Highest-rated wineries in California by visitors

Napa Valley isn't the only travel destination in the United States for a good glass of wine. While California's wine country is known for being a top winery destination (and also home to the award-winning bottle of Chardonnay that won top honors at the Judgment of Paris competition in 1976), wine connoisseurs no longer have to travel all the way to California for a good winery experience. In fact, at this point, noteworthy wineries are available to visit in every state, if you know where to look.

As of January 2025, there are 11,499 wineries in the United States, slightly down from the 11,691 reported in early 2023, marking a modest decline of about 1.6%. According to WineAmerica's latest 2025 Economic Impact Study, the U.S. wine industry now contributes a total economic output of approximately $323.6 billion, creates or supports 1.75 million jobs, and maintains 10,761 distinct wine-producing operations.

With such a booming industry and a plethora of wineries to choose from, how does a vino-lover know if a winery is worth it? First, the location is a big reason why people choose to visit a winery; if they are tucked away next to a sprawling field of grapes for guests to explore, then the wine is likely locally sourced. The tasting experience is also key. Wineries will offer a selection of their wines by the glass, or even tastings where the customer can order smaller pours of a variety of their wines. Some wineries even offer cellar tours with glimpses into their winemaking process. Of course, the ambiance is a big draw. If it's the kind of place that makes guests want to post photos on Instagram to make their friends jealous, then that winery is probably doing something right.

So, how do you know which winery to visit that includes some—if not all—of what makes a winery the best of the best? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated wineries in California, according to Tripadvisor, so you know exactly where to venture when wine o'clock hits—no trip to Napa necessary. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5.

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#22. Ponte Winery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (439 reviews)
- City: Temecula
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#21. JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (593 reviews)
- City: Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#20. Eberle Winery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (514 reviews)
- City: Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#19. HALL St

- Rating: 4.5/5 (704 reviews)
- City: St Helena Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#18. Mumm Napa

- Rating: 4.3/5 (952 reviews)
- City: Rutherford Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#17. Chamisal Vineyards

- Rating: 4.8/5 (270 reviews)
- City: San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#16. Stags' Leap Winery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (281 reviews)
- City: Napa Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#15. Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

- Rating: 4.6/5 (743 reviews)
- City: Sonoma Sonoma County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#14. Frog's Leap Winery

- Rating: 4.7/5 (720 reviews)
- City: Rutherford Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#13. Buena Vista Winery

- Rating: 4.4/5 (496 reviews)
- City: Sonoma Sonoma County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#12. DAOU Vineyards

- Rating: 4.4/5 (623 reviews)
- City: Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#11. O'Brien Estate Winery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (702 reviews)
- City: Napa Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#10. Caymus Vineyards

- Rating: 4.4/5 (571 reviews)
- City: Rutherford Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#9. Dry Creek Vineyard

- Rating: 4.8/5 (866 reviews)
- City: Healdsburg Sonoma County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#8. Sculpterra Winery & Sculpture Garden

- Rating: 4.6/5 (454 reviews)
- City: Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#7. Pride Mountain Vineyards

- Rating: 4.9/5 (657 reviews)
- City: St Helena Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#6. Gundlach Bundschu Winery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (483 reviews)
- City: Sonoma Sonoma County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#5. Tobin James Cellars

- Rating: 4.6/5 (853 reviews)
- City: Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#4. Chateau Montelena

- Rating: 4.3/5 (727 reviews)
- City: Calistoga Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#3. Wilson Creek Winery

- Rating: 4.3/5 (921 reviews)
- City: Temecula
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#2. Pine Ridge Vineyards

- Rating: 4.8/5 (563 reviews)
- City: Napa Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

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#1. Jarvis Estate Winery

- Rating: 4.8/5 (356 reviews)
- City: Napa Napa Valley
- Read more on TripAdvisor

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 45 states.