Today, we are heading west for a visit to Wine Country Trattoria at Disney California Adventure! Located within the Pacific Wharf section of the park, Wine Country Trattoria is part of the Golden Vine Winery, celebrating the bounty and goodness of California wine country.

Located centrally within the park, this spot makes for a beautiful haven during a busy day of park sightseeing. And if you’re planning to take in the spectacular World of Color light show, then you may also be interesting in booking a Dining Package for viewing the show later in the evening. The package includes a three-course prix fixe meal as well as access to a special viewing area for World of Color.

But would the food measure up to the beautiful surroundings? We wondered, too. Time to find out!

Atmosphere

I love the look and feel of WCT. It has a relatively big footprint, with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Your first view is this hand-carved limestone fountain and a low, wide arch into the dining room.

Cool and rustic touches are all around you, with tile floors below and beamed ceilings above. The variegated plaster walls give way to murals depicting California wine country.

There’s ample seating indoors, even if tables are situated a bit close together for my preference.

But unless it is extremely hot, I heartily recommend that you eat al fresco on Wine Country Trattoria’s terraces. You’ll find a wide selection of seating choices, both shaded and in the the sun.

The terrace is dotted with beautiful plantings, and vines cover the building. The whole effect is lush, like you’re dining in a Mediterranean garden.

One of the most charming places to sit is under the beautiful curved pergola, which offers some shading. There are also tables with umbrellas in the sunniest spots of the terrace.

Looking at the restaurant from beneath the pergola, you also catch a glimpse of the Al Fresco Lounge upstairs — perfect for watching the crowds pass while catching a breeze.

Now that you’re excited about the setting, let’s dig into the menu!

Eats

You would expect a restaurant with a name like this to have a fairly extensive offering of wines, and Wine Country Trattoria delivers. With more than 25 wines from around the world available by the glass, you’re sure to find one that will complement your dinner choice.

Not sure you can narrow it down to just one? Not a problem. They also offer wine flights. On our visit, two were available — A Tour of Italy, and California Wine Country. Housemade Sangria is also available, as is a selection of beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

The menu displays a decidedly Italian influence (of course), and there are plenty of classic and well-known dishes in addition to a few more adventurous ones. The combination makes Wine Country Trattoria a good choice for large groups with varied tastes.

We began with complimentary bread service, a mixture of plain and herbed Focaccia. The rolls were fresh and rich, with flavors of olive oil and rosemary.

I opted to start my meal with the Chef’s Soup Selection of the Day, which happened to be a favorite of mine — Minestrone. The flavorful broth was full of beans and vegetables, and the bright pesto garnish made was a fun kick of flavor and color. It was a simple idea, but really added to my enjoyment of the hearty soup.

My husband chose the Italian Insalata. Cradled inside an iceberg lettuce leaf, the chopped salad consisted of pepperoncini, Kalamata olives, tomatoes and cucumbers.

It was dressed with a simple red wine vinaigrette and was finished with big ol’ flakes of parmesan cheese. Again, the presentation was really beautiful with all of the bright colors, and was so much more interesting than a run-of-the-mill dinner salad. Pretty, right?

When it came time to order, we were in the mood for pasta, and both went that direction. I chose the Lasagna Rustica on the recommendation of some friends, and being a big fan of sauce, was absolutely delighted when I saw the dish!

There are no real surprises here. This was a hearty helping of traditional lasagna, smothered in a rich Bolognese sauce that was full of meat. It was hearty, and the sauce was not too sweet. Perfect.

My husband went for the Spaghetti Bolognese. It could have used a touch more sauce, but was fine otherwise. Very standard, though a step above chain Italian restaurants.

The real standout of the meal was the Seasonal Roasted Fruit Crostada for dessert. During our visit, the featured fruit was Apple, and it was fantastic!

The caramelized crust was rich and tender, and complimented the fruit inside perfectly. The ice cream provided a nice creamy contrast, though we always wish there was MORE of it. And again, I have to give marks for presentation. The drizzle of caramel and sprinkle of chopped pistachio took the look from good to great.

And with that, we were ready to tour once more!

Overall

A meal at Wine Country Trattoria probably won’t be the finest or most memorable that you’ve ever had. The menu, aside from the wine offering, is fairly small, and many of the dishes are somewhat predictable if you’re acquainted at all with Italian food. Still, if you’re looking for someplace within California Adventure to sit and relax and enjoy a glass of wine, it might fit the bill nicely. I can imagine happily spending a cozy evening dining with friends under the stars on that terrace.

Also, if you long to see World of Color but hate to face the crowds, the lunch and dinner packages here could be just what you’re looking for. After all, you’ll be eating anyway; why not get a special reserved seat for the price of your meal?

It may not be a destination for us every time we are in Disneyland, but Wine Country Trattoria is a good solid choice for a relaxing meal away from the chaos that can be a park day. I suggest you give it a try.

Have you dined at Wine Country Trattoria? Share your thoughts in comments below.