California Distillers Association Launches the California Distillery Trail and Resource Platform

PASO ROBLES, Calif., Nov. 4, 2026 —The California Distillers Association (CDA) invites travelers to explore the newly launched California Distillery Trail, a statewide network of distilleries connected through a free, interactive online guide. The resource highlights California's distilleries and the specialty crop growers whose ingredients help define their spirits. Available now at visitcadistillerytrail.org, “The Trail” allows travelers and spirits enthusiasts to discover distilleries across the state, meet the makers and plan their next tasting trip.

Funded by a $470,000 grant through the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, The Trail is the centerpiece of CDA's three-year initiative to boost sales of California specialty crop-based spirits by 20% and create new, higher-value markets for California farmers.

California is home to more craft distilleries than any other state, with roughly 207, and the average California distillery partners with three farms for its ingredients. 

Distillers turn the state's fruits, grains, nuts and herbs into distinctive spirits, giving growers a new market for crops that might otherwise go unsold. Examples include blueberry liqueur in Ventura and grape-based vodka in Paso Robles.

On the market, spirits have outsold both beer and wine in the U.S. since 2022, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. With the united California Distillery Trail and platform, the CDA aims to connect California spirit drinkers to the people and places behind the product.

On the new mobile-friendly Trail platform, visitors can:

• Find distilleries and tasting rooms near home or wherever they travel in California

• Explore distillery profiles featuring each maker's story, location and upcoming events

• Learn about the California-grown grapes, citrus, berries, nuts and other specialty crops that give each spirit its character

• Plan a custom route by region, spirit type and tasting room hours, or follow a ready-made itinerary

“Every bottle on the California Distillery Trail tells the story of a California farm,” said Alex Villicana, CDA board president and owner of Re:Find Distillery. “The Trail makes it easy for visitors to taste that story firsthand, and every visit helps build a stronger market for the growers who make these spirits possible.”

All California distilleries are invited to join the Trail at visitcadistillerytrail.org. CDA member distilleries receive a full profile page which can be updated with events, cocktail recipes and more, while non-member distilleries appear on the Trail map. Distilleries can join CDA through the same site to unlock a full profile.

CDA will bring the Trail directly to consumers through Meta and Google advertising, social media and email marketing, plus seminars and tastings at consumer events throughout California in 2027 and 2028, beginning with San Francisco, Dana Point, the Central Coast and Sacramento in spring 2027.

Travelers can explore the Trail at visitcadistillerytrail.org and follow along on Facebook and Instagram at @cadistillerytrail.

Tourism partners, including DMOs and visitor bureaus, are invited to feature the Trail in their itineraries, visitor guides and social channels. Partners can access The California Distillery Trail marketing toolkit, while media can reference the Trail press kit for photos, video, and fact sheet or request more information or distiller interviews from the contact below.

Funding for the California Distillery Trail was made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. This press release’s contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

Current Participating California Distilleries: 

10th Street Distillery, 117° West Spirits, Alamere Spirits, Alchemy Distillery, Alley 6 Craft Distillery, Ambix Spirits, Autry Cellars, Calwise Spirits Co., Central Coast Distillery, Corbin Cash, Dao Distillery, Devils Creek Distillery, Dry Diggings & Amador Distillery, Essential Spirits Alambic Distilleries, Distilling, Foggy Bottom Distillery, Geneseo Distillers, Georgetown Distillery, Gold Bar Whiskey Distillery & Tasting Room, Hanson of Sonoma Distillery & Tasting Room, Hiatus Craft House, Hinterhaus Distilling, Hollywood Distillery, Humboldt Distillery, Indigeny Reserve, Iron Hub Winery & Distillery, Jettywave Distillery, Joshua Tree Distilling Company, KROBAR Craft Distillery, Loft & Bear, Los Angeles Distillery, Napa Valley Distillery, OASIS Distillery, Owens Valley Distilling Company, Patio29 Spirits Company, Pekut and Carwick Independent Bottlers, Pendray’s Distillery, Re:Find Distillery, Redwood Empire Distillery, Rock 12 Distillery, Rod & Hammer’s, Sausalito Liquor Co., Shelter Distilling, Sidewinder Spirits Company, SLO DE VIE Distillery, Spirit Hawk Distillery, St. George Spirits, Stone Groove Stillhouse, Storyhouse Spirits, Tin City Distillery, Ventura Spirits Company, Venus Spirits, Webb’s Grainworks, Willow Creek Distillery, and Wright & Brown Distilling Co.

About the California Distillers Association

The California Distillers Association (CDA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association representing more than 50 member distilleries across California. With a deep commitment to local sourcing, CDA highlights the state's rich agricultural diversity and supports distillers who turn California-grown specialty crops into distinctive and high-quality spirits. Through advocacy, education, collaboration, and promotion, the association works to advance a sustainable, innovative and thriving distilling community.

By fostering connections between farmers, distillers and markets, CDA strives to strengthen regional economies, encourage transparency and quality, and elevate awareness of California's spirits on a national and global scale. For more, visit cadistillers.org.

Media Contact: Solterra Strategies, Diana Parker, (949) 702-0196

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