Joe Becerra - Wine Country Getaways

Pinnacles Hike in Wine Country

November 9, 2019 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Hiking the Bear Gulch Caves then tasting wine at Leal Vineyards — Hiking the Bear Gulch Caves, then tasting wine at Leal Vineyards

Hike in wine country – Pinnacles and Leal Vineyards

For those of you who love hiking and wine, put this trip on your schedule. The Pinnacles is one of our sixty national parks, but off the radar of most visitors to the National Parks. The city of Hollister is the main route to the Pinnacles East Entrance. In between Hollister and the Pinnacles are five lovely wineries to visit. Combine hiking and wine tasting with a one or two-night stay in Hollister. We enjoyed our stay at the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. If you’re the camping type, make your stay at the campground at the Pinnacles.

Pinnacles National Park

Our day in Pinnacles National Park began at the East Entrance. This is the location of the main Visitor Center. The East Entrance is off Highway 25 about 35 minutes from Hollister, CA. From the visitor center, we drove to the Bear Gulch area 3.4 miles away. At Bear Gulch there is a picnic area, nature center, and the trailheads for several different hiking adventures.

hiking in pinnacles and wine tasting — Amazing rock formations

The Pinnacles is a favorite spot for rock climbers. Rock climbers like the amazing craggy formations formed eons ago from volcanic activity and earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. There are Condors, bats, woodpeckers galore, and other cool critters. During the Spring, wildflowers are abundant in the meadows.

We took the trail to the Balconies Cave and High Peaks trail. There are several options from these trails. We took a loop route for three miles, a moderately strenuous hike. Keep in mind we are not young folks; others may think it is an easy hike. Our hike took us through the Balconies Cave. The cave requires a flashlight. This is really an exciting adventure. Some spots in the cave require one to crouch low or even crawl to clear. Once out of the cave, beautiful views and astonishing rock formations make this hike a delight.

Reservoir Trail pinnacles — Reservoir Trail

For more information on the Pinnacles National Park

Hollister Wine Country

Hollister is a rapidly-growing area of San Benito County. Hollister is a farming town, growing many different crops. Vineyards are a recent addition to this area of the Central Coast. In the vicinity of the Pinnacles are five wineries. These are hidden wineries, tucked away from the crowds and masses. They are charming but, most importantly, they’re making delicious wines.

Leal Vineyards

Leal Vineyards is the easiest winery to visit on the way back from the Eastern Entrance of the Pinnacles National Park. If you have enough energy following your hike, stop in at Leal Vineyards. Leal is open daily from 10 to 4 pm. Leal is a spacious winery with rolling hillside vineyards. Leal does indeed make excellent wines, but it is also recognized as a wedding venue. This is a beautiful spot. There are picnic tables outside the tasting room.

The Leal Vineyards winemaker is Rob Simons. His focus is on Bordeaux and Rhone-style reds. The winery is boutique size, making 7000 cases of wine annually. The days can be very warm in Hollister but the early mornings are often foggy and cool. In the afternoon, a cooling breeze kicks in. The grapes love this climate. The reasonable tasting fee is for a taste of 6 wines. Our two favorites were the 2012 Estate Carnavál Meritage and the 2013 Estate Hillside. Chances are you will like the wines at Leal Vineyards.

To get to Leal Vineyards from the Pinnacles, take Highway 25 for 26.7 miles. Turn right on Fairview Road, then turn right on Maranatha Drive.

We will cover the other wineries of Hollister in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

The Land of Bokisch

October 31, 2019 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

About the California Wildfires

Watching the national news, one would think that all of California’s wine country is on fire. Those of us who live in the Bay Area know the truth. The Kincade Fire is in the hills of Geyserville in Sonoma County. Sadly, it has destroyed two wineries, damaged a few other wineries, and burned some vineyards in the Alexander Valley. The Kincade Fire 60% contained. The wine country around the Kincade Fire will be back and ready for tourism soon. The Bokisch winery is in Lodi and nowhere near the Kincade Fire. Traveling to Lodi is safe.

