Things To Do in California Wine Country
This year we were hoping to go to Tuscany for Dan’s birthday but weren’t able to get a passport for the baby in time. A great alternantive I thought of was California Wine Country. We hadn’t been to Napa in almost 10 years so we decided to go back there with the kids and had our friends coming along. A different kind of trip, to say the least, but great in its own way.
Hope you find these recommendations useful!
Where to visit: While California wine country covers nearly 500,000 acres, the top two most visited places are probably Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. While both offer amazing wines and countryside views, Napa, most recognized for its amazing Cabernet, is generally considered more sophisticated, the best choice for foodies and those who love more of a high-end, luxurious experience. Sonoma, on the other hand, while being best known for its Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel, is considered more authentic and laid back, has more winery options (453 wineries to be exact), and more casual dining options. If you’re only going to be there once, it’s highly recommended to try out both experiences. Some other areas to consider are Alexander Valley, Mendocino, and Paso Robles.
While there are many hotel options, a more enjoyable experience may be had by renting an Airbnb, preferably one backed up to a vineyard in order to get a true “vine life” experience. We chose to rent a carriage house in the middle of a vineyard whose owners were all too eager to let us try their delicious Pinot Noir. Some towns to consider staying in or around are Calistoga, Kenwood, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Saint Helena, and Oakville.
Must-visit wineries: Chateau Montelena (very famous for an award-winning Chardonnay and subject of the film Bottle Shock), Castillo di Amoroso (a bit touristy, but has amazing views and landscape), Château St. Jean (for a more personal experience, works with large parties and features a beautiful event garden – my personal favorite.), Domaine Carneros (some great IG opportunities considering their most regal chateau), Ferrari-Carano Winery, St. Francis, Opus One, Del Dotto (preferred by Kardashians and featured in the show), Robert Mondavi, Palmaz, Nickel & Nickel, Jarvis, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Buena Vista, Ravenswood, Hall St. Helena, Round Pond Estate, Far Niente, and Quintessa. The list goes on…
Which wines to try:
Cinq Capage Cabernet at Chateau St. Jean, their award-winning flagship bottle, hands down the BEST Cab I’ve ever tried – delicious, velvety and smooth. www.chateaustjean.com
Chateau Montelena’s famous 1973 Chardonnay www.montelena.com
2018 Trefethen Pinot Noir www.trefethen.com
2018 Balletto Pinot Gris Russian River Valley www.ballettovineyards.com
2018 Twomey Cellars Sauvignon Blanc www.twomey.com
Where to dine:
Super-luxurious: The French Laundry – Yountville, CA
Luxurious: Auberge du Soleil – Rutherford, CA
Casual: Salt & Stone – Kenwood, CA
Casual: Rutherford Grill – Rutherford, CA
Things to do: Besides touring wineries, some activities include bike riding tours, golfing, hot air balloons over Calistoga’s incredible views (Dan and I took a ride once almost 10 years ago), visiting hot springs, and even a ride on the famous Napa Valley Wine Train.
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