Beautiful Anderson Valley

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Joe Becerra

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Anderson Valley in April
Anderson Valley in April
The beautiful Anderson Valley in April

The Beautiful Anderson Valley in April

Early Spring is one of the most beautiful and peaceful times in the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. The days are usually clear of fog and the tasting rooms less hectic. The photo above was shot from below the tasting room at Navarro Vineyards.  The April vines are beginning to take form and give a fresh look to the valley and the hills above. On the Anderson Valley floor, cool climate grapes flourish. Pinot Noir is the most abundant grape but Alsatian varieties also are grown in this area. Sparkling wine grapes, namely Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, also love this climate and are the first of the grapes to be harvested.  During the summer months, fog is almost always present until the afternoon. The afternoon brings breezes from the Pacific Ocean, continuing to provide cool temperatures to the grapes.  There are a couple of routes into the Anderson Valley. We like heading north from San Francisco and taking Highway 128 in Geyserville to the Anderson Valley Road. Highway 128 is a lovely road. The biggest town is Boonville, about 60 minutes from Geyserville. Boonville is the place to stock up on goodies for a picnic lunch. Picnicking in the Anderson Valley at a winery is a must for any wine country traveler. Check our list of wineries in the Anderson Valley with picnic facilities. We also have a list of favorite wineries for wine tasting and purchasing wine. We like to exit the Anderson Valley and head over Highway 253 from Boonville. This way we can take a stop in another wonderful wine town in Mendocino County,  Hopland, CA. We then are able to take in a few favorite wineries on the Hopland Wine Route.  Another great option is to travel from the Anderson Valley to the Pacific Ocean and visit the romantic town of Mendocino. Stay at a Mendocino B&B and have dinner at one of Mendocino’s fabulous gourmet restaurants.  Mendocino is magical any time of the year but especially so in the Spring.

  • Joe Becerra

    Joe Becerra has been traveling to wine country and enjoying wine since 1965. He is a retired educator, and now have the time the opportunity to share his wine travel experiences through this Website.