Bokisch Vineyards are organic vines — Sustainable and organic – Bokisch Vineyards

Bokisch Vineyards and Spanish grapes

Bokisch Vineyards is one of the most exciting wineries in Lodi wine country. It is very different from the mainstream Lodi winery. Owner Markus Bokisch and his wife Liz bring a Spanish influence to Lodi wine country. They lived in Spain and learned about wine and food. Bokisch looked for a place to grow Spanish wine grapes and found that spot in Lodi.

While Lodi is famous for its big and bold Zinfandel, Marcus Bokisch is famous in two areas. First, growing Spanish varietals successfully before anyone else in Lodi. Second, Marcus is a skilled vineyard farmer. He advises and works with many growers in the Lodi area. His main vineyard is the Clement Hills, a sub-AVA of Lodi.

On the farm, Bokisch grows and produces these Spanish varieties: Garnacha, Monastrell, Albariño, Garnacha Blanca, Verdejo and Tempranillo. Markus also sells many of his Spanish grapes to other wineries. Not only are the wines delicious, but they are also priced at consumer-friendly prices.

Bokisch spanish varietals — Spanish Garnacha Blanc – a delicate and delicious white wine

Planning a Trip to Bokisch and other Lodi wineries

The best time to travel to the Lodi wine country is in the Spring and Fall. The weather is usually ideal for traveling during these periods. The best place to lodge is Wine & Roses. There are also places to stay in the town of Lodi. See our list of Best Lodi Lodging. We also have a list of excellent Lodi Restaurants.

There several other Lodi wineries we like. Follow our Lodi Wine Trails.

Bokisch picnic area – a great place to picnic among the vines

Sparkling Wine Hideaway

October 22, 2019 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Roederer in the Anderson Valley

When wine country travelers think of California sparkling wine, Domaine Carneros, Mumm Napa, and Schramsberg come to mind. All of these are in the Napa Valley. An excellent alternate choice is the Roederer Estate in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County. It is off the radar for most sparkling wine lovers, but the rewards for the traveler are many. Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley is the California home for the historic Champagne house of Louis Roederer. The 200-year-old French winery of the Roederer Family branched out 35 years ago to establish a sparkling wine house in California. The Anderson Valley environment was the perfect spot for sparkling wine grapes.

The Roederer Estate Experience

Unlike the Napa Valley, the tasting room fees and wine by the glass are very reasonably priced. A tasting fee of $10 a person will provide the tasting of six wines. The tasting includes four Roederer sparkling wines and a taste of their estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Visitor friendly Roederer Estate tasting room in the Anderson Valley — Visitor-friendly Roederer Estate tasting room in the Anderson Valley

The sparkling wine is served in a Champagne flute, the still wines in lovely wine glasses. There are no skimpy pours at Roederer. Adequate wine is poured to savor and contemplate the character of the wines. The tasting room staff is very cordial and visitor friendly. There is no uppity wine-speak here.

The tasting room is high on a hill, affording beautiful views of the Anderson Valley. Visitors can sit in the tasting room or outside in the winery’s patio to enjoy the views. It is a very relaxing experience.

The Anderson Valley has the ideal climate for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Alsatian grapes. Head to other nearby wineries to learn more about Anderson Valley wines. We recommend Navarro Vineyards, Handley and Husch. Another sparkling winery to visit is Scharffenberger.

Wine Trails, Restaurants, Dining in the Anderson Valley

Geyserville Inn Revamps

September 7, 2019 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Geyserville is a hidden wine town surrounded by wonderful, exciting wineries. Geyserville is the gateway to the vineyards and wineries in the Dry Creek Valley and the Alexander Valley wine appellations. If you are looking to explore this fantastic wine region of Northern Sonoma County, consider the Geyserville Inn for your place to stay.

walling road winecountry — Vineyards on Walling Road in Geyserville wine county

We have lodged many times at the Geyserville Inn and always have enjoyed the rooms and the location. But now the Geyserville Inn is even better. The inn has been revamped, and the rooms are more comfortable and lavishly decorated. Yes, the room prices have increased, but the Inn remains on the affordable side of lodging in Sonoma County .

