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Hidden Wine Country Town of Occidental

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Healdsburg, Sonoma, Windsor, and Santa Rosa are the hot wine towns of Sonoma County wine country. If you like less hubbub, more solitude, and less wine snobbery, try visiting the town of Occidental. 

Occidental is in the Russian River Valley wine appellation, about 30 minutes west of Santa Rosa, CA.  Occidental is secluded, but in just a short distance there are many exciting activities that await the traveler. The scenery is breathtaking, with lovely rows of vineyards flanked by the magnificent Coastal Redwood Trees. 

There many attractions in Occidental but two restaurants, the Union Hotel and Negri’s Italian Dinners, draw many locals and tourists. It has been a long tradition for vacationers along the Russian River resort area to have dinner at one or both of these restaurants during their vacation stay. The Union Hotel has been serving up dinners since 1897, and Negri’s started in 1943.

Wine Country Getaway to Occidental – Details

Grove of Old Redwoods just outside of Occidental

How to get to Occidental

From San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, take Highway 116 from Highway 101 in Rohnert Park. We are going the back roads here, where you can discover so many excellent wineries and cozy restaurants. Sebastopol is a fun town, but for this trip stop in Graton for lunch. Two places not to miss for lunch, Underwood Bar and Bistro or the Willow Wood Market. Both are local favorites and often winemakers will dine for lunch here. Underwood Bar and Bistro has a varied menu and the Willow Wood Market Cafe focuses on hot sandwiches. Wineries in the area are Red Car, Merry Edwards, Dutton, and Marimar Estate.  See Occidental Map below.

Where to stay in Occidental

The Inn at Occidental

Dining in Occidental

Carmelized onions and arugula pizza at Hazel’s

Things are busy in Occidental, but the restaurants are not yet back to pre-pandemic operations. As of our visit, June 14th and 15th, the Union Hotel and Negri’s restaurants are open only on weekends. Hazel’s is also a good option, serving wood fire pizza and other main dishes. They are open Wednesday to Sunday. On one night of our stay, we bought deli sandwiches and side salads at the Bohemian Market and ate on the patio at the Inn. In Graton, Sebastopol, and Guerneville, there are more restaurant options, but you have to drive along the windy roads to get there and back. Stay safe and eat in Occidental.

Wineries to visit

This area is very much Pinot Noir and Chardonnay country. In and around Graton are terrific wineries. Follow this Wine Route. – Remember COVID has changed the way wineries take visitors. Even though things have re-opened, wineries are opting for reservations, with few drop-in visits offered. You need to plan in advance to taste wine. Our favorites in this locality are Merry Edwards, Lynmar. and Marimar Estate. If you are looking for other whites and reds, the Dry Creek Valley Wine Trail is 30 minutes away.

Vineyards at Miramar Estate – notice the Redwood Trees at the top of the vines

Other Activities

The Redwoods – view, hike, and enjoy

Drive any of the backroads from Occidental and you will see amazing groves of Coastal Redwoods. One close by hike is the Grove of Old Redwoods. From Occidental, take Coleman Valley Road to Joy Road and then a right on Fitzpatrick Lane. It is 1.4 miles on Fitzpatrick Lane to the parking lot and entrance is on the right. The hike is short but the beauty is stunning. This ancient grove of Redwoods will clear your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. If you love the Redwoods, this is an area not to be missed.

A beautiful and peaceful area near Occidental

Drive to Bodega Bay or Jenner by the Sea

Bodega Bay is a wonderful playground for visitors. There are great restaurants, art galleries, fishing, kayaking and much more. From Occidental take the Bodega Highway to this beautiful area. The ride is spectacular and only 20 minutes away.

Jenner is the spot where the Russian River empties into the Pacific Ocean. Highway 1 has fantastic ocean views, plus several spots to enter the beach areas. About 12 miles ahead is Fort Ross State Park. Back in the day, Fort Ross was a Russian trading village. On the windy road to reach the Park, there’s a turnoff to Fort Ross Vinyard, about 2 miles up the hill. Reservations are required.

