Orange County, often recognized by its initials O.C., is in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California, United States.
Orange County stands out as one of the iconic destinations in America, featuring theme parks or beach towns framed by Oceanfront towns.
However, while beaches and excellent shopping destinations are attractions in the county, another superb element of Orange County is its outstanding selection of Southern California wines.
If you love wines, ensure to check out these wineries during your vacation in Orange County, CA.
Here are the best places to visit for wine tasting in Orange County, CA.
Wine Tasting in Orange County
1. Salt Creek Wine Company
Salt Creek Wine Company is an inviting destination for the finest wines and craft beer selections.
It is a relaxing, warm, inviting wine shop and tasting bar where you can enjoy a large selection of small-production boutique wines.
Their goal is to offer top-quality wines from smaller, less commercialized products that concentrate on quality winemaking techniques and terroir.
Salt Creek Wine Company’s wine-tasting flight changes every week, which provides a perfect way to try unique wines that suits your palate. They also offer craft beer on tap and by the bottle.
Enjoy wine tasting in Orange County, CA, at Salt Creek Wine Company every week. There are craft beer-tasting flights, wine-by-glass, craft beer-by-the-bottle, and various artisan cheese and charcuterie plates or light appetizers to complement your wine-tasting experience.
Whether you are new to the wine experience or a professional wine aficionado, Salt Creek Wine Company’s tasting menu will expand your exposure to unique, small-production wine options.
Try one of their tasting flights to learn or polish your palate’s preference. New weekly flight menus start each Tuesday, so the tasting options are usually fresh.
Salt Creek Wine Company celebrates good wine, friends, and beer, so experience it all.
Address: 30100 Town Center Dr. B-2, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, United States
2. Newport Beach Vineyards
Newport Beach Vineyard and Winery is situated in Upper Newport Bay with 1,200 vines.
This Winery, established in 1998, is among the best-kept secret destinations in Orange County, CA.
Newport Beach Vineyard and Winery specializes in reds and creates award-winning Meritage. Every vintage this winery produces combines up to five traditional Bourdeaux red wine grapes.
Although Newport Beach Vineyards has no public tasting room, they offer special two-hour tasting events by appointment.
Their wine & tasting is a fantastic way to get your pals together and drink great wine. This Newport Beach venue is also a perfect location for corporate events, weddings, and other special occasions.
Address: 2128 Mesa Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660, United States
3. Orange Coast Winery
Orange Coast Winery is a thrilling wine destination that offers wine tasting in Orange County, CA. There are red and white wines for tasting. The winery was established in April 2011 by the first owners, Doug and Debbie Wiens.
Having tremendous success and experience with Wien’s Family Cellars in Temecula Valley, they decided to take the wine-tasting experience nearer to the coast, leading to this local boutique winery in Newport Beach.
The wine flows 24 hours daily with the best grapes sourced from Paso Robles, Temecula Valley, and Lodi, California.
With the expertise of their outstanding winemakers from Doug Wien and his crew, your wine-tasting experience at Orange Coast Winery will be memorable.
They also serve food and host special events like craft and wine, live music, and Sangria Sundays.
Furthermore, the Orange Coast Winery is a perfect venue for private and corporate events, offering various packages to suit individual events.
For wine connoisseurs who can’t get enough of the winery’s varietal, they offer a selection of wine club membership that includes free wine flights, discounts on wine purchases, and cheese plates.
Orange Coast Winery loves welcoming visitors from Laguna Beach to Huntington Beach and everywhere else, and they are excited to meet visitors.
Address: 869 W 16th St, Newport Beach, CA 92663, United States
4. Giracci Vineyard and Farms
Giracci Vineyards and Farms, located in the heart of Orange County, officially opened its doors in 2010.
The winery offers seven vintages, including Cab Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Roussanne. Giracci Vineyard and Farms also hosts wine tasting in Orange County, CA.
The tasting room, designed in the River Rock style of the 1920s, proudly showcases elegant French Country styling and woodwork.
Aside from wine tasting, Giracci Vineyard is available for historic ranch tours, weddings, lunch in the vineyard, and corporate events.
They also have an equestrian center with boarding and training facilities.
Address: 16162 Jackson Ranch Rd, Silverado, CA 92676, United States
5. A Stone Throw Winery
A Stone Throw Winery is situated in San Juan Capistrano in the historic Swanner House-a home constructed in 1916 surrounded by citrus trees.
This Winery was originally established in 2002 out of Trabuco Canyon and ran as a small boutique winery known as Hamilton Oaks Vineyard and Winery Inc.
In 2012, the winery established a second tasting room as Hamilton Oaks San Juan in the Swanner House on the 3-acre property among the orange groves.
Visitors from all around the country flock to this unique property, carrying crackers and cheese, dogs, picnics, and even horses.
