Winters

Farm-to-fork culture runs deep in Winters, a Yolo County farm town that also has a sophisticated foodie palate.

In the 1840s, fruit trees, vegetables, and grapevines started popping up in this Central Valley area, and the railroad’s arrival in 1875 put Winters on the map. Today, it sits right off Highway 128, about 30 miles west of Sacramento, but its heart lies in its picturesque downtown, dotted with restaurants, wine and beer spots, and shops. Expect to see a collection of bicycles parked outside many of them, a reminder that Yolo County is heaven for anyone who likes to explore on two wheels.

Things to Do in Winters

Thanks to its agricultural foundation, you could spend days tasting your way through Winters’ thriving food scene. Steady Eddy’s, a coffee shop known for its chocolatey Monticello Mocha but also for paninis and salads, is a perennial local favorite. Go to Preserve Public House for Niman beef–fueled cheeseburgers, Ficelle for tapas, Putah Creek Cafe for pizza cooked in an outdoor oven, and Buckhorn Steakhouse for acclaimed steaks and the ambience of its grand, historic property.

Winters’ culinary scene includes plenty of craft beer, too—after all, it’s located in Yolo County’s Beer-Muda Triangle. Don’t miss Berryessa Brewing Co., located in a former fruit-packing facility and known for beers such as the Separation Anxiety IPA, Free Kittens Lager, and the Whippersnapper English-style ale. On weekends, come to the patio for food trucks and live music. Downtown, check out the stouts and IPAs at family-owned brewpub Hooby’s Brewing.

When it’s wine time, head down the aforementioned (and celebrated) wine road of Highway 128 to taste the Tempranillo at Berryessa Gap Vineyards (reservations are strongly encouraged) while taking in a wine production tour. The pours you’ll enjoy there are the product of the Winters Highlands AVA, the newest AVA in the state, designated in 2023, a testimony to the unique terroir of the region that imbues the wines here with their own distinct character. If your visit dates are flexible, book a spot at one of the winery’s many special events, such as the Global Dinner Series, a unique, multi-course international meal paired with Berryessa wines.

Right around the corner from Berryessa you’ll find Rhône varietals such as Syrah and Viognier being poured at Turkovich Family Wines, whose tasting room also has an artisan cheese shop. To change things up on your tippling tour of Winters, stop by the aperitif tasting lounge at L’Apéro les Trois. This women-owned-and-operated establishment crafts French-inspired, low-alcohol aperitifs by infusing local wine with seasonal fruit and botanicals, and they also serve a selection of perfectly paired appetizers.

Outdoor Activities in Winters 

For fresh-air fun, hike the loop at Stebbins Cold Canyon Trail (part of the University of California Natural Reserve System), with views of both Lake Berryessa and the Berryessa Mountains, or head to Lake Solano to fish, rent canoes, or get a campsite. Another option is to visit Hedgerow Farms, a 300-acre California native wildflower concern, where you can walk and photograph amidst rows and rows of poppies, lupines, and various native grasses, learn about low-water California native wildflowers, and even take a seed home with you to plant. Or just stroll and shop downtown, soaking up the charm of this community that takes pride in both its booms and its busts. Come during the summer for the Earthquake Festival, which remembers the 1892 temblor that nearly destroyed Winters, but also celebrates the subsequent effort to rebuild.

Where to Stay in Winters

In addition to the Fairfield Inn & Suites Sacramento Winters just off U.S. 505, there are two hotels that sit right downtown: the Victorian-style Abbey House Inn and the 73-room Hotel Winters, which also has a spa and a rooftop lounge. To get a taste of farm life, head just outside town to Park Winters, a B&B set in an 1865 farmhouse that is a popular wedding site. It’s still an active operation, so you can come just to tour the flower farm, or tour the garden to see what’s growing. (Be sure to say hello to the egg-laying residents of the Chicken Palace.)