So many wineries…so little time. The Traveling Wino has visited a few other wine regions in California that are well known for their wine and friendly people. Below is a list of our other favorite California wine regions.
Lodi
Chances are you’ve already had Zinfandel from Lodi. Really…check the label from any of your store-bought Zins and see where it’s from. The Lodi region has been expanding rapidly with miles and miles of vineyards springing up in the last decade. Two-thirds of the locally sourced wines here are reds but you can find a great array of whites served here too. Although the region has been suited more as a mass production growing region, it still has a vast amount of wine tasting rooms sprinkled throughout the area – more than 80 to be exact. Enough to keep a wino busy for awhile!
Paso Robles
As you head south towards the beaches of southern California, just north of San Luis Obispo on Highway 101, you’ll find another of California’s hidden gems in Paso Robles. Known as “Paso” to the locals, this area has blossomed from a sleepy central California town to a wine tasting mecca. With over 200 wineries to choose from you can spend a full week there and not even scrape the surface on all it has to offer. Most wineries are located in rural areas around the town, but there are several in town as well. The downtown area features affordable shopping, restaurants and tasting rooms to make it a full experience. One of the best aspects of Paso is its abundance of options. You can stay in town and be in walking distance to several tasting rooms…or you can stay right there at a rural winery. Many vineyards have lodging right on property. You can choose among many for-hire transportation or designated driver services. There are tons of them available in Paso. And you can find a bunch of wineries to fit your budget and style….whether its a high-energy place, or intimate atmosphere. Paso has it all!
Temecula
Located in south Riverside County, just an hour north of San Diego, is the town of Temecula. Tucked just outside this suburban city are over two dozen wineries sprinkled throughout the countryside. There are a wide variety of wines served for your tasting pleasure and the area also features an amazing rural setting of hills and wandering vines. Many for-hire transportation and wine tour options are available as well. For a complete getaway, stay at the massive Pechanga Resort and Casino located in Temecula right off Interstate 15. Trust me…you will not run out of things to do. For a quieter option, Temecula is packed with other types of lodging from hotels, to motels, to rural B&Bs. It truly has everything for everybody whether its a short or extended stay.
