If you love a good glass of wine, then you need to check out these amazing wineries in the US. No matter if you’re a wine connoisseur or not, you won’t regret visiting a winery. We’re not here to teach you how to tell a Merlot from a Malbec, but we’ll help you find the best winery in the US to visit!
You won’t need to visit the biggest wineries in the US in order to sniff and sip on a good glass of wine. From the rolling hills of Virginia to the sunny vineyards of northern California, America has a variety of wineries to choose from. If you’re ready to catch your buzz and take a case (or four) for the road, read on!
1. Scribe Winery in Sonoma County, CA
Around a 30 minute drive from Napa is Sonoma County and its additional 250 wineries. As one of the largest wineries in the US, expect to find your Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon with ease. It’s a bit less touristy and more relaxed than other popular wineries in the US but a guaranteed great tasting experience.
Scribe Winery provides guests with a cozy Mexican blanket once they arrive instead of sending them to a fancy tasting room. You can take your blanket to your own spot on their estate. There you can enjoy their grassy hills, earthy wine, and homegrown nuts and fruits for snacking.
2. Duckhorn Vineyards in Napa Valley, CA
Napa Valley is home to over 400 wineries, and while it’s one of the smaller ones in the region, it still produces nearly four percent of California’s wine. Located near the Silverado Trail in St. Helena, this vineyard offers an airy estate with stunning views. The wrap-around veranda is the icing on the cake and tastings start at $40.
Remember to try to the vineyard’s special Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon too!
3. Augusta Winery in Augusta, MO
The midwest offers some of the best wineries in the US, but Augusta was the first federally approved American Viticultural Area (AVA). This winery is located along the bluffs overlooking the beautiful Missouri River Valley. You and your guests ca sample five standard wines for just $5 or select from more premium and exclusive wines for $8.
Augusta Winery earned its status back in June 1980, several months before Napa. It also received an award at the 2018 Missouri Wine Competition for its exclusive 2016 Norton Estate Bottled. This is a special honor when Norton is considered one of the oldest American grape as well as Missouri’s official state grape.
4. Sawtooth Winery in Snake River Valley, ID
Another one of the biggest wineries in Snake River Valley spans over 8,000 miles across Idaho and Oregon and officially became an AVA in 2007. You’ll find 1,800 acres of that land as vineyards, with Skyline Vineyards being the largest. It supplies Sawtooth Winery and smaller boutique wineries in Idaho.
They also feature Rhone varietals such as Roussanne, Pinot Gris, Tempranillo, and Syah. You’ll surely find the classics too such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. You can sample any of them in their rustic, wooden tasting room.
Enjoy the views of the Sawtooth Range from the windows while you sip on your favorite blends.
5. Cass Vineyard & Winery in Paso Robles, CA
When you want to venture outside of the popular vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, there are over 200 wineries within Paso Robles to choose from. There are 11 special wine regions, all-around three hours north of Santa Barbara. They produce up to 60 different varietals but these wineries are best known for creating Zinfandel.
Stop by one of the large-scale vineyards such as JUSTIN’s or a more boutique winery like Cass Vineyard & Winery. Cass won Winery of the YEar during the 2019 Central Coast Wine Competition. You can try their best blends while sitting under a shaded verandah for a $20 tasting fee.
6. Duchman Family Winery in Texas Hill Country, TX
While Texas Hill Country is known as the place you go to for a generous glass of Jack Daniels, there are 53 wineries from Austin to New Braunfels to choose from. Texas’s state law mandates that “Texas wine” has to have at least 75 percent of fruit grown within state lines. Legislators, however, want to increase that number to 100 percent.
Vineyards, like William Chris Wines, are already getting the job done. Duchman Family Winery sources 100 percent Texas grapes and offers tasting flights for $12. It’s a short 40-minute drive from central Austin and great for a quick road trip. It’s also located right by The Salt Lick, where you can pair all of that wine with big servings of BBQ.
7. L’Ecole No 41 in Walla Walla Valley, WA
In small-town Walla Walla, near the southeastern side of Washington, is one of the best wineries in the US. The region currently has 120 wineries and 2,800 acres of delicious grapes across the region. They produce everything from Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon to Sangiovese, to Syrah.
You can also sample the vineyard’s award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blancs for only $10.
8. King Family Vineyards in Charlottesville, VA
There are 33 vineyards that make up the Monticello Wine Trail along the Blue Ridge Mountain foothills. You’ll find a variety of grapes, most notably Chardonnay, Viognier, and Cabernet Franc. This year, King Family Vineyards took the prize at Virginia Wine’s Governor’s Cup competition thanks to their 2014 Meritage.
Visit their winery to get six samples of their wine for $10!
9. Sokol Blosser in Willamette Valley, OR
You can find over 500 wineries within the Williamette Valley, situated alongside Oregon’s Cascade Mountains and its Coast Range. There are 700 vineyards producing grapes — 75 percent of them being Pinot Noir. Sokol Blosser encourages you to make a reservation before tasting their wines on their cedar terrace, their commercial kitchen, or one of their six well-lit tasting rooms.
Another great idea is to hire proper winery tour transportation so you can enjoy your buzz stress-free!
These Are the Best Wineries in the US
There you have it: the best wineries in the US to have on your list this summer! Sure, it would be nice to head to Bordeaux or Tuscany but there are plenty of places to choose from right in America’s backyard. We hope you enjoy these cool wineries and take some cases for the road!
Cheers!