If you’re a lover of good food and fine wines, then there are few places that you could wish to visit more than the good old USA.

From coast-to-coast there is the opportunity to sample all manner of mouthwatering dishes, from lobster rolls in Maine and New York-style cheesecake on the Eastern coast right over to Marionberry Crisp in Oregan and a Mexican-inspired taco in California.

California is also one of the best places to head in America if you’re a lover of wine, with the state widely regarded as the top wine region in the country - as reflected in the fact that around half of all wineries in the USA are to be found in California.

In particular, Napa Valley and Sonoma are names that will be instantly recognisable across the world. The former is well known for Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon whilst you Sonoma is the place to go if you’re in the market for a top quality Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon.

That’s not to say you won’t be able to find a high quality bottle of wine elsewhere in California; far from it - with the Montery, Paso Robles and Mendocino County regions all home to top class wineries producing world class white and red wines.

Many of the wineries and vineyards can be visited during a trip across California, with the following being just a small selection…

Raymond Vineyards:

Located on the edge of St Helena to the north of San Francisco, Raymond Vineyards is one of the top wineries in the Napa Valley and open daily for visitors.

As well as being able to taste the produce, you can book onto a private tour that allows you to see the full production process first hand or even book a unique experience where you get to become a winemaker for a day.

Here, you’ll craft your own bottle of Bordeaux-style red which you’ll then get to take away and enjoy.

MacRostie Winery and Vineyards:

Found north of Santa Rosa, the MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, has developed into one of the top wineries in California having won countless awards since being founded in the 1980s.

Pay a visit whilst in the region and you can pop in to grab a bottle of the famous Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon to take home or book onto a tasting in the MacRostie Estate House.

Against the backdrop of impressive views of the estate, you’ll get to sample five different wines during an experience lasting around 90 minutes.

Porter Creek Vineyards:

Porter Creek Vineyards is a small winery near Healdsburg that retains a family feel and produces wine 'with soul' - something it has done since being founded in the late 1970s.

Book a visit to the vineyard and you’ll be able to sample five wines in picturesque surroundings overlooking the vineyards whilst you can visit the onsite shop to pick up a bottle if you don’t have time for a sit down tasting.

Robert Mondavi Winery:

The Robert Mondavi Winery is known across the world for providing world-class wine, with some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon around coming from the To Kalon vineyard in the Napa Valley.

Various options are available when it comes to tastings, which include the chance to sample your wine alongside top class cuisine created using the best locally sourced produce.

It’s a great way to ensure that you can sample some of California’s best food at the same time.

Beringer Vineyard:

The Beringer Vineyard is one of the oldest around having first opened in the 1860s, and has provided tours since the 1930s in the heart of the Napa Valley.

You could make the argument that the vineyard is worth a visit just to admire the stunning architecture of the buildings without even booking onto one of the various tasting experiences.

A special self-guided tour of the estate is also available so you can really appreciate everything that Beringer has to offer.

Mount Eden:

Located near to Saratoga, Mount Eden is a boutique winery founded in the 1940s which produces small lots of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Sittin goff the beaten track down a two mile long private road, this is the ideal place to head if you want to book a more intimate tasting session, with bookings available for small groups to sample three wines whilst admiring views over the Santa Clara Valley.