575 Best Sights in USA

Founded by fourth-generation farmers who have been growing fruit in the Wenatchee foothills since the 1890s, Stemilt Creek has developed a sterling reputation for its Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other Bordeaux-style wines. The tasting room in downtown Wenatchee is in the Pybus Public Market.

An aerial gondola whisks guests up a 300-foot hill to a whitewashed Greek Mediterranean–style winery with sweeping Napa Valley views. A self-guided tour allows guests to delve into the wine-making process. Or not. On a sunny day, the valley vistas can be mighty distracting. Sterling, which released its first vintage in 1969, makes waves for its Cabernet Sauvignons, like the top-of-the-line Iridium and another from Diamond Mountain; Chardonnays, a crowd-pleasing Malvasia Blanca, and sparkling wines are among the lighter bottlings. For a more fulfilling visit, choose a tasting of upper-tier wines.

Three stone structures meant to mimic Scottish ruins coaxed into modernity form this complex with public and private tasting spaces and a bright outdoor patio. The attention to detail in the ensemble's design mirrors that of the wines, whose grapes come from estate and coveted outside sources. Several of winemaker Blair Guthrie’s recent Cabernet Sauvignons have received high-90s scores. Guthrie also makes a sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay whites, a rosé of Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, and Pinot Noir, Rhône-style, and Zinfandel reds.

This winery, 3 miles north of town (a mile of it up a steep, narrow dirt road), is in an idyllic setting, featuring old-world-style stone cottages the owner made himself. Specialties include Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Gewürztraminer varietals. Stop by for a free vineyard tour and wine tasting; don't miss the delicious small plates as well. If you plan ahead, you can book a night in the two-bedroom guest cottage.

From the broad patio that fronts the Stonestreet Alexander Mountain Estate's stablelike building, you can see some of the steep rugged terrain where grapes for the winery's full-bodied Chardonnays and tannic, wild-as-a-stallion Cabernet Sauvignons are grown. At 5,100 acres (900-plus planted), this is among the world's largest mountain vineyards. Farming these steep hills is difficult and labor-intensive, but the hard-won output finds its way into top boutique wines in addition to Stonestreet's. One seated tasting focuses on current-release single-vineyard wines. A session showcasing older vintages demonstrates the Cabernets' ageability. All visits require a reservation. Book a mountain excursion for stunning views and to experience the vineyards close up.

After touring this small coastal winery, you can browse the works of local artists in the gallery or enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds. Whichever you choose, the vineyard's Seaport White, a Vidal-Chardonnay blend, is a nice accompaniment.

During World War II, Fred and Eleanor McCrea purchased a 160-acre goat farm on Spring Mountain's eastern slope. Some of the couple’s first grapevines, planted in 1948, still bear fruit. For years, single-varietal whites—a Gewürztraminer, a Riesling, and a flinty Chardonnay sommeliers often ranked among California's best—were the focus, but owners who arrived in 2020 have added L’Escalier, a blend of all three, and in the future intend to emphasize Cabernet Sauvignon. In some years, there's Sémillon du Soleil, a dessert wine from grapes dried in the sun after harvesting to increase their sugars. Some tastings take place at the former McCrea residence; others, outdoors, take advantage of vineyard and across-the-valley views.

Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons from estate-grown grapes are the specialties of this slightly off-the-beaten-path winery whose tasting room and production facility occupy a stained-redwood former barn. Standout wines include the Summit Chardonnay and the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter from Stuhlmuller's oldest vines. Other wines to look for are the Estate Zinfandel and the Block Twelve Cabernet Sauvignon from 2½ acres planted in the 1980s. Some tastings take place in a room adjoining the aging cellar, but in good weather you can sip outdoors on a patio near the vines.  Picnickers are welcome at this family- and dog-friendly winery.

You won't find many wineries situated in more unusual buildings than this early-1900s flour mill with huge grain elevators that soar over the southern end of The Dalles's downtown. Inside this dramatic old structure that once nearly fell to the wrecking ball, you'll find the tasting room for both Quenett—which produces first-rate Grenache, Viognier, Sangiovese, and others—and Oregon Mountain Estate, which is known for refined Pinot Noirs. Drive-in movies are shown many weekends.