To get to Jenner from Occidental, take the Bohemian Highway to Monte Rio. Turn onto Highway 116 heading west to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, either going or coming, stop in the old lumber milling town of Duncans Mills. The population is only 175, but the interesting shops are a bonanza for boutique shoppers looking for unique items.

Cool shopping in Duncans Mills

Russian River Beaches

During the summer months, the Russian River beaches attract sun-bathers, swimmers, and fishing. Two close by beaches from Occidental are the Monte Rio Community Beach and in Guerneville, Johnson’s Beach. If you need fishing advice, head to King’s Sport and Tackle in Guerneville. King’s is an institution in the Russian River. They also rent kayaks and other outdoor equipment.

More Photos

Handy Map of the Occidental Area

Catch Napa Valley Harvest 2017

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harvest cabernet

On York Lane in St. Helena, harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon

Get ready to catch the Napa Valley Harvest 2017

The Napa Valley harvest 2017 is underway, and now is the time for every wine country buff to plan to watch all the activities that take place during the harvest. The Napa Valley is one of the best spots for viewing the “crush” because of the number of vineyards and wineries in such a concentrated area. If you spend a few days in the Napa Valley from mid-September through October, you are likely to see all the harvest activities: the grape picking, the sorting, the crushing and fermentation. It is the Napa Valley at its best for the tourist. Start making your plans now to watch the most exciting show in the world of wine.

The Napa Valley harvest 2017 has already started as of late July with Mumm Napa picking Pinot Noir grapes for its sparkling wine. White wine grapes are next to be harvested. The last grapes are usually Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, either in late September or in October. The weather plays a big part. Cool weather delays the harvest, hot weather the opposite.

Napa Valley Harvest 2017 Travel Tips

We have some tips for getting the most out of harvest in the Napa Valley. One of the most educational activities you can do is to take a tour. Check the Napa Valley Vintners Website to search for wineries that have complete winery tours.

If you want to watch the actual harvesting of the grapes, you’ll need to get up just before sunrise. Picking of the grapes is done early before the heat of the day. Drive the Valley and look for signs of the harvest. Look for several cars parked on the side of the road, half-ton bins ready to be filled, or small harvest baskets at the ready, as well as tractor trucks. More than likely harvest will be taking place in deep in the vineyards. Bring your camera or smartphone and walk into the vineyards; when you spot the workers, ask the foreman if it is okay to take pictures.

During the day, stop in at any tasting room and ask about the crush activities. The staff usually knows what harvest activities are taking place at their winery and what is in store for the following couple of days. Our strategy is to stop at a winery, initially bypass the tasting room and walk to the where the crush facilities are located to see what activities are taking place. No one really seems to care that you are there as long as you stand back far enough not to get in the way. Everyone is working so intensely that you will hardly be noticed.

This is a favorite time for tourists, so plan ahead. If you want to spend any length of time, be sure to book your accommodations early. But often, just going up for the day will be fun enough. Enjoy and don’t forget to pack that camera.

Check our Napa Valley Wine Country Planning Guide for complete details on where to stay, dine, and other fun activities.

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

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Travel tips Napa Valley

First time to Napa: Travel tips Napa Valley

First Time to Napa Valley: Must Do Activities

We often get emails from first-time travelers to the Napa Valley asking advice for where to go or what “must activities” to include in their trip. Here is our list of what we think first-time visitors to the Napa Valley should consider doing. These activities don’t just apply to the first timer, anytime you visit the Napa Valley, these ideas should be considered.

