A Bucket-List Pour, Wherever You Land
Some wineries are pleasant stops, and others feel like you’re stepping into wine history with a great view and an even better glass. These famous names span continents and styles, so you can chase Champagne one trip and Napa Cabernet the next.
1. Opus One
Opus One in Oakville, Napa Valley, is sleek, focused, and built around one flagship wine. Tastings are typically curated and appointment-based, so it pays to plan early. You can enjoy a four-course meal with wine pairings, followed by an educational tour by one of the Estate’s ambassadors.
2. Robert Mondavi
Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville is a big chapter in Napa’s modern wine story. Their “Visit Us” lineup includes tastings and experiences that lean into pairings and education. If you like learning while you sip, this place makes it easy to have fun doing both. The estate itself is also reopening in the spring of this year, so it's the perfect time to go.
3. Stag’s Leap Cellars
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is famous for its 1976 “Judgment of Paris” moment and still wears that legacy well. Visits combine estate scenery with structured tastings that feel polished, not stuffy. Even outside of the actual winery, the land is polished to perfection.
Jim G from Silicon Valley, CA, USA on Wikimedia
4. Domaine Carneros
Domaine Carneros is your go-to when you want sparkling wine and a château-style setting in the valley. Their tasting experiences are set up for lingering, especially if you snag a terrace seat. Order bubbles, look out over the vines, and stretch out a little.
5. Chateau Ste Michelle
Chateau Ste Michelle near Seattle is Washington’s best-known winery visit, with grounds that feel like a mini retreat. The estate offers tastings and special experiences, and even has a concert lineup for this summer.
6. Biltmore Winery
Biltmore Winery in Asheville mixes estate grandeur with a working-winery feel you can tour. Their official info points visitors to tastings and tours that walk through production areas before sampling. The estate also has a hotel, an inn, and cottages that you can stay at overnight.
7. Moët & Chandon
Moët & Chandon in Épernay is a classic Champagne pilgrimage. Well-loved since 1743, the official visit options include guided tours paired with tastings of house styles. You’ll come out understanding why Champagne feels celebratory long before it hits a flute.
8. Château Margaux
Château Margaux is a Bordeaux first-growth with a name that practically counts as a credential. Visits can be limited and typically need advance arrangements, so it’s not a spontaneous stop. If you do get a slot, treat it like a quiet, reverent walk through living wine history. Over 500 years of wine-making exist within these walls.
9. Château d’Yquem
Château d’Yquem is the only ranked “Premier Cru Supérieur,” or “Superior First Growth,” within Sauternes. The property offers private, guided visits that focus on craft and heritage, where you can enjoy the class and art of over 200 years of rare wine distinction.
Benjamin Zingg, Switzerland on Wikimedia
10. Antinori in Chianti
Antinori nel Chianti Classico pairs nearly 700-year-old family prestige with bold, modern architecture in the Tuscan hills. The estate promotes visitor experiences that center on tasting and sensory discovery. Experience over 26 generations of high-quality work.
11. Castello Banfi
Castello Banfi near Montalcino feels like Tuscany turned up to eleven, complete with estate views and a Brunello reputation. Their tours and tastings are built to immerse you in the property, not rush you through it. Leave space in your day, because this is a linger-and-savor kind of visit.
Graeme Maclean from Glasgow, UK on Wikimedia
12. Ferrari Trento
Ferrari Trento is an Italian sparkling landmark with more than a century of history behind it. The winery invites visitors into its cellars for tours and tastings that explain the Trentodoc style. If you love bubbles, you’ll appreciate the quiet, cathedral-like mood of those underground spaces.
13. Marqués de Riscal
Marqués de Riscal in Elciego is a Rioja icon that mixes deep history with a destination-ready visitor setup. Their “Visit us” options include guided winery visits and tastings, so you’re not just stopping for photos. Between the wine and the setting, it’s easy to see why it’s globally famous.
14. Familia Torres
Familia Torres is one of Spain’s best-known producers, with just over 150 years of experience. It’s also the largest winery in all of Spain, also controlling the Miguel Torres Chile winery in the Chilean Central Valley.
Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL on Wikimedia
15. Bodegas Ysios
Bodegas Ysios in Rioja Alavesa stands out for its setting and its reputation, and has several vineyards you can visit. Each vineyard has its own unique ecology, allowing you to traverse the elevated lands of Finca Las Naves or the experimental lands of the Winery Vineyard.
16. Graham’s Lodge
Graham’s Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia is where Port lovers go to see aging barrels and taste the classics. The 200-year-old lodge includes a guided tour led by Port experts, as well as a tasting selection. It’s a warm, welcoming way to learn why Port is more nuanced than people expect.
17. Penfolds Magill Estate
Penfolds Magill Estate is a famous Adelaide stop where you can taste history without leaving the city. The cellar door experience is designed for visits and tastings, with options to explore the range. You’ll understand the hype fast, especially if you’re into big, bright, beautiful reds.
18. Cloudy Bay
Cloudy Bay’s Marlborough cellar door is an easy way to meet one of New Zealand’s best-known wineries. The estate encourages guests to relax, taste, and soak in the landscape while exploring the lineup. The estate also prides itself on its organic processes, centring its philosophy on only the highest quality wines.
19. Concha y Toro
Concha y Toro in Pirque is a famous Chilean winery visit that’s close enough to Santiago for an easy day trip. Their wine tourism page highlights tours that include the cellar and tastings as part of the experience. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of how big and influential Chile’s wine scene really is.
MattStabile01 at English Wikipedia on Wikimedia
20. Catena Zapata
Catena Zapata in Mendoza is a global Argentine name, and the pyramid-like winery makes it instantly recognizable. This century-old estate still does its harvests by hand, and tells the fantastical love story of how the estate’s cabernet sauvignon collection came to be.