A dozen tasting rooms of limited-production wineries occupy renovated warehouse spaces west of the beach. MJA, Sones Cellars, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, and Equinox are good places to start. Also here are the Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing Company and El Salchichero, popular for its homemade sausages, jams, and pickled and candied vegetables.

This estate vineyard lies on a prime sloping hillside in the heart of the Willamette Valley appellation. It also supplies grapes to several award-winning wineries. Bring a picnic and enjoy the amazing view from the lawn outside the tasting room, or take advantage of the food available for purchase. Friday-night tastings are embellished with cheese pairings and live music. They also have a second tasting room in the 5th Street Public Market.

Tucked in the western hills of Paso Robles, Tablas Creek is known for its blends of certified biodynamically grown, hand-harvested Rhône varietals. Roussanne and Viognier are the standout whites; the Mourvèdre-heavy blend called Panoplie (it also includes Grenache and Syrah) has received high praise in recent years. A free guided tour of the cellar and vineyard starts every day at 10:15; reservations are required. There's a fine picnic area here.

Acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, plus smaller parcels of Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and other varietals blanket Talley's mountain-ringed dell in the Arroyo Grande Valley. Enjoy stunning estate views in the sleek interior and on the adjacent patio. Standout wines include the single-vineyard Rosemary's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Colorado’s first meadery opened in 1995 on this sprawling property with views of the Little Bookcliffs, and has since added wines to the traditional and fruit mead options, including Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Grigio. Tasting flights start from $7 for three wines to $15 for nine; charcuterie boards are available as well. Reservations are required for the private tours, which include a behind-the-scenes peek into production or wine-and-food pairings; rates start at $75 per person.

Endurance riders Barry and Jennifer Waitte share their passion for horses and wine at their glam-rustic winery. The 22-acre Sundance Ranch remains a working equestrian facility, but the site also includes a state-of-the-art winery with separate fermenting tanks for grapes from estate vineyards in Yountville, Oakville, and elsewhere. Tamber Bey produces Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay whites, a Rhône-style rosé, and a few Pinot Noirs. The showstoppers are several subtly powerful reds, including the Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and a Yountville Merlot. The top-selling wine, Rabicano, is a Cabernet Sauvignon-heavy Bordeaux-style blend. Visits require an appointment.

Without driving the back roads, you can taste the wines of nearly 100 area vintners (craft beers, too) while taking in fantastic bay views. Bottles are available for purchase, and food is served from 11:30 until closing.

Time-travel back to the days when the Napa Valley "lifestyle" revolved around a family rolling up its collective sleeves to grow grapes, make wines, and present them in a modest setting—these days on a patio between the crush pad and small estate vineyard. The first Tedeschi arrived in the valley in 1919 from Pisa, Italy, and the grandparents of the current winemaker, Mario, and general manager, his amiable brother Emilio, purchased the Calistoga property, then an orchard, in the 1950s. Mario makes the Northbrook red blend from Cabernet and Petite Sirah grown on-site, with fruit for Viognier, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and other wines from Napa Valley sources and beyond. Call for same-day appointments.

It's named for the calcium carbonate in the earth beneath it—Terra Blanca is Latin for "white earth"—and from this favorable soil grow wine grapes that produce the winery's specialties: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albariño, and Chardonnay. This picturesque estate winery offers sweeping views of the Red Mountain region, and also has one of the only restaurants in Benton City, the Vineyard Grill, which served refined Pacific Northwest fare from Friday through Sunday. 

Don't be surprised to find yourself whiling away a few hours at this warehouse-like operation, whose proprietors grow grapes and olives; tend gardens; display art indoors and out; and care for goats, donkeys, and other rescue animals. The owners (and critters) won't mind if you do: this is a laid-back kind of place. Estate-grown Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the highlights.

Located 2,000 feet high above the Peninsula in the northern part of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this prominent winery is named after its founder, a legendary heart surgeon. Pinot Noir is the specialty here, but tastings often include a few wild cards like Nebbiolo. The tasting room is surrounded by rolling vineyards, yet the real postcard views are in the adjacent area, where weddings are held with a panoramic backdrop of what must be close to half of the Bay Area.

