Why Lake County Offers the Best Wineries in Northern California
If you’re someone who loves crowded tasting rooms and elbowing your way to the bar for an overpriced pour, then Lake County is not the place for you. If however, you’re looking for The Best Wineries in Northern California, you’re in the right spot.
This beautiful wine region is perfect if you want to experience the best wineries in Northern California without the crowds and the price tag. If you wish you could visit Napa Valley before everyone else discovered it, and taste incredible Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and more, then it’s worth checking out this undiscovered gem.
Where Is Lake County?
You’ll find Lake County about 35 breathtaking miles north of Napa Valley. This puts the region just one to two hours away from both San Francisco and Sacramento.
The gorgeous drive to Lake County takes you through lush mountains and valleys. It’s an ideal way to escape the buzz of California’s more well-known wine regions. Here, you’ll discover a truly unique, nature-filled wine country with plenty to see and do.
Meet Lake County’s Superpower: Mount Konocti
This beautiful region isn’t like the rest of California’s popular wine-tasting regions. Many of the Lake County vineyards grow along the sides of a still-active volcano, Mount Konocti. Thanks to this impressive landmark, the wine region is acclaimed for its highly unique volcanic soils.
Teeming with minerals, the soil here grows grapes that produce incredibly distinct and complex wines. Plus, Lake County benefits from mountain elevations and warm, sunny weather — two climate factors that lead to some of the best wines you’ll ever taste.
What Kind of Wine Will You Enjoy in Lake County?
With a rugged mountain landscape and rich volcanic soils, Lake County has some of the most elegant and concentrated red wines in the world, from 25 award-winning wineries. This unique terroir produces grapes that develop deeper complexity and flavors than you’ll find in many other wine regions.
Cabernet Sauvignon especially shines here, with Syrah and Zinfandel also standing out for their great quality. When it comes to white wine, Lake County is known for its beautifully aromatic and fresh Sauvignon Blanc.
The region contains eight distinguished appellations, each producing distinct and delicious wines with a true sense of place. These appellations include:
- Clear Lake AVA
- Big Valley District-Lake County AVA
- Guenoc Valley AVA
- High Valley AVA
- Kelsey Bench-Lake County AVA
- Red Hills Lake County AVA
- Upper Lake Valley AVA
- Long Valley-Lake County AVA
Sip and Stay Awhile — There’s Lots to Explore in Lake County
This beautiful wine-tasting region is a paradise for nature lovers, too. Not only is this a fantastic area for the best wineries in California, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors while you’re here, with watersports being a top draw.
Lake County is centered around Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake entirely within California. Boating and fishing enthusiasts love spending their weekends on the waters of Clear Lake.
There are also many parks throughout the region, and some wineries are located right next to perfect hiking spots and campgrounds. In fact, you’ll even find a winery or two that offers campgrounds or accommodations right on the property.
The Most Beautiful Wineries In Lake County
Each winery in Lake County boasts its distinctive allure, yet a select few stand out. Ranging from picturesque vineyards to intricately designed structures, here’s our compilation of the best wineries in Lake County.
Best Wineries in Northern California
Lake County is home to many independent family-run wineries offering award-winning wine and unique experiences. You’ll find a range of high-quality red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines throughout the region — there’s truly something for everyone to enjoy.
Check out four great wineries to experience on your Lake County getaway:
Six Sigma Winery
This small-production winery proves that when you marry art with science, you get truly great wines. Owner Kaj Ahlmann mastered the Six Sigma techniques during his time in the corporate world, becoming a convert in their ability to produce high-quality products.
Ahlmann incorporated the Six Sigma process into his winemaking business, balancing state-of-the-art equipment with gentle and meticulous grape handling. These methods produce extraordinary yet affordable wines, sharing the story seasons, terroir, and the people who have crafted them. Guests can also stay in a ready-to-camp accommodation with Huttopia Wine Country, sleeping amongst the vineyards at Six Sigma Ranch.
Specializes in: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Rosé, and Sauvignon Blanc
Fults Family Vineyards
This boutique, family-run winery lies on the banks of Clayton Creek. With its beautiful location and property, this is the perfect spot for nature-lovers and small groups of wine tasters.
The winery offers two special experience packages allowing guests to enjoy a private tasting in one of their outdoor pavilions. Each pavilion offers you gorgeous views of the vineyards and grounds, while you sip on their small-lot hand-crafted wines and enjoy a delicious lunch.
Specializes in: Red, white, and rosé wines
Stonehouse Cellars
When you’re looking to escape the everyday, Stonehouse Cellars offers personalized and peaceful experiences that promise to transport you. The winemaking focuses on creating the most beautiful and diverse expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon through small, carefully cultivated batches of wine. Along with Pinot Noir, Merlot, and rosé, Stonehouse Cellars crafts thoughtful wines that bring out the nuance of their grapes and the soil.
Visitors can stop by the tasting room, where four wine flight options offer something for every palate preference. You can also enjoy a picnic in the vineyard with a chef-prepared lunch made from local ingredients, alongside a glass or bottle of the estate grown wines. Or, stay longer at the property’s bed and breakfast, Bed & Barrel. The beautiful accommodations and farm-fresh meals offer a chance to enjoy wine country living at its finest.
Specializes in: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and rosé
Boatique Winery
This small family winery offers a charming destination for wine-country visitors. The estate lies in the picturesque Red Hills AVA, where the volcanic soil and fresh air produce wines with elegance and power. The winery also uses sustainable farming to get the most out of each vine.
Visitors can enjoy a relaxing, memorable experience at the estate. Sip a selection of exceptional estate-grown wines from the range of offerings. Follow your tasting with a game on the bocce court, or take in the views of the expansive vineyards, olive tree-lined roads, and charming estate lake and boats. You can even stay overnight at the vineyard cottage available for rental.
Specializes in: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, sparkling wine, rosé, red blends
Plan Your Unique Experience in Lake County
Lake County is the perfect little-known gem in California’s wine country. Here, you can experience beautiful vineyards, family-run tasting rooms, and handcrafted wines, all while hidden in the crowd-free landscape of this under-the-radar wine region.
Don’t wait too long though — enjoy this ideal area before the secret gets out!
When you’re ready to plan your wine-tasting trip to Lake County, don’t miss the Wine Routes interactive guide to navigate to these tasting rooms and more. You’ll get a visual overview of the region, plus key experiences and highlights to help you plan a memorable trip.
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