Wineries and Vineyards
along the
Pacific Coast Highway

The wineries and vineyards along or near to the Pacific Coast Highway produce some of the best wine in the world. The French wine world has known how good California wines are ever since a blind tasting in Paris in 1976. The new world wines of California were judged – even by French judges – to be superior to the old world wines of France.

Lovers of Pacific west coast wines have always known that the vineyards of Oregon and Washington State can produce wines that in many cases are even better than their California counterparts. Oregon pinot noirs are among the best in the world, while Washington is second only to California in terms of US production and has been called the best place on earth to grow grapes.

No journey down the Pacific Coast Highway is complete, then, without calling in at a few of the wineries on the way.

Read some fun Napa Valley Facts and Figures
and read all about the Pacific Coast Wine Trail

Vineyards in Sonoma

Not all the west coast vineyards are as far inland as Napa Valley (though it's well worth the detour!) Some of the ones in Sonoma are right by the sea (see the photo above), the beautiful Paso Robles Wine Country is just inland from the Pacific Coast Highway, and there are many fine wineries around Santa Cruz, on the California coast too. The Carmel Valley inland from Carmel is another beautiful wine-growing region worth exploring.

In Washington there are wineries you can visit that are virtually in Seattle, as well as others along the Pacific Coast Highway as it goes around the Olympic Peninsula. Click to see our page on those bits of Washington Wine Country and on the Olympic Peninsula Wineries.

Where to Stay in PCH Wine Country

Napa: 1801 First
Paso Robles: The JUST Inn
St Helena: Wine Country Inn and Gardens

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  • Ventura Bars, Breweries, and Beer Festivals

    There are plenty of Ventura bars, breweries, brewpubs and pubs to enjoy, not to mention one of the biggest beer festivals in California.

  • Sonoma County Distilleries

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  • Santa Cruz Downtown Wine Tastings

    There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.

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