West

10 wine caves around California that offer unique tours for visitors

Published

2 years ago

October 24, 2024

10 wine caves around California that offer unique tours for visitors

California is the largest wine producer in the country. In fact, the Golden State is behind 81% of the U.S.’ wine production, having produced 605,981,608 gallons in 2023, according to the Wine Institute’s website.

Those visiting California can get a behind-the-scenes look at the wine production in the state through the plethora of unique tours offered by different wineries.

One optimal experience several wineries throughout the state offer to guests is a tour of wine caves.

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Wine caves have been created throughout the state as a way to store large barrels of wine as they age, according to Visit California.

Often, tours of wine caves come jointly with tastings of exclusive wines.

California is full of experiences for wine lovers, including tours of unique wine caves. (George Rose/Getty Images)

California is home to thousands of wineries that all have unique offerings for guests, many of which include cave tours.

Below are just a few of the many California wineries you can visit to explore wine caves.

Alexander Valley Vineyards
Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves
Jarvis Estate Winery
Pine Ridge Vineyards
Benziger Family Winery
Buena Vista Winery
Inglenook
Davis Estates
Schramsberg Vineyards
Brasswood Estate

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1. Alexander Valley Vineyards

Alexander Valley Vineyards is located in the city of Healdsburg, which is within Sonoma County, California.

This location offers tours of the 48,000 square-foot underground cave on the property.

During this tour, you’ll get the unique experience of learning about the barrel aging program used at the vineyard.

The wine cave at Alexander Valley Vineyards is a popular tourist attraction in California. (George Rose/Getty Images)

Additionally, there are plenty of other experiences you can book, such as scenic hikes of the vineyard.

2. Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves

The family-run Bella Vineyards has wine tastings and cave tours available for guests.

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Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves is located in Healdsburg. Over 70% of the grapes used to produce wine are grown from the vineyard, according to the website.

In the “Bella Tour,” which is described as an “immersive winery experience” on the website, guests will be able to explore the process of making wine on the crush pad and through the vineyard.

Guests will also be able to make their way through the wine caves, where they’ll be surrounded by the barrels where wine is perfectly aged.

Wine caves are filled with oak barrels where wine is perfectly aged under ideal conditions. (iStock)

The “Bella Tour” takes around 90 minutes to complete, according to the website.

3. Jarvis Estate Winery

At Jarvis Estate Winery, guests are welcomed into the 45,000 square foot cave where they can expect to learn more about the winery’s “approach to crafting world-class wines.”

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The wine cave tour includes a visit to the Cuve Gallery, filled with over a dozen oak vessels, according to the winery’s website, and an underground waterfall at the end of the tour, which helps the cave stay at the perfect temperature for aging, the website states.

After a tour of the cave, guests will enter the Tasting Chamber, where wines can be sampled.

A 45,000 square foot cave is located within Jarvis Estate Winery. (Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

4. Pine Ridge Vineyards

Pine Ridge Vineyards is one of many wineries located in Napa Valley, California.

Pine Ridge Vineyards offers a 90-minute tour of a wine cave, as well as a wine tasting.

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The guided tour takes guests through the cave system, according to the website, and then concludes with a wine tasting in Cellar 47 to try cabernets.

5. Benziger Family Winery

Benziger Family Winery is located in Glen Ellen, which can be found in Sonoma County.

At Benziger Family Winery, wines are crafted from Sonoma Mountain Ranch and Sonoma County Vineyards, according to their website.

During the tour of Benziger Family Winery, guests can learn about the farming practices of the winery, with a glass of wine in hand, of course.

During a tour of Benziger Family Winery, guests will be able to learn more about the winery’s farming practices. (George Rose/Getty Images)

One of the stops along the tour is of the wine cave, and ends with a seated wine tasting paired with cheese.

6. Buena Vista Winery

Buena Vista Winery was founded in 1857, making it the oldest commercial winery in the state of California, according to SonomaCounty.com.

At Buena Vista Winery, guests can enjoy a glass of champagne and sparkling wine at the Bubble Lounge and also enjoy wine straight from the barrels of the cave.

