USA TODAY 10Best
Best Winery Tour: Cline Cellars wins reader vote
Best Winery Tour (2019)
Whether you're a newbie or connoisseur, there's nothing like getting a behind-the-scenes look at the wine-making process (while tasting along the way) to hone your appreciation and your palate.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Winery Tours are as follows:
- Baker-Bird Winery - Augusta, Ky.
- Dry Creek Vineyard - Healdsburg, Calif.
- King Family Vineyards - Crozet, Va.
- Harney Lane Winery & Vineyards - Lodi, Calif.
- Palmaz Vineyards - Napa, Calif.
- Jordan Vineyard & Winery - Healdsburg, Calif.
- Doffo Wines - Temecula, Calif.
- Benziger Family Winery - Glen Ellen, Calif.
- Alexander Valley Vineyards - Healdsburg, Calif.
- Cline Cellars - Sonoma, Calif.
Photo courtesy of Baker-Bird Winery
No. 10:
On a tour of Baker-Bird Winery in Kentucky, visitors learn about how wine was made in 1850s America. The winery building itself is on the National Registry of Historic Places and is the only winery in the country to have survived a Civil War battle. It’s the home of bourbon barrel aged wine and the largest, oldest wine cellar in the country.
Photo courtesy of Dry Creek Vineyard
No. 9:
Visitors to Dry Creek Vineyard in Healdsburg enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process during guided tours of the estate. Tours highlight the family winery’s history, sustainable winery practices and winemaking techniques. Visitors can also reserve a bocce court for an afternoon of playing and tasting.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Watson Photography / King Family Vineyards
No. 8:
Vineyard and Winery Tours at Virginia's King Family Vineyards include a history of the family and farm, a visit to one of the estate vineyards to learn about viticulture in Virginia, a walk through the tank and barrel rooms and a guided tasting of six different wines.
Photo courtesy of Harney Lane Winery & Vineyards
No. 7:
The Grape to Glass tour at Harney Lane Winery and Vineyards takes visitors through the grounds of a working winery that’s been in the same family for five generations. The tour ends with a tasting from the winery’s diverse portfolio.
Photo courtesy of Palmaz Vineyards
No. 6:
Tours of Palmaz Vineyards (by appointment only) take visitors through several levels of the wine cave to see how wines are made using gravity-flow methods. Tours include a tasting of five Palmaz wines paired with small hors d’ oeuvres.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Vineyard & Winery
No. 5:
Two different tours are available by appointment at Jordan Winery in Healdsburg. The Winery Tour and Library Tasting guides visitors through the winery estate's oak tank room before finishing with a guided tasting with food pairings in the private library. The Estate Tour and Tasting takes guest out of the chateau and into the scenic vineyards for a tasting with food pairings in the countryside.
No. 4:
When the tasting room is open, guests at Doffo Wines are welcome to explore the grounds on a self-guided walking tour or a guided Cork ’n Torque Tour aboard the eco-friendly Malbec Express bus. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food to enjoy on the patio after the tour.
Photo courtesy of Benziger Family Winery
No. 3:
Visitors to Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma have five tour and tasting options to choose from. The exclusive Tribute Estate Tour takes visitors behind the scenes for a close-up look at the biodynamic vineyards and winemaking facilities, with a barrel tasting along the way. Visitors can also take a tram tour of the vineyards to learn more about biodynamic farming.
Photo courtesy of Alexander Valley Vineyards
No. 2:
Visitors to the historic Alexander Valley Vineyards property have a couple tour options to choose from. The Cave Tour and Barrel Tasting takes guests down into the 25,000-square-foot wine cave to learn more about the barrel aging program, while Vineyard Hikes offer a closer look at the vines.
Photo courtesy of Megan Cline / Cline Cellars
No. 1:
Visitors to Cline Cellars can choose between a private tour and tasting through the historic estate or the Syrah Hill Experience, which includes a trip to the top of Syrah Hill for views over the surrounding scenery.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning wineries!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has... Read More
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dynie Sanderson
Dynie is the creator of NapaFoodGalTravels and has been a food, wine and travel journalist and digital influencer living and indulging in life in the Napa Valley and around the world for over 25 years. She was founder, publisher and editor of GuestWest Magazine, Napa Valley’s first luxury lifestyle magazine; Food and Flavor Editor for Napa Valley Life Magazine and contributor to a variety of food and wine publications. Always seeking out the next wine region or food and wine festival to experience around the US and around the world to add to “Dynie’s Delicious Destinations.” Follow NapaFoodGal on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Jill Barth
Jill Barth is a contributor for Forbes digital and... Read More
Jill Barth is a contributor for Forbes digital and USA Today 10Best. She’s also a Provence Wine Master Level through the Wine Scholar Guild, a Symposium for Professional Wine Writers Fellow and the founder and author of the award-winning blog, L'Occasion.
