Here’s How to Have the Ultimate Foodie Vacation

The Sunset Travel Awards celebrate the best in travel in the West. These 19 vineyards, tasting rooms, and eating places are the 2026 winners of the What to Do: Food & Wine Experiences category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable travel directory to help you plan your next trip in the West, click here.

Frank Family Vineyards

John Merkl Photography

A storied heritage name in Napa’s prestigious wine country, Frank brings a personal, unpretentious approach with family-friendly tastings and a genuine commitment to quality over flash. Their cabernet bottlings are the stuff of legend and well worth saving in your cellar, but it’s the warm, hospitable tasting experience that’ll age for a lifetime.

Marietta Tasting Room

Bryan Meltz

This impeccably designed tasting room from award-winning Marietta Cellars brings a dose of modern European flair to Healdsburg Plaza.

Napa Valley Wine Train

Courtesy of David H. Collier

The iconic way to explore Napa Valley. Now powered by a clean-energy locomotive, the train shuttles guests through the picturesque valley on a rail line that dates back to 1864. A sustainable culinary and wine experience? All aboard!

Presqu’ile Winery

Courtesy of Presqu’ile Winery

Located on a hilltop in Santa Maria Valley, Presqu’ile produces its own acclaimed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay while serving as a boutique grape supplier to other Santa Barbara winemakers. The sustainably farmed vineyard and tasting room commands sweeping views of vineyards and ocean below to enjoy while lingering over Chef Julie Simon’s seasonal farm-to-table lunches featuring housemade cheeses and local produce.

Cachasol

Courtesy of Cachasol

There are a lot of agave-based spirits on the market these days, but this working tequila and raicilla distillery is unique in that it’s set on a lush, off-the-beaten-path agave farm near the ultra-hip surf town of Sayulita. Their vibrant farm-to-glass tours include open-fire dinners at sunset and immersive culinary and mixology classes where visitors forage herbs in the garden and learn to create dishes reflective of the region of Nayarit.

Temecula Wine Country

Courtesy of Temecula Wines

Southern California’s wine country continues to come into its own, pairing nearly 50 wineries with rolling vineyard views, relaxed hospitality, and a climate well suited to world-class grapes. Easy to reach from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs, Temecula makes a compelling case for trading a long-haul wine trip for a weekend much closer to home.

The Hilt Estate

Cary Wilton

Set amid the rolling vineyards of the Sta. Rita Hills, The Barn at The Hilt Estate is one of wine country’s most striking tasting destinations, where architecture, interiors, and landscape work in harmony. Thoughtfully designed gathering spaces, sweeping estate views, and the opportunity to explore both The Hilt and JONATA wines make it a place that encourages lingering over every glass.

West Wine Tours

Lacey Elizabeth

It doesn’t get much more classic California than exploring wine country in a restored vintage VW bus. Trading stuffy shuttles for intimate tastings at hidden, ultra-hip producers, founder Lauren Kershner curates an experience punctuated by a locally-sourced lunch and customizable tours that are welcome to all—dogs included.

Alma Rosa Winery

Courtesy of Alma Rosa

Alma Rosa Winery in Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills is dedicated to crafting pinot noir, chardonnay, and Rhône varietal wines that express the unique terroir of the appellation. Since its founding in 2005, the winery has been celebrated for producing layered, vibrant, and balanced wines shaped by the cool-climate influence of the nearby Pacific Ocean. Under the leadership of proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich, the team has spent the past decade unlocking the full potential of its 628-acre estate through precise, sustainable vineyard management. Since taking the helm in 2019, Winemaker Samra Morris has emerged as a dynamic voice in Santa Barbara County, crafting some of the region’s most distinctive and acclaimed wines. Alma Rosa is a must-visit destination, with two unique experiences: a chic indoor-outdoor tasting room in downtown Solvang and the historic Ranch House set on the winery’s breathtaking estate off Santa Rosa Road in Buellton.

