For many people, although appreciating wine at home is a favorite pastime, it's just not enough. More and more wine lovers are visiting wineries, seeing how it is produced, and enjoying a new experience. Forbes Magazine wrote about some wineries that are off the beaten path. Sure, it's great to visit the big names, but smaller wineries offer just as great an experience, and sometimes a little more attention.

From Forbes:

West Coast's Winning Wineries
Avoid the throngs in Napa and head instead to the up-and-coming Paso Robles region, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This region, with about 200 wineries, has the third-largest concentration in the country...
While there, visit Justin Vineyards, famous for its cult wine, Isoceles (a cabernet and bordeaux blend), Vina Robles for its 2002 syrah and J. Lohr for its cuvees.

Down-Under Drinking
If you're willing to travel far to fulfill your love of wine, visit Marlborough, New Zealand, on the South Island, an area Densmore says is becoming a hot spot for tourists. This region is famous for its sauvignon blancs, most of which are produced on a small scale. Wineries, spread along the Wairau River and surrounded by green hills, have views of Mount Tapuaenuku. Notable vineyards include Cloudy Bay and Wairau River.

Tippling In Italia
If you can't imagine a wine trip that doesn't include Italy, skip Tuscany and head north to Piedmont... Gaja, which boasts such pricey vintages as Sperss Nebbiolo Langhe, is a major producer. Visit Bruno Giacosa, situated 1,300 feet above sea level, to taste Barberesco Santo Stefano, one of the most coveted wines in the country.