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5 Great California Wine Regions That Are Not Napa

Everyone knows Napa Valley. But California's wine country stretches far beyond that famous name.

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Updated Dec 16, 2025 9:42 p.m. PST · 3 min read

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Napa Valley gets the glory, but California produces 90% of America's wine across dozens of distinctive regions. From Sonoma's laid-back tasting rooms to Santa Barbara's beach-and-wine combo, these lesser-known destinations offer world-class vintages without Napa's premium price tags or tourist crowds.

Even better: Most of these regions pair wine tasting with other activities, like hot springs, coastal hikes and even a winter light show. That all makes them ideal for travelers who want variety beyond the vineyard.

1. Santa Barbara

Best for: Combining wine with beaches, walkable downtown tasting and a variety of activities.

Southern California's wine capital offers something Napa can't: ocean beaches within minutes of world-class wineries. Santa Barbara County's 275+ wineries specialize in cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but the real advantage here is the sheer variety of experiences beyond wine tasting.

The main wine region, Santa Ynez Valley, sits about 45 minutes north of downtown Santa Barbara. Tasting fees typically run $15-$30 at mostly small, family-owned boutique wineries. Many fees are waived with purchase.

Can't dedicate a full day to wine country? The Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail brings the vineyards to you. It's a collection of tasting rooms concentrated in walkable downtown Santa Barbara. You can alternate wine flights with beach time, courthouse tours and tacos.

The Santa Ynez Valley itself offers more than wine: Visit the Danish-themed village of Solvang with its distinctive windmills and thatched roofs. Don't skip the Aebleskiver (puffy Danish pancakes).

Best airport: Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) — one of the most charming airports out there.

Alternative: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), about 2 hours south.

2. Sonoma County

Best for: Relaxed atmosphere, accessibility from San Francisco and variety.

While Napa gets the headlines, many Bay Area locals prefer Sonoma. The county encompasses multiple wine regions, including the Russian River Valley (known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and Kenwood (offering full-bodied reds), all with a more laid-back vibe than its famous neighbor.

Sonoma County spans nearly 200 square miles with more than 400 wineries, ranging from family-owned boutiques to major producers. Tasting fees typically run $20-$40, often waived with purchase. Unlike Napa's Michelin-starred restaurant scene and luxury hotel rates, Sonoma offers excellent food and accommodations at more accessible price points.

Russian River Valley isn't just about wine. The river itself draws kayakers and beach-goers during summer months. Kenwood offers access to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, featuring hiking trails, a waterfall and the Robert Ferguson Observatory for stargazing.

For something unusual, visit Wildwood Nursery's sculpture garden, where art installations wind through five acres of Japanese maples, dogwoods and bonsai-style trees.

Luxury without the Napa price tag: Kenwood Inn & Spa offers Mediterranean villa-style accommodations with gourmet breakfast (choose your entree — no buffet), evening wine hour with substantial appetizers and fresh-baked cookies throughout the day.

Points option: World of Hyatt members should consider the Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa (Category 4). It's walkable to Historic Railroad Square and downtown, making it one of the best-value Hyatt properties in California.

About 1 hour from San Francisco; 1.5 hours from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

3. Calistoga

Best for: Hot springs and mud baths, a castle winery and quirky accommodations.

Calistoga combines two things: wine and wellness. This Napa Valley town at the northern end of the valley has carved out its own identity around geothermal hot springs and mud baths, making it the rare wine destination where you can soak away your tasting tour in mineral pools.

While technically part of Napa Valley, Calistoga feels distinct — less polished, more eclectic. The volcanic soil produces excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, but the real draw is the combination of wine, wellness and unusual attractions.

Castello di Amorosa: A 121,000-square-foot medieval-style Tuscan castle complete with a moat, drawbridge and torture chamber. Yes, it's a fully functioning winery. Tours and tastings are available (reserve ahead as castle tours sell out).

