If you are visiting sunny California, next on your agenda, you should consider visiting some of most famous wineries of California. California wines and winery tours are famous all over the world. With its pleasant climate and beautiful landscapes, winery touring in California is indeed a fine experience for all wine aficionados. It flaunts more than two hundred days of sunny climate and a perfect weather for growing different varieties of grape. There are six major varieties of wine sold in California. From the Napa Valley to Sonoma County and the Bay Area, California boasts of some of the finest vintage of the world.

The Chardonnay flaunts a peculiar buttery flavor, while the Sauvignon Blanc has a distinct herbal and melon taste. These white wines are perfect when complimenting seafood. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir are some of the famous red wines available in and around California. There are plenty of other varieties of wine that are absolutely great. The winery tours not only provide tourists with valuable insights on the procedure involved in making wine, but they also educate them on how to taste the different wines and information on the different festivals and events associated with wine processing and harvesting.

If you are planning on a California winery tour, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

. Plan your tour: Planning in advance will ensure that your tour is satisfying and successful. Firstly, it is important to decide on and make a note of all the wine producing regions you would like to visit. Map out a tour that allows you to visit several wineries in a day. Go through the dedicated websites that provide information on California wineries, including the special events and tours.

. Make reservations: Most wineries require appointments to be made in advance. Hence, if you wish to sample the different wines, it is advisable to call and make reservations with the concerned wineries. When visiting California, make sure that you have your hotel and travel plans reserved, before you actually go on a winery tour. When planning for the tour, it is wise to limit yourself to visiting only 2 or 3 wineries a day.

. Decide on what you would like to see: It is always best to know the wineries you wish to visit and the information you seek. In this way, time will not be wasted in arguing over directions. If you can hire a driver who knows his way around, it would be much better.

. Hire a driver: Since wine touring includes sampling and tasting different varieties of wines, it is advisable to hire a professional, local driver.

Some California wineries are small, while some are large. In some wineries you may get to see the grapes being hand picked by the farmers, while in the others, machines are used for harvesting and processing. Either way, you are bound to be a part of the joyous and heady experience, with friends and family. You may even learn a little more about the California wine business.