The Unknown Ahead

Nothing gets me to say an emphatic YES to a trip like the phrase “wine region”. We’ve traveled to quite a few amazing vineyards, so here are my top three favorite wine stops for you to enjoy. I tried to rank them, and I couldn’t. It’s hard to separate the wine from the ambiance and company, so this is just a random list of my favorite spots in no particular order. I hope you’re thirsty!

Of course, I haven’t traveled to every famous wine spot in the world. I’d love to visit Champagne, France or sip the Sauvignon Blancs of New Zealand. But these are places that we’ve actually visited, and spots that I would absolutely recommend to others.

1. California, USA

It’s probably no surprise that a top wine destination is right here in the USA. Spend a day checking out San Francisco, and then drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and on to wine country. There are so many options to explore, and you really can’t go wrong. We usually do Napa trips with friends, so more often than not, we end up in an awesome Airbnb. Although there are plenty of cute hotels in Napa and Sonoma, I love the ability to whip up a hangover cure in an Airbnb kitchen. The weather is always good in California (at least compared to Chicago), so it’s also nice to indulge in a cute outdoor space and have that one more bottle of wine with friends before regretting it in the morning.

Although there are many big names in the Napa area, there are also some smaller wineries that really deserve more attention. Before we start drinking, let’s discuss transportation. Drinking and driving is a no go, so we need a chauffeur solution! Enter Wine Tour Drivers. This is a cool option because the driver takes your rental car and drives you around wherever you want to go. Your sober friend shows up at your hotel or house and drives you around all day for a more reasonable fee than renting a limo or hired car. Our driver even brought us water and snacks. There is another company using the same model called Simply Driven. Since wine is a big business in Napa and Sonoma, there are plenty of designated driver options to explore online.

On to the main event! Here are my favorite stops in California’s wine region:

1. Truchard – This little vineyard is beyond cute. This family-owned gem is nestled in the Carneros region of Napa. Tony and JoAnn have owned this establishment for decades, and they still live on the property. Every employee here is part of the family, and you can feel it the moment you walk up to the wine cave. The tour is relaxed and a lot of fun. I might be drinking a bottle of their Pinot Noir right now as I write this post. It’s certainly a favorite of ours and the price point is perfect for a bottle on a Tuesday night. You can get several bottles here for under $40, although the higher end bottles sell for over $100. If booking a tour, know that they are closed on weekends.
2. Maxville – Located in Chiles Valley, this is a bit of a drive, but worth it for the wine and views. The building is beautiful and the landscape around it is equally as stunning. This winery is a little more pricey, but produces some amazing wines. You can buy bottles in the $40 ballpark, but most of these wines are in the $80+ range. When visiting, you can experience a tasting of 5 wines for $55 or add a charcuterie or chocolate option for $75 per person.
3. Tres Sabores – This woman-owned, family vineyard is top notch! If you visit their website, there’s a whole menu choice to meet the winery dogs. As soon as you enter Tres Sabores, you feel like you’ve stepped into an idyllic winery-meets-farm. Little goats are roaming the property, dogs are running about, and the wine is always flowing! We visited Tres Sabores during Harvest Season and attended their Pomegranates & Paella Party. It was pouring rain, but one of the best parties I’ve ever attended. Wines range from $35 to $125 per bottle for their current releases. This is also one of the few vineyards that is family friendly. Children can attend tastings for free and they also offer $10 tastings for designated drivers who just want a sip.
4. Gundlach Bundschu – Do you just want to lounge on a giant patio? This is your spot. Gundlach Bundschu is set up more like a restaurant where you order the wines that look interesting to you. No tour necessary. Just sit back, relax, take in the views, and enjoy some wine by the glass. Most of the wines here are $28 to $60, so it’s an affordable option for anyone visiting the area. If visiting in the evenings, this location also has live music and events quite often.
5. Kunde – Located on nearly 2,000 acres in Sonoma, Kunde is another family-owned establishment. The restaurant here is amazing for lunch. For only $25 you can tour the property and the wine caves. For $45 per person you can add cheeses to your tasting and tour. Who wouldn’t want cheese? White wines start at the very reasonable price of $20 per bottle. Even red wines range from $25-$80 per bottle, so there is a lot of variety at a lot of price points.

2. Stellenbosch, South Africa

OK, we went from California to the southern most tip of Africa, I know that’s a big leap. However, the wine region of South Africa is amazing. Great wines, gorgeous views, cute towns, and a way lower price point for wines that are just as delicious.

