Top 5: Wineries in America

Drinking wine skyrocketed in popularity over the last two decades in the United States, partially due to millennials. Once thought of as the Frenchman’s beverage of choice, wine is now a common party drink similar to beer and soda.

With the increase of interest in wine comes the increase in wine tourism. While you may be thinking of adding wine tasting or a vineyard tour to your next vacation, you might not exactly know where to go. We’ve compiled a list of the top five wineries in America to help assist your next adventure.

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Monte Rosso Vineyard

One of California’s oldest vineyards, Somona County’s Monte Rosso Vineyard is known for its firm Cabernet Sauvignons as well as old-vine Zinfandels. The vineyard was originally planted in 1880 by Emanuel Goldstein, until the Martini family purchased the property in 1938 and replanted some of the ranch with what is today some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon in North America. One of the top bottles includes the blackberry-rich 2002 Ravenswood Monte Rosso Zinfandel.

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Hirsch Vineyard

David Hirsch’s Somona coast vineyard perches on a ridge above the Pacific where you’ll find some of California’s greatest Pinot Noir. Hirsch founded the vineyard in 1980 to grow fruit and make site-specific wine. The wines give the passionate drinker an experience of the clash of opposites meeting in nature and life. The top bottle is the $45 Siduri Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir. The silky pinot is filled with a sweet cherry flavor.

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To Kalon Vineyard

Planted in 1868, the To Kalon Vineyard is recognized as one of the finest first-growth vineyards in the world. Ancient Greek for highest beauty, To Kalon is the historic vineyard that provides Robert Mondavi Winery with grapes for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and Oakville District Cabernet Sauvignon and is the exclusive source of the Fumé Blanc Reserve. One of the top bottles is the 2002 Paul Hobbs Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.

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Peay Vineyard

Peay Vineyard seeks to make elegant, balanced and terroir-driven Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay from its estate vineyard located on the west Somona Coast. The vineyard sits on a fog-shrouded hilltop above a river gorge four miles from the Pacific Ocean. The uplifted seabed lies in the chilly and windy inversion layer. Some of the fruit from the up-and-coming star goes to names like Williams Selyem and Ryan and keeps the rest for its own label. One of the top bottles is the 2002 Renard Peay Vineyard Syrah. The powerful, dense Syrah offers wild notes of roasted meat and black pepper.

Bien Nacido Vineyards

Bien Nacido Vineyards is the most recognized vineyard in Santa Barbara County specializing in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. The vast property in California’s Santa Maria Valley supplies lush Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah as well as other varieties to more than 40 producers. One of the top bottles is the 2003 Longoria Santa Maria Valley Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir. The bottle sources the coolly herbal Pinot full of red cherry flavor from some of the vineyard’s oldest wines.