Day Trip: Mix a Visit to Hearst Castle with Wine Tasting and Harmony

Just past Hearst Castle, about 15 miles, is the small village of Harmony. The quaint town, established as a creamery in 1869 by a Swiss dairyman, boasts several artist studios, a winery and several shops. 

Harmony Cellars Winery, 3255 Harmony Valley Rd., is nestled in the rolling hills overlooking the village, just off Highway 1. It’s a family-owned winery that offers wine tasting Thursday through Sunday.

“It’s noteworthy that Harmony Cellars is the only working winery in a handful of wine-tasting rooms in the area,” said Erin Martin, who handles marketing for Harmony Cellars. 

Harmony Cellars is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during fall, winter and spring, and has extended hours in the summer. This weekend, Oct. 21-23, is Harvest Wine Festival Wekend. For $10, you may sample artisan chocolates paired with fruit-driven wines between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Call the winery at 805-927-1625 or check the website for information about other special seasonal events.

While you're nearby, visit Harmony Glassworks, 2180 Old Creamery Rd., Harmony. This glass art studio features a fascinating gallery and offers glassblowing classes by Eric Dandurand. Contact the studio at 805-927-4248 or email harmonyglassworks@gmail.com.

Before you head north to Hearst Castle, visit Harmony Headlands State Park. There’s nearly 750 acres of native flora and fauna with a wonderful 1.5-mile walking trail leading to panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Find the park entrance and public parking about two miles south of Harmony. Park hours are 6 a.m. to sunset. Call 805-772-7434 for more information.

Hearst Castle, 750 Hearst Castle Rd., San Simeon, leaves visitors with a fresh understanding of an era gone by. In 1919 William Randolph Hearst inherited 250,000 acres of ranch land from his mother. In collaboration with San Francisco architect Julia Morgan, Hearst created an estate of 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, pools and terraces that is tended to in minute detail.   

Since June 27, Hearst Castle has offered three daytime tours that include self-guided access to the grounds:

• The “Grand Rooms Tour” takes visitors through the ground floor of the main house Casa Grande, including the Assembly Room, Refectory and Billiard Room.
• “Upstairs Suites Tour” will guide visitors into Mr. Hearst’s private suite as well as the Library and Guest Suites and “Cottages and Kitchen Tour” will explore the wine cellar, kitchen and two guest houses. To make a tour reservation, call 800-444-4445 or reserve online. 
• The special Evening Tour will be offered most Friday and Saturday evenings through December, 2011. This two-hour tour gives visitors an opportunity to imagine traveling back in time and experience the castle in the evening hours as one of Mr. Hearst’s own visitors might have during the 1930’s. (Lots of stairs on this tour — there's an Accessibly Designed Evening Tour available as well.)

Tour ticket prices range from $25 to $36 for adults and $12 to $18 for children ages 5-12.