About Geyserville

Geyserville is about a ten-minute drive north of Healdsburg. While Healdsburg is one of the best wine cities anywhere in California, Geyserville is a secret gem with enough attractions to keep any wine traveler happy for a few days.

Plan your trip at the Geyserville Visitor Center

Our favorites in Geyserville

A getaway to Geyserville is always a very rewarding trip for us. A slower pace prevails, and it’s often more restful than Healdsburg. For lodging, the newly-remodeled Geyserville Inn is comfortable. Next door is the Geyserville Grille, and they serve all we need for a hearty breakfast.

Just a one-mile walk or ride to the south of town is one of the great secret restaurant destinations, Diavola Pizzeria. It is a local favorite, no reservations, so be prepared to wait. Next door, the Geyserville Gun Club & Bar (no guns seen here) is owned by the same Diavola folks. You can wait at the bar, and Diavola will let you know when your table is ready.

There are many wineries close by, but here are our favorites. Number one is Pedroncelli. It is a family-owned winery with very old Zinfandel vines. The wines are reasonable and, the last time we visited, the $10-tasting fee was waived with a purchase of wine.

Up at the northern end of the Alexander Valley is another fun winery, J R Rickards. This a beautiful and scenic area. The vineyards are sustainably farmed and the wines delicious. This is a fantastic spot for a picnic lunch.

Frick Winery near Pedroncelli is also cool. Bill Frick is a one-man show. Just Bill and his seven acres of vines. Bill makes some very tasty Rhone-style wines. The drive along Walling Road to the winery is one of the prettiest in wine country.

Allow a couple of days for exploring the entire Geyserville wine scene. If you have more time, head over to the Dry Creek Road area for many more wineries and scenic views.

A Visit to Sobon

June 5, 2019 by Joe Becerra 1 Comment

Sobon winery — The Sobon Estate Family Winery – Tasting room on the left

Visit Sobon Wine Family Estate

On a recent trip to the Sierra Foothills, we visited several fun family-owned wineries. One of our favorites in this underrated wine region is the Sobon Wine Family Estate. The winery is small, the vineyards are farmed sustainably, and the wines are excellent.

Sobon Wine Family Estate is in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Amador County. Plymouth is the nearest town. From Plymouth to Sobon, visitors will pass through some of the most lovely vineyard lands anywhere in California. The rolling hills of vines, grasslands, and oak trees are breathtaking. What a peaceful area! There are many good wineries to visit on this trail, but we suggest you do not miss Sobon.

Have you been to a Napa Valley winery recently? If so, you probably coughed up $35 or more to taste five wines in a luxurious setting. You also had to listen to a well-crafted description of each wine. You will not get any of this at Sobon. The tasting is complimentary and the spiel is down-to-earth. Many of the wines are under $20. The very best is the Reserva line, under $30 a bottle. Sobon is what the Napa Valley was like before the corporations hit the scene. It is much more enjoyable to be at Sobon.

The wines we like at Sobon

The Zinfandel wines are terrific deals. They are restrained and reflect the climate and soils of the Sierra Foothills and Amador County. Try the Rocky Top Zinfandel or the Fiddletown Zinfandel. These are moderate Zins, with the typical plum flavors and subtle jammy characteristics. Also, in the red wine department, the Barbera, Tempranillo, and Petit Sirah are all delicious wines. You cannot beat the value here.

In the whites, we love the Rousanne and the Viognier, two Rhone white wines with style. Sobon crafts many varieties of wine and there is something for every taste.

Sobon – getting there and other activities

sobon estate winery — Beautiful Sobon Vineyards

The best place to stay for lodging and other interesting activities is the town of Sutter Creek. There are several B&B’s in town, but the Hanford House is tops in our book. The Hanford House breakfast at their Element Restaurant is the best in the Sierra Foothills.

The Element Restaurant in the Hanford House B&B

Sutter Creek also has a good number of wine tasting rooms. One can spend the day wine tasting in town. Top choices are Yorba, Bella Grace, and Baiochhi.

From Sutter Creek to Sobon is a 25-minute drive. Along the route, we also like Borjon, Vino Noceto, Andis, and Domaine De La Terra Rouge.

