In the original Hangover, when Stu Price (Ed Helms) and Phil Wenneck (Bradley Cooper) take their friend Doug Billing (Justin Bartha) and his soon-to-be brother-in-law, provocateur Alan Garner (Zach Galifianakis), to Las Vegas for his bachelor party, Stu tells his over-controlling girlfriend Melissa they went to a bed and breakfast inn in Napa. The assumption is that Napa is a safe, boring place for a bachelor party. Before they go, he tells Melissa that he doesn’t think “they have strip clubs in wine country.” He later describes their B&B as quaint, and when he’s in the back of a stolen cop car next to a lost baby while getting shot at, Stu tells her the screaming infant is a goat.

For the record, there are strip clubs in Napa, but there is fun to be had that falls in between that and the quaint inn with antique radios and no televisions that Stu described. Some may put wine tasting in the same category as visiting a bed and breakfast inn, but to do so would be a mistake. Here at The Cheat Sheet we’ve already explored why bed and breakfast inns make most guys cringe, and we also pointed out some spectacular B&Bs that break the stereotype of stuffy rooms full of antique glassware, frilly lace, and weird dolls or plush animals. And now we aim to do the same with wine tasting. Beer lovers may always be beer lovers, but enjoying a glass of pinot in front of a beautiful vista is a chance to relax, catch up with friends, and experience one of the most beautiful regions of California.

There is always going to be talk of tannins and mentions of oak barrels at wineries. But the entries on our list have something more to offer. Most importantly, you don’t have to be a wine snob or be on top of such things like aerating your red wine in order to have a good time.

We’ve narrowed a list from the more than 400 wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties, which are surrounded by more than 60,000 acres of vines, to five favorites, plus one honorable mention. These wineries are merely starting points for exploring the region, and they offer both fun and the option to develop your palate.

The stone walls and dark shadows bring an otherworldly vibe to the space, which almost makes you feel as if you’ve gained entry to a special club. Bella’s wines are award-winning as well. Esteemed critic Robert Parker of The Wine Advocate proclaimed the winery “hit pay-dirt in 2012,” giving its zinfandel’s top scores. The 2012 Block 10 earned a score of 96 points and the 2012 Barrel 32 a score of 95 points.

2. Korbel

Location: 3250 River Rd, Guerneville, CA 95446

Price per Tasting: Free!

I cannot recommend visiting Korbel enough. It’s a great mid-stop if you are visiting multiple wineries because it is a great place to have lunch. There is a deli on sight, and a beautiful rose garden. And then there are the complimentary pours — you get to choose four from a very long list of California champagnes. Korbel may produce 1.3 million cases of the sparkling wine per year, but the staff at the tasting room ensure the winery has a small-town vibe. Tucked away alongside the Russian River, Korbel gives you a different side of this wine-growing region. On nice days, which is basically everyday in Sonoma county, the sprawling vineyards reflect the soft sunlight, making this a great stop to relax.

3. Buena Vista Winery

Location: 8000 Old Winery Rd, Sonoma, CA 95476

Price per Tasting: Private reserve tasting, $30, reservations required

4. Francis Ford Coppola

Location: 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441

Price per Tasting: $25 for the most basic flight

OK, so this entry may be a bit more pricey, but this winery, formerly Chateau Souverain, is well worth the trip. This is almost the Disneyland of wineries, as it is the baby of The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola. A slight drive up highway 101 from Santa Rosa, the largest city in Sonoma county, this winery is undoubtedly opulent. Checking out the pool is a must, as is the band pavilion that’s based on a Lake Tahoe scene in Godfather II. This Geyserville estate does not have the same focus on movie memorabilia as his initial winery, which brought herds of tourists to the Rutherford location. However, you can still see Robert Duvall’s cowboy boots and cavalry hat from Apocalypse Now, Vlad the Impaler’s red-ribbed armor from Dracula, and the maroon Tucker car from the eponymous movie.

Coppola’s wines have received accolades from the Wall Street Journal, and high ratings from the Wine Enthusiast. One must-try wine? The 2007 Archimedes Cabernet Sauvignon, which the Wine Enthusiast gave 93 points and noted is “as deep and fancy as almost anything from Napa Valley.”

5. Artesa Vineyards and Winery

Location:1345 Henry Rd, Napa, CA 94559

Price per Tasting: Tasting of four wines, $20

Amazing architecture, an out-of-the-way location that prompts you to drive back-country roads lined with fields of wildflowers, and a selection of wines that ranges from sauvignon blanc to albarino to pinot noir to tempranillo to sparkling are all reasons to visit this winery. In particular, the Estate Pinot Noire is a classic, earning 93 points from Wine Enthusiast, while the bigger Limited Release Carneros Pinot Noir is also worth a taste. But as good as being there is, getting to Artesa may almost be better. Traversing the countryside is reminiscent of Southern France, and as you begin to see signs for the winery, it almost seems as though you are traveling to a castle. While Artesa does occupy a beautiful spot, its angular, clean-line design is more akin to the 60s than to the medieval.

 Honorable Mention: Sterling Vineyards

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