More and more wineries around the country are offering tours of their facilities and tastings of their products. These tastings are fun for novices and experts alike. You don't have to travel to Europe to experience world class wine and wine-making facilities. Vintners throughout the United States are producing wines which can compete with any wine from anywhere in the world.

The most widely-acclaimed and successful wine-making region in the United States is California's Napa Valley. The Napa Valley is just 30 miles long, only a few miles wide, and nestled in Northern California. A number of world famous wineries are located in this region. One such winery which will appeal to race fans and wine fans alike, is the Andretti Winery in Napa, CA. The Andretti Winery was founded by legendary Indianapolis 500 champ, Mario Andretti. Perhaps the most famous and most successful Napa winery is the Robert Mondavi Winery located in Oakville, CA. Mondavi offers tours year-round except on major holidays. Making an appointment is recommended but not necessary.

California isn't the only place you can visit an American winery. You may not have realized this, but there are also wineries in the Northeast. One such winery is the Mount Nittany Vineyard and Winery located in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania. Mount Nittany Winery produces a variety of dry and semi-dry whites, dry and semi-dry reds, and sweet and semi-sweet wines. Tours are offered throughout the year. Advanced notice is necessary. Here you'll learn all about the wine-making process as well as some history of winemaking in the Central PA region.

New York features some of the oldest wineries in the country. The first wine grapes were planted there over 300 years ago! The first serious wine-making operation there began in the 1860's. One popular New York winery is the Applewood Winery in the town of Warwick, in the Hudson River Valley, located barely an hour away from the hustle and bustle of New York City. Applewood Winery produces a wide variety of wines, some of which you'll find nowhere else as they're made from unique local ingredients such as Macintosh apples.

Wine makers have set up shop in the South, too. One such winery is the Habersham Winery located just outside Helen, Georgia. The Habersham Winery has been in operation for over 20 years. The Habersham Winery offers tours for groups of 10 or more and requires an appointment. You can visit their gift shop any time, though. Here you'll find their complete selection of wines, as well as gourmet foods, and local treats.

Another lovely Southern winery is Chrisman Mill in Nicholasville, Kentucky. They produce a number of international recognized, award-winning wines. Come by the winery Tuesday through Sunday and enjoy a sumptuous lunch in the Chrisman Mill Cafe. Enjoy their surprisingly excellent wines and be impressed with their chef's top-notch cooking.

If you're looking for a fun way to spend a day, a weekend, or even a whole week, travel to a winery or wine-making region and discover the wealth of wine produced throughout the country.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as wine gift baskets at http://www.winegiftbasketsplus.com.

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