Blog - Wine Country Getaways

Ten Wine Things to Do at Home

April 5, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

We hope this finds you and your family healthy and coping with our gut-wrenching crisis. I am finding wine more enjoyable these days. Maybe these ten wine things to do at home will somehow ease the day.

Ten wine things to do at home during the Pandemic

Host a virtual wine happy hour

We are doing this with five couples, each in our homes. We are scheduling this for once a week at 5 pm. Each couple has a glass of wine in hand. In just a short order, we have lots of laughs. It is so good to see our friends. We cannot hug, but we feel the vibes. We are using Zoom, but there are several other ways to do this.

Order wine to your door

Stock up your wine collection. Support your local wine shop and wine from wineries that you enjoy. Try some wines from different wine regions. Have you tried Oregon Pinot Noir wines? Try some fantastic Syrah and Cabs from Washington. Try wines from abroad. We have ordered wines from Weimax Wines, K&L Wines, and a couple of wineries in Sonoma. There are many wineries offering discounts on wine and shipping costs.

Pair food and wine

Many of us are cooking more home-cooked meals. It is rewarding and therapeutic. It is an excellent sense of accomplishment to get a gourmet meal to the table. Preparing a meal includes pairing it with the proper wine. Choose a wine and see how it works. Here are some tips.

St francis wine and food — Pan Seared Day Boat Scallop paired with St. Francis Sauvignon Blanc

Improve your wine tasting skills

Take a look at the back label of a wine bottle to see if it has tasting notes. If it does have a description of the wine, it probably comes from a PR person. What do you think about the wine? Why do you like it? How do you rate it on a scale of One to Five? Use this easy-scoring method and rate the wine you are having for dinner. Even better, open a couple of bottles of similar wines. Then compare and evaluate them. Don’t worry, the wines will keep for a few days after opening. Keep them in the fridge.

wine score card — Easy wine scorecard for home wine tasting – Download and Print

Watch wine-related movies

Check out our list of the best wine movies to watch. The latest is “Uncorked,” now streaming on Netflix. Our favorite all-time wine movie is “Sideways.” “Sideways” take place in the Santa Barbara wine country. Once the Shelter- in-Place is over, you can relive the “Sideways” movie by following the Sideways Wine Trail.

Read a good wine fiction novel

Curl up with a good novel that has wine as the theme. We have a list of great wine mystery books on this page. We also like the Commissario Brunetti books by Donna Leon. These mysteries take place in Venice, Italy. Wine and food are always in play here.

Take part in a virtual tasting room at a winery

All winery tasting rooms in California, Oregon, and Washington are closed during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Many wineries are taking to a Virtual Wine Tasting. The San Jose Mercury News has a list of wineries offering Virtual Wine Tastings.

Take a free wine course

If you have a library card, you can download the App “Kanopy” and have access to a ton of free movies and educational videos. Great Wine Courses offers several including “The Everyday Guide to Wine,” Becoming a Knowledgeable Wine Buyer,” and “Winemaking from Harvest to Bottle.”

Listen to Wine Podcasts

There are plenty, some great and some not so great, podcasts. We like GrapeRadio and Wine Enthusiast Podcast. We also like to listen to cooking podcasts. Chef Samin Nosrat has a new podcast related to staying at home. Home Cooking gives some excellent tips for cooking during the Shelter-in-Place.

Check your wine geek inventory

How are your wine gadgets? Do you need a great corkscrew, a decanter, a wine cooler, or more wine glasses? Now is a good time to shop online for wine items. Wine Gadgets

Make a Pizza at Home

March 24, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Fig Pizza with goat cheese and pistachio pesto. Wow!

You are working from home and the kids are there, too. Making pizza from scratch is fun and therapeutic. Homemade pizza is so much better than what chain pizza parlors have to offer. The kids get a science lesson with the yeast doing its wonders on the dough. Mom and Dad get to choose a wine that goes nicely with the pizza. Everybody loves a good pizza!

How to make a pizza at home

You can make a pizza in your oven on a pizza stone, cook pizza on the stovetop in a castiron skillet, or make it on the barbecue grill. I like the grill because you can make two pizzas, maybe three, and each pizza can have a different topping.

