{"id":793,"date":"2024-04-02T23:30:12","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T15:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/these-7-wine-regions-in-the-usa-offer-a-perfect-weekend-getaway\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:06","slug":"these-7-wine-regions-in-the-usa-offer-a-perfect-weekend-getaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=793","title":{"rendered":"These 7 wine regions in the USA offer a perfect weekend getaway"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Need inspiration for your next romantic getaway? Look no further than your wine glass.<\/p>\n

More than just tastings in a vineyard and purchases of a few cases of that sauvignon blanc you loved, wine touring lets you discover the landscapes in which the grapes are grown, deepening the experience of enjoying a nice white or red, and building a personal connection to each varietal.<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ve looked to Lonely Planet\u2019s new edition of Wine Trails<\/em> to adapt these ideas for a wine-touring weekend to remember. For these seven regions in the USA create not only standout wines, but lasting memories, too.<\/p>\n

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The vineyards come with dramatic lake views in the Finger Lakes region of New York State \u00a9 PQK \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Finger Lakes, New York State<\/h2>\n

Best for rieslings, pinot noirs and gorgeous lakeside views<\/em><\/p>\n

With its harsh winters, the Finger Lakes of New York State represent one of the furthest limits of winemaking in North America. Winemakers here successfully introduced European vinifera<\/em> grapes in the \u201960s, and today a variety of vines grows along the shores of four of the region\u2019s 11 very long, very deep lakes: Seneca, Cayuga, Keuka and Skaneateles.<\/p>\n

A number of winemakers believe that riesling and pinot noir are the finest vehicles to discover and convey the Finger Lakes\u2019 terroirs. Others embrace a host of grapes, and consider questions of method most important: native or laboratory yeast, machine or hand-harvesting, oak or steel. Base yourself at one of the region\u2019s two city hubs, Watkins Glen or Ithaca, and set out to taste for yourself.<\/p>\n

2. Walla Walla, Washington<\/h2>\n

Best for spectacular scenery, outstanding dining and world-class syrahs<\/em><\/p>\n

Beneath the Blue Mountains in eastern Washington State, the Walla Walla Valley has become a remarkable story of rural regeneration, its longtime agricultural economy transformed and elevated by the arrival of grape wines. One of Washington\u2019s most celebrated wine regions, Walla Walla is also the state\u2019s best equipped for wine-country travel, with an enticing mix of tasting rooms, charming local restaurants, comfortable B&Bs and luxury hotels.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in the market for world-class syrah, the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater American Viticultural Area (AVA) has become one of the new hot spots of the region. While tasting through the region, be sure to allow some time to enjoy a walk around and a meal in the town of Walla Walla itself, where some of the state\u2019s best chefs can be found.<\/p>\n

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Many connoisseurs might be surprised by the growing wine scene in Pennsylvania \u00a9 Ben Hasty \/ MediaNews Group \/ Reading Eagle via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. The Atlantic Upland, Pennsylvania<\/h2>\n

Best for a sense of history, weekend festivals and premium dry wines<\/em><\/p>\n

History is everywhere you turn in Pennsylvania, home to centuries-old farms, Independence Hall, the weathered cabins at Valley Forge and the battlefield of Gettysburg. Winemaking, by contrast, is a newer tradition, legal in the state only since 1968; today, around 300 wineries operate statewide. Many benefit from the rolling terrain spilling off the Allegheny and Pocono Mountains that provides elevation and a drying breeze. Pennsylvania\u2019s diverse topography also produces a variety of climates.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019ll find vinifera<\/em> such as chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, you\u2019ll also come across samples of hybrids such as chambourcin and traminette, both made in a variety of styles and improving in quality by the year. Meanwhile, Native American grapes such as Niagara and Concord satisfy a local sweet tooth. That said, the greatest gains are being made in the production of premium dry wines, from red and white blends to experimentation with newcomers such as gru\u0308ner veltliner, albari\u00f1o, zweigelt and blaufr\u00e4nkisch.<\/p>\n

