- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Napa Valley / Sonoma
Posted on 1/12/14 at 11:30 am to Skeeter 79
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 12:15 pm to SFCATiger
quote:
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.
Agree 100%. Dry Creek Valley is the wine area to the west of Napa and Sonoma. It is the most beautiful of the three, with great wineries nestled in hilly, forested countryside. I would not go to overcrowded commercialized Napa at all; Sonoma is better, but not as good as DCV.
Plan to drive to the coast from there if you can--it is breathtaking (and bring something warm to wear, even in summer!) Enjoy!
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 1/12/14 at 12:57 pm to Mung
Just got back from San Fran and Napa a week ago. We were in San Fran for New Year's and then three days in Napa.
San Fran--
Dinner at Tadich Grill; one of the older restaurants in the city
Irish coffee at Buena Vista
Dinner at Scomas was good too; decent seafood
We spent an entire day just shopping/drinking/eating/relaxing and Sausalito.
Napa is expensive. We went in kind of blind and hired a driver so we could drink as much as we wanted and not worry about the police. To be honest, we really didn't need the driver. It was nice to not have to worry about where we were going, but money I'll save next time.
We did Hendry and it is excellent as others above have said. The tour and tasting there is $40 a person, but they let you put that money towards the purchase of their wine.
Frog's Leap is a great tasting as well. Their grounds are really pretty.
Jessup has great wine, but only a tasting room.
We did the barrel tasting from the caves at Del Dotto and I highly recommend it. You will come away with a good buzz and the pictures are awesome there as well.
As for food in the area:
Dinners we did include Mustards, Celadon, Redd, and hour hotel/resort (meritage).
Lunch--one day we went to Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch and Winery. It was fantastic.
Another day we went to Rubissow. This is a private vineyard/private residence on the top of a mountain. The views were absolutely stunning. They prepared a great lunch for us and then we got our drink on--serious drinking. We were the only two there and it was pretty awesome.
Domaine Carneros was also a good one, but it's mostly sparkling wines/dessert wines.
Let me know if you have any other questions. We were there for a week. Great trip for 5th wedding anniversary.
San Fran--
Dinner at Tadich Grill; one of the older restaurants in the city
Irish coffee at Buena Vista
Dinner at Scomas was good too; decent seafood
We spent an entire day just shopping/drinking/eating/relaxing and Sausalito.
Napa is expensive. We went in kind of blind and hired a driver so we could drink as much as we wanted and not worry about the police. To be honest, we really didn't need the driver. It was nice to not have to worry about where we were going, but money I'll save next time.
We did Hendry and it is excellent as others above have said. The tour and tasting there is $40 a person, but they let you put that money towards the purchase of their wine.
Frog's Leap is a great tasting as well. Their grounds are really pretty.
Jessup has great wine, but only a tasting room.
We did the barrel tasting from the caves at Del Dotto and I highly recommend it. You will come away with a good buzz and the pictures are awesome there as well.
As for food in the area:
Dinners we did include Mustards, Celadon, Redd, and hour hotel/resort (meritage).
Lunch--one day we went to Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch and Winery. It was fantastic.
Another day we went to Rubissow. This is a private vineyard/private residence on the top of a mountain. The views were absolutely stunning. They prepared a great lunch for us and then we got our drink on--serious drinking. We were the only two there and it was pretty awesome.
Domaine Carneros was also a good one, but it's mostly sparkling wines/dessert wines.
Let me know if you have any other questions. We were there for a week. Great trip for 5th wedding anniversary.
Posted on 1/12/14 at 11:32 pm to JoseVargasTX
We are planning a trip now...I'm in charge off of finding a few eat spots. Any recommendations for one in Napa and one in Sonoma? Doesn't have to be tippy top of the line, but I understand not much is going to be cheap there.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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.
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News