Best Wine Regions in the U.S.
If sipping a glass of wine and overlooking a beautiful vineyard is your ideal way to unwind while on vacation, you don’t necessarily have to be in Northern California. Although wines from the Napa and Sonoma Valleys garner international attention, there are some less well-known U.S. vacation spots that are perfect for wine lovers.
California Dreamin'
California’s Central Coast boasts more than 40 varietals from 200 different wineries in the Paso Robles wine country. The region's wine association website lets you search for your favorites on an interactive map—don't overlook the unique regional blends of Rhône, Bordeaux and Zinfandel. Nearly a dozen wine trails lead you to boutique wineries that are open year-round, and you can enjoy a festive flair during one of the annual wine events, such as the Paso Robles Wine Festival in May and the Harvest Wine Weekend in October.
Pinots in the Pacific Northwest
Oregon takes its place as one of the country's top four wine-producing regions. There are more than 400 wineries and 650 vineyards waiting to be explored in the Willamette Valley alone. This scenic valley, which is tucked between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range, makes a particularly picturesque setting for your vacation photos—photos that will have you holding a glass of wine in your hand with a big smile on your face, more likely than not. In addition to its internationally known Pinot Noir wines, this region also produces Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and other varietals. Thanksgiving weekend brings post-harvest festivities with hors d'oeuvres, live music and wine tastings in select establishments from Portland to Eugene.
Heritage along the Hudson
With New York's harsh winters, it might be surprising to learn that the state comes in third in the country’s wine production. The bulk of the state's wineries are clustered around large bodies of water that temper the frost—Lake Erie, the Finger Lakes and the Hudson River Valley, where the state's wine industry originated. While New York is best known for its Rieslings, the Hudson River Valley offers a taste all its own with a heritage blend of Seyval Blanc and Vignoles, Cayuga white or Vidal grapes. If you visit Brotherhood Winery, the country's longest-standing operational winery, you can explore extensive hand-hewn cellars and sip one of the nation's oldest vintages.
Great Wine, Great Lakes
You can enjoy sweeping views of the hills that surround Lake Michigan's Grand Traverse Bay while sampling old-world varietals like Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio. The Traverse City Wine Region lies along the 45th parallel, the same latitudinal line where the famous European wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy are found. While it's not the country's largest wine region—you'll find fewer than 50 wineries here—it's one of the few places that produces ice wine, a dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine.
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