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Napa Valley / Sonoma
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:28 am
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:28 am
We're going to San Fran in early April for a work trip, and want to do a limo wine tour in either Napa or Sonoma.
Any advice on which ones to visit, where to eat, limo company, etc.?
TIA
Any advice on which ones to visit, where to eat, limo company, etc.?
TIA
15
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:31 am to Skeeter 79
sorry, I can't help you any specifically about Napa or limos, but I do know some of the SF area. you should enjoy your time there. is Napa the only leisure place you're wanting to visit?
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:34 am to Skeeter 79
I highly recommend Gene Warren of
LINK /
Don't know that he does SF pickups but you can drive an hour and meet him in Healdsburg.
ETA he is in Sonoma. Also healdsburg is a nice town to stay in. Great food and cool town square with a microbrewery and several nice restaurants.
LINK /
Don't know that he does SF pickups but you can drive an hour and meet him in Healdsburg.
ETA he is in Sonoma. Also healdsburg is a nice town to stay in. Great food and cool town square with a microbrewery and several nice restaurants.
This post was edited on 1/12/14 at 9:37 am
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:39 am to Skeeter 79
Try dry creek area with stop at J winery (others too). Healdsburg is close by and you could have dinner before heading back. Just got back from that tour last month with friends for my 50th. We actually stayed at the Healdsburg Hotel - we live in sf.
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:41 am to Skeeter 79
Having lived in SF for a number of years, Sonoma was more fun as a local than Napa. Something I sent a few years ago to a friend.
So here is the info that you wanted for you trip. I recommend bringing up a cooler for lunch while you are up there. I tend to go to Sonoma a lot, just because they are smaller wineries and its cheaper. Napa has bigger named wineries. Some wineries have wine caves that you can take drinking tours through, but I don’t remember the names.
Napa: larger older winerys, more commercial, more tourists, most wine tasting $5 and up.
Sonoma: medium size winerys, less tourists, "Napa 25 years ago", most wine tasting $5 and lower - some free.
Santa Rosa/Healdsburg: small winerys, least tourist, "Sonoma 25 years ago", most wine tasting is free.
More URLs:
https://www.sonomavalley.com/SonomaMembers/Wineries2.asp
Map of all napa winerys: https://www.napavalley.com/visitorsinfo/Napa_Valley_Winery_Map.pdf
Map of all sonoma and Santa Rosa/Healdsburg winerys: https://www.sonoma.com/visitorsinfo/Sonoma_County_Winery_Map.pdf
Wineries That I Like:
Kaz – Funky place with good wines
Imagery Estate – (Wine Club Member)
Gundlach Bundschu - (Wine Club Member)
Arger-Matucci
Robledo Family
Milat – Really small but the guy who owns it was funny
So here is the info that you wanted for you trip. I recommend bringing up a cooler for lunch while you are up there. I tend to go to Sonoma a lot, just because they are smaller wineries and its cheaper. Napa has bigger named wineries. Some wineries have wine caves that you can take drinking tours through, but I don’t remember the names.
Napa: larger older winerys, more commercial, more tourists, most wine tasting $5 and up.
Sonoma: medium size winerys, less tourists, "Napa 25 years ago", most wine tasting $5 and lower - some free.
Santa Rosa/Healdsburg: small winerys, least tourist, "Sonoma 25 years ago", most wine tasting is free.
More URLs:
https://www.sonomavalley.com/SonomaMembers/Wineries2.asp
Map of all napa winerys: https://www.napavalley.com/visitorsinfo/Napa_Valley_Winery_Map.pdf
Map of all sonoma and Santa Rosa/Healdsburg winerys: https://www.sonoma.com/visitorsinfo/Sonoma_County_Winery_Map.pdf
Wineries That I Like:
Kaz – Funky place with good wines
Imagery Estate – (Wine Club Member)
Gundlach Bundschu - (Wine Club Member)
Arger-Matucci
Robledo Family
Milat – Really small but the guy who owns it was funny
This post was edited on 1/12/14 at 9:44 am
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:48 am to Skeeter 79
Hendry Vineyards was the best vineyard experience ever. The tasting part was great, but I also learned so much about the science behind wine. Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor
Posted on 1/12/14 at 9:56 am to Skeeter 79
Muir Woods is the best somewhat nontouristy place to see. There are some Redwood groves near Napa, also.
if you can get down to monterey, id recommend it, but it's about a 2 hour ride from downtown SF, where Napa will only take an hour.
if you can get down to monterey, id recommend it, but it's about a 2 hour ride from downtown SF, where Napa will only take an hour.
Posted on 1/12/14 at 10:41 am to Skeeter 79
Went to Kuleto winery last year during spring break. It is on top of a mountain overlooking Napa Valley. The tour is by appointment only, so call in advance. Pack a lunch and enjoy an afternoon. Extremely peaceful and serene with no big groups. Stay as long as you like. They have great picnic spots and their wine is fantastic. It was one of the best things we have done in the Bay area and we go once a year for the last 8 years.
