The Most Idyllic Road Trip Through California Wine Country Has Hidden Gems, Dreamy Inns, And Seaside Charm

If you want to embark on an epic American road trip centered around the beauty and flavors of California wine country, we've got a way to do it. Driving from Southern California and up through Northern California, you will hit some of the best wine destinations and beautiful places to stay. With around 4,800 wineries across the Golden State, someone's favorite spot may inevitably be missing from this route — but you'll find some new favorites as you go. While you could easily spend a week or more at every place, a single night or two in each region will grant a taste of the area's highlights.

Start your trip about an hour north from San Diego in the city of Temecula, which offers casual vibes and delicious dining along with good wine. Hop on the Temecula Wine Trolley in historic downtown and let someone else do the driving to three different area wineries. Another good option would be Temecula Cable Car Wine Tours, which uses a restored San Francisco cable car to shuttle you around wine country. Fans of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" may recognize it from the show's eleventh season.

If you want to explore the area on your own, the Rancho California Way is a popular drive with a number of wineries close to each other. Additionally, check out some of the wineries off this main road. The Calle Contento Wine Trail takes you to spots like Longshadow Ranch Winery and Falkner Winery that present wine tastings in beautiful settings. Be sure to stay the night at Ponte Vineyard Inn, a romantic 90-room Mission-style hotel set amidst vineyards and gardens.

About 3.5 hours from Temecula (traffic depending) is Santa Barbara, called the "American Riviera" because of its Spanish-inspired beauty. Stretch your legs and take in some of the Santa Barbara city sights, like the Old Mission and museums, or walk on the beach. Alternatively, continue 30 to 45 minutes north into the valleys of the Santa Ynez Mountains to get to the vineyards. There are seven different American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Santa Barbara County, including the Santa Ynez Valley, California's most underrated wine region. 

This region (famously the setting of the 2004 movie "Sideways") is known for pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah, and sauvignon blanc. Melville Winery near Lompoc is one popular spot, as is Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard near Solvang. Solvang itself is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area as one American city that makes you feel like you're in Europe. It's a Danish town with wooden windmills, a "Little Mermaid" statue like the one in Copenhagen, and a Hans Christian Andersen museum.

If you want to stay near the beach, the Santa Barbara Inn is a Spanish Mediterranean-style hotel with 70 rooms that boast ocean, harbor, or mountain views. Plus the restaurant has a number of local wines on the menu. Or, stay in the heart of Santa Barbara's wine country at the Victorian Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Los Alamos. Inside the house are six suites, as well as a few cottages, all uniquely themed with 1950s, Egyptian, pirate, and "Hobbit" options.

From Santa Barbara, your California wine country road trip continues north towards Paso Robles (known locally as simply "Paso"), a little over two hours away. As you go, you'll drive through the beautiful town of Pismo Beach, which makes for a lovely seaside stop, as well as the fun college town of San Luis Obispo.

The Paso Robles AVA boasts over 200 wineries, and the most commonly grown grapes here are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and syrah. Some underrated wineries in the area include Cass Winery in the countryside outside of Paso and the Bella Luna Estate Winery in Templeton. For something a little different, you can take an e-bike tour of Ancient Peaks Winery in Santa Margarita with Margarita Adventures, which includes some wine tasting during stops along the way. To try the most wines in one place, Tin City in Paso is a warehouse district with over 20 small production wineries, plus some local restaurants, breweries, and cideries.

Along with wine, Paso Robles is known for its hot springs. Try the "sip and soak" at the River Oaks Hot Spring Spa, where you get a flight of local wines to enjoy in a mineral water hot tub amidst the vines. Spend the night at the Paso Robles Inn, across from the Downtown City Park. It's been a mainstay overnight stop for travelers since the turn of the century.

