Fort Bragg is a sleepy town in Northern California that once bustled with a logging industry that has long since subsided. While it’s still a working-class city, tourism in the area has grown in recent decades as people come from all over to enjoy the scenic coastline, the impressive redwoods, and the very drinkable wine. While the best vineyards in Mendocino County are further inland, a few wineries have been able to flourish closer to the ocean. Pacific Star Winery has a small tasting room in downtown Fort Bragg, but it’s the actual grounds that make this producer so special. One visit to the remote tasting site and you might declare this your favorite winery in the world before you even have your first sip.
Keep going past the parking lot
The drive to Pacific Star Winery is a destination in and of itself. The Pacific Coast Highway provides a new breathtaking view around each bend, with vineyards and redwoods to the east and endless ocean to the west. When you finally get to the winery, you’ll find yourself struggling to get all the way to the converted house where the owners pour wine. From the moment you park, there isn’t a bad view to be found. Take it in for a second, but do try to keep moving as there’s a lot to see (and drink).
Try to choose a seat
While the majority of wineries have a small tasting room and perhaps a patio with some outdoor seating, Pacific Star has a plot of oceanfront land that’s roughly the size of a football field. There are chairs at each end and, as previously discussed, ridiculous views from every seat in the house. If you aren’t careful, you’ll spend the better part of an afternoon walking around and trying to find the perfect spot to sit and enjoy your wine. Your best bet is to grab the first available seat and accept that you’ll be happy no matter where you are.
Don't forget the wine
As you amble along the cliff’s edge, awestruck by this immaculate stretch of coastline, it’s pretty easy to forget why you came in the first place. After a few other patrons walk by with glasses of wine, hopefully you’ll be reminded. While the Pacific Star Winery could get by on looks alone, the varietals produced actually pair very well with the incredible scenery.
The company makes more than a dozen different wines, and you can taste your way through the catalog or purchase a bottle and drink it just above the rocky shores. Both the Roussanne and the It’s My Fault blend are easy drinking, delicious white wines that are perfect on a sunny day. If it’s a little overcast (as the region is wont to be), go with Dad’s Daily Red, another blend that’s well balanced and full of flavor. Each bottle is very affordable, making a trip to Pacific Star Winery the cheapest, best date of your life.
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The only winery you need
Pacific Star Winery is not the kind of spot you work into a day of wine tasting. One reason for that is there aren’t any other wineries nearby. Another better reason is that you really won’t want to leave. Between the outstanding wine and the absurd panorama, there’s probably no place worth leaving for. And if it comes down to it, there’s a rental cottage on the grounds. You might want to inquire about that before you head over …
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