I'd like to take my mother to Napa/Sonoma for her birthday, but am not familiar with the area. I'd like to do some tastings and go out to lunch. Any suggestions? She prefers white wine to red, are there any wineries with really good selections of white wines?
One more thing, her birthday is in early September. Will the weather be awful?
2006-06-06 07:50:45 · 7 answers · asked by lcraesharbor 7 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Francisco
Oh, you lucky girl!
I'm more of a Sonoma fan...Napa is good but so over-commercialized.
Sonoma:
You guys MUST go to Viansa first.
They've got an excellent tasting room, great view of Sonoma Valley and some tasty bites while shopping in their winery.
Also, just down the road, go to Gloria Ferrer and try some sparkling wine.
In the town of Sonoma, there are a few good restaurants.
In Napa Valley, here are a few MUST-SEE places:
Schramsberg (make reservations for a tour and tasting).
Sterling (ride the tram to the top!)
Clos Pegaus (wonderful art in the yard).
You can Google restaurants for both places...but watch out because the prices can be high (the food warrants it, though!).
My absolutely favorite restaurant is Auberge du Soleil, in Napa...but it is very $$$$.
September is wonderful - harvest time and the smell of grapes!
Let me know if you need additional info.
I LOVE that part of the world!
2006-06-06 08:00:03 · answer #1 · answered by docscholl 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Recommendation: skip Napa and go to Sonoma instead. MUCH more peaceful, Napa is overdeveloped and most of the wineries are very corporate now. Favorite places in Sonoma: go all through the Glen Ellen area. Benziger is a terrific first stop because they have a great tour. Matanzas Creek is a must see at this time of year because the fields of lavender planted there will be in full bloom, and it perfumes the air and the wine so beautifully. Matanzas Creek and Chateau St. Jean both have great white wines. And September is the BEST weather month in the San Francisco Bay Area all year long! But you have to make hotel or B&B reservations for September NOW, because that is harvest time.
2006-06-06 18:26:40 · answer #2 · answered by Fogjazz49-Retired 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always enjoy the Viasa winery (they have a cool little marketplace, good food), Niebaum-Coppolla winery (cool little marketplace too, very scenic), Sattui winery (free wine tasting, a lot of places charge $5-7) and there's a quaint one called Cakebread.
September should be pretty warm. Wine grapes are harvested in August-September so maybe you can find some cool grape-stomping festivities. I've always wanted to do that! Have FUN!
2006-06-07 09:55:47 · answer #3 · answered by Jacinda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever you do, make sure to make reservations. Joseph Phelps is a very pretty winery in Napa look to the Silverado Trail for a road to travel on.
KEY - MAKE RESERVATIONS! Be prepared to pay $10 - $20 per winery for tastings.
One good, very pretty winery is Andretti Winery
2006-06-06 09:59:27 · answer #4 · answered by SFinSJ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Indian Springs in Calistoga is actual previous shaped even even though it has an surprising spa and a humongous mineral pool with water at once from the geyser. counting on once you're making plans your honeymoon it is going to likely be interior of your funds. city of Calistoga is interior the Napa Valley, surrounded by super wineries and has an lovable, laidback atmosphere. It additionally truly on the brink of the Culinary Institute of united states of america of america, which you would be able to desire to look at one night for a romantic and scrumptious dinner!
2016-12-08 07:10:59 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weather should be fine in September. Perhaps a bit cooler than in August and July when it can get too hot. I like Chateau St. Jean, especially their Chardonays. It is also a nice place to hang out ...
2006-06-06 08:00:26 · answer #6 · answered by seetheglobey 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
St. Francis
2006-06-06 16:07:06 · answer #7 · answered by sj345 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