Yes, I’m talking about Napa and Sonoma. When it comes to the U.S., there is no wine country more famous than this part of Northern California. And it’s one of the most beautiful areas of the country in my opinion. (But I may be a tad biased as I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area.)
Full disclosure here – I have not biked the Napa/Sonoma area. But one of my good friends has done the bike/wine tour and it didn’t end well. There might have been blood. There were definitely some bruises. Which just proves my theory in my previous post that the two activities should remain close, but separate…always separate. 🙂
There are too many wineries to list, so I will just name a few that I hit on my last visit. Also, the food in the Napa/Sonoma area is amazing. Bring your wallet, as it isn’t inexpensive. But the dining experiences are well worth it, in my opinion.
Champagne at 10am? I see nothing wrong with that. And at Domaine Chandon, the champagne is so delicious that I don’t even think about how good it would taste with orange juice. This winery is so gorgeous that I am fantasizing about getting a divorce so I can have my wedding here someday. Maybe I should just renew my vows. Seems like a more appropriate fantasy.
We try a Brut, a Rosé and a few others…all yummy. The Brut Classic is my favorite. The tasting fee is a little high, but it’s Napa. Keep telling yourself that…it’s a recurring theme. All in all, a great way to start the day.
I should mention that we are responsible drinkers, and you would not want to visit more than one or two wineries without a designated driver. Instead of hiring a limo service, we contacted a company that drives your own car (at a fraction of the price!). It was very convenient as our driver knew some shortcuts as the afternoon traffic got heavy.
Our next stop is the Napa Cellars tasting room where you can sample Ménage à Trois wines as well as Folie à Deux. I love the Ménage à Trois red blend – it’s a staple in my wine rack. We taste the Pinot Grigio, a Cabernet Sauvignon, some Prosecco and a Moscato.
The grounds here are very pretty and inviting. They have a big grassy area with picnic tables. I have stopped here before with the whole family to enjoy a picnic and some wine.
By now, we are getting hungry (and need some food in our stomachs) so our driver stops at Dean and Deluca so we can pick up some sandwiches and snacks.
We head to Rombauer Vineyards. Again, another beautiful location. It’s hard to go wrong in Napa/Sonoma wine country.
(…must stop planning own future wedding…must start saving for daughter’s future wedding…)
My girlfriend is in love with their Chardonnay. We do a quick tasting (including a Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon, buy a bottle of the Chardonnay and head onto the grounds with our picnic lunch. The bees wanted to join us which was a little problematic, but we coped.
Our last stop for the day is the Image Estate Winery. I have to be honest. I don’t remember much about the wine we taste, but I am absolutely in love with their wine labels. I go a little crazy snapping photos of all the labels. I will have to try this winery earlier in the day next time. It is definitely time to head back to the hotel!
We return to the Embassy Suites Hotel in Napa, have a few snacks at their happy hour, walk around the beautiful grounds and sit in the courtyard by our room before changing and heading out to dinner at Bistro Don Giovanni. We have a great dinner and then crash.
The next morning, we enjoy the hotel’s complimentary breakfast, and before heading home, we go to family owned Benziger Winery. I love how it looks like an old farmhouse, and the views from here are amazing.
We take a guided tour of the grounds (highly recommended if you would like a behind-the-scenes view of winemaking) and start out in the vineyards with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc. We then head down to the wine caves, and end up in a beautiful private tasting room where we sample the Signaterra wines. Then we go back up to the main building and sample a port paired with chocolate. Delicious!
Sadly, it is time to head back to the Oakland Airport to catch a flight back to Salt Lake City. My girlfriend drops us off and we head back to reality. A great trip and I can’t wait to come back and do it again!
Where we ate: Bistro Don Giovanni. We ordered a Sangiovese from Silverado Vineyards which was fabulous. I would recommend the spinach ravioli with lemon cream sauce. Their salads and pizzas are quite good. My girlfriend raved about the beet salad.
Where we stayed: Embassy Suites Hotel Napa Valley – beautiful grounds, nice room, good breakfast. I would stay here again. If you want to stay at a particular hotel, book early. Hotels book up fast around here, and they are pricey (it’s Napa!). ; )
Trails and Tastings 