The Best Wine Regions in the U.S., From Napa to the Chesapeake Bay

When you think of a wine country getaway, you probably have a specific idea in mind. Maybe you’re picturing an opulent chateau on a peak, looking out over rolling hills lined with tidy rows of vines. Or maybe you’ve latched on to something a little more modern, glass walls and a wrought iron bar where a chic sommelier pours tiny tastes into oversize glasses. But vacations in wine country are more versatile than you think: you can have a pampered weekend of luxury and solitude or a rustic, agricultural expedition for a big group with kids in tow.

You also aren’t limited to the obvious destinations—you really don’t have to go to Bordeaux or the Rioja or Napa to get an incredible wine country experience. There are wine-growing regions spread across the United States, in the dusty deserts of the Southwest and among the historic colonial mansions of the mid-Atlantic. So it’s worth remembering: wherever you are, and wherever you’d like to be, someone is probably growing wine nearby. Here are just a few of the best wine regions to visit in the US.

This is the obvious one—you know it, you love it, you’ve paid way too much for a mediocre big-bodied cabernet in it. Yes it has become quite touristy, and prices have only gone up as the crowds have grown, but it’s worth reiterating: Napa is a magical place. The wine is often spectacular, the climate is ideal, the setting is beautiful, there are a ton of fun things to do, and you will absolutely eat well too. Thrillist has a handy guide to which wineries to visit in Napa, but it’s hard to go wrong.

Santa Barbara is one of LA’s favorite weekend getaways, a gorgeous beach town with famously good food and vibes. But more and more vacationers are passing through SB (maybe stopping for some tacos) on their way over Highway 154 and into the Santa Ynez Valley—Santa Barbara beach life is out, Santa Barbara wine country is so in. You will be surrounded by great wine, even better restaurants, rolling hills, and a lovely marine climate whether you choose to stay in the charmingly dilapidated town-sized tourist trap of Solvang, the tasting room capital of SoCal in Los Olivos, or one of the other surrounding towns like Buellton, Santa Ynez, or Los Alamos. There are outstanding meals to be had at “Franch” superstar Bell’s or its sister restaurant Bar Le Cote, world-class pastries and loaves at Bob’s Well Bread, and so much more great food. And the wine is its match, whether you’re looking for in-town tasting rooms like Alma Rosa, A Tribute to Grace, and Dragonette, or if you want to get out into the country there are estate wineries like Demetria and Peake Ranch.

Paso Robles is more casual than Napa, and even more laid-back than the Santa Ynez Valley—it’s not quite the Wild West, but no one will look askance if you show up to a tasting in cowboy boots. The region is best known for big punchy red wines, Zinfandels and Rhone varietals like Syrah and Grenache ripened into high-ABV palate crushers in a thrilling way. Herman Story embodies that style and the spirit of the town, with a simple tasting room and a welcoming rough-and-tumble attitude and a long list of intense, conversation-starting wines—don’t miss their wildly entertaining tasting notes. If you want a concentrated dose of wine tasting, head to Tin City, a sprawling collection of tasting rooms. Or head out of the city to any of the dozens of wineries in the surrounding hills—Linne Calodo is peaceful and luxurious, Tablas Creek is legendary, and Kiamie Wine Cellars is rustic and charming. Then head back into town for ceviche and mesquite-grilled tacos at Finca Paso Robles.

There is still another fun wine region hiding in California, about equidistant from LA and San Diego. The Temecula Valley is an up-and-coming AVA, where the wines may not have the widespread acclaim of California’s other regions—yet—but there are plenty of worthwhile wineries to try. We’ve assembled a broad guide to the best wineries in Temecula, but things are only improving down there. And there’s a lot more to do in this cowboy wine country, from horseback riding and mining for precious gems to the potential to fulfill a certain risque fantasy in the basket of a hot air balloon.

Oregon wine has become known for one big thing in recent years—excellent Pinot Noir. The Pacific Northwest’s cool climate lends itself well to the temperamental grape, and the Willamette Valley is the best place to get a taste. McMinnville or Dundee are great options for a home base, about 45 minutes to an hour southwest of Portland, and you’ll find outstanding Pinot all around the area. Some highlights include Beaux Freres, Alexana, and White Rose, but there are also a ton of non-wine fun things to do in the Willamette Valley too, from outdoor activities to craft breweries, and if you happen to be there in June make sure you check out Queer Wine Fest at Remy Wines.

It’s a bit of a hike from the major cities, but the Walla Walla wine region is worth the 4-hour drive from Seattle or Portland. The region stretches across the border in Southeast Washington into Oregon, with some truly excellent Rhone varietals growing in both states, and a generous smattering of Bordeaux blends too. Instead of the typical mountains and forests that you might picture in the Pacific Northwest, Walla Walla is set amongst rolling hills with a Mediterranean climate—though it does still get quite cold in the winter, so you might be better off visiting in fall or spring. There are a ton of wineries to choose from, including highlights right in town like Spring Valley, Kontos, and Time and Direction. Head out into the country for Devison, Abeja, or south into the wild Rocks District for Rotie Cellars.

The Yakima Valley is a younger and lesser-known Pacific Northwest winemaking region, but there are still some 90 wineries and tasting rooms scattered across the verdant farmland in south-central Washington state. The cooler, higher-elevation sections of the valley produce lovely white wines including some great Riesling, and the warmer, sunnier sections are best known for Bordeaux varietals and Syrah. Cultura, Sheridan, and Gilbert are some of the area’s top producers. And if you need a break from wine, the Yakima Valley is also one of the most important hop-growing regions in the world.

