For some, September signals the bittersweet end of summer. For others, it’s a new beginning: the height of harvest season in California wine country. Vineyard grapes reach optimal ripeness for picking, stomping, and fermenting, while the warm, dry, and temperate weather invites wine lovers across the country outdoors to see the vineyards for themselves. Craving a vino vacation of your own? Here’s what to do, eat, and drink, plus where to stay.
South Coast Winery Resort & Spa’s villas come equipped with cozy patios where guests can gaze out at lush hills of vineyards.
Temecula
Families, in particular, should start in the Riverside County city of Temecula, where anyone age 6 or above can sightsee from the skies with family-run company Cielo Balloons. Those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground might go for a sunset horseback ride with California Ranch Company before turning in for the night at the ultra-luxurious South Coast Winery Resort & Spa—the first and only five-time winner of the “Golden State Winery of the Year” award, as granted by the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition—or a room at the Spanish-style Ponte Vineyard Inn, which has its own vineyard and is within walking distance of two more.
From there, stroll to Bottaia Winery, where creative types looking to play winemaker for a day can blend their own vinos and bring them home as a souvenir to age. Hop in the car for your five-minute drive to lunch at the upper veranda of Flower Hill Bistro at Miramonte Winery. Wrap up your day with a tasting at the nearby Peltzer Family Cellars before heading into town for a last hurrah dinner at the 98-year-old, storied Swing Inn Cafe & BBQ.
Temecula Wines to Try
- 2019 Wild Horse Peak Il Temporale at South Coast Winery: Firm-bodied with notes of black cherry. Bright acidity and velvety tannins.
- 2023 Blush at Bottaia Winery: Simple and clean with notes of raspberry, melogold grapefruit, and lime.
- 2024 Sauvignon Blanc at Peltzer Family Cellars: Light and crisp, with apple blossom and honeydew melon notes.
Seven Gables Inn’s seaview rooms are spread across seven Victorian-era houses, including a three-story mansion constructed in 1886.
Central Coast
Head north and stop for a meal at the Hotel Californian’s Blackbird restaurant in Santa Barbara, where executive chef Travis Watson and his staff host a once-monthly series featuring a different winery or spirits company. Patrons who don’t want to build their schedule around that event can still savor offerings from local wineries like Lincourt and Firestone before checking in at The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos.
After spending some time in the property’s airy restaurant and renowned spa, continue onwards to Paso Robles, where you should plan ahead to book a table at the Michelin-starred Six Test Kitchen. There, the seating counter—which can only accommodate 12—wraps around the kitchen for a real-time, behind-the-scenes view of the staff whipping up 12 delicate courses using the bounty of the area’s farms. (Traveling next month? You’re in luck— October is the region’s Harvest Wine Month, when many wineries host special events.)
If you’re looking instead to prioritize the “coast” part of the region’s namesake, follow Carmel-by-the-Sea’s free, self-guided wine walk (get the app for discounts on included wineries’ tastings) before holing up at the romantic, 19th-century Seven Gables Inn, which overlooks Lovers Point Beach in Monterey. Admire the stained glass windows and Victorian architecture; plus, every single one of its 25 rooms offers views of the water.
Central Coast Wines to Try
- 2021 Sangiovese at Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery: Medium-bodied and well-balanced, with flavors of red fruit and aromas of orange peel and cranberries.
- 2021 Malbec at McGrail Vineyards: Easy drinking, with notes of blueberry and cherry followed by a lingering finish. Won Best of Class in the 2025 National Women’s Wine Competition.
Travel between tastings on the Livermore Wine Trolley.
Livermore
Take the 101 straight to Livermore’s iconic Wine Trolley, which shuttles riders to three local vineyards for tastings. Or sit down for a casual picnic at Del Valle Regional Park with a sandwich from Ofelia’s Kitchen and a bottle from First Street Wine Company. Make a stop at McGrail Vineyards before unpacking your suitcase for a stay in one of The Purple Orchid Resort & Spa’s 10 fireplace-equipped rooms and suites. Nibble on a complimentary, made-to-order breakfast while looking out at the garden or olive orchard from every room. Guests can also enjoy a community event each evening, featuring an olive oil tasting, wine, and cheeses.
For dinner, sit down at Range Life restaurant, where the sun shines through the building’s large, arched front windows into the renovated 1800s structure. The menu changes daily but always consists of seasonal, innovative Californian fare, with an eye toward local vendors and sustainability. If you’re not quite ready to travel this month, save your escape for October 16 through 19, when Livermore Valley’s Taste festival offers four days of local food and wine programming.
