Summer breezes and a gorgeous glass of wine: talk about a match made in heaven. This month, we’re celebrating National Red Wine Day on August 17th — not that you need an excuse to enjoy a glass at any of these premier sipping spots. Extend your Red Wine Day celebrations all the way into California Wine Month this September and discover your perfect pairing with our list of best wine bars and wineries in Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills.
Best Wine Bars and Wineries in Agoura Hills
Agoura Wine & Beer Co.
Check out this friendly, approachable bar and retail shop and spend an afternoon unwinding with one of the many libations available on their extensive offerings list. A local favorite, this Agoura Hills wine bar’s focus is delivering affordable wine without sacrificing quality. The owners handpick every single wine they serve and sell in the retail store, tasting new wines and beers daily to ensure their stock is up-to-date and reflects the passion and attention to detail that they pour into every aspect of their service. Take a seat at their bar and build your own personalized tasting flight. On your way out, don’t forget to grab a bottle from their shop to build up your home cellar, too.
Blue Table
This stylish Agoura Hills wine bar offers an atmosphere defined by three things: wine, food and friends. Here, you can enjoy a wine tasting featuring some of the best regional and international wines alongside a fabulously arranged charcuterie board. If you’re looking for something a little more than light bites, Blue Table’s expansive menu has you covered. From brunch fare to mouthwatering grilled entrees, any foodie will love the options provided. Stop by for a snack and wine tasting and lounge on their airy patio or in the charming ambiance of their outdoor dining room.
Cornell Winery & Tasting Room
Cornell Winery has really prided themselves in being the place to discover the myriad of wines produced from grapes grown in the Santa Monica Mountains. There are 50 vineyards up here which means there are 50 families that put their hearts into the land they live on. The stories that have developed over the years are definitely interesting, but the fruits of their labor or the wine they put in the bottle is definitely worth your attention.
Best Wine Bars and Wineries in Thousand Oaks
Alma Sol Winery
Alma Sol is a family-owned and operated, micro-boutique winery, sourcing premium fruit from top vineyard sites in California, with a special interest and focus on the beautiful Paso Robles appellation. From the very beginning, the mission has been to craft exceptional Bordeaux wines, both single varietals and special blends – though they will occasionally be inspired to produce limited releases of non-Bordeaux varietals as well. Alma Sol hand-picks their grapes in small lots, respect the fruit, guide its natural potential, and simply focus on hands-on, artisan winemaking. The tasting room is open Friday – Sunday, and is located in the Sunland Vintage Winery tasting room.
Cork Dork
One of the most popular Thousand Oaks wine bars, Cork Dork specializes in the art of pairing food and wine. Indulge in exquisitely crafted California cuisine paired with wines from all over the globe. Each food and wine partnership is carefully prepared to best enhance the flavors of the wine while still showcasing locally-sourced ingredients. Their dishes are crafted around the best ingredients of the season, which allows them to rotate their menu offerings often. As the name implies, Cork Dork loves educating visitors on all things wine, beer and liquor. Take a seat at the bar, sample one of over forty wines they offer by the glass and prepare for a well-rounded, educational wine-tasting experience.
Giessinger Cellars & Tasting Room
At Giessinger Cellars & Tasting Room, you will have the opportunity to experience and enjoy wine tasting in one of the most lush regions in the world. Their high quality, moderately priced wines bring the art of French wine making to the beautiful California countryside in Ventura County.
Lions Peak
Lions Peak is a family-owned and operated winery that produces distinctive, ultra-premium wines dating back to 1994, old vine Cabernet Sauvignon. They produce wine using natural and sustainable winemaking practices that support health- and environmental-conscious consumers and preserve the land for future generations.
Mizel Estate Wines
Just 25 miles north of Los Angeles, down oak-lined roads and nestled in the heart of Hidden Valley in Thousand Oaks, Mizel Estate Wines awaits. The Santa Monica Mountains rise around you while the rest of the world falls away. Mizel’s luxury wines, First Impression Bordeaux Blend, Smooth Touch Syrah and Easy to Please Grenache are made from 100% estate-grown French varietals nurtured in our unique terroir.
NABU Wines
This tasteful Thousand Oaks winery is named, aptly, for the two regions the owners get all their grapes from, Napa and Malibu. The result is exceptional single varietal and special blend wines that showcase the best of California’s winemaking capabilities. The founders, Greg and Janet Barnett, hail from the music industry and have allowed their passion for music to come to life at their winery: you can catch live music here every weekend, and they occasionally host comedy nights if you’re in the mood to laugh. Keep an eye on their events page to see which local acts are taking the stage during your tasting. NABU offers tastings every day of the week, making it the ideal place to stop and taste some truly elegant California wines on any evening.
Sunland Vintage Winery
Sunland Vintage invites visitors to become a part of its tradition through its highly interactive wine tastings. Family-owned and operated, the wine connoisseurs behind this winery boast a passion for wine that dates back to the early 1900s. Step into their rustic, welcoming tasting room to be taken on a journey across the centuries with wine reminiscent of Old Italy. Their unique varietals will appeal to all kinds of wine lovers, from the casual enjoyer to the committed dilettante. It’s also a great place to catch some live music or to plan any kind of event, such as birthdays, anniversaries or casual “just because” get-togethers.
West Tasting Room
Specializing in wines from all along the West Coast, West Tasting Room is sure to entice you with their extensive selection of thirty different wines available by the glass and over two hundred retail wines available for purchase. They also feature a few local beers if you’d like to get a taste of West Coast brewing, too. The wines in their tasting room are selected carefully, with a focus on boutique producers and smaller-production wineries. Experience the vast array of flavors available along the West Coast regions of California, Oregon and Washington with a customizable, build-your-own wine flight menu, and add a charcuterie board or artisan pizza to round out your tasting experience. West Tasting Room’s focus is on approachability and quality. Their patio is also dog-friendly, so it’s a great spot to bring your four-legged friends along on your tasting.
Book Your Stay in Conejo Valley
You deserve a break. Plan your getaway to Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills, where you will be a stone’s throw away from the sunny beaches of Southern California, the iconic sights of Los Angeles and, of course, all the fabulous wine bars and wineries mentioned above. While you’re here, don’t forget to take advantage of all the restaurants and the host of indoor and outdoor activities that make Conejo Valley so special. Book your stay today.
