Ever gone wine tasting at a place that looks like Snow White’s cottage or bellied up to a bar that Jesse James used to drink from? If you answered, “No, but I’d sure like to,” then we’ve got a list for you. This roundup of wine tasting destinations may be quirky and off-the-beaten path, but they’re well worth seeking out. And, best of all, they’re within driving distance.

Temecula
A little more than an hour from Orange County, Temecula boasts more than 30 wineries, with more on the way. Most tasting rooms get crowded during the weekend, so instead of sticking to the main drag (Rancho California Road), check out the newer wineries on De Portola Road. Take your pick of Frangipani, Cougar, Keyways, Temecula Hills, Oak Mountain, Filsinger and Leonesse.

But for the best wines in Temecula, you need to make a detour to a sprawling housing subdivision, where you’ll discover Briar Rose Winery (briarrosewinery.com), at home in a faithful re-creation of Snow White’s cottage. Available for tastings by appointment only, this boutique winery makes premium, award-winning red and white varietals (top price is $120) that demand attention.

The cottage was built by former Disney designer Belvin Fields, who helped create Disneyland’s Fantasyland and Toontown. Fields bought land in Temecula long before it was a wine destination and started construction on his life-long dream in the late 1960s. He completed his charming project in the mid-1970s, and it’s now in the hands of winemaker Les Linkogle and his wife, Dorian.  

The tasting experience at Briar Rose lasts more than an hour. Les is usually there to talk about his wines and his detailed method of crafting the perfect blend, while Dorian often plays hostess and handles group tours.

Overnight accommodations in Temecula vary, but one stands out: The Castle B&B (thecastlebedandbreakfast.com), in the heart of wine country. This California version of a European castle offers seven distinct guest rooms, each with its own theme and décor (Medieval, Venetian, Bavarian, Celtic, French country, English Tudor and an Egyptian suite). A full breakfast is included.

Those unfamiliar with Temecula wine country can pick up a wine tasting map and explore on their own, but why not call Ginger Giordano at Going Grape (goinggrape.com), which specializes in personalized wine country tours for up to six people. Ginger spent eight years at Thornton Winery and knows the best spots to taste wine in Temecula, as well as the history of Temecula.

Santa Barbara
Drive about two hours north of O.C., and you’ll arrive in Santa Barbara County, which is home to Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Solvang and Lompoc, and it’s where you’ll find more than 100 wineries (some of them, like the Hitching Post, were featured in the movie “Sideways”). The region produces many popular wines – Firestone, Sanford and Babcock (founded by Walt and Mona Babcock, owners of Walt’s Wharf in Seal Beach and Oysters in Corona del Mar) are just a few.

But for an unusual wine tasting experience, head north from the town of Santa Barbara to Lompoc, where you’ll discover the world of the Wine Ghetto, an area filled with wineries operating out of industrial buildings. These wineries include high-end producers such as Seasmoke, Ken Brown, Longoria, Brewer-Clifton, Ampelos, Fiddlehead, Flying Goat, Stolpman, Loring, La Vie, Pali and Samsara.

“No fancy tasting rooms, modern art galleries, wine souvenir shops or sunken gardens here,” says Peter Work of Ampelos Cellars (ampeloscellars.com). “This is new frontier spirit tasting between the barrels!”

Only a few of the wineries have regular tasting room hours; most require private appointments. Be prepared for “winemaking at its rawest form,” says Angela Lavie, co-owner of La Vie Vineyards (lavievineyards.com). “The Wine Ghetto proves that wine can be made anywhere.”

Sightseeing opportunities in Santa Barbara are numerous. The Danish town of Solvang is fun but usually packed with tourists. Skip the crowds and head north on Alamo Pintado Road, and proceed to the charming town of Los Olivos; but first, stop at Quicksilver Ranch (syv.com/qsminis) for a visit with its stable of miniature horses. The ranch is open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily.

Need a place to dine? Try Brothers’ Restaurant at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos (matteis tavern.com), a fine-dining restaurant run by brothers Matt and Jeff Nichols, located in an 1886 stagecoach stop. The food is superb, the wine list is packed with local favorites, and the ambiance is historic and charming.

For overnight accommodations that stand out as completely offbeat and fun, book a stay at The Victorian Mansion B&B (thevick.com) in Los Alamos, built in 1864 and moved to its present location in 1980. Expert craftsmen, artisans and artists spent almost 10 years creating the six themed suites. Hidden bathrooms, spiral staircases, a cannon coffee table, an Egyptian sarcophagus that serves as a bathroom doorway, a chariot and a 1956 Cadillac convertible (complete with bed) are just a few of the curiosities you’ll find inside. Each of the suites features hand-painted murals and tiles, a hot tub for two, fireplace, DVD player with classic films from the era of the room and a complimentary breakfast that magically appears through your own private food butler.

Paso Robles
A four-hour drive from Orange County will bring you to Paso Robles, a wine area that’s rapidly becoming known as “the next Napa – without the attitude.” Some 200 wineries are located in and around Paso Robles, including Justin, Wild Horse, Turley and L’Aventure. It’s nearly impossible to find bad wine in Paso, but you can encounter boring tasting rooms. Two unique ones you won’t want to miss: Tobin James and Clautiere.

With its Wild West theme and Jesse James-was-here bar, Tobin James Cellars (tobinjames.com) may be the most fun-filled tasting room in Paso Robles. The winery’s prize possession is the main tasting bar, reportedly the same one Jesse James used to belly up to and knock back his whiskey. Winery owner Tobin James bought the bar and had it shipped from Missouri to Paso, where thousands of James Gang (the name of the Tobin James wine club) members have since sampled the sensational varietals.

The Clautiere tasting room (clautiere.com) has been described as “Edward Scissorhands meets the Mad Hatter at the Moulin Rouge.” Visitors are encouraged to don outrageous wigs and hats as they sip Clautiere’s magnificent nectar. The special events, which range from theatrical performances to dance events, are as outrageous as the tasting room décor.

Plenty of overnight accommodations are available in the Paso Robles area, but you can’t go wrong with the historic Paso Robles Inn (pasoroblesinn.com). Built in 1891, it features hot spring mineral baths in many of the rooms. Need a cure for what ails you? A soak in one of these baths might just do the trick. Famed pianist Ignace Paderewski came to the Paso Robles Inn in 1913 for treatments, and after three months, his arthritis disappeared, and he resumed his concert tour. Other notable names who visited the hotel: President Theodore Roosevelt, Douglas Fairbanks, Boris Karloff, Bob Hope and Clark Gable.