High in the hot, arid hills about an hour south of Tucson, a handful of ambitious winemakers are growing grapes. Working hard against the heat, the frost, the dust, and the desert in this unlikely place, they are producing some truly excellent wines. Conditions aren’t easy for growing, but it’s still quite lovely for a visit. The scenery is dramatic, the wines are good, and there really aren’t any crowds. Check out Rune for a beautiful, modern space and excellent red wines, then head to Deep Sky or Callaghan for more great tastes. And don’t miss the excellent Neapolitan-style pizza at Pronghorn, which also happens to be attached to another very solid winery, Dos Cabezas Wineworks.

The rolling greenery and knobbly oak trees of Texas Hill Country are a beautiful reason to drive out of Austin, for a quick lake getaway, a floating pool, or world-class beer. But there are also a ton of wineries concentrated along 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg. There were about 60 options at last count, and many of them are making excellent wines, even if a lot of the grapes come from vineyards in the Texas High Plains AVA to the northwest. There are a lot of varietals produced in the area, but the climate and the soil seem to lend themselves well to Spanish varietals like Tempranillo and some of the warm-weather French grapes. Among the many great wineries, fan favorites include Calais, Siboney Cellars, and Inwood Estates, and for the natural wine fans, Crowson is a great stop with true zero-zero wines.

Colorado may be best-known for beer, but on the western edge of the state near Grand Junction and Palisade they’re also making great wine. Of course even within the area wine is a secondary crop; Palisade peaches are justifiably famous, and the local stonefruit in general is magnificent. But that hasn’t always been the case—in 1900 there were 1,000 farms growing wine grapes in the region, and business was booming until Prohibition, when almost all of those grapes were torn out and replaced with peaches. The wine industry didn’t really restart in the area until the 1970s, but things have only trended upward since. Now there are about 30 wineries in the high-altitude region, leaning towards Bordeaux varietals. Wine quality is good and always improving, and the high desert setting right on the Colorado River is dramatic and beautiful. Some local wineries to visit include Bookcliff, Maison La Belle Vie, and Carboy, among many others.

The 11 lakes and dramatic waterfalls in northwestern New York state don’t necessarily read ‘wine country’ right off the bat. But the region has a strong agricultural presence, and farmers benefit greatly from a strong lake effect, which moderates temperature extremes on both ends. Unlike many of the other wine regions on this list, the climate doesn’t really compare to Bordeaux or the Rioja—instead, its closest analogue is the Rhine river in Germany. That means the Finger Lakes have a ton of Riesling, and there are excellent examples all around the area, including at Hermann J. Weimer, Red Newt, and Ravines Wine Cellars. The town of Geneva is probably your best bet as a home base, and if you’re a dedicated red drinker don’t worry, there are plenty of great wines around for you too, especially Cab Franc and cool-climate Pinot Noir.

Head to Central Virginia wine country for some grape juice with a historic bent. The area is built up around Charlottesville, but it’s known as the Monticello AVA after Thomas Jefferson’s estate, which is just outside of town, and where in the 1770s the Founding Father partnered with Italian winemaker and eventual soldier Filippo Mazzei on a large plot of mostly unsuccessful vineyards. The AVA wasn’t officially designated until 1984, though that does make it the oldest in the Commonwealth. Check out some of the Bordeaux blends from Barboursville Vineyards and Michael Shaps Winery, and a variety of styles from the legendary Gabriele Rausse Winery. Charlottesville is also a great town to visit, with plenty of outdoorsy activities, history, and food.

Wine has only been big business in Maryland since the 1980s, when several grape growers associations were formed and—more importantly—the Maryland Wine Festival began. The MWF is now one of the most important wine festivals on the East Coast, with more than 25,000 attendees, which helps to do the good work of raising the wine profile of the whole region. If you’re going to visit Maryland wine country there are a lot of options, and a lot of diverse climates within the state, but the Piedmont Plateau in Central Maryland is probably your best bet. Venture out from Baltimore or DC for a day trip, or stay in Frederick or Westminster to make it a weekend thing. Old Westminster Winery is the trendiest name in Maryland wine right now, and it makes for a lovely visit to try some of their pet-nats and funkier wines. But don’t overlook Black Ankle, Linganore, and Boordy, either.

It may not exactly live up to its ambitious nickname, the Napa of the South, but Georgia’s Dahlonega Plateau is plenty charming, with some lovely wines to boot. It’s about an hour outside Atlanta, with over 100 acres of vineyards and enough tasting rooms to support several visits or a very full weekend. CeNita, Three Sisters, and Cavender Creek are local favorites in the growing region. Get in now, before it really does become the Napa of the South and the crowds and prices skyrocket.

Tennessee isn’t a traditional wine-growing region—it’s more of a whiskey state. But did you really think that Nashville, the city of a million bachelorette parties, couldn’t support a winery or 40? There’s plenty of great agricultural land in the center of the state, and Nashville also has a solid crop of winemakers with tasting rooms in town, so you can get your urban and your rural winery fix all in one. Arrington Vineyards is the most famous one around, a sprawling estate about 45 minutes south of Nashville, but you’ve got plenty of options: here’s a little guide we put together a few years ago, and things have only improved since.

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