#californiawineries

[findingsally8870]

Loved the vibe at #orfilawinery in #escondido. Incredible surroundings, friendly people, relaxed atmosphere, live music and tasty #wine flowing freely. #winetasting #californiawineries #sunset (at Orfila Vineyards & Winery)

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Chateau St. Jean is such a beautiful winery. #chateaustjean #napasonoma #beautifulwinery #winerygardens #californiawineries #sonomacounty (at Chateau St Jean)

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Mustard in the vineyard. #northerncalifornia #visitsonoma #californiawineries #californiavineyards #mustardinthevineyard (at Sonoma County)

[sierraspringsphotos]

Spent the day in Napa and Sonoma. Beautiful place. #napavalley #sonomacounty #duckhornvineyards #winetastings #californiawineries #napawine #drinkcaliforniawine (at Duckhorn Vineyards)

[giltcity]

This Malibu Winery Redefines Getting Wild

You take a sip of perfectly chilled chardonnay, inching as close as you dare to a grazing herd of water buffalo. In your periphery, a flash of stripes appears as two zebras casually play together, and, in the distance, a camel leisurely strolls toward his lunch.

No, this isn’t a snapshot from a rural African plain. It’s a safari wine adventure tucked away at one of L.A.’s most beloved (and picturesque) wineries—Malibu Family Wines.  

As a Pepperdine alum, I have a certain insatiable fondness for Malibu. So for my first post, it’s only fitting that I pay a little tribute to my old stomping grounds. While glittering ocean views and lush rolling hills are par for the course in this glamorous region, the scene at Saddlerock Ranch—the winery’s 80-acre home—is one you won’t find anywhere in town.

On our VIP Vintners’ Tour, we were treated to sights that ranged from 300-year-old Chumash cave paintings to up-close-and-personal interactions with everything from water buffalo and a giraffe to alpacas and a zebra trio, lovingly named Timon, Pumba and Rafiki. And then there’s the wine. Throughout the tour, we sipped six well-balanced wines, ranging from the tangy nectarine-accented pinot gris to the robust cassis-filled cabernet sauvignon. To round out the indulgence, an array of artisanal cheeses complemented each pour.

My need for adventure satisfied, I left with a bottle of souvenir Saddlerock pinot—and a gallery full of Insta-ready shots.

Embark on your own wine safari here.

-Megan