25 California Wineries Every Enthusiast Should Know

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While winemaking in California can be traced as far back as 1769, according to UC Davis, Napa took nearly two centuries to gain the recognition it deserved as a bonafide high-end wine destination. May 24, 1976, was a fateful day for the state's winemakers, as that's when The Judgment of Paris took place, putting Californian and French wines head-to-head in a blind taste test of an all-French panel. CNN says that Californian winemakers creamed their French competitors in the white wine tastings, while a 6-year-old winery beat out Bordeaux's Chateau Mouton-Rothschild in the red category. Fifty years later, California — particularly Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Paso Robles — is renowned for producing some of the world's most respected and top-rated wines that are on par (or outrank) some of the world's most prestigious labels from France and Italy, Wine Enthusiast explains.

The following California wineries are essential for every enthusiast to know, whether you're building a spectacular collection, visiting Northern California or Paso Robles for a wine-centric vacation, or are embarking on a journey to discover the wonderful world of wine. From Napa Valley icons whose wines have endless waiting lists for $400 bottles, to hip newcomers who are changing the way we think about California wine, this list offers a robust glimpse into the amazing wineries of the Golden State, which are among the best in the U.S. 

Dominus Estate is the brainchild of revered winemaker Christian Moueix and has been dedicated to making some of the best Bordeaux-style California wines possible since 1983. However, Dominus Estate's origins go much further back, as its prestigious Napanook vineyard was the site where George Yount fatefully planted Napa Valley's first vines exactly a century before the winery's founding.

The Napanook vineyard where Dominus Estate's grapes are sourced is organically dry-farmed to best preserve the historic destination, restore the environment and biodiversity, and make exceptional bottles of wine. Grape clusters are sorted by hand and gentle pump-overs reveal the grape's aromas and tannins to help create wines that seek to be profound, powerful, and pure. The brand seems to achieve just that as the 2018 Dominus Estate was ranked the No. 1 wine of the year in 2021 by Wine Spectator.

Dominus Estate wines aren't exactly the kind you'd stock up on for a dinner party, but they are an experience in their own right. The 2018 Dominus Estate, which received 100-point ratings from Jeb Dunnuck and James Suckling (via Wine.com) retails for $420 and makes an excellent cellar pick for the most discerning collectors.

Larkmead Vineyards is a fourth-generation family winery that has been around for nearly 130 years and has seen the Napa Valley transform from a rugged farm country to a luxurious tourist destination. Larkmead grows seven types of grapes on its property, with more than half being cabernet sauvignon. The winery's 2018 vintage received an average 96-point rating, International Wine Report notes, but it's also known for top-rated red blends. 

According to Vine Pair, Larkmead Vineyards takes sustainability seriously, functioning as its own ecosystem. Not only does the winery practice organic farming but all of its water comes from estate wells, and it is recycled for reuse in the vineyard. Larkmead's wines are more than just highlighting the estate's unique microclimate and distinctive terroir — they are about preserving the land where they come from. The new head winemaker, Avery Heelan, has also worked closely with the team to develop a proprietary yeast strain for the estate in order to stop relying on commercial options.

Larkmead Vineyards' current release wines are available for purchase through its membership program, mailing list, and a visit to the gorgeous property. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, which retails for $125, is the brand's recommended Larkmead introduction as it is one of the staff's favorite and most approachable wines on release but can easily hang in the cellar for 10+ years.

Schramsberg Vineyards was first founded in 1862 and has become known for producing some spectacular sparkling wines made in the Méthode Traditionelle style. The winery is considered a historical monument by the California Historical Society, and it certainly is making history with its Napa Valley bubbly that has garnered as high as 97 points, according to Wine Enthusiast.

Schramsberg makes a variety of sparkling wines from rosé to blanc de noirs and some cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. It was designated as "Winery of the Year" in 2016 by Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine for its impressive bottles across all the varietals Schramsberg produces — not to mention it has received more starred recommendations by the guide than any other sparkling wine producer.

The winery recommends starting with a bottle of the blanc de blancs, which retails for $41, and is the most popular bottle in Schramsberg's portfolio. This type of bubbly is made entirely from chardonnay grapes and is vibrant, fruit-forward, and offers a clean, bright finish.

Amid Saint Helena's opulent wineries and glamorous dining destination lies the understatedly elegant Ehlers Estate, which feels like a breath of fresh air. This winery sits on a late 19th-century property with organically farmed vineyards run by Laura Diaz Munoz since 2018. However, the winery began receiving recognition after French philanthropists Jean and Sylviane Leducq purchased the property in the '90s, seeing the incredible potential for Bordeaux-style wines at this site, and the first vintage was released at the turn of the 21st century. While they no longer own the property, Munoz carries on the Leducq's vision by making exceptional wines from ​​cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and sauvignon blanc.

