| LCBO

West Coast road trip




A summer road trip is one of the best ways to get to know a place. Just imagine yourself touring America’s west coast wine country, top down, sun shining, wind in your hair as you trek from Washington to Oregon and then down into California’s North and Central Coast regions. The wines are the main attraction of course, but there’s so much more to sea. (Yeah, we went there.)

" "


Washington
 

" "





"… there is no shortage of beautiful wine from Washington, and I, for one, won’t stop drinking and collecting these treasures.” Anthony Mueller, robertparker.com, March 21, 2024

Though grapes were first planted in Washington in 1825 and the first wine grapes in the Walla Walla Valley were planted in 1859, focused and considered winemaking did not take root in this Pacific Northwest paradise until the 1960s and 1970s. Even then, development was gradual. By 1983, there were only 40 wineries in Washington, but the region’s potential was undeniable. Today, there are more than 1,000 wineries and over 400 growers working with more than 80 grape varieties.

Washington is a complex topographical region, and the state’s wine-growing areas have been divided into 20 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). The vast majority are sub-regions of the Columbia Valley AVA, but each reflect a distinct character and sense of terroir, with varied growing conditions allowing for a wide range of grapes and styles to flourish. The windy, sunny Horse Heaven Hills is one of Washington’s warmer regions, but diverse growing conditions allow it to produce Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Chardonnay and Riesling. In contrast, Walla Walla Valley is red-wine country, producing Cabernet, Merlot, and complex, savoury Syrah. Some areas in Walla Walla receive enough rainfall to allow dry farming, which is a rarity in Washington, as dry conditions necessitate the use of irrigation for the majority of its vineyards.

Besides wine tourism, there are many reasons to visit Washington. It’s a paradise for hikers and adventurers of all stripes. Washington is second only to Alaska for glaciers. Mount Rainier, the highest peak in the Cascade Range, has 26 glaciers to explore. The Kitsap Forest Theater lets you combine a love of the outdoors with a love of live theatre. It was constructed in 1928 and is one of the oldest outdoor theatres in the USA. If the open air is not your thing, check out Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. In 1889, a fire destroyed 25 blocks of Seattle, and when the city rebuilt, they created a fascinating underground window into the roots of the original city.


Oregon
 




"Life is good for Oregon winemakers these days ... The heart of Oregon’s wine production, the Willamette Valley, continues its reign as one of the most dynamic wine regions in the country.” Tim Fish, winespectator.com, June 30, 2024

" "

Rough, rugged and rural, Oregon is the embodiment of an indefatigable pioneering spirit. Horticulturist Henderson Luelling is credited with introducing grapes and other fruits to Oregon in 1847. Within five years, the first winery was built by Swiss immigrant Peter Britt. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay crafted here are of a quality and character that has seen the wines of modern Oregon earn comparisons to Burgundy. Enthusiastic international interest from the likes of Burgundy’s Drouhin family has assured Oregon’s continued growth and development.

Located on the western side of the Cascade Range, Oregon’s vineyards are exposed to the direct influence of the Pacific Ocean and the tumultuous weather it can cause. Unlike Washington’s dry, consistent conditions, Oregon’s weather can be quite volatile, and vintage variation is a real consideration here. The majority of Oregon’s vineyards are situated within the rolling hills and volcanic soils of the Willamette Valley, which receives the most daylight hours in the state, allowing the grapes the chance to ripen even when the weather refuses to cooperate. Of the 50 varieties grown here, Pinot Noir is the most famous, and Chardonnay also does very well, but Oregon’s dry, crisp, bright, luscious wines crafted from Pinot Gris are propelling that grape to become the region’s new white star.

Oregon offers seemingly endless options for the outdoorsy type, with hiking, biking and canoeing routes galore, all through some of the most majestic, picturesque landscapes on earth. Simply following the Pacific Coast Highway will flood your Instagram and other social media apps with astonishing images. And a visit to the Columbia River Gorge, with its jaw-dropping vistas and 90 waterfalls, will take your breath away. Washington Park has plenty on offer as well, with such must-sees as the International Rose Test Garden, the Hoyt Arboretum, and the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum all within its grounds. And any trip to Portland must include a stroll along North Mississippi Avenue. This famous district is filled with independent boutiques, restaurants, and a great bar scene.


California

“When it comes to American wines, there’s no place like California. The Golden State produces nearly 90% of wine made in the United States, and it is responsible for putting the country – and the New World – on the map as a serious contender for quality bottlings.”
Wine Enthusiast, May 10, 2024

The first Californian wines appeared in the late 1760s, produced by Spanish Franciscan missionaries making communion wine. Westward expansion, particularly around the gold rush of 1848-1855, resulted in a population boom in California, and among the treasure seekers who flooded to the Golden State were winemakers who struck gold of their own in California’s rich soils and diverse mesoclimates. Ample sunshine and ocean-fog-cooled coastal vineyards provided ideal growing conditions, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that dynamic, innovative winemakers such as Robert Mondavi truly began to mine the state’s potential. Today, California stands atop the New World for premium-quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and especially Cabernet Sauvignon.

The crown jewel in Californian winemaking is undoubtedly Napa Valley, but as you travel down through California, what’s most striking is that each area you encounter produces premium-quality wines that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best regions.


Sonoma County and Lodi
 



Sonoma County is a complex tapestry of sun-drenched rolling hills, benchlands and valleys that extend from the Pacific Ocean to the Mayacamas Mountains. Within Sonoma County, various regions have become synonymous with world-class expressions of particular styles. Alexander Valley is known for its Cabernet and Merlot, while Dry Creek Valley produces Zinfandel, and Russian River Valley crafts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Sonoma also produces dynamic Pinot Gris, Viognier, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, Malbec, Syrah and Sangiovese.

