Lake County Lush-ious

Wine Tasting in Clear Lake and Lake County in California

04.28.2016

Wildflowers aren’t the only things dotting the emerald-green rolling hills of Clear Lake. Wineries have been popping up all over the mountain ridgelines and sun-soaked valleys of the Clear Lake Appellation—home to 8,718 acres of planted vineyards and dozens of tasting rooms offering world-class wines at a fraction of the price of some neighboring areas (with none of the tour busses or bachelorette parties!). This is a hidden gem for wine lovers, and probably won’t stay a secret for long. Start your tour-de-vino in the little town of Kelseyville, tucked sleepily within the rolling hills south of Clear Lake. Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill has a huge selection of organic wines, from sauvignon blanc to a 15-year-old tawny port. When you’re ready to venture into the countryside, make a short drive out of town to visit Laujor Estate Winery and neighboring Boatique Winery.

Laujor offers outstanding Lake County wines complemented by jaw-dropping views of Mount Konocti and the surrounding valley from the back patio. Be sure to try their sauvignon blanc–musqué blend. Just next door is Boatique Winery. Taste through a selection of big reds rivaling the cabs of Napa, take a tour of the owners’ huge collection of rare and antique luxury boats from the fifties and sixties, and grab a handful of tulips (they’re grown for guests) from the garden before you leave.

BEER HERE: Kelsey Creek Brewing Company on Main Street in Kelseyville is not to be missed by those who fancy fantastic microbrews. Master brewer and owner Ron Chips serves everything from Irish reds to IPAs to bourbon-barrel stouts, bittered with local hops and brewed out back, all in a dog-friendly, laid-back saloon setting complete with peanut shells on the floor.

kelseycreekbrewing-image-jpeg

STAY: For cozy lodgings with some adorable rustic charm, stay at the guesthouse at Finch Gardens.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View