After Paso, it's a little less than two hours into Monterey wine country, home to 10 different AVAs. Two of the best are the Santa Lucia Highlands to the west of the Salinas Valley and Carmel Valley, Monterey County's closest AVA to the ocean. These will give you an idea of the variety of growing regions here, and Behind the Scenes Wine Tours can take you on a custom tour through either.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is famous for its white sand beaches and offers tasting rooms for some of the region's best wineries via the Carmel Wine Walk, including Silvestri Vineyards and Chalone Vineyards. For a comfy overnight, the Stilwell Hotel is less than a mile from the beach, offering 42 guest rooms with natural, modern designs. The onsite restaurant, Foray, serves locally sourced food and boasts an impressive wine collection, including plenty from California.

The next major stop is the Napa/Sonoma region. It's typically faster to get there from Carmel on Highway 101 (about 3 hours, depending on traffic), but if you take an extra half hour or so on Highway 1, you can visit the Corralitos Wine Trail along the way. This under-the-radar destination features six wineries at the southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, stretching through the mountains between the ocean and Silicon Valley. Taking Highway 1 also reveals some sensational beaches like Seacliff State Beach in Aptos. Then in Santa Cruz, enjoy Big Basin Vineyards' tasting room and wine bar near the Santa Cruz Wharf, or visit the brand's Boulder Creek estate on the weekend.

Both Napa and Sonoma Counties boast some incredible award-winning wineries and beautiful landscapes. However, the Sonoma region is larger than Napa, which means more driving but also potentially fewer crowds. Sonoma County offers 19 different AVAs, and one not-to-miss spot is Alexander Valley. The valley is home to the Jordan Winery, where you can taste the wines, tour the estate, and stay at the elegant French-inspired chateau. Also in Alexander Valley is SUTRO Wine Co., a female-owned winery with tastings of its Bordeaux varietals by appointment.

Then there's the Russian River Valley, home to bold wines and scenic riverside picnic spots. This area is known for its pinot noir, chardonnay, and zinfandel. Russian River Vineyards is a local favorite with a large outdoor patio for tasting, while Harvest Moon Winery in Santa Rosa has a specialized tasting that includes painting a pot for a plant you can take home. While in the area, wander through the small towns along the river — including Forestville, Guerneville, and Duncan Mills — for fun boutique shopping and sightseeing.

For a real Sonoma coastal adventure, drive about 20 minutes southwest from the Russian River Valley to Jenner, which sits along the edge of the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. While there are a number of producers in this AVA, the only tasting room is at Fort Ross Vineyard. Stay the night at the Timber Cove Resort, a relaxing retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The resort's restaurant highlights Sonoma wines paired with seasonal dishes. Alternatively, continue up Highway 1 into Mendocino County and stay at Elk Cove Inn & Spa. This bed and breakfast has 16 unique guest rooms, stunning ocean views, private beach access, and fantastic fine dining.

Mendocino County is home to its own unique wine regions as well as some fantastic, uncrowded beaches like Manchester State Beach and Navarro River State Beach. Just off of Highway 1 near the New England-style beach town of Mendocino is Brewery Gulch Inn. This picturesque 11-room inn makes for a quiet, dreamy Mendocino getaway. It's got a spa, the grounds are filled with native plants, and it even offers farm-to-table dining and an evening wine hour. While in Mendocino, stop by the Meyer Family Cellars tasting room, just steps from the beach. And if all the driving has you feeling a little stiff, get in a soak at Sweetwater Spa in Mendocino in a private outdoor redwood hot tub.

From the coast, drive through the redwoods along Highway 128 into Anderson Valley, a wine country destination that those in the know appreciate for its value. Many of the area wineries are located just off the highway or in the small communities along the 16-mile stretch of the valley. In Philo, the Goldeneye Winery has indoor and outdoor tasting options near their rolling vineyards. Also in Philo is the laid-back tasting room for Witching Stick Wines, where you may meet the winemaker himself while sipping his pinot noir or zinfandel.

Afterward, drive south into Boonville to visit Bee Hunter Wine, where you'll be made to feel right at home during your tasting, and then Pennyroyal Farm, which raises both grapes and goats for a combo wine and cheese tasting. There's really no wrong way to experience the beauty and deliciousness of California's wine country. Just get out there, take your time, and have fun!