T he breeze blows gently, and the rays of sunshine fall on the endless vineyard. For wine lovers, imagine this picturesque scenery: sitting idly on the grass, sipping a glass of wine, and immersing in the aftertaste that lingers in your mouth while enjoying this moment of tranquility in the richness of the Golden State. When it comes to wineries, you may first think of Bordeaux of France, Montalcino of Italy, and other wine regions in Europe. In fact, the wines produced in California are equally well regarded although occasionally less well known. We will take you to tour a few high-quality wineries in California to let you explore some of the world’s best wine.
#1 The Historic La Crema Estate
When you visit the tasting room of La Crema, the lovely old town feeling of the estate will make you mistaken that you have gone back a decade into the past. You may sample a variety of La Crema wines, such as the hand-made Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, in this tasting room which is set in a historic hundred-year-old barn. Visitors may also take a golf cart ride for a vineyard tour or enjoy a picnic on the grass in the park.
La Crema
Address: 3575 Slusser Rd Windsor, CA 95492
Website: www.lacrema.com
#2 The Sensory Gardens of Kendall-Jackson
When you visit the tasting room of La Crema, the lovely old town feeling of the estate will make you mistaken that you have gone back a decade into the past. You may sample a variety of La Crema wines, such as the hand-made Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, in this tasting room which is set in a historic hundred-year-old barn. Visitors may also take a golf cart ride for a vineyard tour or e njoy a picnic on the grass in the park. One of the treasures of the Jackson Estate is the beauty of its colourful flowers. The estate offers seven distinctive garden spaces, with fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs that inspire and attract both locals and tourists alike. Complementing the scenic beauty, the Kendall-Jackson wines are also outstanding – Awarded 2017 American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast, the picturesque Kendall-Jackson winery is known for its award-winning Chardonnay, the 1 selling Chardonnay in the U.S. for 25 years and counting.
Kendall Jackson
Address: 5007 Fulton Road,
Fulton, CA 95439
Website: www.kj.com
#3 The Purple Romance of Matanzas Creek Winery
Walk into Matanzas Creek’s winery and embrace the natural beauty of the endless lavender fields which create a purple oasis for guests to enjoy . Every summer, the winery transforms into a magnificent lavender garden, adding a touch of romantic colour that makes you feel like you are in Provence. At the Lavender Market, there are bath, body and home products made from hand-harvested lavender, which ensure that the enjoyment of the trip remains with you, even after you are back home. After touring the lavender fields, wine lovers can participate in an extraordinary wine tasting experience – the Black Glass Tasting, to explore how our sense of sight affects our perceptions of a wine. Known as a “focused wine discovery”, everything you thought you knew about wine tasting will be enhanced and questioned through this unique experience.
Matanzas Creek
Address: 6097 Bennett Valley Road, Santa
Rosa, California 95404
Website: www.matanzascreek.com
#4 The Cultural Heritage of Freemark Abbey
On the surface, people can’t help but will associate the name “Abbey” with a monastery. Freemark Abbey is in fact the combination of the names of three partners who originally bought the estate. Built in 1886, Freemark Abbey has a long history. At the1976 “Judgment of Paris” wine judging event, Freemark Abbey was the only winery with a red (Cabernet Sauvignon) and white wine (Chardonnay) represented. The success it achieved had catapulted the California wines of Napa Valley onto the world stage. Freemark Abbey’s wine cellar has a rich and varied wine collection which includes vintages dating to the late 1960s. Visitors can try a series of wonderful wines, from rare vintage wines to modern single-vineyard wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon. In addition, there is a unique Japanese restaurant “Two Birds / One Stone” in the manor, which is decorated with a historic atmosphere — a vaulted roof, an indoor stone wall decoration, and a stylish streamlined wooden dining table and chairs. Spacious and comfortable; it is the ideal place to enjoy some food after a long day’s wine tasting! Visitors can also venture to the unique Japanese restaurant Two Birds/One Stone in the winery, which is beautifully decorated in a historic atmosphere – a vaulted roof, interior stone walls, and stylish streamlined wooden dining tables and
chairs. Spacious and comfortable, it is the ideal place to enjo y a top chef cuisine after a long day’s wine tasting! If asked which of the wineries above we would choose, we had no doubt about our answer: all of the above! With its sunshine, food and hospitality, falling in love for California was easy. But California wines, of course, rounded off an exceptional place in the heart of the United States.
Freemark Abbey Winery
Address: 3022 St. Helena Highway
N., St. Helena, CA 94574
Website: www.freemarkabbey.com
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