Take a winery tour - Hendry Barrel Room

First time to Napa Valley: Take a winery tour – Hendry Barrel Room

 

Take a Winery Tour
Take a tour that covers the entire process of winemaking from the vineyard to the finished product. Here are two that are among the best winery tours in the Valley. You will need to call ahead to make an appointment. At Hendry Wines, owner and winemaker extraordinaire, George Hendry, will take you on a two-hour tour and tasting. We think this is the best tour of any in the Napa Valley. Another great tour is at Frog’s Leap Winery. This one will last about an hour. Don’t forget to show your appreciation by buying at least a few bottles of wine. When you open one of these wines at home, it will bring back memories of your trip and the wine will taste that much better. Wine always tastes better when there is a story behind it.

vineyard picnci

First time to Napa Valley: The vineyard picnic

 

Picnic in the Vineyards
This is one of our favorite activities, so much so that the weather has to be pretty bad to prevent us from picnicking. Either prepare a deli lunch or buy one at one of the many great delis in the Valley. Here are four wineries where you can sit and view vineyards: Clos du Val, Robert Sinskey, August Briggs, and Folie a Deux. See the Trip Planner for the exact location.

Beringer Brothers

First time to Napa Valley: Visit one Napa Valley’s orginal wineries

 

Visit One of Napa Valley’s Older Wineries
Before 1970 there were fewer than 30 wineries to visit. Today, there are over 300. Take a step back in time and visit Beringer, Charles Krug, Inglenook, or Schramsberg (appointment).

Casa Nuestra

First time to Napa Valley: Casa Nuestra – a very cozy family winery

Visit a Small Family-Run Winery
There is nothing like meeting the owner and winemaker of a small winery. They are always very passionate about their work and their wines. Here are a few small family-run wineries: Tres Sabores , Casa Nuestra, Smith-Madrone, and Elyse. It is always fun to visit a large corporate-owned winery immediately afterward to get a real appreciation of the small family-run winery. See our list of corporate wineries.

Greystone CIA Center

Greystone CIA Center

Visit the Culinary Institute of America
The CIA is housed in the Christian Brothers Winery stone building constructed in 1888. Drop by and visit the store, check out the displays of old winemaking equipment and barrels. If you have time consider lunch at the Wine Spectator Restaurant. The view is very beautiful.

about wine country getaways

Joe and Janelle in St. Helena, September 2015. St Clement winery on the hill.

 

Bring Your Camera — Take Photos
What’s a trip to the Napa Valley without photos? Take your digital camera or Smart Phone and take many shots of every place you go on the trip.

Hire a Driver
Rumor has it that various police agencies are beginning to increase patrols on wine tasting room exits. If you hire a driver, have your plan ready and hand it to the driver. There are several independent limo drivers who do a great job.


Check the Winery Finder/Trip Planner for sorting through wineries and mapping your trip.

Where to stay in the Napa Valley

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Napa Valley Lodging, best lodging in the Napa Valley

Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville

What a dilemma it is to find the proper lodging for anyone traveling to the Napa Valley for a first-time vacation. The rates in 2017 are as high as they have ever been. More travelers than ever are spending time in the Napa Valley, so it is tougher to find lodging. For weekends, you must book for a two-night minimum.

Sure, you can check Trip Advisor and the like for some recommendations, but you cannot always rely on those for sound advice. We have been traveling to the Napa Valley for 50 years. I think we have stayed in just about every style of lodging from the town of Napa to the north end of the Valley in Calistoga. We have stayed in budget lodging, excellent lodging, B&B’s, and we have even rented vacation homes. Take a look at our list of recommended Napa Valley lodging for each Napa Valley town, and you’re sure to find something that fits your needs. If we have something listed, we have either stayed there or taken a quick inspection of the place.

