Top Things to do in California
Top 10 Wine Bars in California, United States
California is a fertile, peaceful place where you’ll find a near-equal balance of vineyards and deserts, beaches and mountains, hippies and traditionalists. Catch an epic wave in Big Sur or swirl a glass in Napa Valley. Be dazzled by the Joshua Tree night sky or just star-gaze in Hollywood. Swish down the slopes of a Tahoe ski resort, or cruise across the Golden Gate Bridge with the top down and the music blasting. Above all, don’t forget to soak up some Golden State sunshine.
Restaurants in California
1. Tastes of the Valleys Wine Bar & Shop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 56 reviews
Recognized by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as one of TOP 20 WINES BARS IN AMERICA, Tastes of the Valleys Wine Bar, offers nearly every wine in stock by the glass - DAILY! With a wine list approaching a 1000 wines (no, that is not a typo), you are sure to discover your next favorite. Open daily. - CHECK WEBSITE FOR HOLIDAY HOURS.
Reviewed By colomonica - San Rafael, United States
What a wonderful shop! Due to COVID restrictions on operations & capacity, they no longer serve all their wines by the glass, just a selection of about a half dozen. You can have a glass, or a flight. The staff member who helped us was very knowledgeable about every wine we asked about, very gracious, and gave us tips on other things to do both here in Pismo & for the rest of our trip to the Santa Maria valley. I highly recommend this store & will definitely come again whenever we visit Pismo Beach!
2. Dark Star Cellars
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Dark Star was established in 1994. We are conveniently located just two miles west of the 101, just off of the 46 on Anderson Road. Dark Star makes small lots of premium, hand-crafted wines, including traditional Bordeaux and Rhône styles, creative California blends, and some things not everyone has: Montepulciano, Tempranillo, Viognier, Roussanne, Rosé of Grenache and a Port. Our menu presently includes about twenty different varietals and blends. Drop by and visit our spacious indoor tasting room and outdoor patio, both with comfortable seating. Bring your own picnic and enjoy wine by the glass, or Dark Star snacks if it is your lucky day. Dark Star is pet and family friendly. Check out our observation beehive, ax throwing pitch, free-range chickens and winery cats. Taste eight-ish wines for a fifteen-dollar tasting fee, waived with a bottle purchase. Check the darkstarcellars.com "events" page for our regular music events and parties.
Reviewed By CarpeDiem0212 - Cypress Gardens, United States
My wife and I were visiting Paso Robles and its unique wineries. The hotel staff mentioned to us that they had heard good things about Dark Star Cellars. They encouraged us to check it out. I am glad they did. We were most impressed with the winery and the quality of the wines. The winery consist of three red main buildings. The wine tasting room was open and had a positive, relaxed atmosphere. The tasting room had a closed bee hive on the inside, a black kitty and even some food. They also had a covered outdoor picnic area. Mike greeted us and started serving us some wine samples. He told us about the winery and each of the varieties of wines they make. In between samples, we cleared our palate with crackers and/or chocolate chips. It was all Fun! Dark Star makes a great variety of different wines from Rhone wines, Bordeaux wines and California red wines. Each is distinctive and tasty. We liked almost all of their wines. After we had finished our sampling, Dave took a small group of us for a winery tour of their facilities. It was wonderful. My wife even got to taste a sample of red wine that was almost ready for bottling. It was a small and intimate tour which we loved. Afterward, we bought a bottle of their red wine and brought it home to drink at a later date. We truly enjoyed visiting the Dark Star Cellars winery. It was a great visit of a winery who is committed to quality and good taste in wine. We encourage everyone to check them out.
3. Grassini Family Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Voted Best Winery and Best Urban Tasting Room by the readers of the Santa Barbara Independent for three years running! (2018, 2019 and 2020) Grassini Family Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery and vineyard with a love for the land and a commitment to making limited production Bordeaux wines from our estate vineyard in the Happy Canyon AVA in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley. When you’re in downtown Santa Barbara, be sure to visit our dog-friendly, spacious wine tasting room. We currently have THREE outdoor patios with all of our tables spaced generously apart from one another, making it the perfect spot to safely enjoy a glass of wine in the fresh air with your loved ones! Taste our incredible estate Bordeaux wines, and then explore the historic Presidio Neighborhood, where you'll find several other wine tasting rooms, wonderful restaurants, and fantastic boutiques!
