California Dreamin’: Wine Trail of the Pacific Coast

California is the third largest state in the US, with an area one and a half times larger than the UK. Home to over 4,700 wineries, this state produces more that 588 million gallons of the good stuff, making it a wine lover’s haven. The great thing about this region is due to its sheer size, there’s a huge amount of diversity in its weather and terroir, making it perfect for a wide range of grape varieties to be grown – over 100, in fact, so there’s plenty to explore when visiting!

Many vineyards lay inland, however there are also plenty of well-known regions and hidden gems dotted along the coast too, which make this part of the state a really great area to explore. Oh, and not to mention the jaw dropping beauty of this coastline that makes it a trip worthwhile in itself! We begin our journey in the north of California in a region you will almost certainly have heard of.

Two of California’s most famous regions – Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley – are located in close proximity to each other, and are a great place to start. Napa Valley is just an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, making it easily accessible if you are staying in this fine city. Predominantly known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, or ‘Napa Cab’, these wines are rich and generally oak aged with aromas of blackcurrant and liquorice.

This region is arguably one of the most prestigious in the New World, and wine from this area is rather sought after. With over 375 wineries open for tastings in Napa, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking which ones to visit. Many tours run from San Francisco directly, making them hassle free and also meaning you can enjoy the wine without having to worry about driving back to the city. Traditional wine tours are not the only way to see these vineyards though, with hot air balloon rides being a popular way to view these stunning landscapes!

The region of Sonoma is much larger, however the Sonoma Valley area specifically is ideal as it showcases almost everything this region has to offer. In this area you’ll find an abundance of Cabernet Sauvignon along with Chardonnay, and a Californian classic, Zinfandel. The great thing about wine tours and tastings in this region is they are generally slightly cheaper due to Sonoma having a little less of the image Napa carries. The wines nevertheless are just as exceptional in quality making it a fine choice.

Of course, beyond the wineries you won’t be bored for one second. San Francisco speaks for itself and is a place you could easily keep busy for days on end. From museums and historical sites such as the Alcatraz prison, to the stunning Golden Gate Bridge which tourists flock to, and of course the traditional trams which still run up and down this city, it’s a place full of excitement at every twist and turn.

We now cruise a little further south down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH1), which hugs over 600 miles of this heavenly coastline, to the area of Monterey County. This coastal region is an unsung hero of Californian wine, home to a number of smaller independent wineries which run through the valley from Salinas, down to the San Lucian Mountains and the Gabilan mountains.

With Monterey Bay at the north, cold winds are swept through this region prolonging the growing season, resulting in one of the longest in the world. This is welcomed by cool climate varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which explains why these two grapes account for more than 70% of the wine produced here. You’ll even find small amounts of Riesling and Pinot Gris, making it a very exciting region within California.

Of course, it’s not just the wine that should draw you to this part of the world. The scenic beauty of the Monterey coast is stunning. As you drive PCH1 you’ll experience some of California’s most rugged coastline with sea views unlike any other. Make sure to check out Big Sur whilst you’re here for arguably some of the most breath-taking views you will find in the US. Big Sur is also home to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park where you’ll find picturesque hiking trails, traditional American motels, quaint lodges and campsites. It’s the perfect overnight stop before we cascade further down this spectacular coastline.

The next stop on this all-American road-trip is Santa Luis Obispo. A halfway point between the two biggest cities on this west coast: San Francisco and Los Angeles. Santa Luis Obispo County is home to a handful of American Viticultural Area’s (AVA’s) with wineries scattered across the countryside, the closest AVA to the city of Santa Luis Obispo being Edna Valley.

This area has an array of soil types due to most of the region originally being covered by the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a very fertile base from the ancient marine sediment left here. You can therefore expect to taste a whole host of different wines, each with that distinct coastal influence and freshness.

Santa Luis Obispo is home to over 20,000 students from the California Polytechnic State University, resulting in a bustling atmosphere for such a small city. Imagine good quality, local bars and restaurants dishing up classic American grub. What more could you wish for on a PCH1 road trip? If you do stop over in Santa Luis Obispo, aim to do so on a Thursday in order to enjoy the weekly farmers market held downtown on Thursday evenings. Street party vibes here add to that lively feel and create quite the atmosphere.

