Three Harvest-Season Wine Country Tours

September is wine month in California. Coincidentally, it’s also harvest time. If there ever was a time to head out for a day of swirling, swishing, and spitting (or swallowing -- hey it’s up to you), this is it. Hence, we got three long weekend suggestions for you, rife with grapes, Riedel glasses, and Pinot Noir. Pick your poison: Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, or Napa Valley.

Santa Barbara
Only an hour and a half from Los Angeles and made famous in Sideways, Santa Barbara is a safe bet for a long weekend of draining glasses.
Stay: San Ysidro Ranch. The private cottages come with king-sized beds, patios, and hot tubs.
Taste: Sanford Winery, for Sauvignon Blanc, Pinots, and Chardonnay. Palmina Wines, for Pinot Grigio, Barebra, and Malvasia Bianca. Melville Vineyards and Winery, for Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.
Eat: Argiato Sushi. Nothing like some yellowtail sashimi to top off your wine-filled belly.

Paso Robles
What Napa was 15 years ago—Paso is a hidden gem of wine tasting. Pours are strong, tastings are intimate, and you can still take the glasses home with you.
Stay: Villa Toscana. With only eight suites and one villa, this B&B fills up quickly, but it’s definitely worth the early booking. Each suite comes with a plizzy, fabulous view of the vineyard, and a Jacuzzi tub.
Taste: The Wineyard. One of the more novel ways to learn about wine, Cindy and Tim Newkirk offer a comprehensive tour of a working vineyard (on a tractor, natch) along with an hour-long session on the how’s and why’s of making wine. Bonus: During harvest, you can taste the different varietals of grapes as you meander through the vineyard. For $75, the lesson comes with a picnic lunch among the rows. Bonus Wineries: Peachy Canyon, for Zin, Petite Syrah, Merlot. Cass Winery, for Syrah, Cab.
Eat: Artisan. Steaks, chops, halibut ... it’s all mouth-watering.

Napa Valley
Wine royalty, Napa is the 31-flavors of wine tasting. There’s something for everyone here—from Champagne to Rose, Syrah to Shiraz, and of course, Pinots abound.
Stay: Carneros Inn. Each tin-roofed cottage comes standard with a private outdoor shower, fireplace, and rocking chairs. 
Taste: Robert Mondavi, for Moscato, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Clo Pegase, for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. Mumm Napa, for sparkling wine.
Eat: French Laundry. Two nine-course tasting menus refreshed daily.