By Kay Harrison
Wine is produced in all 50 of the United States, so you are probably sitting near a vineyard right now. But if you’re looking for some of the best cities in the US for sipping, these are a few of our favorites to explore.
10. Fredericksburg, Texas
In some ways, the hill country of Texas resembles the wine growing regions of central Italy, securing it a spot on our list of best places for wine. Restaurants in Fredericksburg join up with the wineries to offer unique events like “Port and Pairings,” but the nearby wineries are also open for tastings by appointment.
Explore: The Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 winds through hill country and takes you through the local wineries. Fredericksburg is a treat in itself, with bed and breakfast inns, great restaurants and a historic Main Street.
PLAN: Texas Hill Country Wine Travel Guide
9. Traverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is one of the friendliest cities in the country, and its wineries and restaurants welcome visitors with food pairings, wine bars and farm-to-table cuisine. Grapes are grown in sight of Lake Michigan on the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are local favorites.
Explore: If you can, stay at the luxury inn at Black Star Farms Winery. It features a stable, urban tasting rooms and a historic village, and earns it’s place as one of the best wine getaways.
PLAN: Michigan Wine Travel Guide
8. Yakima (Columbia Valley), Washington
Located at the same latitude as the wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, the wineries of the Columbia River Valley are famous for the award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon. During growing season, these vineyards get more sun than Napa Valley, contributing to the intense flavors of the grapes.
Explore: The city of Yakima, one of our best wine cities, is where you’ll begin the wine tour, but the growing region is east of the city bordered by the mighty Columbia River.
PLAN: Washington Wine Travel Guide
7. Anchorage, Alaska
Yes, really. Anchorage is at the northern edge of Alaska Wine Country, but these aren’t generally grape wines. Alaska makes incredibly tasty berry wines like strawberry, raspberry and rhubarb. The wineries are scattered along the peninsula southwest of Anchorage and on Kodiak Island.
Explore: The wineries sound wild and primitive: Bear Creek, Denali, Ring of Fire, adding to the list of reasons why Anchorage was chosen as one of our best wine getaways. Berry wine tasting is a great excuse to visit Alaska, which you should do anyway.
6. Augusta, Missouri
You’ve likely never heard of Augusta, Missouri, but it’s earned it’s spot as one of our best places for wine (so is it’s neighbor, Hermann). Situated in the low hills surrounding the Missouri River, west of St. Louis. Some of the finest wines in the Midwest are produced here, and “Historic Missouri Wine Country” has its own visitors’ bureau, inviting guests to explore by bike, car or foot.
Explore: Find a cozy bed and breakfast inn and head for the Montelle Winery, Balducci’s Vineyard and Restaurant, or Mount Pleasant Estates for a sip or two.
PLAN: Missouri Wine Travel Guide
5. Middleburg (Loudoun County), Virginia
Loudoun County, Virginia, is known as Washington D.C.’s wine country, with more than 40 wineries and tasting rooms along country roads. The award-winning wines are blends of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a native Virginia grape called Norton, making it one of our best wine getaways.
Explore: The Loudoun Wine Trail features 40 wineries grouped into six clusters.
PLAN: Virginia Wine Travel Guide
4. Geneva (Finger Lakes), New York
More than 100 wineries in the Finger Lakes region grow Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Franc grapes along with native varieties. Beginning in the 1860s, the original vineyard owners used native rootstock grafted with European grape vines to create a hardy plant that could thrive in the cold climate.
Explore: The Seneca Lake Wine Trail starts at the north end of the lake in Geneva and winds around the perimeter with more than 30 member wineries serving wine – and mead. Try it!
PLAN: Finger Lakes Wine Travel Guide
3. Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is on the Pacific coast, and within the downtown area there are wineries and tasting rooms featuring a variety of California-grown wines, making it a pick in our list of best wine cities. The beach, the shopping, cool California cuisine, hip California hotels – it’s all here. You should be here, too.
Explore: Take an urban wine tour and taste the wines of the Santa Ynez Valley without leaving city limits. You’ll find more than 20 tasting rooms, many within walking distance of the beach. Don’t do all 20 in one day.
PLAN: Santa Barbara Wine Vacation
2. Portland, Oregon
Number 2 on our list of best wine getaways is the Willamette Valley, with more than 500 vineyards, was named 2016 Wine Region of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The region is known for its Pinot Noir, grown on lush hillsides in the shadows of the Cascade Mountains. This is a huge and scenic area, stretching from Portland south to Eugene along Interstate 5.
Explore: With inviting bed and breakfast inns tucked in the hills, this wine trail can be a multi-day journey of wine tastings, biking and hiking trails, and indescribable beauty.
1. Sonoma, California
It’s no surprise that California has two entries in this list. The state produces 90% of domestic wines. The Sonoma Valley area north of San Francisco produces some of the world’s best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, partly due to the cool ocean breezes and fog from the Pacific. These grapes are often “exported” to Napa Valley wineries to the south.
Explore: The Wine Road provides a tour of wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys.
PLAN: Sonoma Wine Vacation
Have you explored any of these wine regions?
About the Contributing Writer: Kay Harrison is an avid traveler and sailor. She writes articles and develops content for Dunhill Travel Deals. Visit the site for travel inspiration and exclusive cruise, hotel, and vacation deals. Follow them on Facebook @DunhillTravelDeals, on Twitter @DunhillDeals, or sign up to get the best deals via email.
Hey Kay, wine enthusiasts will love you for this! Sometimes the best ones are tucked away in the corners of the country… we were in Santa Barbara two weeks ago and can confirm – you nailed it there. But it’s about so much more than just the wine, isn’t it? I know it’s another California entry but Livermore is flying ‘under the radar’ at the moment but full of excellent wines AND you can often meet the owners, unlike in Napa because it’s still quiet. Food for thought 🙂
-Edward
Good to know, thanks! Where is Livermore located and what are some of the varietals the area is producing well?
Yeah, for sure! Livermore is about an hour east of San Fran and the closest Bart station is Dublin/Pleasanton. I’d recommend a car for getting there though or if you’re in the area, bike around the vineyards – there’s a gorgeous route that takes you within 3 feet of vines on either side!
In terms of what’s producing well, typically you’ll find Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc. I recently tried Concannon 2013 cab sauv reserve and Murieta’s Well 2015 “The Whip”. All are drinking very well (and fast!) at the moment. But it really depends on the terroir of the vineyard and the winemaker’s skill, right? And what you like to drink. If you’re up for a tour around your palate, it’s the kind of area where you can ask the maker what’s tasting well now, depending on the age and season – as some wines can take a dip in quality or shine brighter throughout both. Trust that’s useful! 🙂
Thanks so much for the tips!!!
Have you tried New Mexico wines? Very similar to Italy a well…. You won’t be disappointed..
Actually, I have. I agree, there are some good wines from New Mexico.
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