What you need for making homemade pizza

Yeast
Flour
A pizza dough recipe
Pizza toppings

Pizza Tools

Pizza peel
Pizza wheel
Pizza stone – for the oven or the grill
Castiron pan – stovetop or grill
A good-sized spatula

You can shop for pizza tools at Bed Bath & Beyond, Sur La Table, Amazon, or other kitchen places.

How to Make a Pizza at Home

I started making pizzas at home many years ago after watching a cooking show on my local PBS station. Joanne Weir led us through all the steps, and I have never looked back. Joanne has several fantastic recipes for pizzas. Her pizza dough always works. Check out Joanne’s pizza recipe list on her Website.

Once the dough is ready, spread it out to a ten-inch diameter. Chef Joanne Weir mixes a tablespoon of olive oil and a minced garlic clove and lets it sit. Brush a thin layer of the mix on the pizza dough. Then, add your toppings.

My tip: I have a hard time sliding the pizza dough with all the toppings on the pizza stone. Everything slides to the side or off the dough. To fix the issue, I slide the dough on the stone for 45 seconds without toppings. That gives the dough some firmness. Now I put the toppings on and slide the pizza in the oven.

You can also cook a pizza on the grill three ways. On a pizza stone or grid on the grill, a castiron skillet on the grill, or just put the dough smack dab on top of the grill bars. Check out this link. Three ways to make pizza on the Barbecue.

Choose your wine

The Italians love their Barbera wines with pizza. However, any good red wine seems to work its magic on pizza. We most often go with Zinfandel wine. Of course, much depends on the toppings.

Don’t forget to support your local wine shop or favorite winery during this shelter-in-place situation. Just about every wine dealer or winery is offering great shipping prices and/or curbside pickups.

Watch a wine movie and eat pizza

We just discovered Kanopy! Kanopy is a video streaming service that is free. All you need is a public library card and you will have access to thousands of independent movies and other fantastic shows. I did a search for the keyword “Wine”on Kanopy. The result: wine movies, wine documentaries, and wine courses. Download the Kanopy app to your TV and tablet. Kanopy!

The Loneliness of the Tasting Room – Virtual Wine Tasting

March 19, 2020 by Joe Becerra 1 Comment

virtual tastings — The tasting room at Halter Ranch Vineyards

Virtual Wine Tasting

Direct from the wine country, Virtual Wine Tasting will be coming to your laptop, tablet, smartphone, and more. A few wineries are taking a novel approach to the Coronavirus shutdown of tasting rooms by holding virtual tastings using Skype, Zoom, and Facebook.

What is a Virtual Wine Tasting?

Virtual wine tasting will work something like this. The winery will ship you a set of wines and will schedule a series of video chats or conferences. You open the wine, pour yourself a glass, and interact with the winemaker or a wine expert. If this works, expect a whole lot more wineries to go to Virtual Wine Tasting.

So far we know that these wineries will be offering virtual tastings:

Inman Family Wines

Winemaker Kathy Inman will hold a series of scheduled wine tastings on Facebook Video Chat. The Inman winery has a four-wine package of their Pinot Noir wine, Rosé, sparkling wines, and Chardonnay. Order your package online and then select your time for your virtual tasting with winemaker Kathy Inman. Click here for details.

St. Supery

For the next six Thursdays (started on 3/19) St. Supery will conduct a virtual wine tasting. The #Injoy at Home Tasting Kit consists of a six-pack of wines, with one wine selected for each of the Thursday conferences. Once the Home Tasting Kit is purchased, a link will take you to the Virtual Wine Tasting.

Clos du Val

Clos du Val is offering two virtual wine packages. It appears that the Virtual Wine Tasting will be on an individual basis, rather than a group of tasters.

Tasting room discounts

There are many out there, and most of them are discounting the shipping costs. Check your favorite wineries and tasting rooms and see what they have to offer. Keep us posted on any spectacular discounts or offers.

Can’t Go to Wine Country

March 16, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

The view atop Daou Mountain at Daou Vineyards

Can’t go to wine country, how about a wine country movie or book?

Last Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday we were in Paso Robles wine country. We had a fabulous time visiting tasting rooms on the backroads of Adelaida Road. We loved the dining experience at Buena Tavola and La Cosecha near the City Park. What a change one week can bring! Governor Gavin Newsom tells tasting rooms and wineries to close. Our President declares a National Emergency. We have a Shelter-in-Place for six Bay Area Counties.