Ehlers Estate sits on an Old World-style property unique to the state, which allows the team to control every aspect of growth and production, leading to the most exceptional wines possible. It's considered one of the best wineries in Napa to visit, according to Reader's Digest, and an afternoon here offers an inside look at the care and dedication behind every bottle.

The winery recommends introducing yourself to the label with its 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which retails for $72. This medium-to-full-bodied wine offers endless layers of complexity with an earthy, mineral-like first sip and a rich, fruity finish.

While storied wineries are abundant on this list, Charles Krug Winery is the oldest wine estate in Napa Valley, dating back to 1861 — and it's also home to the first tasting room, which opened in 1882. The Mondavi family purchased the estate in the '40s, naming it after its founder, Charles Krug, and the 147-acre estate was the beginning of a vintner dynasty built on family values and European winemaking traditions.

Charles Krug Winery has been the site of many innovations by the Mondavi family over the years. It was here that Peter Mondavi Sr. pioneered the cold fermentation technique for white varietals, while the winery was the first in Napa Valley to utilize French oak barrels in the aging process of its red wines. Four generations later, Charles Krug remains a pillar of the Mondavi legacy, featuring expressive, elegant, sustainably farmed wines that speak to the diversity of the region's terroir.

The Charles Krug 2018 Pinot Noir, which retails for $28, makes an excellent introductory wine, as it highlights the success of the Mondavi family's efforts to begin planting Burgundian varietals in the now-iconic Carneros AVA. This wine offers a bouquet of cola, dried berries, toasted brown sugar, and flavors of baked cherries and tobacco leaf with a bright, lingering finish.

Stags' Leap Winery is one of the oldest wineries in Napa at nearly 130 years old. It also resides in the prestigious Stag's Leap District AVA, which is a small but mighty (and prestigious) group of 17 wineries and 10 growers — many of whom are Napa Green Certified, (via Napa Valley Life Magazine). One of those wineries is Stags' Leap. The winery prides itself on producing top-rated Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, among other Bordeaux varietals, and a best-selling rosé.

Stags' Leap Winery's head winemaker and general manager, Christophe Paubert, employs traditional, simple, and hands-on practices inspired by his education in France to make wines that are both intense and yet full of finesse. The winery itself embodies that sense of understated French elegance and is considered one of the most beautiful in the valley, according to VERANDA, which is saying something these days.

Stags' Leap Winery has become well-known for its Ne Cede Malis Petit Syrah, Stags Leap District Winegrowers notes, and the current 2017 vintage release was awarded 95 points by Wine Advocate. The publication says the bottle offers a full-bodied palate, firm yet approachable tannins, and a lingering, flavorful finish, making for a Petite Syrah aficionado's dream bottle.

Heitz Cellar is one of several Napa revolutionaries on this list. The winery is led by a commitment to producing organic and biodynamically farmed wines from 100% Napa Valley fruit, which leads to wines that are a lively experience of the region. Joe Heitz, the winery's pioneering vintner, helped bring Napa winemaking into the modern age with the valley's first vineyard-designated cabernet sauvignon and the now-iconic Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard.

Heitz Cellar's vineyards are located in some of the best sub-appellations Napa has to offer: Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Howell Mountain, Oak Knoll District, and Calistoga, which allows the winery to highlight the region's diversity and showcase the best fruit. And this is certainly the case, as the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Martha's Vineyard earned the No. 3 spot on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2021 list.

Besides the Martha's Vineyard, the winery suggests trying the 2016 Lot-C Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, which retails for $100 (and is one-third the price). This historic wine highlights Joe Heitz's vision of creating an exceptional wine with grapes sourced exclusively from Heitz Cellars' prized single vineyards and boasts unique savory elements and a harmonized yet complex finish.

Founded by father-son duo Andy and Jesse Katz, Healdsburg's Aperture Cellars is causing quite a stir in the wine industry with 98-point cabernet sauvignons that showcase the best of Sonoma. While son Jesse has become acclaimed for producing the world's most expensive bottle of wine and making bottles for the stars, Riff Magazine reports, his real passion is in the more accessible offerings under the Aperture label — and the spectacular new art-filled estate where oenophiles can experience the brand in real life.

