With harvest in full swing, it’s a great time to visit wine regions across the country””but watch out for those grape trucks! The Premier Guide to Wine Country, Touring & Tasting, has come up with a great list of wineries and places to stay in wine country as you toast the harvest. Discover these 10 Great Wine Country Harvest Finds (all featured in the Summer/Fall issue of Touring & Tasting magazine) each chosen for its own special appeal at harvest time.
WASHINGTON
Richland and Woodinville, Washington
With two tasting room destinations (one just outside of Seattle in Woodinville and one in the Columbia Valley town of Richland) there's no excuse for Washingtonians to miss J. Bookwalter at harvest time. For the most part, the grapes come from the upper east end of the Wahluke Slope AVA in a vineyard that Winegrower Jerry Bookwalter has managed for more 25 years. His son John partnered with Winemaker Claude Gros about five years ago and the wines are receiving amazing scores. If you can't visit them in Washington, visit the wines anyway. Two of J Bookwalter’s red wine blends have been featured on Ken’s Wine Guide in the past–the 2004 Merlot, which received a 90.3 score and their “Lot 21” brand, which received an 88.
OREGON
Willamette Valley, Oregon
There's something indescribable about getting away to Oregon wine country at harvest time. Distinctive Destinations has three properties in the Willamette Valley: Lions Gate Inn B&B, a historical luxury boutique bed and breakfast in Newberg; Vineyard Ridge, a vacation rental with sweeping valley views; and Lake House, a fairy tale cottage aside a private little lake. Each property offers a personal concierge service to help you plan your wine touring day and side excursions to the Gorge, Portland, and Mount Hood.
Newberg, Oregon
James Frey was a professional photographer and painter before he and his wife Andrea committed themselves to wine. They planted two vineyards””one on the Coast Range in the southwestern corner of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and a second in the heart of the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Later they added a third in the Dundee Hills””all yield Pinot Noir and Riesling exclusively. The resulting portfolio boasts more than a dozen Rieslings and Pinot Noirs, many of which can be sampled in the exquisite tasting room that includes a 1,500-square foot art gallery displaying James' work.
CALIFORNIA
Lower Lake, California
Kai Ahlmann, a practiced mathematical statistician, and his family started Six Sigma Ranch based on the Six Sigma philosophy. They apply it to the old-world art of winemaking and handcraft each bottle of wine to be as excellent as the next. Harvest time is amazing at the 4,300-acre Six Sigma Ranch. Only 50 acres have been planted to grapes, but they are carefully selected acres, chosen to express the ranch's unique character. A tour around the amazing property in the Six Sigma Pinzgauer all-utility vehicle should be on everyone's bucket list.
Bodega Bay, California
For as remote and elegant as Inn at the Tides may seem, most of us have been there before. Alfred Hitchcock put this beautiful property on the map when he filmed his legendary film The Birds. Today's Inn at the Tides just plain utterly romantic. It is set along the isolated Sonoma coastline with everything you could ask for: well appointed guest rooms with incredible views, two restaurants, a heated swimming pool, and spa. Besides, wine country and all the excitement of harvest is nearby.
Lodi, California
Located in the heart of Lodi wine country on seven acres of stunning, landscaped grounds, this sustainable and certified organic vineyard also boasts a brand new tasting room. Tasting rooms guests are treated to exclusive, limited-production wines and are free to roam the scenic property and enjoy a picnic overlooking vineyards that have been hand-hoed, trellised, and hand thinned. This level of care has not been lost on industry critics, who have consistently recognized their wines in both domestic and international competitions.
Santa Rosa, California
Talk about a gem! This little jewel of a winery covers only six acres, but it produces some of the Russian River Valley's finest Cabernet Sauvignons. And that's all–Proprietors Wendy and Kevin Morrow produce only 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. Each bottle is numbered and hand waxed by Dillon Morrow, their son, who has studied viticulture and spent a good deal of time in the cellar. The Morrows believe fun and wine go hand-in-hand which is why they're hosting an adventure through Portugal next May. Their website has all the details.
LangeTwins Winery and Vineyards
Lodi, California
This multigenerational family winery has recently opened its stylish new tasting room, The Press Room, to the public. It's named LangeTwins after Randall and Bad Lange whose ancestors have been farming their land since the 1870s. The twins didn't get into winemaking until seven years ago, but they caught on fast. Under the leadership of Winemaker David Akiyoshi and Winemaker Karen Birmingham, they have built a portfolio with varietal complexity. If you can't visit, look into the wine club which offers a 20 percent discount and other perks.
Paso Robles, California
Back when Darren Mitchell was growing up on his family's 80-acre ranch, he had no idea that he'd come back there someday to grow winegrapes and make wine. Since then, he fell in love with his wife Angela, followed by a 1987 bottle of Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon. Darren started studying winemaking, planted 20 acres of vineyard on his family ranch, and today, he and Angela are reaping the rewards of their labor, with a fabulous portfolio of award-winning wines. On harvest weekends, visitors enjoy the expansive views from Mitchella's homey Tuscan villa-style tasting room.
Paso Robles, California
Each bottle of Silver Horse wine carries the inscription: “Not for us alone!” which tells us a lot about the philosophy at Silver Horse Winery. This family winery started with a tasting room in a converted barn 17 years ago. Today, Silver Horse is a local destination with a fantastic tasting room and grounds with vista vineyard views. The winery is built for parties with a dance floor, outdoor kitchen, and band and food stations. It's a great place to celebrate harvest.
The following article was provided by our contributing partner — Touring and Tasting Magazine.  Cheers — Ken