Known for his line of popular sparkling wines using the French méthode champenoise, winemaker Tom Stolzer also produces still wines made from Rhône- and Mediterranean-type varietals such as Syrah and Cabernet. Be sure to try the red wine infused with chocolate. Tastings are offered daily, live music on Friday nights April through October, and jazz concerts are presented weekends May through September.

Dahlonega's first family-farm winery has 20 acres of plantings, including Cabernet Franc, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay, along with American varietals such as Cynthiana-Norton. The relaxed winery is named for nearby Three Sisters Mountain, visible from the farm's gazebo. The tasting room is decorated with folk art and pottery from the area, including a poster that proclaims "Thar's Wine in Them Thar Hills." A favorite from the winery is the robust Fat Boy Red.

Established in 1987, one of Prosser's top mid-price wineries features Wade Wolfe's unusual blends, including a tropical fruit–forward white Pinot Gris–Viognier and a velvety Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Lemberger blend known as Dr. Wolfe's Family Red.

Started on a five-generation-old family farm in 1995, Tiger Mountain Vineyards is known for unusual varietals of French and Portuguese grapes, such as Touriga Nacional and Tannat, as well as the native Norton grape—grown on the slopes of Tiger Mountain. Tastings are available for a small fee. Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch are served on the weekends in The Vineyard Café, housed in a lovely restored barn. The tasting room frequently features live music and events; call ahead for the schedule.

Painterly westward-facing views of vineyards, the Napa River treeline, and Spring Mountain provide the backdrop for indoor and outdoor tastings at this valley-floor winery. The concrete-and-glass production facility and hospitality center, completed in 2015, skews new, but the setting feels timeless. After arriving in 1968, the first Titus family generation sold grapes to Beaulieu and other Napa Valley stalwarts. Next-generation brothers Eric and Phillip Titus (the latter famed Chappellet's longtime winemaker) oversaw significant replantings in the past quarter-century, ensuring a steady flow of mostly Bordeaux grapes for the family's label. Cabernet Sauvignon comprises more than half the production, with Viognier, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Zinfandel among the other bottlings.

Established in 1993, Torii Mor makes small quantities of handcrafted Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay and is set amid Japanese gardens with breathtaking views of the Willamette Valley. The gardens were designed by Takuma Tono, the same architect who designed the renowned Portland Japanese Garden. The owners, who love all things Japanese, named their winery after the distinctive Japanese gate of Shinto religious significance; they added a Scandinavian mor, signifying "earth," to create an east-west combo: "earth gate." Tastings are available inside the Japanese garden or on a deck with views of the valley and Mount Hood in the distance.

Over the years, this winery—founded by Don Townshend in Green Bluff—won awards for its Cabernet Sauvignon. Now a second-generation winery, current owner Brendon Townshend moved it to Spokane in 2022 and opened a tasting room in the midst of the wine-making operations, giving visitors a closer look at the process.

The tectonic shifts that created the Dry Creek Valley reveal themselves at this winery atop one of several abruptly rolling hills tamed only partially by grapevines and olive trees. The mostly Rhône-style wines served at tastings are paired with small bites made on-site. The whites include Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier separately and in blends. Reds range from Grenache and Proprietor’s Reserve GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) to the Zin-heavy Stone Soup blend of all the estate vineyard’s red grapes. The Get Your Boots Dirty vineyard, olive orchard, and mill tour aboard a Bobcat UTV provides a thrilling sense of the rollicking terrain here.  To fully enjoy those valley views, book a seated outdoor tasting.

The family responsible for last century’s Sutter Home White Zinfandel craze makes luxury Bordeaux-style wines under its own name that truly live up to the term "terroir-driven." The wowsers include a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Cabernet-dominant red blend, and two Cabernet Sauvignons from estate vineyards in the Atlas Peak, Calistoga, Los Carneros, Mt. Veeder, and St. Helena subappellations. All are served in an elegant, exuberant tasting room designed by St. Helena's internationally acclaimed Erin Martin or in several outdoor spaces. Tastings require a reservation.