Napa and Sonoma may get all the press, and the Gold Country may have all of that rugged history, but the wine country of California’s Central Valley can easily hold its own when it comes to making fabulous wines. Rightly famous for its rich soils and temperate climate, the Central Valley yields up wines of exceptional character and, compared to some of those other regions, incredible value. Let’s take a look at where you can go to find some of the best wines in California!

Yolo County

Known for its incredibly rich soil, warm days and mild Delta breezes, the wine country of Yolo County yields unforgettable wines of great character and diversity. Here you’ll find outstanding Syrah, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Tempranillo and Cabernet Souvignon, but also lesser-grown varietals such as Viognier, Malbec, Primitivo, and Albarino, plus Sparkling and Port. You’re sure to find something memorable, and affordable, to suit your taste.

Virtually all of Yolo County some two-dozen wineries are family owned and operated—including major producer Bogle Vineyards in the Clarksburg AVA—guaranteeing visitors an intimate experience with highly knowledgeable artisans. In the little history town of Winters, you’ll find four tasting venues, including Berryessa Gap and Turkovich Family Wines (with a newly expanded tasting room, and home of the Winters Cheese Company offering samples, as well). In Davis, Rominger West offers live music on Thursdays and Fridays, and special events throughout the year. In Clarksburg, the Old Sugar Mill is a unique, historic venue, housing six tasting rooms representing eight wineries all under one roof!

Yolo County is also home to the U.C. Davis Viticulture and Enology department, as well as the Robert Mondavi Institute for Food and Wine Science. Clearly, local expertise helps put Yolo County on the leading edge of the industry.

From Clarksburg to Davis, Winters to verdant Capay Valley and Dunnigan Hills, you’ll also enjoy gorgeous scenery, great dining opportunities, and comfortable, welcoming places to stay. For more information about Yolo County wineries and other attractions, visit www.yolocvb.org.

Suisun Valley

Suisun Valley is rustic wine country, nestled in gorgeous, uncrowsed Solano County farmland between San Francisco and Sacramento. The Suisun Valley appellation was established in 1982, and is nestled between two coastal mountain ranges, southeast of Napa Valley. We offer a very diverse agricultural region. We have approximately 10 wineries, our vineyards grow 23 different wine grape varieties, and we’re best known for our Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

If you fancy Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Rhone varietals, you must visit Ledgewood Creekm named after the creek that meanders along the northern border of this estate. For lesser known varietals—like a sensational Late Harvest Malvasia Bianca—visit Blacksmith Cellars. And for a truly rugged yet natural experience, experience Winterhawk Winery; here, owl houses and hawk boxes are strategically placed throughout the vineyard, beckoning a wide variety of birds including Red-Tailed Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, Sparrow Hawks, and Northern Harriers.

Besides the outstanding wineries, visitors will encounter many farm stands, selling fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, nuts and freshly produced olive oils, from family farms that have been handed down for generations. There are also regular, seasonal events that are fun and laid-back—all in all, a perfect combination for visitors year-round. For more information about Suisun Valley wineries, visit www.suisunvalley.com.

Lodi

A rapidly emerging jewel of California wine, Lodi offers an inviting rural atmosphere and a relaxed pace, perfected suited to enjoying its exquisite wines that are full of flavor yet soft and supple on the palate. Located directly east of San Francisco at the edge of the Sacramento River Delta, the Lodi appellation (which has seven sub-appellations) is noted for its classic Mediterranean climate and its distinctive sandy soils that provide the perfect environment for the production of world-class wines. Today you can choose from nearly 80 wineries that call Lodi home, an abundance that’s impossible to bypass.

Lodi is the self-proclaimed Zinfandel Capital of the World, producing more than 40 percent of California’s premium Zinfandel.  Many of the region’s most distinctive wines come from the thousands of acres of “old vines”,  some dating back to the 1880s.  Styles range from medium to full-bodied with intense red and black fruit flavors of cherries, raspberries, and blackberries.

Lodi is predominately a red wine producer with approximately 66 percent of the acreage dedicated to red varieties. For many years it was California’s best kept secret, enhancing the fruit in many of the state’s most popular premium varietal wines. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay account for the lion’s share of the acreage; however with more 60 varieties in commercial production Lodi offers a vast portfolio of exciting wines.

No visit would be complete without a stop at the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center. Here guests can taste from more than 200 Lodi wines and marvel at the hands-on demonstration vineyard.

For more information about Lodi wines, visit www.lodiwine.com.

Fresno

In the heart of the Central Valley, and a gateway to Yosemite National Park, Fresno is a surprisingly good destination for wine tasting in rambling Madera County. Nearly 20 wineries are open here, with vintners who are passionate about making the best wines possible.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Chardonnay are the leaders here, but visitors will also find excellent Tempranillo, Albarino, Sangiovese, and Barbera, plus delightful Late Harvest Zinfandel and luscious ports. Quality is paramount for these largely boutique wineries. For example, Engelmann Cellars focuses on creating hand-crafted reds and blends. Third-generation Ficklin Vineyards specializes in ports, including their lineup of flavored “Passport” wines. Nonini Winery, a fourth-generation family winery, established in 1936, has 15 varieties of premium wines,  plus a tour of the winery starting with the 1941 Garolla grape crusher from Italy and ends with the finished product resting in redwood tanks/oak barrels.

Two venues give visitors a chance to try several wines at once. Vino & Friends is a downtown Fresno wine store with a changing tasting menu. Also, be sure to stop by Appellation: California Wine Tasting & Visitor Center, pouring wines produced or sourced from family owned wineries or vineyards from the Central Valley. The Center also offers wine education classes.

 
For more information about Fresno wineries and other activities in and around town, visit www.playfresno.org.