The wine train is fun if you are with a group but the limo tour sounds more flexible.
The wine train is fun if you are with a group but the limo tour sounds more flexible.
This post was edited on 1/12/14 at 10:46 am
Posted on 1/12/14 at 10:43 am to Skeeter 79
I went to Napa for the first time in December. My brother works in tasting room up there with his girlfriend so we got to go to a lot of free wine tastings at different vineyards.
Being classless individuals, we drove rather then take took a limo. we went to five in one day. One I remember was Mumms, which only served sparkling wine. Another one was the Hall winery, which was a tour by appointment only, and that was really neat too.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of wineries there, and they all have their own character. Some are more classic, some are more trendy, some have museums and other things to look at. It depends on what you want to see, but in six days you can probably see whatever you want.
Being classless individuals, we drove rather then take took a limo. we went to five in one day. One I remember was Mumms, which only served sparkling wine. Another one was the Hall winery, which was a tour by appointment only, and that was really neat too.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of wineries there, and they all have their own character. Some are more classic, some are more trendy, some have museums and other things to look at. It depends on what you want to see, but in six days you can probably see whatever you want.
Posted on 1/12/14 at 11:27 am to Skeeter 79
rent a car...go up through Sonoma...go to ravenswood etc and taste the wines....but don't get smashed.
cross over and come down through Napa....
We did that then went back up and over through Sebastapol and on to the coast....we headed down and hit Muir woods on the way back to SF.
AWESOME DAY
cross over and come down through Napa....
We did that then went back up and over through Sebastapol and on to the coast....we headed down and hit Muir woods on the way back to SF.
AWESOME DAY
Posted on 1/12/14 at 11:30 am to Skeeter 79
Sterling was nice. You take a gondola ride up to the facility. The wife and I enjoyed it a great deal.
We had fun at Andretti. They have a bar there and we shot the shite with the bartender and some grizzled old hippys.
Eat the macaroni at a restaurant called the market. Also order the flaming groovy, a drink prepared table side that is set on fire. The market is in Sonoma.
We had fun at Andretti. They have a bar there and we shot the shite with the bartender and some grizzled old hippys.
Eat the macaroni at a restaurant called the market. Also order the flaming groovy, a drink prepared table side that is set on fire. The market is in Sonoma.
Posted on 1/12/14 at 12:16 pm to Skeeter 79
We were in Napa/Sonoma last September, had a great time. Most of the wineries/tastings are the same show, but you should definitely check out the Palmaz Vineyard just outside downtown Napa. It was easily the coolest winery with the best tasting experience we had. It'll ruin you for just about every other winery you visit. Tastings are by appointment only.
Posted on 1/12/14 at 12:41 pm to Skeeter 79
Sonoma has better beer, Napa better wines. The restaurant scene seems to be better in the Napa Valley, but you can find great food and wine in either. If you are doing a day trip, Sonoma is slightly closer to SF, and the traffic can be ridiculous.
I jumped in on a barrel tasting at Plumpjack which was pretty fab. Great small winery. Their sister winery Cade offers some spectacular views from Howell Mountain.
I jumped in on a barrel tasting at Plumpjack which was pretty fab. Great small winery. Their sister winery Cade offers some spectacular views from Howell Mountain.
Posted on 1/12/14 at 12:54 pm to Skeeter 79
I really enjoyed the Duckhorn and Jordan vineyards. At Duckhorn they offer a private tasting that they pair with food and really take the time to teach you about their different wines. Very cool experience if you have the time.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 8:58 am to Skeeter 79
You have to book in advance a week or two. I would recommend Opus One, Cakebread, Caymus, and Duckhorn. Cakebread, Caymus, and Duckhorn have REALLY nice tours with wine and cheese pairings at the end. Plus, one of the tour guides at Duckhorn is from Baton Rouge and a Tigers fan. 
You can walk in to Silver Oak just about any time and taste wine. You have to book the tours, but to taste, you just walk up to the bar.
You can't go wrong with the Thomas Keller restaurants. Check out Addendum if you can. It's behind Bouchon and has the best fried chicken I've ever tasted. Obvi, try to get a reservation at The French Laundry. These are all in Yountville, which is like a 10 minute drive down that highway, and well worth it.
Also, Michael Chiarello's Bottega is very good and located in Napa. You'll need a reservation.
You can walk in to Silver Oak just about any time and taste wine. You have to book the tours, but to taste, you just walk up to the bar.
You can't go wrong with the Thomas Keller restaurants. Check out Addendum if you can. It's behind Bouchon and has the best fried chicken I've ever tasted. Obvi, try to get a reservation at The French Laundry. These are all in Yountville, which is like a 10 minute drive down that highway, and well worth it.
Also, Michael Chiarello's Bottega is very good and located in Napa. You'll need a reservation.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 9:18 am to Skeeter 79
Make time for a day of hiking in Big Sur.
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