Storefront Tasting Room or a Real Winery I’m totally amazed at the number of tasting-room-only wineries that have set up shop in the Napa Valley. I’m not talking about a wine bar, but a tasting room where visitors can come in and taste small amounts of wine just as you would at a real winery. In … Read more
This week we recommend four wineries to visit in the Russian River area of Sonoma County, and very near the wonderful wine country town of Healdsburg.
Wine and art together at these five Napa Valley wineries The appreciation of wine and art go together. Both involve the senses in a deep and complex manner. Both are good for the soul. With this in mind, we have designed a new wine trail for WineCountryGetaways.com. It is the Wine and Art Lover’s Trail. … Read more
Lula Cellars in the Anderson Valley – Pinot Noir is plentiful If you are a Pinot Noir enthusiast, the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County is where you want to go for a wine country getaway. Between the unconventional towns of Boonville and Navarro on Highway 128 are 18 gorgeous miles of vineyard land and wineries specializing in … Read more
What it will cost you to taste wine in the Napa Valley in 2016 This is our third year of calculating the Napa Valley Tasting Room Index. Its purpose is to give travelers a rough estimate of what it costs in fees to taste wine in the Napa Valley. We are using the same tasting rooms that … Read more
We were in Healdsburg last Tuesday and Wednesday while El Niño gave us a break between storms. The sun began to play hide-and-seek, starting around noon on Tuesday. With the threat of showers in the forecast, we decided to spend the afternoon on a wine walk in Healdsburg. Our first stop was the Healdsburg Bar & … Read more
One of the busiest weekends the entire year in the Napa Valley is Thanksgiving weekend. Family and friends from out of town are likely not to be traveling home until Sunday and one of the many things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area is visit the Napa Valley wine country.
Last Wednesday we had the chance to tour and taste at Hall winery in St. Helena. Our previous visit to Hall was in November 2006. What dramatic changes since our last visit! In 2013, the Hall winery opened a new winery facility and hospitality center. The owners are Kathyrn Hall and Craig Hall, both successful in business, … Read more
Celebrating 50 Years of Wine Country Travels By our most conservative estimates, 2015 marks our 50th year of visiting wineries in California. It all began when my parents purchased a vacation home near the Russian River Resort town of Guerneville, back in 1963. I turned 21 later that year, so most likely our wine tasting … Read more
Do you like a certain wine varietal of red or white wine that is your favorite? Why not base your wine country travels on your preferred wine grape. Here is a list of the top wine varietals and where to find these wines in wine country. Hit the tasting rooms that specialize in these varietals. Collect your … Read more