Additional Information

Cabernet Comes to Life

April 20, 2019 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Bud Break Cabernet Sauvignon

Late April to early May mark the time in the Napa Valley when its most famous grape awakens, Cabernet Sauvignon. Bud Break brings a special excitement to the wine country. The photos on this page were shot on April 17, 2019. The vineyard belongs to Ravana winery in St. Helena. Bud Break coincides with the beginning of tourist season in the Napa Valley. From now and through harvest are the most popular getaway times of the year in the Napa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are typically ready for harvest in late September through early October. Harvest time depends on Mother Nature.

Calistoga Inn Revamps

April 13, 2019 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

The inviting Beer Garden at the Calistoga Inn

Calistoga Inn – Beer Garden

What a pleasant surprise! On our most recent trip to the Napa Valley, we discovered that one of our favorite Calistoga haunts has undergone a facelift both inside and out. The Calistoga Inn along with its brewpub, the Napa Valley Brewing Company, have a sparkling new look. The indoor restaurant has new furniture and decor while the outdoor eating area has an entirely new look.

The outdoor patio and beer garden is the main attraction. It looks fantastic and inviting. Caltrans recently widened Lincoln Street at the bridge adjacent to the Calistoga Inn. Owner Michael Dunsford took the opportunity to revamp the restaurant and brewery while the bridge construction was in process.

Calistoga is at the Northern end of the Napa Valley. It is surrounded by beautiful vineyards, mountains, and of course wineries.

Brown’s English Toffee – Fiddletown, CA

April 5, 2019 by Joe Becerra 1 Comment

Fiddletown is one of the hidden spots you will discover when visiting the Sierra Foothills wine country. Fiddletown is in Amador County. This report is a guest Blog Post by Marilyn McDanel of Brown’s English Toffee and Celtic Candies.

Scottist Tablet
Loshin Du
Chocolate Orange Fudge
Peanut Brittle
English Toffee

In Fiddletown, Brown’s English Toffee and Celtic Candies

Founded in 1985 as a cottage industry business by Tom and Helen Brown in Oakhurst, California under the name of Brown’s Cottage Toffee, making only milk and dark chocolate toffee. Brown’s was sold twice thereafter with the third owner relocating it to Fair Oaks near Sacramento, renaming it Brown’s English Toffee and making it more of a hobby/cottage business. In 2012 the fourth owners, Carl and Marilyn McDanel relocated to in current home in the small historic hamlet of Fiddletown located in the Shenandoah Valley wine region of the Sierra Foothills in Amador County. Taking the only commercial building in Fiddletown they opened the kitchen and adding to the name, now making it Brown’s English Toffee and Celtic Candies. People soon began knocking on the door wanting to purchase the toffee and other confections. In early 2013 the store officially opened. One can stop by watch the candies being made while browsing the shop. Along with our confections we also offer T-shirts, local artisan works and crafts.

It is our dream to eventually make candy that represents the seven Celtic Nations (Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Isle of Man, Brittany, Cornwall and Galatia). We are presently making candy that represents six of those seven Celtic Nations.

Today we offer toffee with almonds, toffee without almonds, and sugar free toffee. The toffees are coated in milk chocolate, white chocolate and dark chocolate along with no coating at all.

Our Celtic candies will one day represent all seven Celtic Nations. Presently our recipes are from Brittany, France with the sweet salty taste of salted caramels, the Isle of Man with the oldest recipe of Honey Fudge, the recipe dating back some 600 years. Ireland and its Coffee Fudge (some have said its like eating their Irish Coffee), Scotland coming in with the most popular confection of Tablet in three flavors; Traditional, Single Malt and Vanilla. The single malt is made with a 10-year-old single malt whisky. Wales with its famous Loshin Du or black toffee or to those Harry Potter fans Treacle (pronounced tree kuhl). Last, but not the end, is Cornwall with the decadent creamy goodness of Chocolate Orange Fudge. To complete our Celtic candy line, we are currently researching candies of Galatia and Asturias. These two nations have become such a part of Spain it is difficult to determine specifically what their confection is.

