From wine lovers to wine connoisseurs or those who can’t tell the difference between a Merlot and a Malbec, a trip to a winery is always a good idea! Wineries are always eager to educate all those who visit, encouraging you to smell, sip, and taste your way around their samples. And let’s not forget the gorgeous scenery as well as all that wine you get to enjoy! Always a bonus.
As magical as they sound, these delights might be closer than you think. Although many people would love to take a trip to Tuscany or Bordeaux, the US has lots of opportunities to try some really great wine. Many fertile wine regions can be found in north america, from California to Missouri and Texas in between. When it comes to grapes, American wineries grow the gamut.
Here are some of the best wineries found in the US, a must-visit for any oenophile out there.
Scribe Winery – Sonoma County, CA
Just 30 minutes from Napa Valley, Sonoma County boasts 250 wineries specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. Tastings are a little different in this area. Rather than having the standard fancy tasting room, you’re greeted with a Mexican blanket so you can find your own spot to lounge on the grass on the vineyard’s estate. Tastings are reservation-only, so don’t forget to book before you go. Available wines include earthy Chardonnays, Rieslings, Pinot Noirs, and Sylvaners. All are paired alongside homegrown nuts and fruit for snacking.
Duchman Family Winery – Texas Hill Country, TX
Texas Hill Country sounds like it’s going to be much more synonymous with lashings of Jack Daniels rather than a hearty glass of vino, but with 53 wineries spanning from Austin to New Braunfels, there are lots of reasons to visit. It is required by state law that Texas wine must contain at least 75% Texas-grown fruit, and that could soon be boosted to 100% by legislators. Some of the wineries in the area are already taking this suggested use of fruit on board in their products. For example, a short 40-minute drive from Austin, you can find the Duchman Family Winery, which sources 100% Texas grapes. Tasting sessions cost $12, and we recommend trying the Trebbiano and Vermentino. One of the best parts of this winery is that it is located right near The Salt Lick, where you can soak up all the wine you’ve imbibed with authentic Texas BBQ.
Sawtooth Winery – Snake River Valley, ID
Spanning over 8,000 miles through Oregon and Idaho, the Snake River Valley only became an official American viticultural area (AVA) in 2007. Eighteen-hundred acres of the land is owned by 52 different wineries, with the Skyline Vineyards in Idaho being the largest. This vineyard supplies one of the smaller boutique wineries, Sawtooth, with Rhone varietals such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Roussanne, Syrah, and Tempranillo. All of these exquisite wines can be tasted here. We recommend sampling the Riesling in the rustic, wooden-beamed Sawtooth tasting room. You can’t see the Sawtooth Range from its windows, but the lush slopes of the Sunnyslope Wine Trail should suffice.
Duckhorn Vineyards – Napa Valley, CA
The Napa Valley is home to over 400 wineries, and while it is one of the smallest wine regions in the US, there is still around 4% of California’s wines produced here. A must-visit for any oenophile is the Duckhorn Vineyards, whose Merlot Napa Valley Three Palms Vineyard 2014 was declared the top wine from more than 16,000 applicants in 2017 by Wine Spectator. Found in St. Helena along the Silverado Trail, the Vineyard’s airy estate house delivers stunning vineyard views from across the wrap-around veranda. This vineyard lies within walking distance from 10 neighboring wineries, showing how great the location is. Tastings come at varying prices, starting at $40. Reservations are required, and we recommend trying this vineyard’s take on a Sauvignon Blanc or the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Augusta Winery – Augusta, MO
When you think about wine, the first region that springs to mind probably isn’t the Midwest, but in fact, Augusta was actually the first federally approved American viticultural area on record. Only an hour from St. Louis, this vineyard earned its status in June 1980, eight months before Napa. Recently taking home an award at the 2018 Missouri Wine Competition for its 2016 Norton Estate bottle, Augusta Winery has been blessed with this special honor, considering that the Norton is one of the oldest American grapes and also Missouri’s official state grape. The winery can be found on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River Valley, where you can sample five of the regular wines for $5 or five of the more premium alternatives for $8.
Cass Vineyard & Winery – Paso Robles, CA
In California, the locations that get the most credit surrounding the topic of wine are Napa and Sonoma, but the Cass Vineyard in Paso Robles, CA, has a little something to say about that! Just three hours north of Santa Barbara, Paso Robles boasts over 200 varying wineries across 11 unique wine regions. While it grows over 60 different styles of wine, vineyards in this area are mostly known for their Zinfandel. Here you can stop by brilliant wineries such as JUSTIN, but your best bet is to check out the more boutique Cass Vineyard & Winery, a winner of the Winery of the Year in the recent Central Coast Wine Competition. Their 145 acres are home to Rhone varietals, which can be tasted for $20 on their shaded verandah. If you’re thinking of taking a bottle home we heartily recommend their prize-winning bottle of 2016 Mourvèdre.