Santa Cruz Mountains or Central Valley Wineries?
 

Which would be the best area to visit out of San Francisco for wineries? Prettiest? Best drive? Best wineries?

I am not familiar with the wineries in each region, but as far as scenery is concerned, Santa Cruz wins hands down. The drive from SF is nice - either along the coast or down Hwy 280 and then through the mountains. Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz mountains are very scenic.

The central valley is just an agricultural region without a lot else going on. The drive from SF is pretty boring - through the ever-expanding suburbs and then farmland.

Why not the Napa or Sonoma valleys?

If you head into the Delta, towards Rio Vista, you could ride the Ryer Island and J-Mac Ferries. Then meander thru Walnut Grove(Six Hands Winery), Courtland then Clarksburg(Bogle, Old Sugar Mill, Scribner Bend).

Fun day in the Delta.

MY

Santa Cruz/ Gilroy/ Carmel Valley areas have great wineries. and pretty country to tour through. I'm not familiar with the Central Valley wineries. I also like the Paso Robles/ Templeton area for wineries. Since that area is about 3 1/2 hrs. from SF you could do an overnighter (Paso Robles Inn or Adelaide Inn).