Reviewed By hollyberry57 - La Jolla, United States
We stumbled on Grassini when walking around downtown SB looking for a place to eat. They didn't have food, but said we were welcome to bring some from an outside eatery while we tried their wine. So we settled in with take-out pasta and a spectacular bottle of proprietary red to recover from the drive from San Diego. The Tasting Room is beautiful and spacious, in that traditional Santa Barbara Andalusian style with whitewashed walls, carved wood, Persian carpets, and leather furniture; there's also a front and a back patio, both in charming courtyards. The staff was SO nice. We liked it so much that we stopped in a few days later on our way back down south and joined the wine club. This will be our spot in Santa Barbara.
4. Jamie Slone Wines
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 187 reviews
• Winner: Best Winery & Best Tasting Room 2019 Santa Barbara News-Press • Best Urban Tasting Room Runner-Up 2018 Santa Barbara Independent Reader's Poll. Our mission is to provide guests an outstanding Santa Barbara wine experience. In our cozy tasting room, you’ll discover our passion for family, entertaining and delicious handcrafted 90+ point wines from the best local vineyards. We’re sipping on Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sparkling, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Red Blends and Cabernet Sauvignon. We are living the wine lifestyle. Join us and our little Havanese dog Sophie in our tasting room at the Historic El Paseo in the Presidio Neighborhood, downtown Santa Barbara.
Reviewed By joedepietro - Gaithersburg, United States
Five years ago Sophie (the wine dog) invited us in for a tasting and the rest is history. We have been wine club members ever since and truly enjoy spending time with Jamie and Kym drinking their fabulous wines. We take our friends and family there every chance we get.
5. MacPhail Tasting Lounge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
A 40-foot sculpture of little red wagons and a wall crafted from the soil of four distinct vineyards set the tone for the MacPhail Tasting Lounge, where limited release, vineyard designate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are presented in a truly unique environment where everything is recycled, reclaimed or repurposed. Each MacPhail wine is crafted by nature, and nurtured by hand to allow the full expression of the vineyard to grace your glass. A variety of tasting flights featuring wines from the Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Anderson Valley are available in seated tastings or by the glass or bottle, to be enjoyed, perhaps, with selections from a featured local artisan cheesemonger. Relax on the patio and join in the conversation about what makes MacPhail, the Barlow and Sonoma County so very unique. And the wagon sculpture? There's a story waiting to be told.
Reviewed By jrhudson1016 - Wilmington, United States
MacPhail had some of the best pinots we had our entire trip! We loved The Barlow. Charlie was awesome and an asset to this tasting room. The tasting room is super cute, loved the wagons. We purchased 2 bottles to take home. We will definitely stop again when we are back in the area.
6. John Anthony Vineyards
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
John Anthony Truchard is a second-generation vintner whose heritage is rooted in the Napa Valley. First and foremost, he is a farmer. Each of his terroir-driven wines tells the story of his history in Napa. The John Anthony Vineyards portfolio presents a diverse range of American Viticultural Areas, single-vineyard sites, noble varietals, and exceptional library vintages. John Anthony Vineyards’ elegant tasting lounge is located in downtown Napa, open daily from 10am to 10pm Sunday through Wednesday, and until midnight Thursday through Saturday. Enjoy a glass of wine, a flight, or share a bottle of our current releases.
Reviewed By ElissaM6 - San Mateo, United States
John Anthony wines has the 1st St location that is listed here that this review and (for wine aficionados that want a more custom, intimate experience) there is the Church Vineyard location, but you have to know the family to know the place. 1st Street: Open to foot traffic so easily accessible, tasting prices very reasonable and within the range I'd expect given you get to taste 6 wines (if I recall) with pretty ample pours (see list below that I think we tried) . There were two of us sharing a single tasting and there was plenty o' wine to go around! They make a lovely sparkling wine, a few Sauvignon Blancs and a Chardonnay. These are all very nice wines. But John Anthony's true calling is in his reds. If you're a serious wine buyer this is the location you'll want to visit as the tasting wines are also fairly customized to your tastes. Here, we were lucky enough to try their 2010 Merlot in addition to a reserve Cab that were both stunning. The Merlot in particular I've never had anything like it with notes of fig and aromatic sweet tobacco, shoe leather, dried fruits. Like heaven in a bottle. Went home with a few bottles without even thinking about it. Having dreams of more... =) The 2016 Napa Cab was fruit forward and really easy drinking even at this young age, while the Coombsville showed more tannins and acids that will make it even more exciting in a few years! It's in an upscale and upbeat downtown location with swanky atmosphere. Reservations recommended but we didn't have one and were able to walk in w/o a reservation on a Saturday night. I think that was because (in a COVID world) only one other table was in the tasting room at the time. There were no surprises here and I really loved the reds. Definitely worth a visit! Church: Now, if you're a collector or serious wine drinker I recommend Church. Church Vineyard in Napa: For those with a fear of missing out this is for you. ;-) This is an experience! We had to get to know the family to see this. See photos of both experiences in this post. We absolutely loved the ambiance: very exclusive and comfy feel, personable and knowledgeable hosts, beautiful building in an old restored church from PA. It's a really special experience. Here are the wines that were available to us at 1st St. Oh so many more seemed to be at our disposal at Church (with legal limits of course!) if the wine educator knows your collecting preference. - La Dame Michele Blanc de Blanc - 2019 Carneros Sauvignon Blanc - 2019 Church Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc - 2018 Reserve Chardonnay - 2016 Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon - 2016 Coombsville Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Enjoy and you are welcome! ;-) -elissa
7. Almendra Winery and Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 39 reviews
Almendra Winery & Distillery is a family-friendly restaurant that boasts a full bar featuring our Monkey Face Spirits and over 15 different wines produced here on site. Our restaurant is proud to feature local products in all of our signature dishes ranging from small plates, pizzas and desserts. Our beautiful Barrel Room makes the perfect backdrop for hosting a variety of events, or simply to snap a quick group photo to remember your visit. Come experience a real gem of Butte County!