Jill Barth
Jill Barth is a contributor for Forbes digital and USA Today 10Best. She’s also a Provence Wine Master Level through the Wine Scholar Guild, a Symposium for Professional Wine Writers Fellow and the founder and author of the award-winning blog, L'Occasion.
June Rodil
Born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, June... Read More
Born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, June is one of 26 women in the Americas to earn a Master Sommelier credential. She joined Goodnight Hospitality as a partner in 2019 and will open three new concepts with the Houston-based company within the year. Most recently, June was VP of Operations for McGuire Moorman Hospitality, a hospitality group with 10 restaurants in Austin and one in Aspen. She remains a partner in June’s All Day, her namesake restaurant that was named one of Food & Wine magazine's Restaurants of the Year in 2017. She is known as a leader in the beverage community and her accolades include: Wine Enthusiast’s Sommelier of the Year 2018; Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 2016; Key Panelist at Women in Wine Leadership Symposium and numerous Food & Wine Festivals across the nation; Food & Wine magazine's Sommelier of the Year 2014, Star Chef's Rising Star Sommelier 2012, Wine & Spirits Best New Sommelier 2011 and TEXSOM Best Sommelier Winner 2009.
June Rodil
Born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, June is one of 26 women in the Americas to earn a Master Sommelier credential. She joined Goodnight Hospitality as a partner in 2019 and will open three new concepts with the Houston-based company within the year. Most recently, June was VP of Operations for McGuire Moorman Hospitality, a hospitality group with 10 restaurants in Austin and one in Aspen. She remains a partner in June’s All Day, her namesake restaurant that was named one of Food & Wine magazine's Restaurants of the Year in 2017. She is known as a leader in the beverage community and her accolades include: Wine Enthusiast’s Sommelier of the Year 2018; Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 2016; Key Panelist at Women in Wine Leadership Symposium and numerous Food & Wine Festivals across the nation; Food & Wine magazine's Sommelier of the Year 2014, Star Chef's Rising Star Sommelier 2012, Wine & Spirits Best New Sommelier 2011 and TEXSOM Best Sommelier Winner 2009.
Karen MacNeil
Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won... Read More
Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won nearly every major wine award given in the English Language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year. In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen, “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” In 2018, Karen was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Wine.” Karen is the author of the award-winning book, THE WINE BIBLE, the single best selling wine book in the United States praised as “A masterpiece of wine writing.” THE WINE BIBLE has sold more than one million copies.
Karen MacNeil
Karen MacNeil is the only American to have won nearly every major wine award given in the English Language. These include the James Beard award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year and the International Wine and Spirits award as the Global Wine Communicator of the Year. In a full-page profile on her, TIME Magazine called Karen, “America’s Missionary of the Vine.” In 2018, Karen was named one of the “100 Most Influential People in Wine.” Karen is the author of the award-winning book, THE WINE BIBLE, the single best selling wine book in the United States praised as “A masterpiece of wine writing.” THE WINE BIBLE has sold more than one million copies.
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and... Read More
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Fortune, CNN Travel, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Hemispheres, and Fast Company. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network in 2021. She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List. Follow her on Instagram on @shanaspeakswine or view her work www.shanaspeakswine.com
Shana Clarke
Shana Clarke is wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Fortune, CNN Travel, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Hemispheres, and Fast Company. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network in 2021. She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List. Follow her on Instagram on @shanaspeakswine or view her work www.shanaspeakswine.com
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy... Read More
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
Ziggy Eschliman
Known on the airwaves as Ziggy the Wine Gal, Ziggy Eschliman is among America's most enthusiastic, authoritative and entertaining libation experts. Her internationally known company, ZigStyle, combines her artistry for wine country entertaining and gardening while integrating her expertise of wine & spirits, showcasing a unique lifestyle. For over 25 years Ziggy has set and reported trends in all things wine and spirits. Her radio shows are broadcast throughout wine country and are available online.