While in Paso Robles, we visited three tasting rooms. All were quite busy with tourists. The staff was diligent in sanitizing counters and registers. None of that works when one infected person coughs or sneezes.

If you are experiencing wine country withdrawal, try a good movie or book about wine country.

List of Favorite Wine Country Movies and Books

“Sideways” is one of my favorite movies of all time. We like to watch it at least once a year. Why is it a favorite? Check out this article I previously posted.

Another fun movie is “Bottle Shock.” It is an account (loosely based) on the famous tasting in Paris in 1976. California wines took the top honors over the best French wines.

There once was a very popular soap opera about a feuding family who owned vineyards and a winery in the Napa Valley. The show and the name of the winery was Falcon Crest. The present-day Spring Mountain Winery in St. Helena served as the location for Falcon Crest.

The show ran from 1981 to 1990. Amazon Prime has the series for streaming at a Rent or Buy price. See this link for more information on Falcon Crest.

Wine Podcasts & Video

With your electronic devices and earbuds, there are many wine podcasts and videos available. Wine Enthusiasts and the Wine Spectator are the best and most accurate ones worth downloading.

Thank goodness, we have vino to keep our sanity during this unbelievable time.

Why Geyserville, not Healdsburg

March 11, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Geyserville and not Healdsburg — A look at the beautiful Alexander Valley in Geyserville

Geyserville is In

Don’t get me wrong, I love Healdsburg and its many choices of lodging, restaurants, and shopping. But Geyserville has many advantages over Healdsburg.

Not as pricey
Laidback lifestyle
Fewer people, less noise, and more relaxing
Easy access to wineries in Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley
The perfect atmosphere for the wine country enthusiast

Geyserville two-night getaway

Here is a great suggestion for a two-night getaway to Geyserville. For lodging, book the Geyserville Inn. There is also the Hope – Merrill House, a fun B&B. We like the Geyserville Inn because the rooms have recently been remolded, the price per night is a bargain, and the staff is very friendly.

Day One

For lunch, we have two options. If the weather is warm, consider a picnic lunch. On the way up to Geyserville, stop in at Big John’s Market in Healdsburg. The market is just off the Dry Creek exit on Highway 101 and on the way to Geyserville. Big John’s is a gourmet’s delight. Big John’s has a fabulous salad bar, cheese shop, and olive bar. Their deli sandwiches are delicious. If the weather is not cooperating, then head up to the Geyserville Grill for lunch.

Now it is time to head to one of the nearby wineries to enjoy some wine tasting. For Day One, let’s explore the Dry Creek Valley. Take Canyon Road and head over to Dry Creek Road. Whether you turn right or left, the choice of wineries is dazzling. The majority of wineries on Dry Creek Road have picnic facilities.

Old Vine Zinfandel — Old vine Zinfandel at Forchini

We suggest these two wineries for tasting and picnicking: Forchini Vineyards & Winery is a quaint and small family-run winery. Forchini is to the left, 2 miles away. Forchini is open on Saturday and Sunday, but will take visitors by appointment the other days of the week. Call and the owners will likely serve you. The vineyard views are fantastic. Ask your server to point you to the Old Vine Zinfandel vineyards dating back to the early 1900s.

Turn right and head to Unti, a three-mile jaunt. You will need to call ahead to schedule a tasting at Unti. You will not be disappointed. Unti has some unusual varieties of wine to enjoy. Unti is also a small family-owned winery with deep roots in the Dry Creek Valley. Excellent vino here!

Dining in Geyserville

Diavola Pizzaria is an Italian cuisine delight. Diavola is popular and does not take reservations. If you must wait for a table, it is well worth your time. The pizzas and pastas are authentic Italian. Our favorite dish is the spaghetti with pork cheek ragu.

Catelli’s is in its third generation of family ownership. The restaurant is more formal than Diavola. There is a full bar and a great selection of Italian foods on the menu. Catelli’s takes reservations. You will likely need them.

Best bet for breakfast is the Geyserville Grill.

Day Two in Geyserville

Start the day by taking a walk from the Geyserville Inn to the town center for an excellent cup of brew. Or, walk along the Geyserville Road heading north that is parallel to 101 Highway. It is a quiet road with not much traffic.