Lodi is situated geographically within California’s warm Central Valley, but San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento Delta provide it with the benefit of cool ocean breezes despite its location nearly 115 kilometres inland. The region produces premium-quality wines from over 100 grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot as well as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. But the star of the region is Zinfandel, and Lodi is where many of the oldest, most prized Zinfandel vineyards in California are found.

When travelling through Sonoma, you will want to check out Layla at MacArthur Place and their famous Mediterranean-influenced menu. Across the region, there’s horseback riding to enjoy, amazing kayaking along the stunning Pacific coastline, and the shopping, art galleries and restaurants galore at the historic Sonoma Plaza. Lodi may give off-the-beaten-track vibes, and it has the hiking and biking options to prove it, but like all serious wine regions, it has stunning dining. Check out Pietro’s for Italian, or for seafood with Mexican flair, try Las Islitas. And there are more places to grab a straight-up good ol’ American burger than you can shake a 10-gallon hat at. While strolling through downtown Lodi, you’ll see murals depicting the history of the city. The first 11 were painted to celebrate its 100th anniversary.


Napa Valley and Suisun Valley
 




Napa Valley is the number one destination for wine tourism in California. But as this feature shows, in a state the size of California, international acclaim is not limited to the strength of one tiny region alone – there are other little regions making big waves. Places like the nearby Suisun Valley, which is a part of the Solano County AVA, are carving out their own reputations through wines of character and refinement.

For any wine tourist heading to California, top of the list has to be the sun-kissed, fog-cooled vineyards of Napa Valley: the champion wine region of the New World. Perfect weather and ample sunshine combined with diverse gravel, volcanic and loamy-clay soils encourage Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Zinfandel and give rise to some of the most iconic, sought-after Cabernet Sauvignons in the world. Fruit is sourced from the valley floor right up to mountain sites, making for nuanced, site-specific wines and animated blends that continue to revitalize and reaffirm this region’s authority. Though it may ring new to many of our customers’ ears, the Suisun Valley appellation was formed in 1982 and is part of the Solano County AVA, which is California’s second-oldest wine region, next only to Napa. Situated southeast of Napa and snuggled between two coastal mountain ranges, Suisun has 10 wineries working with 23 varieties, with Petite Sirah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon being among the most successful.

Napa has a vibrant theatre scene, as well as live jazz, blues and opera, if you’re so inclined. The region has a wide range of public and private art collections, museums and exhibits to see, such as the Gordon Huether Studio and its large-scale, site-specific installations. Stop into the Kitchen Door and get an unbelievable brunch, or visit the Michelin-rated Auberge du Soleil for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. While in Suisun, visit the Suisun Wildlife Centre and help support the conservation of local wildlife and rehabilitation, or go kayaking on the Suisun Marsh (the largest continuous marsh in the USA), or get an introductory flying lesson with Pacific States Aviation and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the vineyards.


Monterey County and Paso Robles
 

" "




Monterey County and Paso Robles encapsulate the excitement of Californian wine with aplomb. Both are in what’s known as the Central Coast region, but they couldn’t be any more different if they were on separate continents, and their diverse range of wines is a great way to end our trip.

Rugged, hilly and mountainous, Monterey Country runs approximately 145 kilometres from cool, ocean-influenced sites in the north to the warmer inland vineyard areas of the south. The differing temperatures and terroirs have led to the identification of eight distinct sub-regions: Arroyo Seco, Carmel Valley, Chalone, Hames Valley, San Antonio Valley, San Bernabe, San Lucas and Santa Lucia Highlands. Monterey winemakers work with more than 40 grape varieties but are best known for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The rolling hills, flatlands, rivers and mountains of Paso Robles are home to 200+ wineries, most of which are family-owned and -operated; a clue to the fiercely independent spirit that defines the region. Warm days and cool nights allow grapes to ripen while maintaining excellent freshness in a region that can produce burly Zinfandel, structured Cabernet Sauvignon, and intense Merlot. Paso Robles is also well-known for Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Roussanne, as the conditions found here are ideal for Rhône varieties to flourish.

If golf is your thing, America’s greatest public golf course, Pebble Beach Golf Links, is waiting for you in Monterey. If you love fine dining, make sure that the Montrio Bistro is on your itinerary. And don’t forget the sun. This is true for all of California’s gorgeous coastal wine regions, but you don’t want to miss out on enjoying as many sunsets as possible, and Monterey Bay is the perfect spot, especially on the water after a day of whale-watching. Paso Robles is cowboy country and steeped in history, so while here, make sure you stop in at the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum and get a real sense of the region’s past. To get a taste of modern Paso, head over to the Paso Market Walk and saunter through the local culture, enjoying vegan cheese at The Vreamery or baked goodies at Just Baked, or take a wine-blending class at The Blending Lab.


Celebrating Caymus

This is an important year for iconic California winery Caymus. In addition to releasing this new California Cabernet Sauvignon, they also commemorated their 50th vintage with a special anniversary edition of their beloved Napa Valley Cab (222877; find it in our Essentials Collection at LCBO.com/vintages). The 2022 Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon showcases California’s prowess with multi-regional blends. Though it’s true that the more precise the location from which a wine’s fruit is sourced, the greater the wine’s sense of provenance, there’s something undeniable about a wine that showcases best on best.

 

Alt Text

Find out first!

Get Vintages Latest emails to stay in the know about new releases, special offers, events and more

Sign up

Wine 101

Learn about the world's top wine styles and regions from our feature story archives.

Explore now

Shop the New Release Collection

Hundreds of new and remarkable wines to try every month.

Explore now

Shop Vintages and earn

Check out this month's featured bonus point offers

Explore now