You can fly into Cape Town and easily drive to South Africa’s vineyards in under an hour. Most of the wine can be found in Stellenbosch, but there is also local Paarl and Franschhoek. Prices to stay in this region swing pretty wildly depending on the season. We stayed at the Clouds Estate which costs around $300 per night for the most basic room during high season (September-January). But if you’re able to travel during low season (May-September) prices go down to $200 per night.

The downtown Stellenbosch area is nothing short of adorable. There’s ample shopping, great restaurants, hotels, and art galleries galore. Spend some time wandering downtown to buy souvenirs and relax.

Interested in adding Cape Town to your itinerary? Check out our itinerary!

These were our favorite wineries in South Africa:

1. Muratie – Dating back to 1685, visiting this vineyard is like going back in time. You wander into a tasting room that is covered in cobwebs, old rugs, and a bar that looks like it’s still in the 1600s. The people here welcome you and are genuinely excited to share the vineyard’s story and the wines. You can buy really good wine here from as low as $15 per bottle. I love the Mr. May Grenache Noir and the Ansela Van de Caab. Try everything! You can enjoy one of their nicest tasting experiences for under $10 USD.
2. Delheim – This is an adorable old house with vast amounts of outdoor space for tastings. If you’ve never tried a Chenin Blanc, now is your chance! This light-bodied white is delicious and not seen enough in the USA. Another must-try is the Pinotage! This wine is found throughout South Africa, but Delheim does it best. Pinotage is a red wine with dark fruits and spice notes. It’s one of my favorite wines and can be purchased at under $15 per bottle! If you’re hungry, this is an amazing stop for lunch too!
3. Fairview – Love goats? Well, you’re in for the best afternoon ever! Not only do you get to indulge in great wine, but you’re also going to chill with a lot of goats. AND you get to sample a lot of goat cheese too! If you’re traveling with kids, you can get a “kids tasting” that includes cheese, a sweet treat and lemonade. How adorable is that? Adults can enjoy wine and cheese on premises for under $10! And that includes 6 wines, cheeses, and cured meats. It seems too good to be true, but that’s why I love this wine region so much! Not able to fly to South Africa? You can try Fairview via Binny’s in the USA for $12 per bottle. Try out the Goats Do Roam!
4. Kanonkop – This family-owned estate is nestled amongst mountains and rolling hills. The Pinotage and Cape Blend were my favorites, but there are many whites and reds to sample. The tasting room here is much more modern than the other vineyards mentioned on this list. The tasting room is more like a large counter that everyone gathers around to try the various wines. Although not as charming as the other wineries, this place makes some great wine. You can purchase this wine in the USA too from $15-$75 per bottle.

3. Douro Valley, Portugal

Just one hour inland from Porto, the Douro Valley region in Portugal is not to be missed. Hire a driver for the day, and enjoy a delicious day trip from Porto that will not only introduce you to new wines, but also promises an amazing lunch and views for days. Many of the vineyards in the Douro start with “Quinta” which just means that it is a wine producing estate. Once a pretty sleepy place, the Douro has exploded in popularity recently due to river cruises.

Of course, this region is also really famous for producing port wine. I love a glass of raisin-y, rich red port! Typically an after-dinner drink, port grapes are often still picked by hand. This fortified wine has brandy introduced during the fermentation process which gives it that extra sweet kick.

Here were my favorite stops:

1. Quinta do Crasto – Consistently on “top wine” lists, Quinta do Crasto definitely requires advance reservations. This family-owned estate is a jewel to visit, and you can enjoy every kind of wine from white to red to port.
2. Quinta Nova – This was one of the best multi-course lunches I’ve ever enjoyed. We basically had a full wine tasting followed by another wine tasting that included amazing food pairings. We might have left this establishment a little over-served. This is also the first establishment that ever offered me a port tonic…enter my new favorite warm weather cocktail! Just white port (I didn’t even know it came in white) and tonic water on ice. Perfect on a hot day!
3. Sandeman (Quinta do Seixo) – There are a few different places where you can enjoy Sandeman’s excellent ports. In the Douro Valley, you can visit Quinta do Seixo and take a tour of the winery and enjoy ports in their tasting room. There is also The House of Sandeman in the city of Porto where you can enjoy the ports in their downtown location.
4. Fonseca (Quinta do Panascal) – Fonseca ports are ahhhmazing. This vineyard allows you to wander freely about the grapes while sipping wine and listening to an audio tour at your own pace. Tastings here range from 15€ to 55€ depending on the level of the port. You can also enjoy lunch or dinner on property.