Demetria Estate

Courtesy of Demetria Estate

Tucked along the scenic Foxen Canyon Wine Trail in Los Olivos, Demetria Estate is a 213-acre sanctuary where biodynamic farming and winemaking, and warm, unpretentious hospitality converge. Founded by the Zahoudanis family in 2006, Demetria Estate is a hidden gem rooted in both Greek heritage and Southern hospitality and shaped by a deep commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. Estate tastings are hosted on a hilltop patio under ancient oak trees, with panoramic vineyard views, offering guests a serene, off-the-beaten-path escape. The rotating lineup of Rhône and Burgundian varietals, made with minimal intervention, are natural, excellent, and authentic to the land. Tastings are available daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment.

DANCIN Vineyards

Courtesy of DANCIN Vineyards

In Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, DANCIN is a destination rooted in movement, landscape, and hospitality. Estate vineyards frame sweeping views of the valley, while a seasonal culinary program brings the region to the table through thoughtful pairings and wood-fired cooking. Guests can explore curated tastings, relax on the terrace enjoying food, or reserve The DANCIN Residence, a private space designed for immersive food and wine experiences. Throughout the year, events from harvest dinners to live music and hands-on classes invite visitors to engage more deeply with the rhythm of the vineyard. Every detail, from the wines to the experience itself, is guided by intention and a sense of place, capturing the spirit of Southern Oregon in a way that feels both elevated and approachable.

Hood River Fruit Loop

Courtesy of Visit Hood River

Set against the backdrop of Mount Hood, the Hood River Fruit Loop is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most scenic and rewarding drives. This 35-mile route winds through orchards, vineyards, and farmland, offering a seasonal experience that shifts from spring blossoms of white and blush, to summer berries and fall harvests. Along the way, more than 25 family-run farms, wineries, and stands invite visitors to slow down and taste their way through the region. You’ll find crisp apples, just-picked cherries, small-batch cider, and wines shaped by the Columbia Gorge AVA’s unique climate. Many stops offer U-pick opportunities, casual tastings, and views that stretch from orchard rows to snowcapped peaks. What makes the Fruit Loop stand out is its simplicity. It is not just a drive, but a direct connection to the land, the growers, and the rhythms of the season.

Evening Land Vineyards

Taylor Davis

Evening Land Vineyards spans a 257-acre estate, including 165 acres of forest, in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The vineyard is farmed with biodynamic and regenerative principles, such as integrating fruit trees and pollinator pathways through vineyard rows. Tastings are held in their single-room tasting cabin in the center of their property, allowing guests to feel embedded in the land around them. The experience is intentionally small-scale and unhurried, a luxury complete with hot towels for refreshing upon arrival and glass doors that open to the bleating of sheep, the rush of the nearby waterfall, and, on clear days, views of all five of the surrounding peaks. 

Savor Southern Oregon

Steven Addington Photography

Savor Southern Oregon is a two-day festival in June that combines a local winery competition with in-depth tastings and educational experiences for attendees from Oregon and beyond to explore Rogue Valley wines and meet the makers behind the region’s most iconic wines. Intended for casual wine consumers and enthusiasts alike, this event is a community-centric opportunity to celebrate the Rogue Valley winery community, amplifying their impact in the global wine scene, and offering an interactive occasion to bring people together. With over 30 local winemakers participating, Savor Southern Oregon is a one-stop shop to learn about, taste, and shop local wines. 