Jesse Katz is passionate about Bordeaux varietals, and he has searched high and low for the best cool-climate spots to grow sauvignon blanc, malbec, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, among others for the winery's impressive portfolio. The brand recommends trying its latest release, the Soil Series 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, which retails for $70 and has received 95-to-97 points from Robert Parker's "The Wine Advocate." It is Aperture's 11th vintage and the first red wine in the series to be made completely from the vineyards at Aperture Estate.

Brothers Daniel and Georges Daou built a Paso Robles wine empire with their first wine venture, DAOU Vineyards, one of the top-rated California cabernet sauvignons on the market, Vivino says, and offered at a staggeringly lower price than its competitors. However, the brothers' latest project, Patrimony Estate, is proving even more impressive. They are working to create world-class Bordeaux-style wines that rival the best of the region, and are doing just that as their 2017 cabernet sauvignon received a 99 rating from Jeb Dunnuck.

These pioneers of central California wine country speak to the brothers' Old World upbringing, their passion, and their deep respect for the distinct terroir they searched high and low for across the state. The brand ferments the grapes with wild yeast, the wine is made from 100% free-run juice, and the wine is aged in rare French oak barrels that were sourced from a forestry initiative spearheaded by King Louis XIV for 30 months to create Patrimony Estate's highly lauded wines.

Introduce yourself to the world of Patrimony Estate with the 2018 cabernet sauvignon, which retails for $270. This wine boasts a full-bodied, silky palate and an intense range of aromatics from lilac, cedar, cooked dark berries, and dark chocolate. You'll have to join a waitlist to snag a bottle from the estate, but it will be worth the wait with a celebration, and you can always enjoy the $25 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon in the meantime.

Hirsch Vineyards is a second-generation family winery that is producing some of the finest pinot noirs in the New World, Cru Wines adds. Hirsch houses the oldest pinot noir plantings on the Sonoma Coast and pioneered the area as a prime pinot noir and chardonnay destination. Founder David Hirsch's daughter, Jasmine Hirsch, is now at the helm as general manager and winemaker, seeking not only to produce some of the best wines in California but wines that come from organic and biodynamic farming practices.

The brand has been producing its estate chardonnays and pinot noirs since 2002, and the winery is built in the center of the ranch, allowing a full immersive winemaking experience that involves the makers and growers in every step of the process. The dedication to the craft is worth it, as The Wall Street Journal calls the ranch a "pinot paradise" that makes some of the most distinctive and best wines.

Jasmine Hirsch recommends introducing yourself to the brand with a bottle of its flagship wine. The 2019 Hirsch "San Andreas Fault" Estate Pinot Noir, which retails for $60, offers a real taste of the ranch, as it is made from fruit across 36 of its distinct farming blocks.

The youngest pick on this list, Scribe is Sonoma's hottest winery, Architectural Digest notes. But it is more than just a pretty face: Scribe produces highly sought-after terroir-driven wines on a property that pioneered pre-Prohibition winemaking in the region. Brothers and fourth-generation California farmers, Andrew Mariani and Adam Mariani, are at the helm of this buzzy brand that produces classic varietals, exciting Pét-Nats, seasonal vermouths, and even olive oil. 

Scribe's wines are made with low-interventionist, organic methods to support a healthy ecosystem while making the best site-specific wines possible. While the initial draw for a visit is to taste (and stock up on) the brand's unique range of wines and exciting expressions of popular varietals, its culinary program and incredible views from the lovingly restored hacienda will keep you lingering for hours, according to Bon Appétit. Who wouldn't want to stop by this beautiful winery and enjoy a glass of wine?

Six-time James Beard Award-nominated Matthiasson Wines is run by husband-and-wife duo Steve and Jill Klein Matthiasson in Napa Valley. After many years working in the local food movement and sustainable agriculture, the couple pivoted to winemaking in 2003 with a mission to produce refreshing bottles that pair excellently with food, while having a lower alcohol content than many other California wines.

The Matthiassons have become pioneers of what is now called "new California winemaking," Chris Struck for JancisRobinson.com notes, aiming to produce more balanced wines the Old World way with traditional methods, while also making organic and sustainable farming a priority and championing the wellbeing of their employees as a crucial element of the business. You'll find plenty of cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel from the brand, but it also offers bottles made from rarer and less traditional grapes for California like pinot Meunier, schioppettino, and refosco.

There are so many offerings that deserve exploration to understand the breadth of the Matthiasson's mission and achievements, but the winemakers suggest trying the ever-popular 2021 Rosé California, which retails for $39 and is made with a blend of grenache, syrah, mourvèdre, and counoise. Jill Klein Matthiasson says that it's a delicious, bright, and fun, but also a serious, wine that is extremely versatile in pairing with food.