There is surplus outdoor seating for small groups in the Tank House or small gatherings and parties in the Carriage House.
For wine enthusiasts looking for fine wine in South Orange County, A Stone Throw Winery is a must-visit. Their features are spectacular, from their award-winning vintages to the enchanting serenity of the vineyard.
A Stone Throw is an ideal place to enjoy some time in front of a roaring fire in their gorgeous appointed tasting room with good pals or romantic partners during the colder months.
Address: 3382 County Rd E, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202, United States
6. Cowboy Canyon Winery
Cowboy Canyon Winery is in Silverado Canyon, encircled by working horse stables. The tasting room offers visitors award-winning wines with country charm and music in the background.
Wine lovers can sign up for the Cowboy Canyon Wine Club. The wine club does not require a fee; subscribers can choose from the Whole Hog Membership or the Ace-High Membership.
The Whole Hog Membership comprises six bottles of wines three times every year plus 20% off.
The Ace-High membership comprises four bottles of wine thrice yearly plus 15% off extra purchases online and in person.
Wine club members at both levels will obtain priority invites to special winery occasions, including a hosted holiday party and a present.
Cowboy Canyon Winery’s tasting room may be small, but the experience it offers is truly unique and fun.
Address: 16162 Jackson Ranch Rd, Silverado, CA 92676, United States
7. Laguna Canyon Winery
Laguna Canyon Winery, established in 2003, is Orange County’s first urban winery. This winery offers an incredible selection of red, white, and sparkling/dessert wines.
The incredible venue offers tours, wine tastings, winemaker dinners, and cheese receptions.
When you enter the lovely tasting room, you will be surrounded by all their winemaking tools. The tasting rooms contain their crusher/ destemmer, a wine press, a bottling line, working oak barrels of wine, and a private view of the winery.
Through the opening, you can see where all of their grapes are crushed and converted into wine.
You will find their automatic wine-tasting machines from Tuscany, Italy, to your right. This machine allows you to freely pick and choose the wine you want to taste at your convenience.
You will find the French & American oak barrels aging these award-winning crafted wines to your left.
Charcuterie and cheese snack packs are available for sale at Laguna Canyon Winery to increase your wine-tasting experience.
Aside from being a remarkable winery offering even more remarkable wines, Laguna Canyon Winery is also an ideal location for corporate events and weddings
Address: 2133 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, United States
8. McClain Cellars
McClain Cellars is a winery located in Santa Ynez featuring three tasting rooms in Orange County. They are one of the best places to visit for wine tasting in Orange County, CA.
This winery, established by Jason & Sofia McClain, grows, harvests, and produces all its wines in the Santa Ynez Valley.
McClain Cellars features four wine-tasting rooms across Southern California in Laguna Beach, Buellton, and Solvang.
Each of their wines has a brilliant name like “Sacred Love,” “Painted Dreams, ” “Faithful Friend, ” and “Summer Breeze.” The walls have vibrant paintings that encourage every visitor to stop and gaze.
With the capacity to accommodate up to 49 guests at once, this charming venue offers flexible hours, easy freeway access, and free parking.
Additionally, they offer Blues and Jazz music on many weekends and a welcoming lounge-like atmosphere with a patio.
At McClain Cellars, visitors can enjoy private wine tasting, charcuterie & cheese boards, light snacks, access to the owners and winemakers, and more.
They also offer olive oil & vinegar tasting, homemade artisan popcorn, and wine appreciation classes.
The wine ambassadors on hand are acquainted with the wines and willing to share the story of the McClain family with their visitors.
McClain Cellars is one of the places to truly relax, enjoy good wine, fantastic services and experience the very best.
Address: 849 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, United States
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9. The Winery at Main Street
The Winery at Main Street, located in the center of Old Towne Yorba Linda, opened its doors in 2010.
With grapes obtained from wineries around the world, this family-owned business has the unique freedom to offer a vast and diverse selection of wines.
The winery makes red, white, and fruit wine in-house with grapes from various parts of the world.
Guests visiting the tasting room can enjoy a selection of delectable wines, small plates, and appetizers, including hummus and meat and cheese platters.
The Winery at Main Street also offers a wine club for enthusiasts, including access to exclusive releases, discounts on purchases, and other perks that come with being a member.
Furthermore, the winery can be reserved for private events held on Sundays or Mondays.
Address: 4861 Main St, Yorba Linda, CA 92886, United States
10. The Bellante Family Winery
The Bellante Family Winery has produced handcrafted wines from Santa Barbara Fruit since 2000. The Winery’s specialty is Viognier, Rhone Reds, and Pinot Noir.
The tasting room in Mission Viejo offers flights and tasting options on selected weekends.
Their tasting fee contains samples of six of their Santa Barbara County wines. The exact six wines depend on what is open at any specific time but often include two Rhone Reds, two viogniers, and two Pinot Noirs.