Livermore Wines to Try
- 2022 Estate Collection Soul of a Lion at Daou Vineyards: Fragrances of violet and strawberry jam; flavors of red fruit and chocolate-covered blueberry.
- 2024 Rosé at Peachy Canyon: Notes of strawberry, guava, and elderberry liqueur with a spicy Tajín aftertaste.
Napa
Arguably the more upscale and central of the two quintessential wine country destinations (Sonoma is the other), Napa offers nothing if not options: The Napa Valley Wine Train, for example, has 14 tailored excursions to choose from, ranging from two to six hours long and including multi-course gourmet meals. Glidesdale Adventures, an e-scooter experience, is more casual, with a homemade picnic lunch from the company’s founder (according to him, the pasta salad is the real star of the show).
Offerings at downtown Napa’s Oxbow Public Market include poke, empanadas, charcuterie, pizza, cupcakes, oysters, and more.
Those seeking walkable, central lodging should stay at the sleek and contemporary Archer Hotel Napa, where the architecture was designed to mirror the rows and patterns of vineyards. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown’s First Street district, within strolling proximity to the local vendors and small businesses of Oxbow Public Market, and its sixth-floor rooftop offers bird’s-eye views of Napa and the nearby valley.
Escape farther afield to the freestanding, lavish private cottages of Carneros Resort and Spa, where visitors can grab doughnuts from Boon Fly Café before departing for tastings at Caymus Vineyards and Stags’ Leap Winery (both require reservations). Don’t leave the area without savoring a glass on the patio of Domaine Carneros’ palatial estate.
Napa Wines to Try
- 2017 Blanc de Blancs Le Rêve at Domaine Carneros: A sparkling white with notes of Meyer lemon, ginger, and orange blossom. Made from 100 percent estate-grown Chardonnay.
- 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon at Caymus Vineyards: Rich and round, with balanced acidity and textured tannins.
Don’t be surprised if the animal residents of Beltane Ranch join in on wine time. The farm’s sheep help with earth-friendly weed control in the vineyard.
Sonoma
Spend a morning exploring the Sonoma Botanical Garden’s thriving 60-plus acres of Asian and California native plants before an afternoon at family-friendly and woman-led Abbot’s Passage Winery. Afterwards, eat dinner nearby at the Michelin-rated Glen Ellen Star restaurant (but be sure to book ahead of time—tables go quick and open up 20 days in advance). The wood-fired fare and cozy ambiance are the ideal companions for a journey through the restaurant’s North Coast–centric wine list.
Once you’re satiated, retire to the elevated farmhouse Beltane Ranch. Step outside your room to the charming wraparound porch, where you can look out at the bed-and-breakfast’s garden or rolling vineyard valley before enjoying breakfast prepared by the inn’s chef using ingredients grown onsite. Spend an afternoon meandering the working farm’s 105 acres and say hello to its residential animal population, including honey bees, chickens, and sheep.
On your way out of town, detour for a trail walk through Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and snag a bottle to go from Smith Story Wine Cellars, led by a husband-and-wife team.
Sonoma Wines to Try
- 2022 Zinfandel at Smith Story Wine Cellars: Bursting with dark berry flavors, which yield to Satsuma orange and floral fragrances.
- 2022 Grenache Field Blend at Abbot’s Passage Winery: Vibrant and luscious; cranberry- and graham cracker-forward with a touch of Szechuan pepper spice.
Fog Eater Cafe serves meat-free, Southern-style bites in Mendocino.
Mendocino
Escape from your 9-to-5 for a tranquil weekend on Mendocino’s rugged coast with a seaview room at The Heritage House Resort & Spa, which sits nestled on 37 unfettered, cliffside acres. Lazily peruse the galleries, shops, and bookstores along Main and Lansing streets, and then stop for brunch, dinner, or a glass at the über-charming Southern vegetarian restaurant Fog Eater Cafe.
Mendocino’s Anderson Valley is a hotbed of unforgettable wine experiences, so let us help narrow it down for you: Don’t miss Husch, the oldest vineyard in the valley, and mark your calendar for the first weekend of the month, when the Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association hosts limited tours to the top of the lighthouse, only available in March through October.
There later in the year? Walk off your buzz at Mendocino Headlands State Park where, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot the migrating whales breaching and sea lions lining the shore.
Mendocino Wines to Try
- 2019 L’Ermitage Brut at Roederer Estate: Textured fragrances of quince jelly and pastry crust, paired with a bright initial flavor and lingering pear aftertaste.
- 2021 Knoll Pinot Noir at Husch Vineyards: Notes of raspberry and red cherry with subtle vanilla and defined tannins.
