Thirsty for adventure? Cruise through some of America’s most picturesque wine regions on these five drives.
—Photos by Patrick Bennett
Winding through the heart of the Northern Willamette Valley, Route 47 is sometimes called Oregon’s “road less traveled” wine route (translation: fewer tasting rooms overcrowded with tourists). A drive along Sip 47 takes visitors past rolling, vine-covered hills and bucolic farms, with 17 outstanding stops along a clearly marked route.
Where to Stay
Opt for a night at the quirky McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. The European-style accommodations mean shared bathrooms, but the former Masonic property offers 77 guest rooms, lively restaurants and pubs, a day spa and conversation-sparking local art. After sampling a few of McMenamins’s own brews, play disc golf on the hotel’s expansive lawn.
Where to Eat
At rustic The One Horse Tavern, feast on country roadhouse fare that includes 13 juicy burgers plus a host of deep-fried dishes (mushrooms, clams and chicken gizzards are a few favorites). For something sweet, stop by Maggie’s Buns (pictured below) for an array of freshly baked confections.
Wines to Taste
You’ll find a number of places to fill your cup as you cruise Route 47. Apolloni Vineyards is known for premium Pinot Noirs, showcased in its pasta and Pinot dinners. The beautiful, 210-acre Montinore Estate is certified biodynamic, with seven grape varieties to try. The convivial, casual Plum Hill Vineyards offers an outdoor patio and a dog corral designed to let pets play while you taste. If the weather is fine, stop by Cana’s Feast Winery for stately views from its outdoor patio, not to mention its bocce court and big red wines (try the Italian varieties).
Things to Do
Need a break from vino? SakéOne offers free saké brewery tours daily and unique tasting flights. Call ahead before your first visit to Kookoolan Farms. It has a self-serve farm store where you can pick up produce and other treats. Don’t miss the in-house meadery.
Rugged natural landscapes and memorable wineries make this two-lane highway a must-drive for any California wine lover. This stretch—weaving in and out of swaths of redwood forest between Navarro and Boonville—hosts dozens of tasting rooms deep in the Anderson Valley.
Where to Stay
It’s hard to stay just one night at the charming, homey Boonville Hotel. Its 15 unique rooms offer rustic but chic accommodations. The grounds are breathtaking, making it likely you’ll buy a bottle from the hotel’s wine shop and hang out in the garden or around the fire for some alfresco sips.
Where to Eat
The Boonville General Store is the choice for a made-from-scratch, organic breakfast (think eggs Benedict and housemade granola), plus gourmet snacks for the road. Lauren’s, in Philo, boasts a local-leaning wine list and tasty seasonal dishes that include wild mushroom fettuccine and tarts stuffed with asparagus, onions and Gruyère.
Wines to Taste
Soak up Anderson Valley’s memorable ambience at Goldeneye (pictured above). Its Confluence Vineyard has a picture-perfect backdrop of redwoods, making it an ideal place for picnicking. The $35 estate tasting comes with artisanal cheese pairings and samples straight from the barrel. The father-and-son team behind Baxter focuses on producing single-vineyard wines. The winery’s contemporary, comfortable tasting room is open Thursday through Monday. Brought your pup along for the ride? Head to the dog-friendly, farmhouse-style Balo Vineyards for a relaxed day of wine tasting, either in the tasting room or on the brick patio. Bonus: Balo offers two bocce courts.
Things to Do
Keep traveling northwest along Highway 128 and you’ll enter a magical 11-mile stretch of redwood forest that runs parallel to the Navarro River. Pull over and snap photos at Navarro River Redwoods State Park, where you can picnic, camp and swim.
Texas Hill Country is the second largest American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the U.S. The 30-mile stretch of highway from Johnson City to Fredericksburg includes about 20 wineries in the heart of the appellation. The route is packed with great eats, photo ops and unique accommodations.
Where to Stay
Book a weekend in an 1800s-era log cabin (no, you won’t be roughing it) at Cotton Gin Village (pictured below) in Fredericksburg. Cabins sport modern details like luxe bathtubs and satellite TV, and the property soothes the soul with koi ponds, waterfalls and rocking chairs. The restaurant, Cabernet Grill, sources Hill Country wine and ingredients.
Where to Eat
Turn off Highway 290 in Fredericksburg to chow down on Texas-style barbecue brisket and all-you-can eat sides at Cranky Frank’s. For a more upscale experience, check out haute German restaurant Otto’s, with schnitzel and housemade wurst, along with craft cocktails. In Johnson City, grab chicken-fried steak at Lot 102 at 290, a permanent food-truck installation complete with picnic tables.