Bellante Family Winery has many wine club options. Club members can use their money to buy bottles from the tasting room with a discount of 20%.
Club members will also obtain two free tastings or two free glasses every month.
Address: 23854 Vía Fabricante D-2, Mission Viejo, CA 92691, United States
11. Wine Lab Camp
This Orange Country wine bar encompassing a 1,270-square-foot space, is located in the busy CAMP shopping center.
In addition to serving eight wines on tap, Wine Lab has a beer dispenser with six taps offering local microbrew.
Sample locally grown olives, fresh locally baked bread, and artisan cheese, or enjoy snacks like kettle-cooked potato chips.
The small plate menu contains flatbread pizza, bread served with artisan cheese, and organic goat butter paired with locally produced honey.
The Wine Lab also has a retail shop where patrons can buy the wines, honey, cheese, and bread they sample at the store.
Address: 2937 Bristol St Suite A101B, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
12. The Seal Beach Winery
The Seal Beach Winery is a boutique winery located in coastal Orange Country.
The Winery offers an exceptional selection of wineries from the finest vineyards along the Central Coast, like Santa Barbara and Los Olivos.
Their winemakers use a state-of-the-art winemaking facility to produce top-tier wines in an intimate setting.
Seal Beach Winery offers a huge selection of wine, including white, red, and rose, plus dessert plates and meat and cheese platters.
The tasting room in Los Alamitos offers wine by the bottle, by the glass, and by flight, and tastings comprise six pours.
Wine lovers can join the wine club and receive a shipment of selected bottles three times a year, plus a discount on extra purchases and free tasting.
Address: 3387 W Cerritos Ave, Los Alamitos, CA 90720, United States
13. Frisby Cellars Winery
Frisby Cellars Winery, founded in 2008, creates award-winning wines from outstanding Pasco Robles vineyards.
The wine is produced in Pasco Robles and transported to the Orange County Urban Winery & Tasting Room in Lake Forest, where wine lovers can experience the tasty varietals. Frisby Cellars creates red and white varietals.
Tastings are available on Saturdays and Sundays, and bookings are available for big groups. Wine tasting in Orange County, CA, is incomplete without a visit to Frisby Cellars Winery.
Frisby Cellars also offers different wine club memberships for those who want to have the Frisby Cellar Wines delivered to their home every month.
There are two extra Frisby Cellars locations: Rancho Mission Viejo and Dana Point.
The Rancho Mission Viejo location is open every day of the week with wine, food, and beer, and visitors can also enjoy food trucks and occasional weekend live music.
The Dana Point Harbor location is also open seven days a week, offering wine tasting, craft beer, wine by the glass, and food, such as flatbreads, truffle mac and cheese, and charcuterie boxes.
Address: 20331 Lake Forest Dr c, Lake Forest, CA 92630, United States
14. Bianchi Laguna Winery
Bianchi Winery, located in Paso Robles, CA, produces approximately 10,000 cases yearly.
The property contains a winery, tasting room, and a vineyard house for guests’ accommodations.
The winery is renowned for wine tasting in Orange County, CA. It offers two wine-tasting options. In the first option, you can choose two of their signature selection wines and two reserve wines.
The second option allows you to pick three of their signature selection wines and two reserve wines.
Bianchi Laguna‘s tasting room offers a deluxe, private tasting experience featuring incredible wines and ocean views.
The tasting room is open to visitors 21 years and above; they request that you leave your four-legged furry friends at home.
The tasting room is designed to be educational, welcoming, and a treat for the senses. If you get hungry during your visit, Bianchi Laguna Winery also offers snacks, including their excellent flavored popcorn and cheese boards.
Address: 496 N Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, United States
15. Rancho Capistrano Winery
Rancho Capistrano Winery, located in the center of San Juan Capistrano’s historic district, serves about 40 wine selections and delicious dining with a 3,000-square-foot heated outdoor patio.
This winery and restaurant has a dog-friendly patio, a vast cozy fireplace, and live music on select evenings.
Aside from the exceptional wine, visitors will enjoy food selections like hand-cut ribeye, ahi poke stack, and seafood risotto.
Rancho Capistrano Winery also has a selection of wine club options for wine lovers who want to receive regular shipments.
Membership includes tastings, select wines, invites to special events, and discounts on purchases.
There is a second and third location, one in San Clemente and the other in Ladera Ranch.
Address: 26755 Verdugo St, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675, United States
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Plan Your Trip to Orange County
Orange County offers modern delights to please every tourist looking for things to do. It is also famous for its limitless wineries with various wines available for tasting. Wine tasting in Orange County, CA, is worth experiencing, especially if you love wines.
Aside from the delicious wines, visitors will enjoy the wineries and tasting rooms’ atmosphere.
So what are you waiting for? Begin your wine-tasting adventure in Orange County now!