We already stayed awhile in San Frnacisco, and took a wine country tour. Is there enough to do there for a day? which wineries are good to visit there, and which ones to stay away from?
2006-10-04 17:08:14 · 7 answers · asked by amyrdh 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Francisco
Why specifically Yountville? There's a lot more to the wine country. And enough to do for more than one day.
The town of Sonoma is where I usually like to start. Explore around the main square, the town still has one. There are historic buildings including a mission. I think its the only one that has been restored that is not an active church. Sebastiani is conventiently in town, east of the square. Not a top end winery, but interesting place to visit. From there I like to head up the Sonoma Valley.I usually include Chateau St Jean. There are some scenic roads connect to the Napa Valley.
Along the way you'll see places that catch your eye. Seeing a beautiful scenic winery is as much of the experience as tasting the wine.
2006-10-05 07:34:40 · answer #1 · answered by larpmanx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We go to the Napa valley 5-6 times a year and our first stop is always V. Sattui Winery at the south end of St. Helena. It is one of the few that still conducts free wine tasting and they have a great deli and picnic grounds. They also have outdoor BBQ food to purchase. We stay in Yountville because it is so centrally located to the wineries and restaurants in the Valley. For dinner, I recommend the Rutherford Grill. Great bar and the best baby back ribs I've ever had. No need to even pick them up as the meat falls off the bone.
2006-10-07 14:54:34 · answer #2 · answered by james d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are a lot of good wineries to visit while in Napa. Alexander Valley Vineyards has free tastings and pretty good wines as well. Jordan has nice grounds, but not worth paying for. Rubicon is great if you are a fan of Coppola's works. He has a Dracula display and some stuff from his other movies such as Kilgore's surfboard from Apacolypse Now. Murphy Goode has good wines and the tasting is free. Katherine Hall in Rutherford is absolutely gorgeous. Definitely the nicest caves I've ever seen, but you have to call to get and appoitment. Shramsberg has like 2.5 miles packed with like 2.2 million bottles of sparkling wine. Swanson makes you pay, but has a nice sit down salon. St. Supery is fabulous as well as Rombaur. Same goes for Raymond and it is free. Cakebread and Stonestreet are okay. Plumpjack has a nice garden you can sit in. Shafer is great but you need an appoitment. Opus is totally overrated and they charge $25 a glass and $100 for a tasting. ZD is nice. Nickel & Nickel and Far Niente are appointment only but very nice. My favorite place to taste at is Joseph Phelps. It is outdoors and has a nice garden with a view where you can relax and enjoy your wine. And let me tell you, their stuff is great! While you are there definitely go visit the Oakville Grocery.
2006-10-05 00:40:22 · answer #3 · answered by bella 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yountville wineries are nice and sometimes crowded. You might try the Healdsburg wineries. Ferrari-Carano is one of my favorites vinters and many have no tasting fee. Simi vineyards is only $5.
2006-10-06 15:18:32 · answer #4 · answered by nekas4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is good to visit, and make sure you book reservations at the French Laundry restaurant. It is the most classiest restaurant in Northern California. Pricey, but worth it. Reservations need to be made 30-60 days out.
2006-10-06 00:33:11 · answer #5 · answered by Mark W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yontvile is worth it! not only is it home to several famous winerys and resturaunts, there is good hikeing and shoping in the area.
2006-10-08 14:01:12 · answer #6 · answered by egyptlover221 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the wineries there are good, but check to see which charge for tastings and which dont.
I would stay away from Mondavi, OK?
2006-10-05 00:10:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