Bouchaine Vineyards

Photo by Michael Hospelt

Bouchaine was founded by Gerret and Tatiana Copeland and under their thoughtful stewardship, has emerged as one of the Carneros AVA’s most respected producers of sustainably farmed chardonnay and pinot noir. The estate is comprised of 104 acres, including the Hospitality Center, designed in the form of a welcoming embrace and complete with a state-of-the-art open kitchen and manicured gardens complete with picnic tables. The vineyards are greatly influenced by the adjacent San Pablo Bay, where cool breezes and the daily influx of fog allow cool climate varieties to shine. The substantial daily temperature shifts also help develop beautiful acidity in the fruit, resulting in wines with vivid energy and texture. Notably the first “Fish Friendly Farming” certified vineyard in Napa Valley, the winery is also Napa Green land- and winery-certified. If one sentence can encapsulate the energy of Bouchaine, it is the winery’s trademarked slogan, “Wine Makes you Happy™.”

Cliff Lede Vineyards – Backstage Tasting Lounge

Bob McClenahan

Cliff Lede Vineyards is a leading family-owned winery in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, and one of the most distinctive wineries in the region. Over the past two decades, the winery has earned multiple 100-point scores, but a visit to Cliff Lede is about more than exceptional winemaking; it’s an experience shaped by a deep connection to art, music, and place. As the winery approaches its 25th anniversary in 2027, Cliff Lede continues to lean into its signature classic rock ethos with experiences that feel both elevated and unexpected. The Backstage Tasting Lounge is a standout example. This 90-minute tasting invites guests into a cool, contemporary lounge featuring artwork from iconic rock musicians-turned-visual artists. Guests enjoy a curated selection of wines like “Rhythm,” “High Fidelity,” and “Crossfade,” paired with an artisan cheese plate. This experience offers a relaxed, yet refined, way to explore Napa Valley wines.

VARA Winery & Distillery

Courtesy of VARA

VARA is an Albuquerque-based winery and craft distillery known for wines and spirits that express a uniquely New Mexican perspective. Drawing on Spanish varietals and 400 years of local winemaking history, VARA—with third-generation winemaker Laurent Gruet—produces a range of sparkling, still, and fortified wines celebrated for their quality and shareability. Highlights include a sparkling brut, sparkling brut rosé, and still rosé—made exclusively with New Mexico grapes—each reflecting the land and legacy behind every bottle. At the distillery, VARA transforms the landscape and character of New Mexico into a portfolio of gin, rum, vodka, brandy, and whiskey—each one deliberate and deeply rooted in place. Guests can enjoy VARA’s two tasting rooms: the Balloon Fiesta Park location in Albuquerque, where an open lawn and relaxed atmosphere set the stage for gatherings, and the Santa Fe location, a welcoming space defined by art, culture, and curated small plates.

The Original Farmers Market

Courtesy of The Original Farmers Market

The Original Farmers Market is a true Los Angeles landmark, an open-air destination where history, culture, and cuisine come together in one vibrant setting. Established in 1934, the Market began with a handful of local farmers selling produce from their trucks and has grown into a dynamic hub of more than 90 merchants, spanning global dining, specialty groceries, and unique shops. What makes the Market especially worthy in the “What to Do” category is its ability to offer an experience that is both deeply local and endlessly diverse. Visitors can wander from Brazilian barbecue to French bistros, dumpling houses to classic American diners, all while soaking in the charm of its historic stalls and iconic clock tower. More than a place to eat, it’s a place to explore—whether sampling new flavors, picking up fresh flowers, or spending a leisurely afternoon immersed in one of L.A.’s most beloved community gathering spaces.

Sequoia Grove Winery

Courtesy of Sequoia Grove Winery

Established in 1979 in a 100-year-old barn beneath the majestic groves of endangered sequoia trees, Sequoia Grove Winery is one of the pioneer cabernet producers in Napa Valley and is a key player in the famed stretch of Route 29 that houses some of the most iconic wineries in America. During their 46 years of elite wine production, Sequoia Grove’s history of commitment to long-term sustainability—both from a climate and business perspective—has come in a variety of forms. Sequoia Grove has been highlighted as one of the first five wineries to be certified under the rigorous new standards of the Napa Green Program, which emphasizes responsible conservation burning, tree and forest preservation, restricted pesticides, water efficiency, carbon farming, and social equity inclusion.