Where to sip and swirl from San Francisco to Carmel.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC BREWING – Named after the Southern Pacific railroad line, which ran down Harrison Street in the early 1900s, this expansive bar, restaurant and brewery in San Francisco’s Mission District boasts a unique, 15-barrel mechanical system that results in clean, true-to-style beers. Housed in a former machine shop, the space boasts an award-winning happy hour, lively outdoor patio and upper mezzanine primed for people watching.
ANCHOR BREWING – America’s first and oldest craft brewery (its roots date back to the gold rush), this sleek copper brewhouse in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill, perhaps best known for its Anchor Steam Beer, offers guided public tours of the brewery daily (by reservation only), followed by a beer tasting. Looking for a self-guided experience? Pay a visit to their pilot brewery and bar and enjoy a pint with friends paired with bites from some of the city’s best food trucks.
21ST AMENDMENT – This popular brewpub, aptly named for the amendment marking the end of prohibition, is just blocks from Giants Stadium. Featuring eight rotating taps, multiple award-winning, hand-crafted house brews and plenty of food to balance it out, the brewery is among the top 50 in the country, with a variety of seasonal offerings and coveted “Insurrection Series,” a run of small-batch, limited releases.
WENTE VINEYARDS – The oldest, continuously operating, family-owned winery in the United States—and a California Historical Landmark—Wente is widely recognized as one of California’s premier wine tasting destinations. The sweeping property is complete with an 18-hole golf course, restaurant and plenty of opportunities to sip and swirl, including a wine and cheese pairing in their historic sandstone cave, plus classes to inspire your inner sommelier.
ALTAMONT BEER WORKS – Situated in the heart of Livermore’s wine country (the town’s first brewery since prohibition), this beloved brewery and tap room is the perfect stop when you need a break from the Livermore wine trail. Their newly expanded, 4,500-square-foot tap room includes 30 rotating taps, featuring fresh beers produced exclusively on site.
CARMEL RIDGE WINERY – Grown in the hills of Carmel Valley, this state-of-the-art winery uses a gravity flow system, gently moving its wines into French oak barrels. Priding themselves on producing wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the region, the winery is best known for its award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Care to take a taste? Pay a visit to the tasting room on iconic Cannery Row in Monterey, and enjoy a glass against breathtaking ocean views.
