What is it, exactly, that makes a winery great? Is it the quality of the wine itself? The practices used to produce it? Or perhaps it’s the overall atmosphere of the winery itself: the attitude and mission of its workers, and the ambiance it creates for visitors to its vineyards or tasting rooms. Whatever it is, there’s no doubt that the United States has an epic array of wineries within its borders, from the small but vibrant wine region of Upstate New York to the world-renowned Napa Valley, with its perfect weather and climate for grapes. Wine preferences can be extremely personal, and may vary depending on a lot of factors, but the wineries on this list have the quality, conditions, and experience to produce some of the best wines out there.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery
Located on a sprawling swath of land in California, with bocce ball, a swimming pool, delicious food, and plenty of memorabilia from Francis Ford Coppola’s movies, this winery, founded by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, has definitely earned its place on a list of the best wineries in the US.
The design of Francis Ford Coppola Winery was first inspired by Copenhagen’s famous Tivoli Gardens, as a magical place where families can come to enjoy food, wine, fun activities, and more.
The winery markets itself for those looking for everything from “Cinema, Wine, Food, Hideaways & Adventure,” and in the midst of this busy mission statement, the quality of the wine itself is just as grand and spectacular.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441, Phone: 707-857-1471
Augusta Winery
Even wine connoisseurs may not know that Augusta, Missouri, located in the Missouri River Valley, was the first recognized US Wine District, in recognition of the climate and conditions that have made wine and grape production possible dating back to the 1800s. Everyone at Augusta Winery is well-trained on every type of wine imaginable, both the ones they produce at the winery as well as wines grown and produced around the world. Their winery location is a great place to enjoy a glass of award-winning vino with a charcuterie board in their Wine and Beer Garden, and their wines can be purchased throughout the region.
Augusta Winery, 5601 High St, Augusta, MO 63332, Phone: 888-667-9463
Bear Creek Winery & Lodging
Producing wine in Alaska might seem like no easy task, but for people who love their product as much as Bill and Dorothy Fry, it’s a no brainer.
Since the 1990s, Bear Creek Winery & Lodging has been experimenting with fruit and taste to make some of the most innovative fruit wines on the market.
Everything from rhubarb to blueberries to kiwi has been used to make wine at Bear Creek, and with the hearty support of other Alaska locals, they have grown into a local institution.
Bear Creek offers 9 core varietals of wine as well as a number of seasonal options, and offers discounts in the tasting room for purchases of multiple bottles.
Bear Creek Winery & Lodging, 60203 Bear Creek Dr, Homer, AK 99603, Phone: 907-235-8484
Biltmore Winery
Built in the late 19th century for George Vanderbilt, with the help of famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, the Biltmore estate is the largest privately owned home in America. This gorgeous mansion has a museum and is available for tours and event rentals, but it is also home to a winery. Half the fun of exploring the Biltmore wines is the winery itself; visitors can tour the vineyard, the wine production facilities, and the spectacularly beautiful wine bar, where truffles and charcuterie are also offered. Admission to the tasting room (and complimentary tastings) is included in the price of admission to the estate.
Biltmore Winery , 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, Facebook
Cass Vineyard & Winery
For twenty years now, the rolling hills and groves of old-growth oak trees in Paso Robles, California have been home to Cass Vineyard & Winery. The daily heat and nightly cooling breezes of the area are ideal for growing grapes, and some of Cass Vineyard’s delicious wines include their Cass Reserve, Sparkling Viognier, delicious Rosé, and their Rockin’ One series, which includes the Rockin’ One Blanc and Rockin’ One Red.
The tasting room and cafe at Cass are open daily from 11am to 5pm, and the gorgeous shaded veranda is a great place to taste wine alongside delicious, fresh meals.
Cass Vineyard & Winery, 7350 Linne Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446, Phone: 805-239-1730
Cat-n-Bird Winery
Cat-n-Bird is an Alabama winery located in Chelsea, which has been voted the best winery in the state of Alabama. At Cat-n-Bird Winery, there is no onsite vineyard, but what that means is that the winery is able to import the best grapes and juice from all over the world.
Their list of wines and offerings includes grapes from the US, Italy, Australia, and more, and they recommend that guests get to know their product in the best way—by tasting it, perhaps alongside a delicious cheese pairing which is offered in their tasting room.
Cat-n-Bird Winery, 11661 Old Hwy 280, Chelsea, AL 35043, Phone: 205-610-9463
Charles Krug
This iconic Napa Valley winery is a no brainer for this list; Charles Krug Winery was first established in 1861, making it the oldest winery in a region world-renowned for its wine.
It is also home to California’s oldest and first ever tasting room, which was first opened in 1882 by Charles Krug himself. The exceptionally beautiful estate that Charles Krug calls home is simply breathtaking, and visitors will relish the opportunity to explore the cellars, grounds, vineyards, and tasting rooms, all with a glass of wine in hand.