Wines to Taste
Searching for a true taste of Texas terroir? Make an appointment to try the latest red, white and rosé releases from Lewis Wines near Johnson City, including Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional blends. Wile away the afternoon tasting wines and perhaps catching live music at William Chris Vineyards in Hye. The beautiful property is studded with oaks, and it boasts a 100-year-old farmhouse that serves as a tasting room. Pedernales Cellars (pictured at top) in Stonewall gives tours of its geothermal cellar, though many visitors spend their time sipping Spanish- and Rhône-style wines on the deck amid stunning views of Hill Country.
Things to Do
Take a driving tour of the ranch at the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park, including a 30-minute tour of the Texas White House, offering a detailed glimpse of the life of the 36th U.S. president. Snap a few shots of the park’s buffalo, white-tailed deer and longhorn cattle, safely kept in enclosed pens.
With grapevines planted by Capuchin monks in the 1600s, New Mexico has a long winemaking history. Take the high road and learn all about it on the scenic 130-mile stretch connecting Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos (I-25 North, continuing up U.S. 84/285 to Taos, captures most of the northern wineries). This mountainous stretch of high desert offers wine lovers a bounty of unique wine-tasting opportunities amidst striking natural surroundings.
Where to Stay
Albuquerque’s 25-acre Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm grows lavender, Chimayó chilies and casaba melons and dishes out true farm-to-fork meals. In Santa Fe, stay at Hotel Santa Fe’s The Hacienda & Spa (pictured at top). It’s the first hotel in the U.S. to power guest rooms entirely with solar energy, and it’s close to the edgy Railyard Arts District.
Where to Eat
Stop at Zacatecas Tacos & Tequila in Albuquerque for carne asada or roasted mushroom tacos and a heavily Mexican beer list. In Santa Fe, Taberna is a buzzy joint for Basque-inspired pintxos like Tempranillo-braised oxtail with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a Spanish-focused wine list.
Wines to Taste
Start your exploration of New Mexico wines at Gruet Winery (pictured above). Renowned for its sparkling wines, try the Tête de Cuvée tasting (eight pours of bubbly and still wines for $13) in the warm, wood-accented tasting room. Stop in historic Corrales for a complimentary tour and tasting of Corrales Winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot wines (the tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday). Vivác Winery, in Dixon, is aptly named. Vivác means “high-altitude refuge” in Spanish, and the peaceful, 900-square-foot adobe tasting room set in the Río Grande Gorge certainly delivers.
Things to Do
In Taos, tour the iconic Taos Pueblo, a thriving Native American community nestled at the base of the striking Sangre de Cristo Mountains (ripe for your Instagram feed). Stretch your legs at the Wild Rivers Recreation Area, a part of the Río Grande Del Norte National Monument. Its hikes are awe-inspiring.
If you only have two days for a wine drive, hop in the car and head to Virginia’s northern Blue Ridge Mountains. This compact wine-tasting route offers seven wineries and a whiskey distillery to explore, along with gorgeous natural scenery tracing the northern part of Shenandoah National Park.
Where to Stay
Spend the night in a timber-frame cabin bordering Shenandoah National Park at the 15-acre Shadow Mountain Escape. Catering to couples seeking a romantic getaway, the property has four cozily furnished cabins with exposed oak beams and provides access to a pastoral landscape complete with a woodland trail and mountain stream.
Where to Eat
Located inside a renovated 1850s Victorian home, Griffin Tavern (pictured) offers pub favorites like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and hearty burgers along with nine imported beers on tap and a selection of Virginia wines. There’s live music most weekends, and seating on its wraparound patio when the weather allows.
Wines to Taste
Unwind on a large sundeck with a glass of Viognier at family-run Chester Gap Cellars. At Sharp Rock Vineyards, located on a historic farm at the base of Old Rag Mountain, enjoy wine tasting paired with local cheese, bread and sausage. Spring for the wine and food pairing program at pet- and family-friendly DuCard Vineyards. For $29, visitors can try pours in the barrel room alongside tasty small bites. Soak up the gorgeous surroundings at Glen Manor Vineyards by bringing lunch to enjoy alongside the winery’s Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend.
Things to Do
Cruise Skyline Drive to glimpse some of Shenandoah National Park’s sublime vistas, or hike past waterfalls and wooded glens on one of the park’s many paths, including the Appalachian Trail. If you’re into whiskey, head to the Copper Fox Distillery (pictured above). Spirits are aged with applewood and oak chips inside recycled Bourbon barrels.
1Sip 47, Oregon
2Highway 128, California
3Highway 290, Texas
4I-25, New Mexico
5Blue Ridge Whiskey Wine Loop, Virginia
