Wineries in Southern California

Although Southern California is not as well known as Napa Valley for growing and producing quality wines, it makes millions of gallons of wines of several varieties each year to ship worldwide.  Winery tours in Southern California are centered in two areas where most of the wine grapes are grown. The first of these two regions is the coastal area near Santa Barbara which includes Pala Mesa Mountain and Cape Horn.

The other region is the Temecula wine country just south of Los Angeles and a little north of San Diego.  This little wind swept small town is quite remarkable and provides a focus to wine tours in Southern California.

Temecula Wine Country Tours

A tour to this wine growing region can be as delightful an experience as you wish to make it.  Although Temecula has a relatively young assortment of wineries, they are already well on the way to providing a selection of world class wine tours in Southern California.  Los Angeles or San Diego are a popular starting points for self guided day trips to Southern California wineries.  For those who desire it, luxury is available also.  French Chateaus offering elegant dining are now also part of the expanding program. 

There are about twenty wineries to visit in this region. Most of them provide a wine tasting room and a wine-tasting session available for less than twenty dollars. Wines from this region are still affordable and are good values for the excellent quality.  Visitors to wineries in Temecula often purchase an assortment of wines.

This particular region is also well known for avocado orchards. This makes the Temecula wine tours in Southern California quite likely to include a fresh sample of this unique fruit served alongside a fresh white wine in the restaurants and tasting rooms.

Santa Barbara Wine Country

The Santa Barbara coastal region, especially Santa Ynez, is another unique wine growing area with a culture all of its own.  Located between beaches and mountains, Southern California wine tours in this area could be a walking tour of downtown Santa Barbara, or a limousine ride in the beautiful green hills just outside of the city.  In fact, the Santa Barbara Winery is located in the center of Santa Barbara, not far from the beach. 

Organized Southern California wine tours in this area are a little less common, as access to the wineries is so simple and the local culture so casual.  However, organized tours are available and can also offer all inclusive pricing that can be an attractive deal.  These tours might last five or six hours and visit two or three wineries. But more importantly, the providers of the wine tours usually do the driving.