11 scenic West Coast wineries worth a trip

One of the best producers of chardonnay and pinot noir in California, Flowers Vineyards & Winery opened a tasting room in Healdsburg just one year ago, in 2019. While its vineyards are well known for their remote location on the coast, the tasting room is just as beautiful. Admire Northern California's famous coastal fog over the estate's redwood groves with a view of Mount Saint Helena in the background as you sip a Sonoma Coast chardonnay—sounds perfect. Be sure to make a reservation, as walk-in opportunities are very limited. 

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Head to this unassuming winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley for its views of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson, but also for its story. Founding winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash was the first female winemaker ever hired in Oregon, and Penner-Ash Wine Cellars is her sustainable dream realized. The terrace is a comfy spot to sip on the winery's signature grape—pinot noir—while you take in the gorgeous landscape.

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Winos will already know about the gorgeous varietals that can be found in Walla Walla, Washington, but if you’re seeking a landscape that’s just as beautiful, Abeja is our pick. Located on a nearly 150-year-old farm at the base of the Blue Mountains, the 38-acre site offers an inn for overnight stays along with the winery. The wine list ranges from cabernets to merlots, while vineyards, creeks, gardens, and lavender fields provide a serene setting.

The drive to Jenner is half the adventure as you cruise along Highway 1 on the California coast to this hidden winery located just a mile from the ocean. The higher altitude (55 acres of varying terrain rise to 1200 feet above sea level) gives the grapes a unique flavor and also affords sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. You can sip cool-climate pinot noir or chardonnay, but the Pinotage (similar to a pinot noir but more earthy tasting) sourced straight from South Africa is really special. Plan ahead, as Fort Ross is not currently accepting walk-ins.

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Only thirty minutes from downtown Tucson, Charron Vineyards is one of southern Arizona's oldest vineyards. At 4200 feet above sea level, the vines enjoy warm summer days and cool nights, the perfect growing conditions for the winery's merlot, rosé or even a wine slushie. Just as spectacular are the vies of the Santa Rita Mountains from Charron's flower-covered patio. Opt for the winery's picnic lunches, where you can sip wine en plein air. 

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While Argyle winery makes chardonnay, riesling and Oregon's signature pinot noir, you're here for the bubbles. Argyle makes its champagne using the méthode champenoise, which means its the closest you can get to the real thing in the United States. The indoor tasting room, a former hazelnut processing plant, has glass walls which lead to a spacious, covered patio for uninterrupted views of the wine region.

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HALL Wines's smaller, more intimate tasting room in St. Helena is located at the historic Bergfeld Vineyard at the base of the Mayacama Mountains and includes 33 acres of pristine Napa Valley land. Sip on the estate's signature cabs while you seek out the winery's famous Bunny Foo-Foo sculpture (just one of 35 pieces of contemporary artwork that punctuate the property), and admire the rich landscape from the Great Lawn.

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Rex Hill offers an impressive variety of seating arrangements, from a cavernous interior with floor-to-ceiling windows, to cozy tables in wine caves, to an outdoor patio that spills out onto the lawn. A 2020 renovation modernized the tasting room while maintaining the site’s architectural history. Rex Hill also has a long history with delicate pinot noirs—their signature—but you won't be disappointed by the chardonnay either.

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Unfortunately, Malibu Wines’ popular, rustically picturesque has been closed since 2018 due to the Woolsey Fire. Fortunately, the winery also has a wine and beer garden location about 20 miles west of Burbank to make up for it in the meantime. The location really leans into the beer garden aesthetic, with a flat outdoor patio and picnic table seating, but keeps things scenic, dotted with string lights and filled with greenery, including a massive tree that’s the hearth of the outdoor area.

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