The Best Wineries In The U.S.

If you're a firm believer that time wines when you're having fun, then heading to a winery with your best pals is always a solid idea. Whether you choose to rosé all day or chardonnay the afternoon away, a good winery will teach you everything there is to know about the specifics of wines, grape varieties, and the character a region lends to a wine. Plus, you can try as many as you want and stock up on all of your favorites before heading home. You may even discover a new blend, awesome pairing, or type of wine drink that will make you wonder how you lived without it for so long.

Whatever part of the country you plan on visiting or currently call home, rest assured that we have listed the best wineries across the U.S. These are sure to please and quench every palate by filling your glass with utter joy. The best thing about our list is you don't have to choose just one winery, either. Start a bucket list and challenge yourself to visit several throughout the country.

If a vintage gas station and garage-style winery sounds intriguing to you, then head on over to Calistoga, California and visit Tank Garage Winery. It's as cool as it sounds, is housed in a gas station from the 1930s, and the wines get two thumbs up from us. You'll also feel super-exclusive taking a trip here and sipping Tank Garage's wines, as none of them are served in restaurants or sold in stores.

Fuel up with Tank Garage's lubrication tasting for $30 per person, where you and your crew can taste seasonal wine selections inside the station. In addition to reds, whites, and rosés, Tank Garage offers sparkling pét-nat, orange wine, and natural wines. They're serving up "Napa Valley's coolest wine tasting," in their words, and we couldn't agree more. If that's not enough to convince you to visit, then the plethora of rave reviews on TripAdvisor will. From people hyping up the decor to the good vibes to the unique tasting experience, can you really call yourself a wine lover if you haven't been to Tank? 

Tank Garage's mission is to create wines that "add to the collective conversation," and this unique, vintage winery has aced it in every possible way. Be sure to grab a picture with one of the vintage gas pumps while you're there so everyone on Instagram can see how cool you are.

If you're going to be in the Hamptons or want to escape the concrete jungle for a sweet weekend getaway, Wölffer Estate in Sagaponack, New York awaits. Not only are the wines there superb, but Wölffer's Summer in a Bottle Rosé is decked out head to toe in vibrant flowers. It's as ready for summer as you are, so round up your best crew and head to the picturesque 55 acres of grapevines for some serious wine time.

The winery itself is as Instagram-worthy as it gets. The interior boasts a cool, rustic-chic vibe, while the exterior has a beautiful deck (complete with chandeliers!) that overlooks the vineyard. In addition to wine tastings, Wölffer hosts some pretty interesting events at various price points, such as Yoga in the Vines. Their sessions are sure to ease your mind, body, and soul, and are offered May through October. Or, after your winery visit, you could join winemaker Roman Roth on a spectacular Rhône River Wine Cruise. This once-in-a-lifetime getaway will immerse you in history, wine, and some utterly divine French cuisine.

Check out Wölffer Estate on your next road trip, and plan on ordering a great charcuterie board or small plates while you're at it to enjoy with your wine and best friends. It will be a beautiful day and an even better experience. Wölffer Estate also makes their own ciders, too.

Croteaux Vineyards in Southhold, New York is a real treat for rosé lovers. They make rosé and only rosé. You heard that right — they're one of a kind in the United States and harvest vinifera grapes to produce refreshing rosés only. Their tasting garden is an experience not to be missed. From beautiful weeping cherry trees to a chic barn, to vintage wrought iron chairs, to a hanging backdrop of Croteaux bottles that is the ultimate nook for pictures, your experience at this winery will certainly be picture-perfect.

According to Long Island Wine Country, every year, Croteaux introduces a new vintage of rosés. Wine lovers can purchase them in early spring, but they had better shop quickly, as those bottles are always gone when autumn rolls around. Condé Nast Traveler captured the essence of Croteaux Vineyards when they said, "If you love rosé, this is probably your version of heaven." One reviewer on TripAdvisor even dubbed Croteaux "a little bit of France on the North Fork," telling people to, "GO! The setting is lovely the wine is crisp and cool on a summers day." Another reviewer had the best idea — to try "six different rosés" with your eyes closed. What better way to spend a beautiful afternoon in a beautiful garden, steps away from the grape vines?

Croteaux couldn't have said it better when they stated that "Once you go pink, it's all you'll want to drink."

