If you’re driving from Los Angeles to Mendocino County, you have a couple of options: You can hit Interstate 5 and spend about six hours traveling upstate at 90 miles per hour, looking mostly at drab beige hillsides and four cracks. -paved lane. Or you can choose to take your time, meandering through the coastal cities and spending about 10 hours driving the nearly 700 miles of Pacific Coast Highway, California Highway 1.
We suggest you opt for the latter. Cruise the Central Coast, Sonoma and Mendocino with these premium bottles to enjoy on the go.
central coast
Highway 1’s route through Santa Barbara runs through the Funk Zone, a waterfront warehouse neighborhood that has become a wine lover’s paradise with nearly two dozen tasting rooms. It heads northwest through the suburban stretches of Goleta before veering up, skirting the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills Appellation and landing directly at Lompoc Wine Ghetto, another urban collection of wineries and tasting rooms. Follow it further to reach the Santa Maria Valley and then on to the maritime magic of the San Luis Obispo coast, one of California’s newest appellations. Along the way, pit stop and bottle shop. —stacy briscoe, Senior Editor, Print
95 Wine Enthusiast Points
Crinkled bay leaf and dewy peppercorns enhance dark plum aromas in the herbal nose of this bottling. On the palate it is firm and intense, delivering flavors of black berries and roasted cherry tomatoes along with hot spices and a variety of mist-soaked chaparral bush. —Matt Kettman
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93 Wine Enthusiast Points
This affordable new price tag from the master of Syrah Jaffurs is a stunner, with plenty of energy coupled with ample complexity. The aromas of crushed plums, lilac, roast meat and pepper create an elegant nose. Young tannins take over the sip, framing pungent flavors of purple fruits and hot spices, with lively acidity from start to finish. Editor’s Choice: M.K.
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93 Wine Enthusiast Points
A sharp, stony grain runs through the nose of this bottling like chiseled granite, and then the wine opens up to aromas of melon rind and citrus zest. The palate is firm in texture and full of lingering acidity, while flavors of white melon, Asian pear and honeysuckle align. —M.K.
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91 Wine Enthusiast Points
Always a solid representation of Sta. Rita Hills for a fair price, this bottling starts with fresh pomegranate, dark sage and wet slate on the refreshing nose. There’s a taut structure on the palate, framing flavors of red plum, rose medley, and blueberry. Editor’s Choice: M.K.
$28.99
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sonoma
The adrenaline-pumping drive north from Bodega Bay to Fort Ross on Highway 1 is a roller coaster of hills and hairpin turns overlooking the rocky coastline. Turn left and you’ll find dozens of windy and secluded beaches to explore. Turn east on any county road and you’ll quickly climb into the mountains where some of Sonoma County’s most climatically extreme Pinot Noirs are grown, including these three elegant beauties. —jim gordonsenior tasting editor
95 Wine Enthusiast Points
Thick, tannic and herbal, this is an earthy and ethereal wine from the coast, aromatic on rose petals and forest floor. A remarkable backbone of acidity keeps it fresh and energetic in the glass amid a tasty landscape of salty and silky structure. —Virginie Boone
$39.99
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94 Wine Enthusiast Points
A 25% whole cluster fermented wine from a cool coastal site at moderate elevation, it is superbly floral and aromatic in rose, violet and forest. With fresh acidity at its core, the flavors deepen into pomegranate, blueberry and cassis, with hints of dried herbs and tea. —VB
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Mendoza
If you’re like me, taking a road trip always involves a tangent, in this case, to Anderson Valley. Driving through the AVA, a winding, winding, hilly operation, there are plenty of stops for Pinot Noir. The grape thrives here, given its proximity to the Pacific and the cold ocean winds that whip through the region.
Two must-sees are the small towns of Boonville and Philo, which are linked by picturesque rows of vines and home to a cluster of wineries, as well as one of the best hotel accommodations (and restos) in the area: The Hotel and Bonville restaurant.
If you’re here for your Pinot fix, a popular spot is Goldeneye. But don’t miss the smaller independent producers: A visit to winemaking duo Kristy Charles and Joseph Webb of Foursight Wines is always on my to-do list. Booking is recommended to sample the great work of Thomas T Thomas, Phillips Hill and Pennyroyal Farm. But the climate and terroir suit much more than just Pinot: cool climate, spicy Syrah; Gewürztraminer that can maintain its acidity while developing those elegant fruity and floral notes; and Pinot Gris that pays respectable homage to the Alsatian nobility. All of these, plus Pinot Noir, can be found at Handley Cellars. And if you need groceries, or, as I did, a bulky sweatshirt to ward off the morning temperatures, stop by Lemons Philo Market. —stacy briscoe, Senior Editor, Print
92 Wine Enthusiast Points
A light and lively Pinot Noir with notes of crushed roses and violets, red cherry, red plum, fennel leaf and forest floor. The slightly chalky tannins make the wine’s texture accessible, while the elevated acidity enlivens the fruit components and allows them to linger on the finish. —Stacy Briscoe
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94 Wine Enthusiast Points
Wow, this Pinot Noir offers a plethora of aromas and flavors: blueberry, wild strawberry, pomegranate, rhubarb, forest and tree floor, river rock minerality, a medley of rose petals, hints of black and white pepper spice, cumin, basil and gently toasted wood. The tannins are super smooth, the mouthfeel is generous, almost voluptuous. The finish is a fine balance of all that earth, spice, flower and fruit. —SB
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94 Wine Enthusiast Points
Immediately decadent aromas emanate from the glass: red cherry, red plum, pomegranate, chocolate, vanilla, nutmeg, toasted wood. On the palate it continues with an excellent high acidity providing vivacity to these same flavors; fine-grained tannins provide a silky texture. The finish is long, persistent and invites another sip. Editor’s Choice—SB
$59.00
Penny Royal Farm
94 Wine Enthusiast Points
A little timid on the nose, this deeper expression of Pinot Noir opens up beautifully to red and black plum, red and black cherry, chocolate, forest floor, and toasted wood. The firm tannins coat the palate and are welcomed by the concentration of fruit, as well as the balanced and high acidity. It is an excellent quality wine that with age will only gain in depth and complexity. —SB
$70.00
Thomas T Thomas Vineyards
92 Wine Enthusiast Points
Textbook Gewürtz aromas immediately emerge from the glass: rose water, rose petals, lychee, white grapes, honeysuckle and agave nectar. It does not disappoint on the palate and includes a solid dose of acidity that breaks those perfumed notes, providing freshness, lightness and shine. Drink neat or pair it with a plate full of aromatic spices, like a classic curry. —SB
$26.99
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Why you should trust us
All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and is overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast’s headquarters. All ratings and reviews are done blindly in a controlled environment and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment for any product reviews, although we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at time of publication.
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2023 issue of wine enthusiast magazine. Click here to sign up today!
Posted on May 25, 2023