Tours and tastings are offered by reservation, and Charles Krug is also home to a number of fun events like comedy festivals, movie nights, and tasting events.
Charles Krug , 2800 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574, Phone: 707-967-2229
Ciccone Vineyard & Winery
The tasting room at Ciccone Vineyard & Winery is inviting and comfortable, with regularly scheduled events that invite the community to come in and spend some time with them, like live music which occurs twice a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and other great events offered throughout the year.
Ciccone’s products are grown and bottled on estate, and their wine list includes traditional bottled red and white wines, canned wine, fruit wines, and even cider.
Ciccone specializes in European style wines with a fruit-forward flavor profile, but all of their products are delicious.
Ciccone Vineyard & Winery, 10343 E Hilltop Rd, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Phone: 231-271-5553
Cielo Farms
Cielo Farms is a winery in sunny Malibu, California, and the winery is stunningly beautiful, so much so that it was voted one of the top ten wedding venues in the United States by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
The rolling hills, with their neat lines of grape vines and rows of olive trees, and the gorgeous panoramic views from the Tuscan-style winery buildings make a visit to Cielo Farms a truly beautiful one, and that’s before factoring in the wine.
Tastings take place in The Barn, and guests can also choose to enjoy a scenic walking tour of the estate or even a delectable pairing of Cielo Farms’ wines with a selection of dark chocolates.
Cielo Farms, 31424 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265, Phone: 424-234-7242
Duchman Family Winery
Driftwood, Texas is just a short drive from Austin, the state capital, and it is home to Duchman Family Winery, where they make 100% Texas wine from 100% Texas grapes. Since 2004, Drs. Lisa and Stan Duchman have been perfecting their method of Italian style wines with the help of local growers in the Texas plains, with its cooler climate, and an excellent team of winemakers. The winery itself, a beautiful Tuscan-style building, continues to grow year after year, and visitors are welcome to join the Duchman Family in the tasting room to try some of their excellent product, or explore the expansive grounds for a tour or a picnic lunch.
Duchman Family Winery, 13308 Farm to Market 150, Driftwood, TX 78619, Phone: 512-858-1470
Duckhorn Vineyards
Duckhorn Vineyards is a classic part of the Napa Valley wine list, and its distinctive duck labels can be found in restaurants and wine shops all over the world.
Duckhorn Vineyards creates a number of spectacular wines, but they are perhaps best known for their Merlot—Dan Duckhorn, when founding the vineyard, found Merlot “enchanting” and decided to focus his winery on creating an incredible Merlot, and it’s safe to say, in the near-half-century since, that he succeeded.
Tours, tasting experiences, and relaxing walks through the vibrant gardens can be found at the Estate House and Tasting Room, which boasts a gorgeous view of the vineyards from the wrap-around patio veranda.
Duckhorn Vineyards, 1000 Lodi Ln, St Helena, CA 94574, Phone: 707-963-7108
Heritage Vineyards
Heritage Vineyards Winery and Guest House, in Warsaw, Ohio, encourages its visitors to take a step back from the hustle and bustle and the grind of daily life.
At Heritage, the extensive list of wines they produce has something for everyone, whether you like sweet wines or bone dry ones, with all wines made on site, mostly from grapes and fruit grown at the Heritage Vineyards.
The Heritage Guesthouse, also on site, offers visitors the unique opportunity to take full advantage of Heritage hospitality with an overnight stay in a charming house that sleeps up to six people, with pretty views of the vineyards.
Heritage Vineyards , 27561 Township Rd 45, Warsaw, OH 43844, Phone: 740-824-4314
Jackson Hole Winery
Jackson Hole is known for its incredible ski opportunities and proximity to the stunning Grand Tetons National Park and the world-famous Yellowstone National Park.
But it’s also home to an award winning winery. Founded in 2009, Jackson Hole Winery makes delicious wines at an altitude of over six thousand feet elevation, making it one of the highest wineries on the North American continent.
Visitors to Jackson Hole Winery will find it nestled at the base of the dramatic Grand Tetons, with a gorgeous, scenic, and welcoming tasting room overlooking the mountains.
Jackson Hole Winery, 45 W Broadway Ave, Jackson, WY 83001, Phone: 307-201-1057
L'Ecole No 41
L'Ecole No 41 is a Washington winery named for the historic French schoolhouse in which it is located, and which appears on their labels. Since their founding in the early 1980s, L’Ecole No 41 has become one of the most prominent and well known wineries in the Walla Walla Valley.
They have a reputation for creating reliable wines that age well and taste delicious, all of which are made 100% on the premises, from grape to glass.