For Day Two, let’s visit two wineries in the Alexander Valley. We recommend Francis Ford Coppola’s Winery and J Rickards Winery.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery is very busy, with many attractions besides wine. There is a huge outdoor pool and deck area for visitors to enjoy. If you love the game of Bocce, there are four professional courts. There is also movie memorabilia from the many films produced by Francis Ford Coppola. The desk where the Godfather sat is always fun to view. There is also a classy restaurant, Rustic. And of course, many good wines to try.

Tucker at Francis Ford winery — The Tucker car at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville

J Rickards Winery

From the Geyserville Inn, the J Rickards Winery is just a few miles away at 24505 Chianti Road. J Rickards is a fun winery to visit. The staff is terrific, as are the wines. Chances are you might meet either the winemaker, Blaine Brazil, or Jim Rickards himself. The winery is a great spot for a fun picnic among the vineyards. They do have box lunches from Big John’s Market. Check the J Rickards Website for details.

For dinner on the second night, try Diavola or Catelli’s, whichever one you missed on the first night. The Geyserville Grill is also an excellent choice if you do not want to go too far away from your lodging. By the way, Uber and Lyft operate extensively because of the nearby casino. If you want to head into Healdsburg, these two companies should be available for you.

Day Three – heading home

If you have any time available, drive south to Healdsburg and give yourself time to explore the downtown area. There are many shops, tasting rooms, and art galleries to explore. We like to breakfast at Costeaux Bakery before heading back home.

Important Geyserville Resources

What Does it Cost to Taste Wine in the Napa Valley in 2020

February 22, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

napa valley tasting room fee index — Provenance winery and tasting room in Rutherford, Napa Valley

Napa Valley Tasting Room Index 2020

We created the Napa Valley Tasting Fee Index in 2014. Our Wine Country Getaways’ Website contains useful planning information for those who wish to visit the wine country. Why not give these folks an idea of what it will cost to taste wine in the Napa Valley.

There was once a time when wineries in the Napa Valley did not charge visitors for sampling wine. They were happy to show off their wines, hoping visitors would buy a few bottles. Then the mobs came to the Napa Valley, and the wineries could not afford to give their wine away. Tasting fees became the norm.

For the Index, we are using ten wineries along Highway 29. Each of these wineries welcomes visitors without a reservation or appointment. Most wineries have different levels of tasting choices. For the Index, we are using the basic, or least expensive, tasting that the winery offers to visitors. Here they are as of February 22, 2020.

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

Many wineries in the Napa Valley have optional wine tasting experiences beyond the basic tasting. Wine and food pairings seem to be a favorite for many visitors. Then there are the tour-and-tasting packages. Some wineries offer a tasting of their Library or Reserve wines. These tasting choices are expensive. Here a few examples.

Beaulieu Vineyards – George De Latour Legacy Tour and Tasting – $125 per person
Louis Martini – Underground Cellar – wine and food pairing with Chef Jeffery Russell, 3 hours in duration – $250 per person
Alpha Omega – Library tasting of 4 wines – $75 per person
Grgich Hills – Wine and Cheese with 4 wines and a host – $50 per person
Beringer – Taste of Beringer Tour, one hour – $65 per person
Whitehall Lane – Cabernet Flight – $65 per person

The average tasting room fee is $32.50 per person in our unofficial survey of what it costs to taste wine in the Napa Valley. Back in 2014, when we first began the Napa Valley Tasting Fee Index, the average cost of a basic tasting was $18.50. That very much sums up how the Napa Valley wine scene has changed in the last several years. It has become a rich person’s paradise.

Other helpful hints on the Napa Valley

Why You Should Visit Navarro Vineyards

February 12, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Navarro Vineyards in Anderson Valley — Enjoying the Chardonnay at Navarro Vineyards – View from the picnic area

Why you should visit the Navarro Vineyards in the Anderson Valley

Small and Family-owned winery
Sustainable farming practices
Outstanding wines including Alsace varieties
Unbelievable vineyard views
Nicest people working the tasting room
No fees for tasting wines
Other quaint wineries nearby in the Anderson Valley

Navarro Vineyards is one of our favorite wineries to visit. We visit at least once a year and sometimes more often.