Voted one of 25 top vineyards in the United States by Travel + Leisure, a visit to Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown, New Jersey should definitely be on your wine bucket list. What makes Beneduce really stand out is their small lot production, which allows them to capture the unique personality of each wine produced there. This means that each wine truly represents the vineyard the grapes came from, paired with the winemaker's individual touch.

Enjoy a glass or bottle on Beneduce's beautiful stone patio, play some lawn games with your crew, listen to live music, hang out in the Crush Pad (covered seating further from the music for a more intimate wine and food experience), and grab something to eat from one of the nearby food trucks. Check out the upcoming schedule on the winery's website, where you can find which local musicians will be performing and the food trucks that will be serving up delicious eats. The winery also holds an 18 and up "group therapy" event with live music on Saturday evenings, in addition to Sunday picnics where the whole family can join in on the fun.

This gorgeous vineyard that's situated high atop a hill in Paso Robles, California is well known for making and serving up Rhône-style wines, a variety that draws on grapes traditionally grown in the Rhône Valley region of France (via Wine Enthusiast). And when we say high, we're talking 1,800 feet above sea level! The steepness of the California landscape, the sun-drenched soils, the climate, and its distance from the Pacific Ocean all play a part in Alta Colina's incredible grapes they use to make wine. Plus, the estate is so picturesque, every wine lover needs to experience it. 

Not only does Alta Colina have immense character and style as a winery, but the names of the wine are so darn cool, too. Take, for instance, their 12 O'Clock High Viognier, Toasted Slope Syrah, and Sun Worshipper. You can book a Summit Vineyard Tasting, a Cellar Door Tasting, or you can stay at The Trailer Pond and wake up surrounded by the vineyard's natural beauty. The Trailer Pond is a campsite located in the center of the winery, complete with five vintage campers that are available to rent for a two-night minimum stay. There, you can taste wine and enjoy the views in a totally unique way. 

If your partner loves wine, this would make an amazing birthday, anniversary, or special occasion gift. We're helping you out here with a great idea that'll get loads of brownie points. You can thank us later!

You've heard of a beer garden before, but this winery has its very own wine garden! Located in Carmel, California, Folktale Winery was an inspiration. The owners believe that each bottle of wine contains a unique story, and at Folktale, each story is delicious and deserves to be shared with those you love.

Folktale was dubbed the "Best Winery to Visit" and the "Best Place for Day Drinking" by Monterey County Weekly. They both sound like great plans to us! So what are you waiting for? Relax and sip in the breathtaking wine garden, listen to some live music, and order great food like sweet patatas bravas with fermented chili aioli or a fish ceviche with wood-fired avocado, tostada crisps, pickled chilies, lime, and cilantro. If pizza's more your jam, try a truffle carbonara pizza, which includes pepper crema, truffle pecorino cheese, egg yolk, and sage. Oh, and while we're discussing the menu, you can't leave without trying their Valrhona chocolate chip cookies, complete with Chantilly cream, chocolate sauce, and fresh berries. Are we right or are we right?

If you're in the market for super creative home decor items and more, you will love checking out their shop, Folktale Provisions. Here, you can find a dreamy collection of organic pantry goods, homeware crafted by artisans, and lovely scented apothecary items.

This circular, barn-style winery is simply extraordinary. It comes as no surprise that Round Barn Estate in Baroda, Michigan was voted as one of the "10 best wineries and vineyards for live music" by USA Today's 10Best. Their Jammin' in the Vineyard series takes place on the weekends, and live music Fridays run Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. The lineup is, well, simply jammin'.

Round Barn has also been dubbed the best winery in Michigan by Eat This, Not That!, where its live music receives a notable mention yet again, in addition to the awesome selection of hiking trails on the property. As a matter of fact, while you're sipping, you can hike and enjoy the beauty of Mt Tabor Trails, which connects Round Barn Winery and the nearby Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant. According to Moersch Hospitality Group, "The best part of these trails — taking your favorite beverage to-go is encouraged!" What better way to enjoy your wine and take in the beautiful views and lush gardens than a nice hike?

If you feel so inclined to stay awhile, check out the two charming nearby rentals, the Estate House and Chateau Five Corners, that are on the vineyard and mere minutes away, respectively. While you're there, be sure to visit the Round Barn Brewery & Public House for brews, good times, and tasty eats.