L’Ecole No 41 makes incredible Bordeaux blends, Syrahs, Semillions, Cab Sauvs, and Merlots, along with plenty of other delicious varietals.
L'Ecole No 41, 41 Lowden School Rd, Lowden, WA 99360, Phone: 509-525-0940
Lost Oak Winery
This Texas winery, located just a short drive from Fort Worth, focuses its business on creating not just great wines, but also great memories. Lost Oak Winery prides itself on being a business that is family and friend oriented, with a gorgeous setting home to three vineyards, beautiful walking paths, and an inviting tasting room where Lost Oak encourages visitors to sit, relax, catch up with old friends and of course, taste wine.
Lost Oak offers several packages for guided winery tours and tastings, including a premium experience with a cheese board pairing, and even an international experience during which travelers can embark to the illustrious wine regions of France or Chile with a wine expert from Lost Oak.
Lost Oak Winery , 8101 County Rd 802, Burleson, TX 76028, Phone: 817-426-6625
Maysara Winery & Momtazi Vineyards
The wild and beautiful landscape of the pacific Northwest—specifically Oregon—is the home of Maysara Winery & Momtazi Vineyards. Here, there are over five hundred acres of what used to be wheat fields, where the Momtazi family grows grapes and vines entirely without the use of chemicals. At Maysara and Momtazi, they believe that 90% of good winemaking takes place in the vineyard itself, and they incorporate sustainable and environmentally responsible practices in their grape production, a level of care that clearly translates to the quality of their product.
Maysara produces a full list of excellent wines, but be sure to try their Pinot Noir for a taste of the grape that started it all.
Maysara Winery & Momtazi Vineyards, 15765 SW Muddy Valley Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128, Phone: 503-843-1234
Sawtooth Winery
High elevations of up to 3500 feet, combined with a unique volcanic ash soil, lend the wines at Sawtooth Winery their unique flair and delicious taste.
These conditions, combined with Idaho’s cool climate, make Sawtooth Vineyards perfect for growing Bordeaux varietals, and the proof is in the pudding, as Sawtooth Winery has many award-winning reds on its wine list.
Their wines can be found all over, in restaurants and wine retailers, from their core varietals to their limited production Classic Fly wines.
Their most elite varieties, called the Trout Trilogy, can only be found in the Sawtooth Winery tasting room.
Sawtooth Winery, 19348 Lowell Rd C, Caldwell, ID 83607, Phone: 208-467-1200
Scribe Winery
The wines at Scribe Winery are made with a strong emphasis on ideology—namely, a non-interventionist one.
Andrew and Adam Mariani, the brothers who made Scribe Winery possible, are fourth-generation California agriculturists who manage their vineyard completely in harmony with the area’s climate and ecosystem.
This means their wines are site-specific, making them completely unique and reflective of the Sonoma region.
Visits to the Scribe Hacienda can be made by reservations for groups of up to eight people, which will include a tasting of four wines and a selection of light snacks.
Scribe Winery, 2100 Denmark St, Sonoma, CA 95476, Phone: 707-939-1858, Facebook
Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery
Georgia isn’t particularly well known for its wine, which is why Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega, GA is so proud to have won Best in Class and two Gold Medals from wine competitions hosted by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles International Wine Competition. This, indeed, is the least of their accomplishments: Wolf Mountain has amassed over two hundred medals for the quality of their wines, and is widely considered to be one of the best wineries on the East Coast. The beautiful facilities at Wolf Mountain are accessible to visitors for winery tours, tastings, and private events.
180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533, Phone: 706-867-9862, Facebook
Wolffer Estate
The premium wines created at Wolffer Estate have been grown at the vineyard in the Hamptons, on Long Island, for over 30 years. Wolffer keeps sustainability in mind with the production of their wines, which over the decades has grown to encompass almost five hundred acres of land, including the vineyards in Sagaponack as well as private vineyards in Argentina, Spain, and other Long Island locations. Wolffer wines are food friendly, meaning they pair well with just about anything, and are built to age well. Over the years, Wolffer has also grown to produce other beverages as well, like their delicious dry ciders and well-crafted gin.
Wolffer Estate, 139 Sagg Rd, Sagaponack, NY 11962, Phone: 631-537-5106
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard
The house at Zephaniah Farm Vineyard was built in 1819, and even today, it is the home of the winemaking family that runs the place. It is also the home of the tasting room, along with the timber barn, which really adds to the sense that visitors who come to Zephaniah Farm Winery are being welcomed into the family home as treasured guests. In the vineyards, Zephaniah grows 14 varieties of grapes, though the list is ever-growing. Tastings at Zephaniah include some of their core varietals, including three reds, a Rose, and two white blends, as well as a rotating list of seasonal and reserve offerings.
Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd, Leesburg, VA 20175, Phone: 703-431-2016, Facebook
