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Best Wineries Near Los Angeles

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Wineries are a great way to experience wine culture without having to drive all the way to a vineyard. There are different kinds of wineries like farm, micro and the up and coming urban winery which don't have the luxury of rolling hills and acres of grapevines as far as the eyes can see. But they still hold tours and tastings and is a great way to find a new favorite wine. What's even better is, if you live in LA, you don't have to drive that far to get to one. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just getting into wine, check out this list of must visit LA wineries.

Malibu Wines
(credit: Malibu Wines)

Malibu Wine Safaris
Serving Malibu and the Surrounding Area
32111 Mulholland Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
(818) 497-2206
www.lasafaris.com

Zebras, bison and giraffes are not something one would associate with a winery which makes Malibu Wine Safaris one-of-a-kind. The 1,000 vineyards in Malibu offers an open jeep tour of the Malibu hills which helps you to relax, tasting wine from local vineyards and wineries as you go. Along with cheese and crackers, you also get hands full of carrots to feed the safari animals you'll encounter along the way. The celebrity sighting of the tour is Stanley the giraffe from the Hangover. This is an outdoor event so toting along sunscreen, sun hats and water is recommended.

Related: Best Wine Bars In Los Angeles

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REV Winery
1580 W. San Bernardino Road, Suite H & I
Covina, CA 91722
(626) 388-9949
www.revwinery.com

One of the first ones onto the new trend of urban wineries is REV Winery. Located in the industrial section of Covina, REV takes their winemaking process one step further and produces wine that's non-sulfited, vegan and gluten free from organically grown grapes. And it's delicious. Styling each one after the country regions of France, Spain and Italy, each bottle has a history and each label has original artwork. A winery guide will show you the facility and their winemaking process and the tasting room will let you sample the wines you were introduced to on the tour.

Firestone Vineyard
(credit: Firestone Vineyard)

Firestone Vineyard
5017 Zaca Station Road
Los Olivos CA 93441
(805) 688-3940
www.firestonewine.com

If you're looking for a scenic day trip and a little vino while you're at it, Firestone Vineyard is your best choice. Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, Firestone is more than just an estate winery as it holds concert events, and offers a cellar club membership and property rental to private venues. All this in addition to fantastic wine with a long history of quality. Tours and tastings are provided regularly, with picnic facilities accessible during open hours. Firestone is the ultimate winery experience for wine lovers young and old.

San Antonio Winery
(credit: CBS)

San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar St.
Los Angeles, CA 90031
(323) 223-1401
www.sanantoniowinery.com

Another urban winery to make the list is San Antonio Winery. Located in Downtown LA., San Antonio Winery offers three tastings that are the perfect introduction to a new flavor or a reminder of a forgotten favorite. The Daily Tasting consists of three wines from a weekly selection. The Artisan Tasting is of four limited reserve wines from The Riboli Family estates. The Semi-Sweet Tasting showcases three semi-sweet wines and is the perfect way to try something new without having to commit to a bottle. They also have a restaurant with a menu designed around their selection of wines as well as hold public and private events.

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(credit: Thinkstock)

Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room
109 S. Montgomery St.
Ojai, CA 93023
(805) 798-3947
www.ojaivineyard.com

With only four wineries in all of Ojai, Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room is the one to visit, especially if you enjoy whites. Located in downtown Ojai, the winery offers five wines for their tasting flights. Whether you like a classic chardonnay or sauvignon blanc or lean more towards a syrah and viognier a wine expert will help you identify front and back notes and walk you through the art of wine tasting. Friendly, knowledgeable staff and a reasonably priced wine club makes this winery a regular stop for many enthusiasts.

Related: Best Wine And Cheese Bars In Los Angeles

Kristine G. Bottone is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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