When conjuring up a vision of Malibu, an image of starlets dodging paparazzi and suntanned surfers is certain to come to mind. But for the wine lover, there is a much more fascinating attraction to this stunning section of the California coastline.

The first documented vineyard in the area was planted on the Rancho Topanga Malibu Sequit by Jose Bartolome Tapia, who left it to his wife, Maria, in 1824. Matthew Keller, who purchased the land in 1857, planted hundreds of acres of grape vines in Solstice Canyon and named it the Rising Sun Vineyard and the first modern day vineyard, The Malibu Vineyard, was planted in 1985 by Michael and Kim McCarty. Since then, intrepid vintners have begun to take advantage of the marvelous growing conditions that the area offers and are now producing world class wines. From the luscious Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards overlooking the Pacific Ocean, to the bold and elegant Cabernets and Merlots of the canyons, the Malibu Coast is truly oenophile’s paradise.

The Malibu Coast wine region is bordered on the south by the Pacific Ocean and on the north by the Conejo Valley. The rich volcanic soil, coupled with cooling Pacific fog and the temperate Southern California climate, is producing award-winning wines and wooing visitors from around the world.

Tastings rooms on the Malibu Coast offer a wide variety of experiences from picnics overlooking stunning ocean vistas, to rockin’ summer concerts and private tours. But perhaps the most enticing element to a day in the Malibu Coast wine region is the opportunity to meet the vintners and winemakers themselves. Most wineries in the area are family-run operations and they take great pride in their vineyards, relishing the opportunity to introduce you to their wines.

So put the top down on the convertible and cruise up the Pacific Coast Highway to the Malibu Coast Wineries for a day filled with marvelous wines and the shimmering blue of the Pacific Ocean. It is a combination that will surely provide a lifelong memory of the best that Southern
California has to offer.