I've done the wine-tasting thing in Napa/Sonoma. It's fun, it's a pretty area, and there's some great wineries there for sure. But DAMN are they full of themselves!! $35 for a five-wine flight and they typically don't waive that if you buy a couple bottles! Even so, I've got some favorite wineries up there that I've visited: Nicholson Ranch, Acacia, Merryvale, Beaulieu, and Alpha Omega.
If you want a REALLY fun wine trip on a budget, make a drive to Lodi or Clarksburg. They both have AMAZINGLY GOOD wineries and they're WAY more down-to-Earth than the folks in N/S. Check out the Tempranillo and Petite Sirah from
Harney Lane, the Syrah from
Berghold (Footstomp, I think it's called), and the Old Ghost from
Klinker Brick (tough to say when you're nackered), which is hands-down my FAVORITE red wine, let alone OVZ. It's available at TW. GET SOME.
Clarksburg is the home of
Bogle, and they've got a great petite Sirah port they make.
But what about local around the L.A. area? Anyone got any tips on good places to taste? We like actual winery/estate tasting rooms, rather than wine bars.