Are you old enough to remember Pacific Stereo? This successful company had several high fidelity stores scattered around the San Francisco Bay Area. Those stores were owned by Ted Bennett, who sold the business in the early 1970s for a considerable price. In 1974, he used his profit to create Navarro Vineyards in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County.

Today, Navarro is the most-visited winery in the Anderson Valley and has an extensive mailing list of loyal customers. The wines are sold only online, out of the tasting room, or from the mailing list. A few restaurants also carry their wines. Ted Bennett and his wife Deborah Cahn have been loyal to their land, farming organically before anyone else in the Anderson Valley.

The tasting room staff at Navarro is knowledgeable, friendly, and always enthusiastic. The picnic area is one of our favorites of any wine country and, when we visit the Anderson Valley, Navarro Vineyards is where we picnic no matter what the season. There are picnic tables in front of the vineyards and a few others scattered in the gardens. It is one of the most serene settings for a wine country picnic. It is so delightful! The setting in the tasting room at Navarro Vineyards is spectacular. There are wonderful vineyard views, with a backdrop of the mountains dotted with oak trees.

As of the posting of this article, tasting room fees are non-existent. You can try any wine they have open, which on most days is at least eight. Can you find this in the Napa Valley?

Navarro vineyards and anderson valley — View from the tasting room area at Navarro Vineyards

Wines of Navarro Vineyards

We like the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines at Navarro. They are excellent, and the price is right compared to many other nearby wineries. Chardonnay, and especially Pinot Noir, have a great reputation among Anderson Valley wineries.

Not getting the respect they deserve are the Alsatian wines from Navarro and other Anderson Valley wineries. These wines are fantastic, and one should make sure to taste and purchase these terrific wines. Navarro Vineyards makes a Gewurztraminer, a Pinot Gris, and a Riesling.

Other Anderson Valley Wineries

Years ago, there was just a handful of wineries along Highway 128 in the Anderson Valley. Today there are many wineries, including some from Napa Valley vintners. These include Golden Eye (Duckhorn) and Lichen Estate (Cliff Lede). Two other terrific wineries, very similar to Navarro, are Husch Vineyards and Handley Cellars.

Tourist Information – Anderson Valley

Navarro Vineyards and the Anderson Valley are approximately 120 miles from the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. In Cloverdale, take Highway 128 towards Mendocino. Along this route is the Artevino Maple Creek Winery we recently wrote about. Stop and have a visit there, and then continue on to Navarro.

Not too late for Valentine’s Day in wine country

February 7, 2020 by Joe Becerra 1 Comment

On Valentine’s Day, make it to the wine country for some bubbly

Valentine’s Day Wine Country

So you blew it, and it’s too late to find lodging and dining in the wine country for Valentine’s Day. But, it is never too late to plan a fantastic and romantic one-day getaway. A visit to a sparkling wine producer that will make for an excellent Valentine’s Day. You might also consider a romantic picnic among the vineyards.

Sparkling Wine

The Carneros wine region of Napa and Sonoma County has two enjoyable sparkling wine houses. From the Golden Gate Bridge or the Bay Bridge, Gloria Ferrer and Domaine Carneros are just about a 45-minute drive. Gloria Ferrer is on the Sonoma County side, about six miles from the Sonoma Raceway on Highway 121.

On Highway 121, the Carneros Highway is Domain Carneros. It is a majestic chateau, and a visit there is the perfect way to spend an afternoon of tasting sparkling wine. The views from atop their terrace are stunning, and so is the sparkling wine.

On the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley is Mumm Napa. This winery has a lovely terrace and beautiful views. If you are interested in lunch, downtown Napa is your best bet. Lunch reservations should be plentiful, as most folks opt for a fancy dinner for Valentine’s Day.

These sparkling wine houses require reservations. Do this now by booking online at the winery’s Website.

Romantic picnic lunch among the vineyards

If the weather is appropriate, a picnic lunch among the vineyards is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Prepare a cheese and charcuterie plate or gourmet sandwiches. The best wine regions for finding picnic areas are in Sonoma County. Here are links to the best picnic wineries in the Russian River/Healdsburg area and Sonoma Valley.

