Any Napa or Sonoma fans/advice?

[meerzee]

I have a trip scheduled for Napa/Sonoma area during early to mid November (only there about 6 days) - This is my first trip to that area of CA. I will be renting a car (shucks, no Porsche!) but wanted to see if anyone had any experience with some "off the beaten path" things to see and do and inside info on the "most bang for the buck" things to do and the best wineries (nice tours) to visit while out there. Any insight, expert tips or just kind suggestions would be great. :)

I am not a wine snob nor a Connoisseur, just looking for a laid-back fun trip.

Thanks!
:cheers:

[JackG]

My wife and I were in Napa last month during the crush. It was our second time out there, the time before we stayed in Sonoma. We like Napa better.

In Napa,

Go to the Rutherford Hill winery, and schedule your visit so you can take the cave tour. Buy a bottle or two of their port, it's only available at the winery and it's really great! They are famous for their merlot. They also had a limited run of a wine called malbec, it was between a merlot and a cab. Brought back two bottle of that.

Also go to the Silver Oaks winery. The only do red, and their cabernets will spoil you to anything else. Unfortunately, a bottle of their good cab is $60, so it's a seldom treat.

Domaine Chandon is also pretty cool to tour, especially if they are running the bottler when you're there. If you like champagne, this is good stuff.

There also a Dean & DeLuca just down the road, so you can get some great cheeses and stuff to go with a favorite bottle of wine back at the hotel in the evening. Olives, Maytag blue cheese and some mole salami with a nice merlot... yum!

Don't go crazy buying wine to ship back or check as baggage. We found that if it's available in nationwide distribution, we can buy it locally cheaper than at the winery. Go through the pain of transporting it only if you really love it, and it's not available at home.

Have Fun!

[Topless]

Good time to go. Not too crowded and the weather is usually nice in Nov. If you get a warm clear day hop over to Highway1 from the Golden Gate to Point Reyes. Breathtaking views and The Point Reyes Seashore is a laid back destination if you are into nature. It's about a 1 hr. drive one way. Welcome to the Golden State.

[J-RAD]

I have a trip scheduled for Napa/Sonoma area during early to mid November (only there about 6 days) - This is my first trip to that area of CA. I will be renting a car (shucks, no Porsche!) but wanted to see if anyone had any experience with some "off the beaten path" things to see and do and inside info on the "most bang for the buck" things to do and the best wineries (nice tours) to visit while out there. Any insight, expert tips or just kind suggestions would be great. :)

I am not a wine snob nor a Connoisseur, just looking for a laid-back fun trip.

Thanks!
:cheers:
Check out Pine Ridge winery in St. Helena. They give an excellent tour, especially for those that aren't necessarily connoisseurs.

I'd recommend checking out a large winery, like Mondavi or something, as well as some small ones (just drive through the area - that's all there is) to see their different approaches.

My standing recommendation for a nice restaurant is Tra Vigne (www.travignerestaurant.com). It's nice, without breaking the bank (unlike French Laundry, etc.).

[shellshocked]

Spent a long weekend in Napa there a month ago. We stayed in a hotel Called Rancho Caymus in Rutherford. Walking distance to Rutherford Grill (a must for dinner) ansd several wineries. Memorable tours - Frog's Leap really different, Del Dotto - barrel tasting of wine in caves, expensive tour but we like it. Based on what we saw don't stay in Napa proper stay north where the wineries are located. Make sure you call ahead as some tours book up. Otherwise we just did the tastings at about 20 different wineries - oh and one tip - go easy or share tastings, you will get more than enough wine. Also a lot of the smaller wines or reserve wines are hard to get outside the winery itself. If you find a wine you like just buy it and if you really like it buy a case and have them ship it.