4. Willamette Valley, Oregon<\/h2>\n

Best for Burgundian expats, Portland hipsters and sublime pinot noirs<\/em><\/p>\n

Oregon\u2019s foremost wine region, the Willamette Valley is renowned as one of the best places in the world to grow pinot noir. The numerous Burgundian expats who have enthusiastically established wineries here can attest to this: the delicate, elegant reds they produce bear more than a passing resemblance to the wines of their homeland. White-wine lovers can rest assured too, since pinot gris and chardonnay also perform well here, with aromatic whites from riesling and gewu\u0308rztraminer getting better with every vintage.<\/p>\n

The valley\u2019s 930 wineries are just south of appealing Portland, an ideal staging post for visits to the region. Eccentricity abounds here, yes \u2013 but so does a dazzling array of great restaurants and places to drink. An abundance of organic produce, artisanal coffee, craft beer and street food are evidence of a foodie culture in which wine plays a leading role.<\/p>\n

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The high-altitude wineries in Colorado\u2019s Grand Valley are perfect for romance \u00a9 Helen H. Richardson \/ The Denver Post via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Grand Valley, Colorado<\/h2>\n

Best for mountain vistas, unique terroirs and eager hospitality<\/em><\/p>\n

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With some of the highest-elevation vineyards in the world, Colorado wineries offer soul-stirring vistas of mountains and the Colorado River, plus a refreshing twist on traditional wine styles. The state is home to an eclectic community of grape-growers and winemakers \u2013 a passionate, curious bunch who produce iconoclastic wine styles brimming with personality that comes from alkaline soils and thin mountain air.<\/p>\n

This unique terroir rewards patience and perseverance, and Colorado\u2019s winemakers have both in spades. On a visit, you\u2019ll be greeted with generous hospitality and an infectious enthusiasm for what\u2019s possible in a place that remains a well-kept secret in the wine world. The Grand Valley AVA is home to vineyards that sit at 4500ft, soaking up the sunshine that radiates off the valley\u2019s chalky Book Cliffs, and providing surprisingly successful conditions for the Bordeaux, Rh\u00f4ne and Italian varieties that thrive here.<\/p>\n

6. Sonoma Valley, California<\/h2>\n

Best for a variety of microclimates, outstanding restaurants and bold, exciting blends<\/em><\/p>\n

With its diverse patchwork of microclimates and terroirs, the Sonoma Valley is where many of California\u2019s most skilled and forward-thinking winemakers turn out star pinot noirs and chardonnays. While today\u2019s Sonoma is certainly at the cutting edge of the state\u2019s wine scene \u2013 thankfully, its wineries largely escaped the ravages of the 2020 Glass Fire \u2013 it\u2019s also where California\u2019s first commercial winery was established back in the 1850s. This long history is evidenced in many gnarled old vineyards, some of which are over a century old.<\/p>\n

In this part of Northern California \u2013 where the climate ranges from baking hot inland to downright cold out on the wet and windy coast \u2013 wine and food are embedded in the culture, something evident in the first-rate tasting rooms and restaurants in Healdsburg, the ideal place to base yourself here.<\/p>\n

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Proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes for frequent fog in the Santa Ynez Valley \u2013 and the longest growing season on the west coast \u00a9 George Rose \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Santa Ynez Valley, California<\/h2>\n

Best for gorgeous road trips, endless sunshine and (naturally) pinot noirs.<\/em><\/p>\n

This beautiful trail, stretching west of glamorous Santa Barbara, is the west coast\u2019s only well-established winegrowing region fully exposed to the fogs and cool weather of the Pacific. Sunny days with relatively low temperatures make for the longest growing season in California \u2013 and produce some of the state\u2019s best pinot noirs (gulped memorably by Miles and Jack in the 2004 film Sideways<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Other varietals thrive here, too. Vineyards planted closest to the ocean tend to offer lighter-bodied wines, while the warmer temperatures found inland create bolder, more full-bodied reds and whites. Planning tip: given the range of temperatures and elevations, bring a few layers when you set out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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