A beautiful hidden winery for a picnic is the Martin Ray winery in the Russian River Valley. It is off the beaten path, quiet and serene. Another fun winery for a picnic is in the Dry Creek Valley at Preston’s Vineyards.

Other options

Artevino – Maple Creek Winery

January 30, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

artevino winery in Yorkville Highlands — Yorkville Highlands AVA

Art and Vino at Maple Creek Winery

Once in a while, a wine traveler will feel the need for something different in a winery. A visit to Artevino – Maple Creek Winery is one of those wine experiences that will linger.

Artevino winery is off the beaten path in the Yorkville Highlands AVA. Yorkville Highlands is in southern Mendocino County and just outside the border of the Alexander Valley AVA. Take Highway 128 in Cloverdale to the west. You can take Highway 128 all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Artevino Maple Creek is 30 minutes from the Cloverdale turn off. You will love this rustic little winery.

Artist Tom Rodrigues decides to make wine

Tom Rodriguez at Maple Creek — Tom Rodrigues tends to the tasting room at Maple Creek

It all began for Tom Rodrigues in 2001. An artist by trade in Marin County Tom decides to move from a busy lifestyle to a more quiet life in Mendocino County. He buys the old Maple Creek winery and begins to learn how to make wine with the help of a consulting winemaker. With his skills as an artist, he adds his art work as a refreshing touch to the wines and the winery.

Our first visit to Artevino was in 2008. We recently visited again. It was quite an enjoyable trip, with Tom Rodrigues working in the tasting room. Tom feels his best wines are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. His vineyards are in a cool climate area of the Yorkville Highlands. There is one wine at Artevino that you are unlikely to find in any other wine travels. It is Symphony. Symphony is a California grape that is a cross between a Muscat and Grenache Gris. The Symphony vineyards were on the property when Tom took over. The Artevino Symphony matches perfectly with spicy foods. Bringing home a bottle or two of Symphony leads to great conversation with friends.

Symphony grape vine at Maple Creek Winery — Symphony grapevine at Artevino

The tasting room has many of Tom’s artworks, and they are a pleasure to browse. Besides the paintings, the tasting room is friendly and welcoming. A sign on the door reads, “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends!” If you plan to visit, the tasting room is open daily 11am to 5 pm. Travelers can combine a visit to Artevino with other wineries in the Yorkville Highlands, or wineries in the Anderson Valley just 20 minutes away.

Check our map below to view a list of wineries along the famous Highway 128. Many folks head to the romantic town of Mendocino on the Coast. Stopping at one or two wineries along the way always adds enjoyment to a visit to Mendocino.

Additional Mendocino Information

Yorkville and Anderson Valley Wine Map

New Wine Trails on Wine Country Getaways

January 16, 2020 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

Off-the-Beaten-Path Wine Country and Insider News

We have added four wine trails to Wine Country Getaways. These four wine trails are not only new, but these trails are in hidden wine country. These wine trails are “Off the Beaten Path” and away from where the majority of tourists go to visit wineries.

Yes, Napa Valley, Sonoma and Paso Robles are all fantastic wine country regions. But perhaps you’ve thought, “Been There, Done That.” For something different, try one of these new wine trails. Have you been to Hollister wine country? How about Hopland? What about Fair Play? You probably have been to the Russian River Valley in Sonoma. We have some really hidden wineries in the Russian River Valley to visit.

For each of these new wine trails, we recommend places to stay and dine. We describe each winery and explain why you should visit. Here they are.

Off-the-Beaten-Path-Wine Trails

Hollister – San Benito County
Hopland – Mendocino County
Sierra Foothills in Fair Play
Secret Russian River Valley

More Insider Information

Quick Getaways to Wine Country

We recently revised these quick winery trips. These trips are for folks on a business trip to the San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, or Sacramento. These are half-day trips, enough to visit a couple of wineries and explore the great California wine country. See Quick Getaways to Wine Country.

Greeter at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars — The Greeter at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars

When to Visit Wine Country

Ever wonder what the best time to go to the wine country is? Our handy guide will explain what it is like in wine country each month of the year. We even have a little video that depicts each season of the year in the vineyard.

Which Wine Country to Visit

Are you trying to decide which wine region to visit? We outline the Pros and the Cons of touring each of the major wine regions in California. We think it is an excellent checklist for determining where to go in the California wine country.