Winery Tours in the Shasta Cascade- Visitors can now take a private wine tasting tour of wineries and vineyards nestled along the countryside near Manton with Wine Country Tours. Seven-hour excursions for up to six people include stops at 7 Hills Land and Cattle Co. & Anselmo Vineyards, Shasta Daisy Vineyards, Algers Vineyards, Indian Peak Vineyards and Ringtail Vineyards.   u2vine.com

Ruby Hill Winery Bus Tours - Named for Cielo Viola, an Italian blend estate reserve wine, Ruby Hill Winery's new tour bus, Mello Cielo, takes guests on 90-minute tours of the Ruby Hill vineyards and winery facilities. Passengers learn about the history, art and science behind Ruby Hill's wines, while tasting the winery's current and future vintages. The bus has been customized with seats crafted from aged wine barrels and iron work of sculpted grape clusters and vines in the interior, and a charming exterior paint job in burgundy-red and lime green. There is even a barbecue grill attached to the back gate made out of a wine barrel. Mello Cielo tours are by appointment only. rubyhillwinery.net

Lake County Vine Trail - The first Lake County Vine Trail, the 1.25- mile round-trip Red Hills Terroir Trail, now connects Vigilance Winery & Vineyards and Gregory Graham Wines to give hikers and wine tasters a first-hand opportunity to experience the terroir of the Red Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area). The trail overlooks the Anderson Marsh State Historical Park and boasts stunning views of the vineyards and marsh. Tasting room hours for Vigilance Winery & Vineyards are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Tasting room hours for Gregory Graham Wines are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. lakecounty.com

Windy Oaks Winery- Windy Oaks Winery has a renovated tasting room on the Corralitos Wine Trail in South Santa Cruz County. The 500-square-foot tasting room features a curved tasting bar made from recycled redwood panels and Brazilian granite. Folding glass doors showcase the barrel room and 15-foot folding glass doors open out onto the stamped concrete patio overlooking the vineyard and redwood forests beyond. Parisian garden tables and chairs, shaded by market umbrellas, complete the restful scene.

Napa Gourmet Walks- is a guided culinary walking tour in downtown Napa. The three hour Gourmet Napa Walking Tour is a tasting and walking adventure that leads guests from the Oxbow Market through downtown Napa to the revitalized Riverfront. Seven tasting stops include a California artisan cheese tasting, artisanal salumi, boutique Napa wines and fresh salted caramels. Tours are available Fridays, Sundays and Mondays at 11 a.m. and tickets are $68 per person. gourmetwalks.com

Calaveras County Courtwood Wine Tasting- Private Wine Tasting Tours in Calaveras County Courtwood Wine Tasting Tours is now offering intimate wine tasting experiences with private, personalized tours for two to six guests. Ideal for a romantic getaway or special occasion, tours include van pick-up in the Angels Camp and Murphy's area, behind-the-scenes visits to select wineries and picnic lunch, as well as water and soft drinks. courtwoodwinetours.com

Winters- Tasting Room Opens in Winters Historic downtown Winters is now home to a new tasting room, Main Street Cellars, that features a full line of local and international wines and microbrews at affordable prices. The tasting room is open Tuesday through Sunday. visitwinters.com

Santa Barbara- Au Bon Climat Opens Tasting Room in Downtown Santa Barbara After nearly 30 years of making wine, Jim Clendenen, one of the Central Coast's most respected and dynamic winemakers, has opened his first-ever retail space and tasting room in Santa Barbara. The Au Bon Climat Tasting Room and Jim Clendenen Wine Library in historic El Paseo Plaza showcases Clendenen's vast catalog of wines and labels with vertical tastings of library wines and vintage collections for purchase. Standard tastings cost $10. For $15, guests can experience dual tasting of both Au Bon Climat and Margerum Wine Co. wines. aubonclimat.com

Temecula- Temecula Celebrates Wine Country Christmas on Sat, November 26, 11am though Fri, December 23, 8pm at Keyways Winery. Over 800 Grade #1 Firs and Nobles will be brought to Keyways Vineyard & Winery from Quailhurst Farms in Oregon beginning November 26th. These fresh, beautiful Christmas trees will adorn your home over the holidays. Special pricing offered to Keyways members. Christmas Tree Lot 11/26 until Sold Out Daily 11am-8pm These 6-8' tall trees are being offered at $65-$75 to Keyways Wine Club Members and $75-$100 to the public.  www.KeywaysWine.com/WineCountryChristmas 

San Diego Winery Tours by Rail- La Jolla Wine Tours will offer San Diego Coaster Train Wine Tours on Saturdays through December 31. With this guided tour, guests sample wines aboard the train and stop to go behind the scenes at urban and coastal wineries, learn about the wine-making process, taste wine and enjoy a gourmet lunch. lajollawinetours.com

Temecula - Ponte Family Estates Wineryopens Ponte Vineyard Inn. A popular stop for oenophiles in Temecula wine country, Ponte Winery has broken ground on a 60-room boutique hotel, the Ponte Vineyard Inn, with plans to open in spring 2012. The California Mission-style hotel will feature comfortably appointed guest rooms and suites with private patios and balconies overlooking the vineyards, green features such as solar-power and low-water use fixtures and a hip cellar lounge and garden area with an outdoor fireplace—both with bar service. Food will be available in the garden, on the verandas and in the lounge, with a menu featuring local cuisine complementing the farmer's market-driven Restaurant at Ponte. ponteewinery.com