The USA is home to more than 11,000 wineries, a number which has more than doubled in the last 11 years. From family-run vineyards which have been going for decades to newcomers offering biodynamic and sustainable blends, there are places for oenophiles (that’s wine-lovers to you and me) of all stripes. We’ve picked out our favourite destinations all over the country, as well as some more unexpected wine-based experiences including spas, 4x4 tours and even hot air balloon rides.
One of the hottest emerging wine regions in the country is Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, which owes its great growing conditions to high-elevation vineyards and limestone soil. Located at the foot of the Blue Mountains, Early Mountain Vineyards is a stunning spot to unwind and try some of the area’s delicious wines, which range from French-style Cabernet Franc and Merlot varieties to newer grapes and blends. Pop in for a tasting flight, which features four different wines, or try a “Best of Virginia” selection to see what makes the local viniculture so special.
Rosé lovers should look no further than Malene in San Luis Obispo, which focuses almost exclusively on pink wines (there's one token red) with differing complexity and depth. Among the delicious options to try here are a classic, Provençal-style wine; a rosé made from old-vine Grenache; and a delicately meaty Mourvèdre. The setting couldn’t be better either: the outdoor bar is housed in a converted Airstream and you can soak up the sunshine at outdoor picnic tables as you sip.
We can think of worse places to relax with a glass of vino than at Virginia’s Bluemont Vineyard, overlooking the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. But it’s not just great scenery on offer here. As well as a range of tours and tastings of Albariño and bold red blends, Bluemont offers more unusual experiences like wagon rides through the orchards and fruit-picking. You can even book a seat at the chef’s table to dine on dishes made from homegrown produce, served with expertly-paired wines.
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If you like your wine with a side of adventure, check out Malibu Wine Hikes’ 4x4 tours, which allow you to explore California’s stunning Malibu Wine Country in style. That’s right: you get to board a 4x4 off-road vehicle, journeying through the 1,100-acre Saddlerock Ranch and stopping along the way to sample locally-grown blends. Or if you’d like something a little less off-road, try their VW Wine Bus Tour, where you’ll be guided around in a gloriously nostalgic vintage VW bus, stopping at locations in Saddlerock Ranch as well as Malibu Canyon.
Tucked among Missouri’s green hills and pancake-flat plains you’ll find a young and thriving wine industry, where makers are combining old-school techniques and new flavours. Riverwood Winery, located north of Kansas City, is a great place to start. Best known for its sustainable, small-batch wines aged in Missouri oak barrels, it’s also one of the biggest independent producers of Whisky in the state. Try either (or both) at its scenic bar, which offers a bargain “8 for $8 (£6.41)” tasting experience, accompanied by live music and freshly made flatbread pizzas.
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Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a well-loved wine destination best known for its earthy, berry-tinged Pinot Noirs. At Yamhill Valley Vineyards, located near downtown McMinnville, all wines are estate-grown and bottled – and it isn't just about red. The cool climate makes these slopes ideal for growing Riesling grapes which produce a honeyed white with a refreshing bite of acidity. Try this and others on a tour with barrel tasting, or paired with a cheese and charcuterie board.
Italian-inspired wines have found an unlikely home in Texas’ Hill Country at Duchman Family Winery, a proud Texan producer founded in 2004 by Lisa and Stan Duchman. This family-run outfit largely uses fruit produced in the Texas High Plains, which is said to have an ideal climate for growing Italian grapes to create blends such as Vermentino, Sangiovese and Dolcetto. Sample these varieties and more by paying a visit: private tours and tastings include the chance to try six wines with food pairings. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Known for its hundreds of hillside vineyards and world-class vintages, California's Napa Valley is as glorious to look at as its wines are to sip. Experience America's iconic wine country like never before by taking a Napa Valley hot air balloon tour. Rise early for a sunrise hot air balloon trip to savour the splendour of the landscape, before touching down to sample some of the region's best bottles.
New York’s Finger Lakes region is popular for its charming towns and stunning scenery – but it’s also a fabulous wine region. Rather than trying to cram in a visit to all the best vineyards in one day, why not make a trip out of it? At Vineyard Villas, located on the east side of Seneca Lake, you’ll find idyllic villas overlooking the lake and surrounding wineries, which can be booked for two to six people. We can’t think of a much prettier place to unwind with a glass of vino.
Environmentally-conscious wine lovers should head to Oregon, as the state is responsible for more than half of America’s total biodynamic wine output. Biodynamic refers to a process which views the farm or vineyard as a whole organism and aims to create a self-sustaining system, doing away with chemical pesticides and fertilisers in favour of time-honoured natural practices. There are lots of fantastic vineyards to choose from, but Maysara Winery, whose tipples are made by a female-led team, is among the best.
