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Orca Travel Collection

Central California

San Joaquin Valley: Modesto to Tehachapi

A curated guide to valley & mountain wineries

13 featured wineries · 7-page PDF guide

Download the free PDF guide

From the valley to the mountains

Stretching from Modesto and Merced south toward Bakersfield, this part of the San Joaquin Valley grows a large share of California's wine grapes. Scattered among the farmland, small wineries offer a personal, down-to-earth welcome.

At the valley's southern edge, the Tehachapi Mountains appellation in Kern County brings higher-elevation vineyards and cool nights, with tasting rooms around the town of Tehachapi.

At a glance

Signature wines
Warm-climate wines from the valley; mountain-grown wines in Tehachapi
Getting there
Highway 99 through the valley; Highway 58 to Tehachapi
When to go
Spring and autumn; valley summers are very hot
Plan ahead
Wineries are spread far apart; plan your route and check hours

The 13 featured wineries

  • Tlo WinesBakersfield
  • Triassic VineyardsTehachapi
  • Asv WinesMcFarland
  • Bronco Wine CompanyCeres
  • Dorner Family VineyardTehachapi
  • E & J Gallo WineryModesto
  • E & J Gallo WineryCeres
  • E. & J. Gallo WineryLivingston
  • E. & J. Gallo WineryModesto
  • GalloModesto
  • Giumarra VineyardsBakersfield
  • Stray Leaves VineyardTehachapi
  • Tehachapi WineryTehachapi

Full details for each winery are in the free PDF guide.

Data: California ABC & TTB public records

Download the free PDF guide

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