns take you to how-can-they-be-so-perfect wine-country inns and resorts, such as Auberge du Soleil and Solage Calistoga. To see one of the prettiest places in the whole region, take the long, leafy drive onto the manicured grounds of Meadowood Napa Valley for an al fresco lunch at The Grill, or, if you’re feeling particularly indulgent, dinner at the three-Michelin-starred The Restaurant at Meadowood, known for impeccable service and farm-to-table offerings served with—of course—exquisite wines.

For many visitors, the Temecula Valley Wine Country is a surprise. After all, a lot of people don’t expect to see gently rolling hills blanketed with rows of vineyards so close to the California desert. But the Temecula area has been producing top wines since the late 1960s. And like the best vintages, this wine country just gets better with age.

It’s a diverse growing region, home to everything from cooler-climate grapes such as Chardonnay to warm-weather varieties such as Syrah and Grenache. How can wine grow so close to the desert? It begins with the rich, granite-based soil that plays host to the vines. Then it continues with a unique micro-climate in which the grapes thrive: crisp mornings coated in mist, a warm daytime sun, and cool ocean breezes that welcome the clear night sky.

More than 30 wineries take advantage of these conditions and the result has been lots of award-winners which, of course, you can sample. One of the oldest wineries in the region, Callaway Vineyard & Winery (first launched by the golf-gear family) dates back to 1969 and it offers both a big tasting room and cellar tours where you can taste from the barrels. Visit Europa Village and sit on the patio to savour the Cinsaut, made from a grape usually found in the South of France; the winery is also home to a 10-room B&B with rooms themed by grape, such as Syrah and Pinot Grigio. Head to the Leoness Cellars located along a rural stretch known as the Deportola Wine Trail and take one of the vineyard tours before enjoying some Mélange de Blanc or Grenache by the patio’s outdoor fireplace.

Plenty of the wineries are sights in themselves. At Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards sample the signature almond sparkling wine and take a stroll around the grounds to see the thousands of roses and other flowers, or book the on-site manor which sleeps 24 - perfect for a wedding or reunion. For a tasting plus dinner with theatre, Longshadow Ranch Vineyard & Winery has a Wild West show in its ranch-style winery on Friday nights.

Meanwhile, Briar Rose Winery houses its tasting room in a replica of the seven dwarfs’ cottage from Snow White. The wines here are unique too, like the Talking Frog bubbly, a blend of Viognier and lager.

Drive through the rugged range known as the Santa Lucia Highlands to sneak up on a growing number of small wineries. From their hilly perches, the 11 wineries lining River Road, travelling roughly from Salinas south to the little town of Greenfield, offer commanding views of the rumpled range and the broad valley below, some of the richest farmland in California. Visit in spring for a thumbs-up scenic drive, with views as green as Ireland in every direction. 

Tip: Most of the tasting rooms are open only on weekends or by appointment, so some advanced planning can avoid locked gates and disappointment. 

Whether you’re planning a trip to Tahoe and want to stop by on your way, or you’re set on exploring this booming wine region on its own, this intriguing wine region won’t disappoint. The 20 participating wineries roughly paralleling Interstate 80, take advantage of the region’s typically warm and dry summers to produce bold Italian, Spanish and Rhône varietals like Tempranillo, Barbera, Syrah, Viognier and Petit Sirah. These winemakers tend to be an adventurous lot—and you’ll probably see some—and hopefully taste—some unusual vintages and blends as you travel through the region. Check the trail’s website for events, tasting room hours and vineyards with picnic grounds and other amenities.