These Wines Will Transport You to the West’s Most Iconic Wine Country Regions

In my personal glossary of life’s great pleasures, travel sits smack dab on the same page as terroir. So whenever I’m on the road, I make a point of drinking wine that comes from a region close to wherever I find myself. And that’s not just limited to visits to a proper wine country. So if I’m in the middle of, say, Seattle, I’ll order a Yakima Syrah. Or if I’m in downtown Santa Barbara it’ll still be a Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir. I’m sure a lot of you do the same.

When we came up with the latest shipment of the Sunset Wine Club, we were also working on our annual travel issue, which celebrates the best destinations in the West, including many of its great wine growing regions. So with this box we decided to give you a mini grand tour of some of our favorite bottles from our favorite spots to visit. Herein you’ll find a Hafner Vineyard Chardonnay from the relaxed Alexander Valley in Sonoma; a Sculpterra Syrah from Paso Robles, where we enjoyed tooling along with winding roads that carve through the area’s rolling hills; and a Topel Winery Cabernet from Mendocino, with its rugged coastline that meets towering redwood forests. Each bottle delivers a literal taste of its place, and I think channels the environment from whence it came.

Even if you can’t quite make it to any of the destinations represented in this shipment right away, uncork a bottle and raise glass to the place of its birth. If there’s a message in these bottles, it’s that the West is a wide and wonderful place and that the wine it makes is some of the best on earth.

Here are the bottles you’ll find in the shipment, and the must-visit regions they come from.

2023 Commission Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Napa Valley

Courtesy of Commission

From world-famous tasting rooms and Michelin-starred dining to breathtaking vineyard vistas, Napa Valley remains the gold standard for wine country travel—where every winding road leads to another unforgettable glass.

2021 Hafner Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County

Courtesy of Hafner Vineyard

Alexander Valley offers a slower, more relaxed side of Sonoma, pairing rolling vineyards, towering redwoods, and family-run wineries with some of California’s most celebrated Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

2023 Sculpterra Syrah, Paso Robles

Courtesy of Sculpterra

Paso Robles has become one of California’s most exciting wine destinations, beloved for its Rhône-style wines, welcoming hospitality, vibrant food scene, and more than 200 wineries spread across dramatic rolling hills.

2018 Topel Winery Cabernet, Mendocino County

Topel Winery

Mendocino County rewards adventurous travelers with rugged Pacific coastline, towering redwood forests, and a fiercely independent wine culture where small producers craft distinctive wines far from the crowds.

2023 Gemini Estate Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains, Oregon

Courtesy of Gemini Estate

The Chehalem Mountains capture the charm of Oregon wine country, where scenic backroads, boutique wineries, and cool-climate Pinot Noir make the Willamette Valley one of America’s most rewarding wine destinations.

2022 Miner Vineyards The Iliad White Wine, California

Courtesy of Miner Vineyards

Anchored in Napa Valley, this blend reflects a region where iconic wineries, picturesque vineyard landscapes, and exceptional hospitality have made wine tourism an art form as much as a destination.

There’s no easier way to drink well than the Sunset Wine Club, a selection of story-worthy wines produced by the top vintners in California, Oregon, Washington, and beyond—delivered straight to your door. We’ve partnered with the country’s premier online wine retailer, Wine Access, to curate a standout mix of reds, whites, bubblies, and rosés. Think of each delivery as a box of aperitifs, party-ready bottles, and weeknight dinner solutions. Even better, they’ve been selected to go with the recipes and menus from our print issues. As a member of the Sunset Wine Club, you will receive the following exclusive benefits:

Six Story-Worthy Wines, Shipped Every Three Months

Each bottle is thoughtfully crafted by a group of diverse, environmentally responsible winemakers.

Sunset Recipes, Profound Pairings

Every bottle comes with exclusive tasting notes and suggested pairings for Sunset recipes, hand-picked by sommeliers.

First Shot at Rare Gems and Icons

You’ll be first in line to claim the newest, highly allocated wines. These are bottles Sunset editors stand behind and serve in their own homes.