For a good dose of glitz and glamour, check out California’s Temecula Valley. It’s been likened to Vegas, thanks to its wealth of casinos and upscale hotels, yet has the subtle luxury you’d associate with Napa. At Carter Estate, you’ll find Champagne-method bubbles, poured in the sleek tasting room and paired with canapés prepared with ingredients from the kitchen garden. To soak it all up, stay the night in a suite overlooking vines planted with Malbec, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
You might expect New York’s best vineyards to be found upstate, but Macari Vineyards is a biodynamic wine-growing hub nestled on the North Fork of Long Island. The Macari family, who have been involved in viniculture for generations, set up camp here in 1995 and have been producing trailblazing blends ever since – it was named one of Reader's Digest’s top 25 wineries in the country last year, so you know they’re onto a good thing here. To experience the best this vineyard has to offer, book a Barrel Cellar Experience, where you’ll get to try five wines each, plus a cheese and charcuterie board.
No oenophile worth their salt would miss a visit to California’s Napa Valley, which is surely one of the most famous wine destinations in the country – and rightly so. The area’s climate, soil and terrain make it the perfect place to grow a wide variety of grapes, so there are plenty of high-calibre vineyards to explore here. Do so in style with a custom-made tour courtesy of California Wine Tours, which offers a range of options to explore Calistoga, Rutherford, Oakville, St Helena and other key points along the wine trail.
For great wine in an unusual location, try paying a visit to Calistoga’s Tank Garage, a trendy producer housed in a former Napa Valley gas station. Grapes sourced from various vineyards are used to craft small-batch blends poured and sold exclusively here. Sample bottles, such as an orange wine made with white grapes fermented in their skins, while standing amid white-and-spearmint gas pumps. Alternatively, enjoy your tipple over a game on the vintage arcade machines, or in the copper-plated speakeasy room.
Expect ultra-eco-friendly wines at Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where biodynamic and organic methods reign supreme. One of the best is family-run Ponzi Vineyards, which has been producing a range of award-winning bottles for more than 50 years and was recently acquired by the family behind Champagne Bollinger. For the full experience book onto a Signature Wine Tasting, where you’ll get to sample five current releases at their chic and modern tasting room, for $45 (£36) per head – the fee is waived if you spend more than $100 (£80) when you visit.
Thanks to its volcanic soil and semi-arid climate, Idaho has the perfect conditions for winemaking. And women are at the forefront of the scene here: the state has the highest number of female-led wineries in the country, according to the Idaho Wine Commission. One spot you definitely shouldn’t miss is Cinder Wines in Garden City near Boise, which is headed up by chief maker Melanie Krause. It’s well worth popping into their tasting rooms, which are open 1-7pm Wednesday to Sunday, to sip a glass of dry rosé, aromatic viognier or delicate fruit-flavoured chardonnay – all of which are made in the Snake River Valley.
New Mexico's winemaking history goes back some 400 years, to when Spanish missionaries began growing grapes near the banks of the Rio Grande. And if you’re after somewhere picturesque to taste world-class vino, head to Vivác Winery in Dixon. At 6,000 feet (1,829m) in elevation, it’s one of the highest-altitude wineries on the planet, which also means the views from its tasting room are world-class. Prices are reasonable too, with a standard tasting flight featuring four wines coming in at just $12 (£9.62) a head.
The clue’s in the name: at this Oregonian winery, you can expect French-style blends crafted on an idyllic 235-acre estate in the Dundee Hills. The Drouhin family, who are at the helm, have roots in France’s Burgundy region – in fact, they began making wine there more than 100 years ago, before setting up business in the US in the 1980s. Today, you need an advance reservation to visit the gorgeous vineyards and try their palate-pleasing blends, with tastings held daily between 10am and 3pm.
Combining great wines with a quintessential road trip experience, Texas’ famous 290 Wine Road is the perfect place for a tour on four wheels. Running through the heart of Fredericksburg, this route features an abundance of brilliant wineries offering stylish tasting rooms, live music, picturesque vineyards to tour and a good dose of southern hospitality. To see as many as possible try booking a tour with Hill Country Wine Tours. These custom-made, all-inclusive day tours typically feature a visit to three vineyards plus tastings and lunch – perfect for a special occasion.
Love wine? Love train travel? Then you’ll really love the Napa Valley Wine Train, a luxurious journey between downtown Napa to St Helena. The train’s vintage carriages have been sensitively restored to evoke the glamour of vintage train travel, with velvet seats, mahogany panelling and brass, while the landscapes you’ll glide past are nothing short of spectacular. There are a range of packages to choose from, from half-day tours with tastings to onboard dining experiences and special events.
