Today I want to bring you my guide to where to go wine tasting in Carneros. One of the closest parts of Northern California wine country to San Francisco, it’s a great place if you want to visit vineyards near the city. From still wines to sparkling, there’s no shortage of vintages to get excited about here. Read on for my day trip itinerary. I’ve included an interactive map, too.
Carneros
When you’re in California, you have to go wine tasting. It’s not just because we have great wines here, it’s because there are wineries all up and down the Golden State. No matter where you are, there will be vineyards nearby. In the case of San Francisco, many of them are in Sonoma and Napa.
The closest can be found in Los Carneros, an American Viticultural Area (AVA) that spans the southern parts of Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. It’s known for having a cool climate due to its proximity to fog and breezes coming off the San Pablo Bay. It’s also where you can find famous hotels like the Carneros Resort & Spa.
I’m here now and I can’t wait to see what my day trip to wine country has in store. My friends and I have chosen to visit the wineries in Sonoma County, as they’re slightly closer to San Francisco than the ones in Napa. If our time here is anywhere near as fun as it’s been on my other Sonoma itineraries, we’re going to have a great time.
Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
Just 30 miles north of the City by the Bay, we find ourselves at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because the Jacuzzi family, which emigrated to California from the Friuli region of Italy in the early 20th century, is the same one that’s famous for the hot tub brand of the same name.
Its members also invented airplane propellers and all kinds of other technologies. Today we’re in town to celebrate their achievements in the oenological realm, though.
The Jacuzzi family’s impressive stone winery in Carneros is big and welcoming. We arrive ready to try a range of wines, and during our tasting we work our way through a number of both Italian varietals and regional favorites like Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Los Carneros AVA is known for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and sparkling wines. They’re all delicious, but I fall in love with a particularly good Barbera from a vineyard in Mendocino County.
When we’re done with our tasting, we purchase a few bottles to take home before exploring the grounds and the expansive cellar.
Anaba Wines
Leaving Jacuzzi, we drive north on Highway 121 and head to Anaba, another winery in Carneros. While the tasting room has only been open since modern times, the farmhouse it’s situated in has been around for over 100 years.
Upon arrival, we settle in and work our way through a number of the traditional single-vineyard Pinot Noirs the region is known for. My favorite is a Pinot from the Sonoma Coast. I buy a bottle to add to my collection before we pile back into the car for a final winery visit in Carneros.
Gloria Ferrer
This time we’re in the mood for bubbles. We drive straight to Gloria Ferrer, which is known for its sparkling wines. We’re seated out on the terrace overlooking the vineyards, where we enjoy glasses of sparkling rose.
Gloria Ferrer is known for having one of the most attractive vineyards in the Sonoma Valley, and it’s a truly beautiful place. Sipping sparkling wine on a sunny afternoon is the perfect end to a day of wine tasting in Carneros.
Wine Tasting in Carneros
When we’re done, the drive back to the city is so quick we can hardly believe it. There may be vineyards all over California, but I’m glad some of the closest wineries to San Francisco number among the best.
Carneros Map
As promised, you can find an interactive map of the places we went wine tasting in Carneros here. I hope it helps you follow in our footsteps and have a great time in Northern California.
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