8 Great Wine Destinations in the West (That Aren’t in California)

Award-winning winemakers, rolling vineyards, breathtaking tasting rooms and brilliant wines. No, this isn’t Napa—it’s not even the Golden State. Rather, you can relax at a lakeside estate in Texas, savor wine-pairings over lunch in Colorado, meet a pioneering winemaker in New Mexico and perhaps discover your new favorite wine along the way. Experience some of the best wineries in the U.S. and find value and variety at these eight welcoming locations west of the Mississippi.

A handmade heritage (Hill City, South Dakota)

Prairie Berry Winery’s relaxed environment is echoed in its tongue-in-cheek wine names. Photo by Prairie Berry Winery

With wine names like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill, you know you’re in the Black Hills. But for award-winning Prairie Berry Winery, about 30 minutes outside of Rapid City, winemaking isn’t all fun and games. Having won more than 1,000 awards, including 10 at the 2018 Indy International Wine Competition, this winery, run by the same family for five generations, impresses with serious flavor. Sample the wines in Prairie Berry’s friendly and relaxed tasting room, then peruse the local goods for sale in its shop (think South Dakota honey and seasonal small-batch jams).

Sustainable sips (Dallas, Oregon)

Explore the Willamette Valley’s wine country on a leisurely drive from Portland. Van Duzer Vineyards grows six kinds of grapes and places an emphasis on sustainable farming. Pinot noir thrives in the Willamette Valley microclimate, though Van Duzer’s specialty collection includes a cabernet sauvignon and a popular port. You'll want to visit the tasting room, which recently won USA Today's 2018 Peoples' Choice Award, and enjoy a sampling of their newest wines while taking in panoramic views of the family estate.

From peaches to Riesling (Boulder, Colorado)

When a backpacking couple decided to convert a ten-acre peach orchard into Bookcliff Vineyards in 1996, little did they know they’d also be taking in a large crop of awards. Winning Gold for Best Red of Show at the Southwest Wine Competition in 1999 was just the beginning. Since then, they’ve garnered awards for a wide range of varietals, including Cabernet Franc Reserve, Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Voignier, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Riesling, which recently won the coveted Double Gold Award at the 2018 Governor’s Cup.

Family tradition (Denver, Colorado)

Just a 15-minute drive from downtown Denver, the family-owned and -operated Balistreri Vineyards follows generations of Sicilian winemaking tradition. Meet the Balistreri family, tour the cellar, sample award-winning varietals, and have lunch from the winery’s seasonally inspired lunch menu. Don’t miss the unique unfiltered white wines here; the white grapes are fermented on the skins, like red wines, giving the wines a golden hue. Annual special events include a spring barrel tasting dinner and a harvest party held every October.

Deep roots (Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico)

Pioneering vintner John Calvin has been crafting wines at the breathtaking Casa Rodeña Winery about a mile east of the Rio Grande since 1990. The Meritage Red, a Bordeaux blend, and the estate-bottled riesling have won awards, while the 1629, a blended red wine, honors the year that vinifera vines were first brought to New Mexico. Explore the adobe stone architecture and listen for chimes from the bell tower. With soothing water fountains and detailed landscaping, this inviting property marries Old World charm with contemporary amenities.

Wine and dine (Marble Falls, Texas)

The menu of wood-fired artisan fare at Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard is built to complement the winery’s varietals. Photo by Flat Creek Estate

About an hour northwest of Austin and part of the Texas Wine Trail, the 80-acre Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard offers tastings of its wines, disc golf, and a calendar of food and wine events. The property is also home to The Bistro, which serves wood-fired artisanal pizzas and cobblers. Come for weekend brunch, or build a custom three-course dinner and pair it with a viognier, a zinfandel or the aptly named Super Texan.

A Texas-Australia blend (Spicewood, Texas)

If you’re looking for a picture-perfect setting for wine tasting, you’ll love the view of the Colorado River at Stone House Vineyard. About 35 miles from Austin, this winery offers a host of notable selections like the sparkling Cuvee Cuddles or the succulent Sangiovese Rose. Admire the limestone-block-and-wood architecture—hence the name—during your tasting, then take a self-guided tour of the vineyard.

Amid the trees (Mineola, Texas)

Grand Oaks Vineyards & Winery, about a 90-minute drive from Dallas, overlooks a pine and cedar forest nature preserve. Enjoy the sprawling landscape while sipping tempranillo—the most widely planted grape in Texas—under the covered wraparound patio. Or settle in at the bar inside the spacious tasting room, where you can choose among dry or semisweet red wines or off-dry and semisweet whites. Don’t miss the G.O. Tweet, a sweet blend of blanc du bois, viognier and muscat cannelli—it’s an ideal end-of-day treat.

Find your new favorite wine. View hotels in Hill City, Dallas, Boulder, Denver, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, Marble Falls, Spicewood, Mineola.