For a truly different winery experience, consider traveling to Kailua, Hawaii to make your own wine and bottle it. Not only can you choose your own grapes from all over the world for this spectacular experience, but you will fill your bottles, put your own corks into them, place the foil onto each bottle top, and create your own personalized label. Oeno has lots of suggestions if you want a bit of guidance while making your label design.

Oeno (pronounced Eeh-No), which means "the Greek goddess of wine," uses an Italian method and all-natural ingredients with hardly any preservatives (only enough are added to prevent the wine from spoiling). The end result is magnificent. The wines are very refreshing and go down quite smoothly. Interestingly, Oeno is the only winery located on the entire island of O'ahu. 

As one person on Google Reviews said, "To all my wine lovers, this is a must." Another said it's "hard to find, but worth it," while another wrote, "Such a cute area tucked away in beautiful Kailua. The wine was amazing and the bread was to die for! You could taste everything was homemade with love!"

There's something for everyone at Oeno, as the winery makes sangrias, whites, reds, reserves, and dessert wines. Whether you stop by to make your own wine or simply to taste the wines at Oeno from their artisan or chalkboard series, this day will be epic. You're in for a treat at Oeno!

Arrigoni Winery & Cider Co. in Portland, Connecticut is simply fun for everyone. This family-owned winery offers live entertainment, a gorgeous property, food trucks, yoga events, paint nights, wine pairing dinners, fundraisers, psychic readings, and so much more (consider your social calendar saved). They even have a beautiful outdoor patio and stage area where they hold live musical performances. So, be sure to bring a group of friends so you can split a carafe of sangria and have both good wine and good times.

While you're at Arrigoni Winery, you'll also want to check out the unique ciders they have on tap, like Blueberry Ginger, Maple Madness, Prickly Pear, and Plain Jane Vanilla, to name just a few. Or, sip one of their impressive selection of wines (they have more than 20!) that have won multiple awards, like their Sparklin' Rozy, a pinot noir sparkling rosé, or Sunset, a fruity Reisling. You can pair them with plenty of great food from the winery, including their spinach artichoke dip, flatbreads, and other goodies.

Head to this fun spot for an afternoon of sangria or an evening of wine slushies. As it says on their Instagram, "Sometimes wine is just necessary." So head to Arrigoni, sit back, and sip away!

Listening to live music, cozying up fireside with a refreshing glass of wine, and enjoying a Brie dip or flatbread pizza ... who could want more? Located in Marengo, Iowa, Fireside Winery is definitely a go-to spot for locals and travelers alike. Whether you'd like to taste wine, buy some, or simply kick back by the fire and order some food truck eats with your favorite glass of red, Fireside is a great choice. One reviewer on TripAdvisor dubbed Fireside a "special treat," while another said, simply, "I'm sold." House Beautiful even chose Fireside as the best winery in Iowa, so give them a visit ASAP.

Fireside's website is chock-full of fun and useful information, including wine and potato chip pairings and wine and TV binge-watch events. From virtual jigsaw puzzles to information on every wine gadget you need to make your sipping experience more enjoyable, Fireside Winery has your weekend plans covered in such a creative way. And the best part is, you don't even have to stay for only a day. You can really make it a full weekend plan or longer by booking a night or more at The Retreat at Fireside Winery, a charming four-bedroom space complete with a kitchen and eating area, and all just steps away from the winery.

If you're planning on heading to the Southwest, be sure to put award-winning Luna Rossa Winery in Deming, New Mexico on your itinerary. It is cozy, enchanting, and a fun stop for any trip. Luna Rossa translates to "Red Moon," and this name inspired the owners to produce some amazing wines from their vineyards in New Mexico. Their wine is made completely from their grapes grown in New Mexico's arid desert climate. They make wines from German, Italian, Spanish, and Rhône types of grapes, lending real variety to their production.

Looking for somewhere to start? Consider trying Luna Rossa's malbec, with traces of violet and tobacco, or its NV Conquistador, which is a sweet post-dinner wine that should be served chilled and pairs well with chocolate or fresh pears. Their 2018 Pinot Grigio won a double gold award at the 2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition. They have also received silver awards for their malbec, merlot, Montepulciano, Shiraz, and Viognier wines, according to The Las Cruces Bulletin. This winery also has a pizzeria in addition to the winery at their Las Cruces location, and it just so happens to be one of Las Cruces' best eateries.