Four California Wineries Where Wine and Wellness Go Hand in Hand
Wineries are proving that wine and wellness can go hand-in-hand. From Vinyasa in the vines to sip and cycle, these outdoorsy and adventurous winery experiences promote balance beyond the bottle. Meet four California wineries that offer visitors more than tastings.
Owned by the family behind Clif Bar, Clif Family Winery in Napa Valley’s St. Helena has partnered with a local bike shop for a range of wine and cycling experiences. For the new Tour de Chef package ($95–135 per person), choose from three picturesque Napa Valley routes. Each was chosen by a local chef who’s also an avid cyclist and concludes with a wine and bruschetta pairing back at the winery.
Chaturanga before you Chardonnay at Bricoleur Vineyards. The winery hosts yoga classes ($15) on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, seasonally, under their vineyard view pavilion in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. Classes range from Hatha to Vinyasa to the calming Yin Yoga practice (the winery even has cork yoga mats you can purchase) and most guests stay afterward for a picnic, bocce ball or food and wine pairing.
Paso Robles’ Castoro Cellars built an 18- hole disc golf course right in the middle of its certified organic Whale Rock Estate Vineyard. The course is suited for all levels, from first-timers to experts, and visitors can play around amongst the Primitivo and Pinot Grigio for just $5 before or after a wine tasting, though fair warning: Wine before disc golf may impair one’s throwing skills.
Set in Santa Barbara’s Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA), Alma Rosa Winery has 628 acres of rugged mountain terrain to explore. Before settling down for a wine and cheese pairing, journey on either a one-mile or more rigorous two-mile guided hike ($75–95) featuring a few pours of wine along the way. Panoramic vineyard views abound—planted in 1983, this was the first certified organic vineyard in the county—yet the majority of the estate is unspoiled land inhabited by all kinds of wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled.
This article originally appeared in the December 31, 2021 issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine. Click here to subscribe today!
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Cycles Gladiator 2020 Pinot Noir (California)
Pinot Noir
$13
Rating: 90
Wellsley Farms 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles)
Cabernet Sauvignon
$8
Rating: 90
La Honda Winery 2020 Sequence Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains)
Pinot Noir
$28
Rating: 90
Whatever 2020 Viognier (Templeton Gap District)
Viognier
$28
Rating: 91
Château de Malengin 2019 Cuvée Eve (Montagne-Saint-Émilion)
Merlot
$38
Rating: 90
Clos de Menuts 2018 L’Excellence (Saint-Émilion)
Bordeaux-style Red Blend
$65
Rating: 92
Château Haut-Piquat 2018 La Fleur (Lussac Saint-Émilion)
Merlot
$40
Rating: 91
Perrier Jouët 2013 Belle Epoque Rosé Brut (Champagne)
Sparkling
$305
Rating: 95
Perrier Jouët 2012 Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs Brut Chardonnay (Champagne)
Chardonnay
$335
Rating: 93
DFJ Vinhos 2019 Vega Red (Douro)
Portuguese Red
$12
Rating: 90
Pacific Rim 2021 Riesling (Columbia Valley (WA))
Riesling
$13
Rating: 90
The Pinot Project 2020 Pinot Noir (California)
Pinot Noir
$13
Rating: 90
J. Lohr 2020 Riverstone Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco)
Chardonnay
$14
Rating: 90
SeaGlass 2021 Pinot Grigio (Central Coast)
$14
Rating: 90
Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler 2020 Riesling (Mosel)
Riesling
$13
Rating: 89
Produttori di Manduria 2020 Alice Verdeca (Salento)
Italian White
$15
Rating: 90
Goose Ridge 2021 g3 Estate Grown Chardonnay (Columbia Valley (WA))
Chardonnay
$15
Rating: 90
Underground Wine Project 2021 And Why Am I Mr. Pink Rosé (Columbia Valley (WA))
Rosé
$15
Rating: 90
Masottina 2021 Collezione 96 Brut Rosé (Prosecco)
Sparkling
N/A
Rating: 90
Cupcake 2020 Chardonnay (Monterey County)
Chardonnay
$11
Rating: 88
Mezzacorona 2021 Pinot Grigio (Delle Venezie)
$11
Rating: 88
Giocato 2020 Pinot Grigio (Goriska Brda)
$13
Rating: 88
Waterbrook 2021 Pinot Gris (Columbia Valley (WA))
$11
Rating: 87
Prost 2020 Riesling (Rheinhessen)
Riesling
$14
Rating: 89
Rack & Riddle NV Brut Sparkling (California)
Sparkling
$15
Rating: 92
Yalumba 2021 The Y Series Viognier (South Australia)
Viognier
$15
Rating: 91
OZV 2020 Old Vine Estate Grown Zinfandel (Lodi)
Zinfandel
$15
Rating: 92
Dark Horse 2021 Pinot Grigio (California)
$9
Rating: 90
Bogle 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (California)
Sauvignon Blanc
$11
Rating: 88
The Beachhouse 2021 Sauvignon Blanc (Western Cape)
Sauvignon Blanc
$10
Rating: 86
Pacific Redwood 2020 Organic Syrah (California)
$15
Rating: 90
Rui Roboredo Madeira 2019 Castello d’Alba Reserva Red (Douro)
Portuguese Red
$14
Rating: 93
City Limits 2020 Street Art Syrah (Columbia Valley (WA))
$15
Rating: 93
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