Reviewed By paneb - Redwood City, United States
We went twice in two days; once to check out the wines for a party and the next to attend the party itself. Beautiful facility with views of the barrels and copper distilling apparatus from the tasting room. The staff is very friendly; the first day we got to chat with the winemaker for about 45 minutes while we sampled. They have very nice food choices to accompany your tasting flights. The pizzas and salads are excellent and cheese cake are available for dessert. Wines are Italian in style with robust aromas and flavors on the palette. The Roussanne was very mellow . Their Celebration sparkling wine is a Pinot Grigio based sparkler with a touch of sweetness; it was a big hit with the guests at the party. Our favorite reds were the Sangiovese, light in color with an explosive taste, the Barbera and Petite Syrah. The Luna blend is quite good, a nice pasta and pizza wine and my wife really loved the Petit Verdot, mellow with a hint of port-like sweetness. The gin was our favorite spirit with excellent botanicals imparting the flavor. The Grove Brandy was my wife's favorite, but the Java Brandy and Straight Bourbon Whiskey is great as well. My wife and I give this spot four thumbs up. There are many more wines and spirits to sample than listed here.
8. Gustavo
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 46 reviews
Gustavo Brambila, Winemaker & Owner, believes great wine is equal parts a result of the best grapes, the best processes, and only the strongest love for the art of winemaking. Gustavo cherishes this environment, and has grown one owner's extreme love of making wine into an established winery. As a family business, the same processes that landed Gustavo Brambila a spot in the Napa Valley elite are passed down amongst the generations, preserving a rich heritage and art. In the words of Gustavo Brambila himself, "Gustavo Wine is a reflection of my passion, heritage and lifetime love affair with wine. Winemaking is an artform and when others appreciate what I love, solidifies myself as an artist!". We would love for you to join us either at our Tasting Room at the Oxbow District in Napa or at our Winery located in the Crusher District of Napa, CA.
Reviewed By U2758MFhannahm
Gustavo wines was an amazing experience, even though they weren’t open on a Tuesday they were able to accommodate my boyfriend and myself by taking a reservation for us to enjoy a tasting with a cheeseboard that day and with Gustavo himself. He’s such a kind and knowledgeable winemaker. It was interesting to hear about his story and the wines they produce. We tasted 7 wines it was a great experience. I would definitely recommend going there to anyone that loves wine. It was a great way to start my birthday celebration.
9. The Flight Deck
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Join us on a journey across wine country with exploratory flights featuring wines from prestigious wine regions including the Russian River Valley, Oakville, North Coast, Carneros, Dry Creek, and the Sonoma & Napa Valleys. Choose from curated flights by varietal, appellation or choose your own destination with a custom built flight. Enjoy a flight of wines and discover wine country in one stop.
10. Hanson of Sonoma Tasting Room at Hanson Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Enjoy a unique tasting of organic grape-based vodka in the sleepy artist community of Sausalito. Sip cocktails and savor caviar while enjoying sweeping views of San Francisco and the bay area. Learn both how to taste vodka and how it’s distilled and explore the extensive art collection of Hanson Gallery.
Reviewed By M8172KZbrianw - Sausalito, United States
Had a great time with a friend here. Stopped to look at the art and found the bar upstairs. Had a delicious vodka cocktail of Mango & Hanson’s organic Vodka, the bartender Shannon was really friendly & knowledgeable about all aspects of the gallery & local neighborhood. Stop in, it’s worth a visit!
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