Lodging tips for the Napa Valley

 

  • We always like to stay within walking distance of fine restaurants and shopping. We like to enjoy our wine with dinner, so we either walk or take a cab. We don’t drink and drive. The centers of the towns of Napa, Yountville, and Calistoga are giving the traveler many choices for lodging within a short distance of many restaurants.
  • Sometimes it is more fun to make your lunch the main meal of the day. If you do that, then you can pack some appetizers for your room for an evening wine hour. Many of the hotels and B&B’s have a wine hour and serve appetizers. Some, like the Stevenson Inn in Calistoga, have tables and chairs set up outdoors for guests to use. Always check the lodging website for package deals. These deals include spas, golf, complimentary tasting room coupons, and many other perks.
  • Traveling during the week is always less expensive.
  • We don’t spend much time in our hotel rooms, so for that reason, we are not interested in all the elaborate amenities at the very top-of-the-line and expensive hotels. We just want something convenient, clean and comfortable. The money we save, we spend on wine and restaurant dining.
  • We prefer not to have a breakfast package included. We like exploring nearby coffee shops and breakfast spots. This is where all the locals hang out, and we would rather feast with the locals than having breakfast at our hotel.
  • What are your travel tips?

Important Resource pages:

Plan Now for Thanksgiving Weekend in the Napa Valley

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napa valley thanksgiving

Trinchero in the Napa Valley – Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving Weekend in the Napa Valley

One of the busiest weekends the entire year in the Napa Valley is Thanksgiving weekend. Family and friends visiting on Thanksgiving are likely to be staying through the weekend. One of the many things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area is to take family and friends to visit the Napa Valley wine country. Because of the popularity of this time of the year, it is best that you begin making your plans now. You want to be sure to book your lodging and make dinner reservations at one of your favorite restaurants.

Another nice option is a well-planned day trip. Head out early in the day and book a good restaurant for lunch. Better yet, if the weather is terrific, prepare a lavish and gourmet picnic lunch. Sitting in the fall- colored vineyards and enjoying lunch with a glass of chilled white wine has to make a lasting impression on your guests. Here is a list of Napa Valley wineries with picnic facilities.

The more planning you put into this trip the more likely your guests will have a memorable experience. You can watch our video on Napa Valley Travel Tips to get a good start. If your guests are wine newbies, a good tour on winemaking is in order. Book a tour at a winery where they have scheduled tours limited to a small number of people. Rubicon or Schramsberg would fit that bill but there are many others.

Try to visit some of the smaller wineries that are open only by appointment and are off the beaten path. If you hit the more popular wineries, you are likely to have a Disneyland experience and have to line up at the tasting room bar and wait your turn to taste. We have a great list of hidden wineries that you can view and select one or two to visit. Be prepared for all types of weather conditions. One day can be balmy and beautiful at 70 degrees and the next day could be cold and wet.

Be safe if you are the driver and use a spit cup when you taste or just bring your water bottle and enjoy the pure beauty of this wonderful wine country. If you stay in Calistoga, Yountville, or Napa you don’t really need a car for dinner. There are many great restaurants within easy walking distance from lodging.

Varietal theme wine tasting hunt

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cabernet sauvignon wine country

Cabernet Sauvignon is the specialty at the Silver Oak Winery in Oakville – Napa Valley

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 favorite wines from the tasting room visits for a blind wine tasting. Invite your friends over for a wine tasting party and see which wine is everyone’s favorite.

These are our personal favorite wine regions for each of these popular wine varietals. Each of these wines can be found in other wine regions of California. One can easily make a case for one wine region producing the best for each of these wine types. Tell us in the comment section your favorite wine varietal and the best wine region or AVA that makes this wine.

As the days roll along, we plan to do a post on each of these wine varietals and offer some advice on which wineries to visit and why. Stay tuned.

Wine tasting and wine hiking in Santa Cruz Mountains

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picchetti-winery

Wine Tasting and Wine Hiking – Picchetti Winery

Here is a nice idea, combine an outing of wine tasting with a day of hiking. This can be done at the Picchetti Winery located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Cupertino. The Picchetti Winery is located on land owned by the Peninsula Open Space and is known as the Picchetti Ranch.