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The original Buena Vista Winery is about a mile from Sonoma Square, according to the website.

Guests can also visit the Château Buena Vista, which is located in downtown Napa.

Buena Vista Winery was founded in 1857. (Craig Lee/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

7. Inglenook

Inglenook is a winery that was founded in 1879, located in Rutherford, California.

During the tour, guests will get to take a look inside the Italia Cave, where there are 120 fermentation tanks, according to Inglenook’s website.

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Additionally, guests will get to visit the Infinity Cave, where barrels are stored for aging.

At the end of the tour, those visiting Inglenook will go to one of the cellars to enjoy wine and cheese.

8. Davis Estates

Davis Estates is complete with 11,000 square feet of caves, according to its website. The estates are located in Calistoga, California, in Napa County.

Tours are offered at Davis Estates, where guests can get a behind-the-scenes look through the vineyard at the estate and the winery featuring the caves.

There are plenty of tasting spaces to relax and enjoy a flight of wines.

Tours of wine caves are often paired with delicious wine tastings. (iStock)

9. Schramsberg Vineyards

Schramsberg Vineyards is one that specializes in sparkling wines.

The tour of the cave at Schramsberg Vineyards can be paired with a sparkling, white wine or red wine tasting.

Schramsberg Vineyards is in Calistoga, California.

10. Brasswood Estate

Brasswood Estate includes 17,000 square feet of caves, according to its website.

During a cave tour at Brasswood Estate, guests will get to sip on wines created by a team headed by Angelina Mondavi, per the site.

One unique feature of Brasswood Estate is the wine cave library, which is where wines can be enjoyed at the long table in its center.

Brasswood Estate is located in Helena, California, in Napa Valley.

Ashlyn Messier is a writer for Fox News Digital.

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Montana

Montana track and field earns six golds Saturday at Big Sky Conference meet

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2026

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Montana track and field earns six golds Saturday at Big Sky Conference meet

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Nevada

Northern Nevada gardens and backyards: Controlling insects with systemic insecticides – Carson Now

Published

2 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Press Room

Northern Nevada gardens and backyards: Controlling insects with systemic insecticides – Carson Now

Last week I wrote about soft versus armored scale insects. Soft scales exude honeydew, are protected by ants and can be controlled by systemic insecticides, some of which have the active ingredient imidacloprid. Armored scales do not emit honeydew and are not managed by an imidacloprid insecticide.

JoAnne Skelly

Imidacloprid is a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide that is designed to kill piercing/sucking insects via damage to their nervous system. Systemic means it is applied on the leaves, stems or as a soil drench and spreads internally throughout the plant. When an insect feeds on any part of the plant such as the pollen, nectar, flowers, fruit, leaves, or other plant tissues, it ingests the toxic chemical and dies.

Systemic insecticides can kill not only pests such as soft scales, but also their natural enemies and non-target/beneficial insects such as bees and other pollinators, including butterflies, moths and their larvae. They also can “adversely affect reproduction, growth, insect immune systems, learning, flying, or other attributes even at concentrations too low to cause death outright.” Native bees, who often nest in the ground, can be more susceptible than honeybees, particularly to soil drench applications.

Systemic insecticides kill over time at a steady concentration, which can cause a longer toxic exposure. Although it is often suggested to apply in the evening when insects aren’t out, or after flowering season, harmful exposures can still occur. These chemicals can last for months or years in soil. They sometimes leach into groundwater but fortunately are usually only slightly toxic to fish. One application may provide season long control.

Chemical insecticides are always a last resort. The risks versus benefits must be carefully evaluated. A healthy thriving plant is one of the best defenses against scale or other insect damage. Good watering, the appropriate amount of fertilizer and maintenance keep a plant resistant to attacks. Predators, including lady beetles, bugs and lacewings, play an important part in pest management.

