"Wine tours with friends can quickly go south. Before you know it, a nice afternoon turns into a dramatic saga with name-calling and fake tears. If you need a brief timeout from anyone whose attitude is currently being sponsored by Sauvignon Blanc, Novelty Hill is a fantastic place to spread out and split up. Unlike other tasting rooms where you’re forced to share wine-scented oxygen with everyone you came with, this one has a large courtyard patio with a variety of different seating arrangements to choose from. Sit on a couch far away from other people, take a breather, and continue to slurp crisp watermelon-pink rosé. There are a bunch of snacks available to have with your tasting, too—like tasty pizzas and fried chicken sliders." - aimee rizzo