Award Winning Vineyards: The Best California Wineries You Must Visit

It’s no secret that the Golden State is home to an endless array of world-class California wineries, complete with state-of-the-art technology and backed by over a century of winemaking experience. However, with so many to choose from, we decided to shortlist our favorite award-winning California vineyards for you to try.

Forget about the corkscrew, leave the wine glasses at home, and partner with us for a tour of the best California wineries for a delicious wine tasting vacation experience like no other.

Paradise Ridge Winery

Starting our guide to the best Californian wineries known for their award-winning wines sees us heading to the impressive Paradise Ridge Winery estate in Santa Rosa in the heart of the stunning Russian River Valley. Here, visitors to the Paradise Ridge Winery have the opportunity to explore the wine making process and the world-class sculpture garden featuring ever-changing exhibits.

Probably best known for its Chardonnay, Paradise Ridge Winery also produces several exclusive wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir variations that benefit from the distinctive terroir found in Sonoma County. A trip to Paradise Ridge Winery provides a genuine Californian wine tasting experience, all with breathtaking sunset views from the Sunset Patio and west-facing verandas over the countryside below.

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Roche Winery & Vineyards       

Heading to southern Sonoma Valley, our next highly acclaimed Californian winery is the picturesque Roche Winery & Vineyards in Sonoma. As a founding member of the Carneros AVA, Roche Winery & Vineyards hosts numerous winery events throughout the year designed to embrace a personal approach by selling wine directly to customers.

Having initially started life just producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, the Roche Winery & Vineyards has also mastered producing a range of top Californian Zinfandel & Merlot wines. Visitors to the charming Sonoma Winery and Tasting Room provide an excellent opportunity to meet with members of the Roche family, as well as interact with its highly knowledgeable staff to learn about the skills required for winemaking.

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Beaulieu Vineyard

A tour of the best northern California wineries wouldn’t be complete without visiting the world-famous Napa Valley, and our top recommendation is to see the historic Beaulieu Vineyard in Rutherford. Here, you can learn about the advanced tools and methods used throughout the winemaking process and take a trip to their state-of-the-art reserve cellar.

Described as Napa Valley’s first “cult” Cabernet, Beaulieu Vineyard is best known for its Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the most collected American wines in history. Benefiting from the unique Napa Valley terroir, Beaulieu Vineyard has also developed a reputation for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, along with its Chardonnay and Cabernet Syrah blend.

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Ram’s Gate Winery

Returning back to the heart of Sonoma Valley next, we recommend visiting the amazing Ram’s Gate Winery on the southern tip of the Carneros AVA. Nestled perfectly on the summit of its vine-laden hills, this California winery offers spectacular views of its vineyards and San Pablo Bay. Insightful guided tours are superbly set up to teach you about how Ram’s Gate Winery manages the vineyard and its distinctive winemaking techniques.

Known for producing first-class wine varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc, and their distinctive Grenache and Syrah blend, Ram’s Gate Winery also takes great pride in offering a terrific array of gourmet food and wine pairings, including an exclusive caviar experience.

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Tamber Bey Vineyards

Our final highly decorated California winery sees us arrive at the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Tamber Bey Vineyards in Calistoga, California. What makes Tamber Bey Vineyards so special is that it’s not only home to an award-winning winery but also functions as a successful, fully operational horse farm.

As California wineries go, Tamber Bey Vineyards is blessed with the most idyllic setting as the winery and the horse paddocks are nestled against the serene backdrop of Mount St. Helena and the Palisades. Here, visitors are encouraged to sit back and enjoy wine tasting in the scenic courtyards to try their Rabicano with its core blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as their signature Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

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