4 Summer Wine Country Spots that Sizzle
Author:Christina JulianThe wine is abundant and so are the views. There’s no better way to soak up the summer heat than with sips at these Wine Country spots, where striking designs and scenery flow as freely as the libations.
Courtesy of Stryker Sonoma via Facebook
Stryker Sonoma is known for its glassy-walled views of the Sonoma wine country, accentuated by the edgy yet refined architectural style of Richard Schuh and Amy Nielsen. The glazed and slotted screens of the curvaceous tasting room make the vineyards and wine-making melt into one. Punchy Cabernets and sublime Chardonnays sipped in the outdoor chill space only sweeten the deal.
Courtesy of Swanson Vineyards
Swanson Vineyard’s Sip Shoppe, dubbed a “candy store for adults,” is prime for casual wine tasting romps. The interior smacks of a 1950s soda pop shop, courtesy of candy-red striped walls. This modern day take serves kooky wine and food pairings like the Dizzy Lizzy sno-ball and a caviar-capped potato chip served with Pinot Grigio. Wine sips savored from mini Riedel “O” glasses, glass Dixie cups and pint-sized crystal cordials cement the playful scene. For the designated driver? Try the refreshing New Orleans Iced Coffee Roadie. Watch your wallet. Edible delights like the Clark’s Bark (salted toffee enrobed in chocolate) and Alexis Bonbons encourage impulse shopping. The visual explosion of the tasting room comes at the hands of Kate Spade’s co-founder Andy Spade, illustrator Jean-Philippe Delhomme and interior designer Thomas Britt.
John-Morgna, via Flickr
Mumm Napa is nearly as legendary as the valley itself. When it comes to pouring up crackling-crisp sparkling wines with bodacious views as the backdrop, nothing can compare. Enjoy your bubbly tableside or stroll through the Terra cotta-tiled corridor to the winery’s fine art photo gallery to enjoy sublime views of a different varietal.
Enlewof, via Flickr
The permanent collection features some of Ansel Adam’s best works alongside a menagerie of rotating exhibits.
Courtesy of Paraduxx Napa Valley
The eye candy continues at Paraduxx Napa Valley, the sister winery to the esteemed Duckhorn Vineyards. Don’t let the unassuming exteriors fool—one step into the tasting room and the scene flips to sleek and mod with the wavelike tasting bar and a heavenly outdoor space. Relax as you sip smooth-as-silk wines. Swing by the wine-making fermentation arsenal, a 10-sided architectural wonder, where you might just spot some of the magic of turning grapes into wine.