We can’t think of many wine-growing locations that are more beautiful than Colorado’s Grand Valley. Occupying an especially panoramic spot within this region is Colterris Winery, a proudly Coloradan business which produces 100% estate-grown bottles. Try a seated tasting for $25 (£20) a head, where you’ll get to sample seven wines, or opt for something a little different by booking a horseback ride and private tasting, which will allow you to ride through the gorgeous vineyards before sampling produce in a stunning courtyard.
If you’re after a more unusual way to experience California’s wine country, check out Light at Sensorio. Created by England-born artist Bruce Munro, it features two twinkling installations stretched across the landscape: Field of Light and Light Towers. The former sees 15 bucolic acres covered in a rainbow of fibre-optic stems, while the latter comprises 69 towers made from bottles, also aglow in bright colours. Wander around the glittering displays before sinking a sundowner at the Airstream bar. It’s open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the summer and tickets can be booked online in advance.
To take in the best that Washington’s Lake Chelan region has to offer, make a beeline for Cairdeas Winery which sits on the lake’s stunning north shore near Manson. The influence of France’s Rhône Valley is evident here: Viognier, Roussanne and Picpoul grapes combine to create a range of traditional blends, which can all be sampled in the lakefront tasting room. Opt for a $15 (£12) tasting flight (the price is waived if you buy two bottles) and enjoy a selection of charcuterie, cheese boards and snacks to go with it.
In sun-splashed southern California you’ll find the Temecula Valley, a region famed for award-winning blends combined with plenty of charming small towns and a great culinary scene. You couldn’t possibly just visit one, so book one of Little Bus Tours’ brilliant packages to see what this area has to offer. In the Deluxe 4 Wine Tour itinerary you’ll get to taste wines at four different locations, enjoy a private lunch and be driven around in a chauffeured limo.
Spread across an idyllic 310 acres of land in the Saline Creek River Valley, Chaumette Vineyards and Winery is a destination all of its own. It was founded in the 1990s by viticulture enthusiasts Hank and Jackie Johnson and has since developed into an established winery, restaurant and events space, but its most enticing offering is its luxurious villas. These self-catered holiday homes feature king-sized beds, high ceilings and plenty of terrace space in which to enjoy the picturesque surroundings.
Ever wanted to bathe in wine? Turns out you can, at AIRE Ancient Wine Baths in the heart of New York City. This tranquil spa, inspired by Roman, Greek and Ottoman traditions, offers a “wine bath experience” for two, which involves a 30-minute soak in Spanish Ribera del Duero red – enjoying their supposed antioxidant benefits – before enjoying an hour-long grapeseed oil massage.
Producing great wine shouldn’t come at the cost of the planet, and thankfully there are a range of up-and-coming wineries prioritising sustainable farming. Well worth a visit is Benziger Family Winery: a biodynamic, organic and sustainable producer located in California’s picturesque Sonoma County. The biodynamic methods used here include getting sheep, cattle and insects to naturally fertilise, maintain and pollinate the land. You can drop in for a tasting and tour from Monday to Thursday, or book the award-winning Biodynamic Tractor Tram Tour (pictured) for a fun way to experience this gorgeous vineyard.
Historic and quaint St Augustine is home to fascinating forts, Spanish colonial buildings and great beaches – but did you know it’s also a great destination for wine aficionados? Find out what we’re talking about by visiting San Sebastian Winery. This award-winning outfit, located in the heart of downtown, specialises in sparkling and dessert wines made with Muscadine grapes. If that’s your thing, pop along for one of their tours, which are offered seven days a week (and just happen to be free). Alternatively, head to the wine bar here to enjoy a glass of fizz while listening to music from local bands.
Animal lovers look no further: we’ve got the perfect wine tasting experience for you. At Divine Llama Vineyards in North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, you’ll get to sample a range of delicious wines, from a sunny rosé to a tobacco-tinged red blend, in the company of some 60 of these woolly-haired creatures. Fancy going all out? Book in advance to trek with the llamas, ending with a bottle of something back at the tasting room (note that treks are not offered in summer).
Located in charming Walla Walla, the heart of Washington’s wine region, Amavi Cellars is a forward-thinking maker with a big focus on sustainable farming methods. At the tasting room here, which overlooks the picturesque Pepper Bridge vineyard, you’ll get to sip a range of expertly-aged varieties including a popular Cabernet Franc Rosé, an elegant Sémillon and a velvety Cabernet Sauvignon. The tasting rooms are open from 10am to 5pm daily and there are also regular seasonal events across its cellars in Walla Walla, Woodinville and Vancouver, Washington.