While thoughts of California’s wine country and sprawling vineyards might conjure thoughts of adult-only alone time and girls’ weekend retreats, there’s actually a kid-friendly side to wine-tasting tourism.
While some wine producers require guests to be 21 or older for liability reasons, there are still a host of wineries not only allowing minors and kids to visit, but that also encourage it with fun activities specially designed for them. Mom and dad can taste local wines while the kids enjoy grape juice tastings and visiting farm animals, or stroll through the winery together on a tour.
Make that dream California vineyard vacation a reality with the family with the Wine Institute’s list of family-friendly wineries:
Father and son in Sonoma County Vineyard. Photo: Igor Mojzes | Dreamstime.com
Sonoma County
Start your family-friendly wine tour at ACORN Winery/Alegria Vineyards in Sonoma County. Explore the vineyard together on a family tour, or divide and conquer while the kids draw with crayons, play Legos and cornhole and even taste harvested grapes from the vine. Next up, head to Alexander Valley Vineyards where the kids can visit the vineyard, explore a cave on property and enjoy a family picnic. Famous for his family and on-screen depictions, including The Godfather, it’s pretty fitting Francis Ford Coppola Winery also happens to be family-oriented. Kids can splash around in the swimming pool, check out the library and play board games and bocce ball while the adults sneak off to taste local wines.
Napa Valley
Head to Alpha Omega in Napa Valley with the kids while they express their artistic sides with a coloring book, or make your way to Castello di Amorosa to tour a replica of an Italian castle and dungeon. The kids will sample more grape juice, visit resident peacocks and play. Spend more time in Napa with a visit to Raymond Vineyards, boasting a fun theater theme. Meet all the players, or nature’s actors, including local livestock that plays a role in wine production. Get an eco-friendly tour through Honig Vineyard & Winery, or let the kids run off and play with toys and entertain themselves.
Napa Valley vineyard, California. Photo: Michael Warwick – Dreamstime.com
Paso Robles
Begin at Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar in Paso Robles to take in the stunning views of the vineyard, while the kids play larger-than-life Jenga and other yard games, like cornhole. While in the area, head to Eberle Winery for some cave tours and play bocce with the kids.
Mendocino County
Over in Mendocino, visit Meyer Family Cellars with an outdoor play area for kids; Navarro Vineyards for Pinot Noir grape juice tasting; and Pennyroyal Farm for a meet-and-greet with the local farm animals.
You can have your adult retreat, and family too, with some well-planned, family-focused fun and tours through California’s wine country. Read the full list of family-friendly wineries, all offering fun for all ages.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Nov 29, 2023Father, Son and Brother Adventure Bonding in Cody Yellowstone
Dude alert: If you’ve fallen out of touch with the other guys in your family, Cody Yellowstone is the perfect place to catch up — and autumn is the ideal season for doing so in the great outdoors. From off-road adventures to historic ghost towns to plenty of wildlife, there’s something in this dynamic destination to please family travelers.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Destinations / North America
Nov 29, 20235 Places to Take Kids in Nebraska
The world’s largest indoor desert and the nation’s biggest indoor rain forest are only the beginning of the attractions family travelers can enjoy while traveling through Nebraska.
Destinations / Europe
Nov 29, 2023Head to Bath, England, This Christmas for Endless Festivities
Family travelers to England can’t miss the return of the annual Bath at Christmas in the picturesque and historic city of Bath. Nights of entertainment, lights, and delicious food and drinks queue up for an unforgettable Christmas.
Sponsored Content
Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet
United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.
Destinations / North America
Nov 28, 2023What Are the Friendliest U.S. Destinations?
Want to travel somewhere warm and welcoming? You might want to head to one of the United States’ friendliest destinations, as uncovered by a recent study from language learning platform Preply.
ShareThis