Spa and soaks: Calistoga built its reputation on volcanic hot springs. You'll find everything from upscale spa treatments to no-frills mineral soaks.

Quirky stay: Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs leans into mid-century nostalgia with a fun, retro vibe. The property offers mud baths (a Calistoga signature) and mineral pools alongside standard lodging.

About 1.5 hours from San Francisco; at the northern end of Napa Valley.

4. Paso Robles

Best for: Winter visits, large-scale wine region and a central California location.

Positioned between Los Angeles and San Francisco on California's Central Coast, Paso Robles spans 26,000 acres of vineyards producing more than 40 grape varieties. The region's size and diversity mean you'll find everything from intimate family wineries to large commercial operations.

Paso Robles produces bold, full-bodied reds (particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel) primarily due to warm days and cool nights. The landscape ranges from river beds to rolling hills to dramatic mountains. Downtown Paso Robles offers upscale wine shops, restaurants and boutiques.

Most wine regions are best in summer or fall. Paso Robles has a winter draw: Sensorio, an immersive light art installation featuring tens of thousands of illuminated stems creating waves of color across rolling hills. The outdoor exhibition runs year-round but is especially magical during winter's early sunsets (roughly 5-10 p.m. depending on season). Book timed tickets in advance.

Roughly equidistant from Los Angeles and San Francisco (3-3.5 hours from each).

5. Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada

Best for: International wine experience close to California, cruise excursions and overall value.

This isn't California, but at just 70 miles south of the San Diego border in Baja California, Mexico, Valle de Guadalupe deserves consideration for its proximity, value and more than 100 boutique wineries.

Often called "Mexico's Napa," Valle de Guadalupe offers a more rustic, farm-to-table wine experience. Many wineries double as restaurants serving innovative Baja Med cuisine (a fusion of Mexican and Mediterranean flavors). The region has positioned itself as an eco-tourism destination.

Don't want to drive across the border? Valle de Guadalupe is now accessible as a cruise excursion. Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas offers Ensenada port calls where you can book winery tours as shore excursions, making it possible to visit Mexican wine country as part of a broader cruise vacation.

Day trip option: It's easy to visit from San Diego as a day trip (bring your passport). The drive time is about 1.5-2 hours from San Diego, though border wait times vary.

Resorts like El Cielo Resort focus on eco-tourism, offering romantic getaways with grapevine cultivation tours and wine production education.

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2025:

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NAPA VALLEY, CA — Napa Valley as a whole does not lack for destination restaurants, Michelin-starred or not. Now, it is also home to the best restaurant not only in the United States but on the North American continent.

French Laundry, a destination restaurant marking its 30th year in Yountville, has been honored by The World Culinary Awards as the 2025 United States' Best Restaurant as well as North America's Best Restaurant.

After three decades of accolades, imitation, and adoration — and, let's be honest, a share of criticis — this appears to be the first time The French Laundry has won a World Culinary Award. Nominations come from people in the culinary industry who can enter a restaurant with "world-class services and an all-conquering customer experience" in one of the Culinary Awards categories. The culinary community, industry experts, and consumers are invited to vote online. This is year 6 of the award.

The French Laundry, known for a California-style French cuisine built around precise use of fresh produce, earned its first Michelin star in 2007. Today, the French Laundry is one of only 14 restaurants in the United States with three Michelin stars. The restaurant was also awarded a Michelin Green Star. This makes it one of the few restaurants in the United States to hold both distinctions, according to the organization.

As the story goes, Chef Thomas Keller visited Yountville in the early 1990s in search of a location for fine French cuisine in Napa Valley. He found the rustic two-story stone cottage of river rock and timbers on 6640 Washington St. When Keller walked into the restaurant’s quaint courtyard, he found not just a location but a destination for his ambitions.

Keller has said the restaurant and its offshoots source much of their produce from a three-acre culinary garden across from the restaurant on Washington Street. The daily tasting menus follow classic French cuisine and its serving style, but with California freshness and North American twists, such as "Mac and Cheese" with handmade pasta and shaved truffles.

