Itinerary: All Wine, All the Time

Before martinis were the “in” cocktail, and before microbreweries were all the rage, there was wine.

Drinking trends come and go, but wine undeniably is a beverage for the ages. And in California--the nation’s largest wine-producing state, there’s plenty of it around. With all that fertile grape-growing ground come wineries and other spots to eat, drink and be merry.

Friday

Start your journey with a visit to the Wine House (2311 Cotner Ave., West L.A. [310] 479-3731). As part of its effort to familiarize customers with its wines, this warehouse wine store features Friday Nights at the Wine Bar each week. From 6 to 8:45 p.m. patrons can try wines listed on a beverage menu in a happy-hour atmosphere with appetizers for $15 per person. The Wine House also holds events and wine classes for those who want to know the difference between Chablis and Chardonnay and Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Saturday

Next, visit the historic San Antonio Winery (737 Lamar St., off North Main Street, downtown L.A. [323] 223-14010). At the beginning of the century more than 100 wineries lined the Los Angeles River basin, but this is the only one left--and is, in fact, the only producing winery in Los Angeles.

Santo Cambianica opened the place in 1917, naming it for Saint Anthony, his patron saint. In the 1920s, Prohibition forced many of L.A.’s wineries to close, but San Antonio survived because it made sacramental wines for the Catholic Church. More than 80 years later, the family-owned and -operated winery makes altar wine, table wine and premium wines, including the brand name Maddalena using grapes grown on the Central Coast. The winery, which also includes a restaurant, is open daily and offers free tours on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday

You don’t have to go as far as Napa Valley to spend some time in wine country. A day trip to Santa Barbara, where there are nearly four dozen wineries, will do. Start with the Santa Barbara Winery (202 Anacapa St., Santa Barbara. [800] 225-3633), where you can sample a Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. Located in downtown Santa Barbara with a 95-acre vineyard 18 miles away, this 37-year-old winery is open for free tours at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily and offers tastings for a small fee from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Next try the Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos (6905 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos. [800] 350-7972). At more than 1,500 feet above sea level, Zaca Mesa vineyards are among the highest in Santa Barbara County. Located 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara, the winery specializes in Rhone varietals, but also produces a Chardonnay and Syrah, among others. Take a picnic lunch to the vineyard and spring for a bottle of wine or take a free tour of the winery at 11:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Free tastings are offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

If you’re heading south, try the Callaway Vineyard & Winery (32720 Rancho California Road, Temecula. [800] 472-2377). Located two hours south of Los Angeles in a region perfect for grape growing, this 30-year-old winery has 13 whites and reds currently available for tasting. Callaway offers tours of the winery daily, with weekend tours on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tasting room is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., providing wine lovers with four samples and a souvenir glass for a small fee.