Best Winery Tour (2020)

Visitors to Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma have five tour and tasting options to choose from. The exclusive Tribute Estate Tour takes visitors behind the scenes for a close-up look at the biodynamic vineyards and winemaking facilities, with a barrel tasting along the way. Visitors can also take a tram tour of the vineyards to learn more about biodynamic farming.
Photo courtesy of Benziger Family Winery

Visitors to Cline Cellars can choose between a private tour and tasting through the historic estate or the Syrah Hill Experience, which includes a trip to the top of Syrah Hill for views over the surrounding scenery.
Photo courtesy of Cline Cellars

Visits to this Sonoma County winery begin in the historic barn building with a tasting of Belden Barns estate wines. Learn about how the 1,000-foot elevation benefits the grapes as you tour the property, and stop to hang a wish from the Wishing Tree.
Photo courtesy of Belden Barns

Private tasting experiences at Crown Point Vineyards include a 90-minute personalized tour of the property, known for its Bordeaux varieties. Walk through the vineyard to learn more about the wines and sit down for a tasting and cheese pairing amid the Santa Ynez landscape.
Photo courtesy of Crown Point Vineyards

ACORN Winery in the Russian River Valley specializes in field-blending techniques, which you can learn about during a tasting and vineyard walk with owners Bill and Betsy Nachbaur.
Photo courtesy of ACORN Winery

Visitors to the historic Alexander Valley Vineyards property have a couple tour options to choose from. The Cave Tour and Barrel Tasting takes guests down into the 25,000-square-foot wine cave to learn more about the barrel aging program, while Vineyard Hikes offer a closer look at the vines.
Photo courtesy of Alexander Valley Vineyards

Estate tours at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery reveal the history of Washinton’s founding winery. Guided outdoor walking tours cover some of the estate’s 105-acre property for a behind-the-scenes look at how these Columbia Valley wines are made.
Photo courtesy of Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery

Regularly scheduled tours at Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery, located just outside of the town of Galena, take guests into the scenic country vineyards to learn about how these award-winning wines are made. Tours an be stand-alone or combined with a tasting of six different wines from a menu of more than 40.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Oleg Elkov

Just about every tasting experience at B Cellars Vineyards and Winery in Napa includes a tour of the winery, including the vineyards, gardens, production facilities and wine caves. The Expedition tour showcases the winery’s agricultural capabilities with an in-depth look at the vineyards, market garden, hen house and orchards.
Photo courtesy of B Cellars Winery

Just five minutes from historic Sonoma Plaza, historic Gundlach Bundschu at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains invites guests to tour the 320-acre aboard a Pinzgauer – an Austrian military vehicle capable of going off road. Visitors can also tour the vineyards and barrel caves on foot.
Photo courtesy of Gundlach Bundschu