California is the nation’s largest wine producer. In fact, the Golden State supports 81% of U.S. wine production, producing 605,981,608 gallons in 2023, according to the Wine Institute’s website.
Visitors to California can get a behind-the-scenes look at the state’s wine production through a number of unique tours offered by various wineries.
One of the best experiences some of the state’s wineries offer their guests is a wine cave tour.
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According to Visit California, wine caves are being built across the state as a way to store large barrels of aging wine.
Wine cave tours are often accompanied by fine wine tastings.
California has plenty of experiences for wine lovers, including unique wine cave tours. (George Rose/Getty Images)
There are thousands of wineries in California, all offering unique services to their guests, many of which include cave tours.
Below are just a few of the many wineries in California that you can visit to explore wine caves.
Alexander Valley Vineyards Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves Jarvis Estate Winery Pine Ridge Vineyards Benziger Family Winery Buena Vista Winery Inglenook Davis Estates Schramsberg Vineyards Brasswood Estate
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1. Alexander Valley Vineyards
Alexander Valley Vineyards is located in the city of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, California.
This location offers tours of the 48,000 square foot underground caverns on site.
This tour provides a unique experience learning about the barrel aging program used at the vineyard.
The wine caves at Alexander Valley Vineyards are a popular tourist attraction in California. (George Rose/Getty Images)
Plus, you can book many other experiences, including beautiful hikes through vineyards.
2. Bella Vineyards and Wine Cave
Family-run Bella Vineyards offers wine tastings and cave tours for guests.
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Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves is located in Healdsburg. According to the website, more than 70% of the grapes used to make the wine are grown in the vineyard.
Described on the website as an “immersive winery experience,” the “Bella Tour” allows guests to explore the winemaking process in the crash pad and vineyards.
Guests can also pass through a wine cave surrounded by barrels where wine is aged to perfection.
The wine cave is full of oak barrels, where the wine is perfectly aged under ideal conditions. (St. Petersburg)
According to the website, the Bella Tour takes approximately 90 minutes.
3. Jarvis Estate Winery
At Jarvis Estate Winery, guests are welcomed into a 45,000-square-foot cavern where they can learn more about the winery’s “world-class approach to winemaking.”
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According to the winery’s website, the wine cave tour includes a visit to the Cuvée Gallery, filled with more than a dozen oak vessels, and includes an underground waterfall at the end of the tour. can be kept at the optimal temperature for ripening. Website status.
After touring the caves, enter the tasting chamber where you can sample the wines.
Inside Jarvis Estate Winery is a 45,000 square foot cave. (Carol M. Highsmith/Bayenlarge/Getty Images)
4. Pine Ridge Vineyards
Pine Ridge Vineyards is one of the many wineries located in California’s Napa Valley.
Pine Ridge Vineyards offers a 90-minute wine cave tour and wine tasting.
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The guided tour will take guests through the cave system and then conclude with a wine tasting in Cellar 47 to sample Cabernet, according to the website.
5. Benziger Family Winery
Benziger Family Winery is located in Glen Ellen, Sonoma County.
According to the Benziger Family Winery website, the wines are made from Sonoma Mountain Ranch and Sonoma County Vineyards.
A tour of Benziger Family Winery allows guests to learn about the winery’s agricultural practices, all while enjoying a glass of wine, of course.
A tour of Benziger Family Winery allows guests to learn more about the winery’s agricultural practices. (George Rose/Getty Images)
One of the stops along the way is a wine cave, ending with a seated tasting of wine paired with cheese.
6. Buena Vista Winery
According to SonomaCounty.com, Buena Vista Winery was founded in 1857, making it the oldest commercial winery in California.
At Buena Vista Winery, you can enjoy a glass of champagne or sparkling wine in the Bubble Lounge, or you can enjoy wine straight from the barrels in the cave.
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The original Buena Vista Winery is located about a mile from Sonoma Square, according to its website.
You can also visit Chateau Buena Vista in downtown Napa.
Buena Vista Winery was founded in 1857. (Craig Lee/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
7. Inglenook
Inglenook is a winery founded in 1879 in Rutherford, California.
According to Inglenook’s website, during the tour guests will be able to see inside the Italian Cave, which is home to 120 fermentation tanks.
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In addition, guests can visit the Infinity Cave, where aging barrels are stored.
At the end of the tour, Inglenook visitors go to one of the cellars and enjoy wine and cheese.
8. Davis Estates
The Davis Estate has an 11,000-square-foot cave completed, according to its website. The winery is located in Calistoga, Napa County, California.
Davis Estates offers tours, giving guests a behind-the-scenes look at the winery, which includes on-site vineyards and caves.
There are plenty of tasting spaces to relax and enjoy wine.
Wine cave tours are often combined with delicious wine tastings. (St. Petersburg)
9. Schramsberg Vineyards
Schramsberg Vineyards is a wine company specializing in sparkling wine.
Schramsberg Vineyards cave tours can be combined with sparkling, white, or red wine tastings.
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Schramsberg Vineyards is located in Calistoga, California.
10. Brasswood Estate
Brasswood Estate includes a 17,000-square-foot cave, according to its website.
At each site on Brasswood Estate’s cave tours, guests can sip wines created by Angelina Mondavi and her team.
One of the unique features of Brasswood Estate is the Wine Cave Library, where you can enjoy wine at a long central table.
Brasswood Estate is located in Helena, California’s Napa Valley.