New York City was honored by the Culinary Awards as the continent's best culinary city destination and the United States as the best culinary destination.

Two wine country towns are on a new "most adorable small towns in Northern California" bucket list.

NAPA VALLEY, CA — St. Helena and Sonoma are on a new "most adorable small towns in Northern California" bucket list.

Some of the towns are a surprise, others are naturals for the WorldAtlas list, a scholastic-oriented organization whose criteria for the nine towns selected blend brains and beauty.

While iconic cities and golden beaches help to define California, the Golden State's beauty also lives quietly in its smaller towns, tucked between vineyards, mountains, forests, and coastlines, according to the list where St. Helena and Sonoma respectively ranked No. 7 and 8. "Whether you’re sipping Chardonnay beneath ancient oaks, hiking through redwood groves, or watching the sun sink into the Pacific, these destinations promise the kind of experiences that linger long after you’ve unpacked your bags."

The towns also have something to teach visitors. Steeped in heritage, each of these nine towns offers its own brand of magic, according to the site.

ST. HELENA: At the heart of Napa Valley, about 65 miles north of San Francisco, lies St. Helena, whose motto is "The Roots of Napa Valley. This town is a refined yet down-to-earth destination that captures the essence of Wine Country living, according to the list. Wine lovers will find themselves spoiled for choice here. To dig deeper into the region’s roots, step inside the 1881 Napa Wine History Museum, where guests can wander through antique winemaking equipment and browse ephemera from the Early California Wine Trade Archive. When hunger strikes, Gott’s Roadside is a local favorite. What began as a burger stand on Highway 29 evolved into a James Beard Award-winning take on North American comfort food. Literary buffs will appreciate a detour to the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, which holds the world’s largest public collection of materials related to the famed author of Treasure Island. The exhibits range from rare manuscripts and letters to early editions and family heirlooms.

SONOMA: The motto on the Sonoma visitors' website is, "Come as you are and experience Wine Country your way." One way is to look for the historical landmarks. Sonoma is where California’s story and wine legacy, truly began, according to list. At the heart of the town and all around are lessons in the state's history from Spain, to Mexico, to the Bear Flag. Wander further to find the Toscano Hotel and the home of Gen. Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, also known as Lachryma Montis — "the crying mountain."

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Napa’s Meritage Resort & Spa is gearing up for the 21st annual rendition of Merry Meritage, their enchanting winter village attraction complete with a massive outdoor ice rink, cozy private igloos, and all sorts of festive experiences.

This year, Merry Meritage runs from Nov. 29, 2025 through Jan. 4, 2026. Would you make the drive from San Francisco to see it for yourself?

Merry Meritage 2025

The Merry Meritage festivities are centered around an enormous seasonal ice rink on the Village Lawn. As the largest outdoor rink in the region, it hosts quite the memorable experience with daily ice skating below a canopy of glowing string lights. Grab a good rinkside spot to watch seasonal performances on Dec. 20 and 31.

But if you’re not much of an ice skater, don’t worry — guests can gather to watch nightly tree lightings complete with snowfall, sip on seasonal drinks at Santa’s Tavern, or sign up for engaging “Tinsel Tea” and Santa storytime events for kids. New this year is a series of free workshops, including gingerbread house building.

Some guests take their experience up a notch by booking a private fire pit, which includes a s’mores kit, or a VIP igloo, which includes a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine, cookies, and milk. A range of luxury dining experiences is also available, such as a Christmas Dinner and a New Year’s Eve party.

Visiting Merry Meritage

You don’t have to book a room at the Meritage Resort to enjoy the festivities at Merry Meritage. But if you choose to stay, there is a seasonal package available with 20% off luxury accommodations, unlimited ice skating, and a $50 resort credit.

????? Dates: Nov. 29, 2025 – Jan. 4, 2026

???? Location: Meritage Resort & Spa, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, CA 94558