Plant a diversity of flowering plants to attract and feed natural enemies. Sometimes when you see scales on a plant, they may have already been parasitized by parasitic wasps. If a large number are parasitized, there are eggs in or on each scale eating away at them. Sometimes scales are no longer alive and do not require a pesticide treatment. Check before applying insecticides. Using tape traps to monitor crawlers will help you accurately time the use of horticulture oils, Neem oil or insecticidal soap. Dormant oil treatment on deciduous woody plants will help kill overwintering scale pests and reduce future populations.

JoAnne Skelly is an Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.

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New Mexico

Where People Are Moving To In New Mexico In 2026

Published

2 hours ago

May 17, 2026

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Where People Are Moving To In New Mexico In 2026

New Mexico is not adding population the way some Sun Belt states are. The state’s overall population dipped slightly between 2020 and 2024, though the picture is more complicated than a simple out-migration story. International immigration adds a meaningful slice of inbound traffic, and three population centers along the I-25 corridor capture most of the people moving in. Career growth in defense, semiconductors, and the federal scientific complex matters, but for retirees in particular, affordability and the high-altitude climate carry more weight. The three cities below catch most of the inbound traffic.

Inbound moves to New Mexico concentrate in the major population centers along I-25. Career growth in unique technological and scientific sectors draws newcomers along with affordability factors compared with other US regions, often the major draw for retirees. Neighboring Texas, Colorado, and Arizona supply the majority of new arrivals. Consumer Affairs data shows about 21.3 percent of inbound movers are retirees while 30 percent cite job opportunities. The state’s natural scenic backdrop and access to outdoor recreation also factor in.

Rio Rancho

Aerial view of Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Rio Rancho sits in Sandoval County immediately northwest of Albuquerque, with a population near 112,500 and an 8.1 percent growth rate between 2020 and 2024 (the strongest in New Mexico by raw numbers). Arizona supplies a meaningful share of the new arrivals. Unemployment runs close to the national average around 4.5 percent. Intel Corporation is the principal local employer, with the company’s Fab 11X semiconductor facility based in town and a $3.5 billion expansion underway.

The town’s growth runs on proximity to Albuquerque and Santa Fe combined with direct access to the high desert. Mainstays like Turtle Mountain Brewing Company anchor a working local business scene. The Willow Creek Trail and the wider Jemez Mountain Trail handle outdoor recreation 30 minutes north.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe probably needs no introduction. The state capital and its surrounding areas have drawn artistic communities for more than a century, with the more recent decades adding celebrity buyers and Hollywood film and television production through the New Mexico Film Office. Santa Fe also holds the title of the oldest state capital in the United States, established by Spanish colonists in 1610.

The town runs a population around 90,550 with the second-highest housing costs in the state after Los Alamos. The national median home listing price is around $394,000, while Santa Fe’s median runs roughly $764,000. Santa Fe County reports list Los Angeles, Dallas, and Seattle among the primary sources of new residents, which paints a clearer picture of who Santa Fe typically attracts. The city’s population climbed by about 10,000 between 2020 and 2024, with another 1,000 added through 2025.

Las Cruces

Las Cruces runs a population near 117,000 with an annual growth rate of about 1.83 percent. The city remains largely underappreciated by those looking to relocate, but a steady stream of individuals and families do make the move, largely for federal and military employment opportunities at the White Sands Test Facility and the White Sands Missile Range to the east. The local economy has also seen sporadic increases in construction and healthcare hiring.

Affordability is the headline pull. Las Cruces sits 8 to 11 percent below the national cost-of-living average. According to apartments.com, housing runs 16.6 percent less expensive than the national average. The region also pulls more than 300 sunny days per year, and direct access to hiking in the Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks National Monument is one of the more underrated outdoor draws in the Southwest. New Mexico State University adds the cultural and athletic anchor at the centre of the city.

The High-Desert Corridor

The bigger pattern: newcomers to the Land of Enchantment gravitate to the populous corridor running south to north between Los Lunas, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, with some pushing farther north to Taos or Angel Fire. The primary draw is not the countryside but the employment opportunities, security, and amenities a major city can offer. Unless a specific job is the driver, most people are attracted to New Mexico for natural beauty, climate, lower cost of living, and cultural mainstays. In-state relocators tend to seek better career opportunities or specific access to a particular town and its offerings.