Next, we head down to Santa Barbra County, home to the city of Santa Barbara and six AVA’s to explore. Santa Barbara is a glamourous, coastal city used by many Angelinos as an escape from the bright lights of LA. A hotspot for celebrity second homes makes this a wealthy neighbourhood and a city worth spending a day or two. A number of guided wine tours take place here which will take you across many of the six AVA’s, meaning there is plenty to keep wine lovers busy.

Santa Maria is a popular choice and is worth a visit on your way down from Santa Luis Obispo. Santa Maria sits in a valley running east to west, allowing cooler weather to flow in land as well as low lying fog. This influence maintains a maritime climate allowing cooler climate grapes to thrive. Chardonnay fans, this should definitely be on your list of places to stop!

Happy Canyon is another AVA which is slightly further inland and enjoys a more Mediterranean climate. This newer region has only been producing wine since the late 1900’s making it a sub-region on the rise. Small wineries here are producing some top-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, amongst other varieties which will be sure to grow in popularity as they are slowly discovered.

When your days of discovering wineries and vineyards of this region come to an end, there’s plenty more to explore in this fine city. With historical sites, museums, street cafes and plenty of independent shops, Santa Barbara has a real sense of community and is the ideal place to immerse yourself in Californian culture. The Spanish Mission church is a must see for any history buffs, and is open daily for tourists to look around. With a number of long sandy beaches stretching along this area of coastline, this is the perfect place to recoup and catch some rays before we hit the highway and head for the big city.

We leave behind the city of Santa Barbara and head for our next destination, Malibu. Malibu Coast is one of the newest AVA’s in California, having only become established in 2014. The area spans 45 miles between Ventura County and the Hollywood Hills, just north of LA. However just a few hundred acres are planted to vine in this area. This makes Malibu wines some of the most talked about currently in the Californian wine scene, and now is definitely the time to try these before the rising popularity starts to push up prices.

It’s an area that has a unique terroir and meso climate, with vineyards being exposed to the weather which the Pacific Ocean brings, so it’s slightly cooler than more inland areas. This is complemented by the Southern Californian sun which is found in abundance. As a result, the grapes reach their potential much slower here allowing them to maintain acidity. A relatively small town, Malibu can be enjoyed in a day, so once you’ve finished wine tasting it’s worth grabbing some local seafood and heading for the City of Angels.

A road trip of the west coast wouldn’t be complete if it wasn’t for a stop off in the land of the rich and famous. This city has a hell of a lot to offer, and although wine may not be what it’s best known for, there is a hand full of vineyards and wineries scattered across six AVA’s in Los Angeles County. Despite LA being the most populated city in the whole of the States, there is a diverse terrain beyond its urban sprawl, where you’ll find wineries offering up Cab Sav and Merlot, often combined into Bordeaux style blends.

Beyond the wineries and vineyards, LA is jam packed with activities, sights and things to do. Whether its an adrenaline filled day at the Universal Studios or a shopping trip down Rodeo Drive rubbing shoulders with the A listers that call this place home, you would find it hard to be bored here. The city is a place that has a unique energy about it, with glitz and glamour at the centre of it all.

After a jam-packed trip through this glorious part of the world, it’s time to head to our final destination. We end our journey in the city of San Diego. San Diego is home to a number of AVA’s although these produce a very small amount of wine in relation to the rest of California.

Viticulture mostly takes place in the hills that run the length of the county, separating the Pacific Ocean from the Colorado Dessert in the east. The weather here is very warm all year round, particularly through the summer months so vineyards rely on the coastal breeze to thrive. Wine tours to some of San Diego’s best vineyards take place daily, and often these tours are incorporated with beer and spirit tastings too.

San Diego may not be a city which is synonymous with wine, but nevertheless, it is certainly a place that you need to visit when exploring this part of the world. The laid-back atmosphere and the blazing sun create a destination where it’s easy to switch off and relax.

A common theme you have probably noticed with most places along this coast is the number of beaches. So it will come as no surprise that San Diego is no different, and the beaches here are some of the best in the state. Make sure you head down to La Jolla beach to watch the sea lions if you get a chance, or if you are looking for an upmarket area to explore then head for the island of Coronado which can be driven to via a bridge, which offers a more relaxed escape form the city.

And there we have it. A whistle stop tour of one of the most popular road trips in the US, which happens to meander through some of California’s best wine hotspots! If this has got you California dreamin’, then why not check out our range of Californian wines to get a taste of this incredible New World region!