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Tours & Tastings
Lake County is vast and wineries and tasting rooms are scattered about the region, but you'll be rewarded with wines that will delight even the most harshest of critics as this area is on the rising list of upcoming wine regions to visit.
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Leave the driving to a local professional driver and get the inside scope of where to go and what to skip. Uber is available, but expect long delays to hail a ride.
MoreThings to Do
Clear Lake one of the region's largest lakes offers plenty of water activities such as fishing and whitewater rafting in the late spring to early summer. For the mountain biker or hiker, you'll find plenty of trails to enjoy.
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Whether you are celebrating a girls weekend, your honeymoon or a weekend retreat, CellarPass offers you instant itineraries to make your trip to Lake County Wine Country is just a click away.
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Lake County's seasons
Know what the best season is to visit Lake County and what to wear.
Winter
(December - February) Winter is known as Cabernet season where wineries are open to taste their award-winning Cabernets by the glass or by reserving intimate barrel tastings. Winter is the slowest time of the year where daytime temps range from 42-55 degrees, dress in layers.
Spring
(March - May) As Spring arrives, so do the temperatures. The stunning green hillsides beg for a hike and picnic. Spring is also "release" season where most wineries begin offering their latest vintages with special parties and experiences. Reservations are recommended.
Summer
"(June - August) Summer can offer a wide range of temperatures, from 70-101 degrees. We recommend you drink a lot of water and enjoy yourself as wineries offer many different tour and tasting events to choose from. Reservations are strongly recommended starting mid-June due to most tasting rooms are small, boutique-style properties."
Fall
(September - November) Fall is harvest season in Lake County which attracts wine collectors from around the globe seeking to be part of the excitement of “crush”. From legendary harvest parties to production tours, you’ll need to plan ahead. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Tips
Lake County's travel tips
Traveling to Lake County
- Lake County wine country is somewhat a remote and mountainous region so there are not many local airports to fly in unless you fly private. The nearest airport will be Santa Rosa (STS), about an hour away from Middletown or Lakeport.
- There is a local winery tour shuttle you can hire to take you on a tour of Lake Country wine country, or using one of the popular ride sharing apps, but expect a long wait as the number of available drivers is quite limited.
- There are no easy options to arrive in Lake County wine country via public transit. You'll need to research the private companies the service the area.
About Lake County
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The Lake County wine-growing region is part of the North Coast AVA. Lake, along with Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties, lies along the spine of the Mayacamas Mountains, the most distinctive geographical feature of the six county North Coast winegrowing regions.
The Clear Lake AVA, a sub-appellation of North Coast, was recognized in 1984. The appellation covers more than 219,000 acres surrounding Clear Lake with microclimates and varying soils. Elevations range from 1,300 feet to well over 3,000 feet.
As the Lake County wine industry has continued to grow, additional AVAs have been created to distinguish the unique growing regions. Currently, Lake County has six recognized sub-appellations: High Valley AVA, Guenoc Valley AVA, Red Hills – Lake County AVA, Big Valley District AVA, Kelsey Bench AVA, and Benmore Valley AVA.
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