Our specialty confections range from ice cream topping/Baking Mix, to peanut brittle and peppermint bark (in season), Sweetie Hearts with the “three basic food groups” – white chocolate blended with peanut butter and a dark chocolate base.

In the making of all our candies and confections we use only the highest quality ingredients; Grade AA Butter, Blue Diamond almonds, pure cane sugar and the best chocolate money can buy. All our confections are gluten and soy free with the exception of the sugar free toffee which does have soy.

Some of our confections are international but our candies are made locally here in Fiddletown with love.

We are a veteran family owned and operated business. Our address is 14385 Fiddletown Road, Fiddletown, CA 95629

In Fiddletown, Toffee store — In Fiddletown, Brown’s English Toffee

Wineries near Fiddletown

Toffee and Wine Country in Amador's Shenandoah Valley — Toffee and Wine Country in Amador’s Shenandoah Valley

Wine Friends at Cedarville Vineyard

April 3, 2019 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

our wine outing at Cedarville Vineyard — In the back row, on the right, Jonathan Lachs and Susan Marks. Owners & Winemakers at Cedarville Vineyard – Photo is courtesy of Kris Cannon Photography

An Afternoon at Cedarville Vineyards

A visit to Cedarville Vineyard is an annual affair with our close friends. 2019 marks the 16th year in a row that we have made the trek up to Fair Play, CA to visit with Susan Marks and Jonathan Lacks. We return year after year because Susan and Jonathan are wonderful hosts and make amazing wines.

We lodge in Sutter Creek at the Hanford House Inn, it is about a 35-minute drive to Fair Play and Cedarville. We always make arrangements with Susan and Jonathan to meet with them during the lunch hour. We taste wines and enjoy our picnic lunch with glasses of excellent Cedarville. This last visit we were lucky to be able to enjoy eating outside. Some winters and early spring times the weather is cold at an elevation of 2000 feet. What more can you ask for, friends, good food, and great wine?

If you would like to enjoy Cedarville Vineyard, make an appointment and enjoy delicious wines. This is one of Hidden Wine Country’s best kept secrets.

cedarville vineyards — Cedarville Zinfandel Vineyard

Lineup of Cedarville Wines

2017 Viognier Estate
2017 Grenache Estate
2017 Zinfandel Estate
2016 Syrah Estate
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
2016 Petit Sirah Naylor Vineyard
2016 Rules of Fair Play
2015 Turnabout’s Fair Play Estate

Complete information at the Cedarville Vineyard Website

What It Will Cost to Taste Wine in the Napa Valley in 2019

March 5, 2019 by Joe Becerra 1 Comment

Napa Valley Wine Tasting Fee Index for 2019

2019 Napa Valley Wine Tasting Index

We started the Napa Valley Wine Tasting Index Fee in 2014. Back in 2014, the average tasting fee on our Index was $18.50. Today it is $30.50. We are using ten wineries along Highway 29. These wineries allow drop-in visitors to the tasting room. We are using the cost of a basic tasting for this index. In the late 1960s, when Janelle and I first began to visit the Napa Valley, no wineries that we visited charged a tasting fee. Ah, the good old days of the Napa Valley!

This year we were quite surprised to find the smallest increase on a year-to- year basis since we started tracking tasting fees. $30.50 vs $29 from a year ago. Perhaps the wineries are in the mindset that the fees for the entry level tasting fee has reached a saturation point.

Most of the Napa Valley wineries have discovered it is much more profitable to have elaborate wine tastings, accompanied by foods to the match the wines. Indeed, one restaurateur who recently closed his restaurant citied wineries offering food for the decline in his restaurant’s patronage.

Elaborate tastings combining foods, tours, and barrel tasting can easily be over the $100 range. These require reservations.

Wineries and the Basic Tasting Fee

Tasting fees will change periodically throughout the year. Always check the winery’s website for the latest information on tastings and fees.

Alpha Omega – $50
Beaulieu Vineyards – $30
Beringer Wines – $25
Grgich Hills – $25
Louis Martini – $25
Peju Province – $40
Provenance – $30
Pestoni Family Estate – $25
Sequoia Grove – $30
Whitehall Lane – $25