The Picchetti Winery is historic, one of the oldest in California with a founding back in the 1890’s. In 1998, Leslie Pantling took over the winery and has not looked back since. The winery is in a great location, just a short distance from the world of high tech. It is the place to get away.  The historic tasting room is very enjoyable and so are the picnic grounds.

The Picchetti Winery produces an old vine Zinfandel from vineyards nearby. The Peninsula Open Space has 3.7 miles of trails including a short jaunt on the Zinfandel Trail. Why not hike the Zinfandel Trail and then return to the Picchetti tasting room for a try of the old vine Zinfandel?

The Picchetti Winery tasting room is open daily from 10 to 5 pm. There are other wineries nearby should you like to make it a day of wine tasting. See our Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Trail for details about other wineries in the area.

Additional Information on Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries

Van-based Wine Tours vs Limos

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This is a guest post by H. Bruce Smith who runs Dry Creek Valley Wine Tours. Bruce suggested that I did not have enough consumer information on WineCountryGetaways.com about the Van-based wine tours vs Limos. Upon review I agreed with Bruce and asked him to provide us with a comparison.

van-tours vs limos

Van tours vs limos.  Who has the best for the wine country traveler?

There are many benefits to booking a wine tour with a van-based service. While there are many sizes of vans, the smaller (8-15 passengers) are more likely to be of a personalized experience. Most tour companies of this size are either operated by the owner or knowledgeable staff to perform the tour.

The key word here is “knowledgeable.” Often limo drivers know little or nothing about wine, while van drivers usually are well versed, not only in wine but the region itself. You should choose an experienced tour company if you want to get a better understanding of the wines of a particular wine region.

Some van touring companies go one step further and offer wine tasting tips in order for their clients to better enjoy the tasting experience. While a limo driver may simply wait at the car, a van driver often accompanies the tasters into the winery. They often will introduce you to the winery staff, and if you’re lucky the winemakers themselves.

Much of the fun of wine touring is enjoying the vineyards in a beautiful country setting. Vans are built for this purpose. With large tinted windows and an elevated seat height, you can take in the wine country surroundings. This is in comparison to the low riding limos with small dark windows.

Finally, van-based tour companies are likely to offer complete packages. This can cover everything including a full lunch and all tasting fees. Your one cost for the tour can cover all expenseses, save any gratuity you deem appropriate and, of course, any wine you buy.

More information on hiring a touring company

Santa Barbara Fisherwoman Stephanie Mutz

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At the recent Wine Bloggers Conference in the Santa Barbara Wine Country, a small group of bloggers enjoyed a wonderful visit to the Bridlewood Estate Winery in the Santa Ynez AVA.  The entrance to the winery is impressive, with its Spanish Mission style of architecture.  Our Apple Basket lunch of local sandwiches and salads was served overlooking Bridlewood Lake and was complemented by delicious Bridlewood wines.

Bridlewood winery

Bell Tower at Bridlewood Estate Winery in Santa Barbara wine country

Following the lunch, we had a very informative seminar in the Bridlewood cellar.  Rather than the usual panel of winery owners and winemakers, this panel included:

  • Richard Martin (Moderator), editorial director of Food Republic
  • Mark Williams, Winemaker for Bridlewood Estate Winery
  • Jeff Olsson, chef and proprietor of New West Catering and Industrial Eats Restaurant
  • Jake O’Francis, Pig farmer
  • Christopher and Johanna Finley, farmers for Finley Organic Farms
  • Stephanie Mutz, Santa Barbara Fisherwoman

fisher woman stpehanie

Photo of Stephanie Mutz by Fran Collin, francollin.com

Most interesting to me was the inclusion of Stephanie, a sea urchin fisherwoman. As Stephanie’s website states, she’s been fishing in the Santa Barbara area for 7 years and strives to make fresh, sustainable seafood available to the local population.

Stephanie got her undergraduate degree at UC Santa Barbara and then went on to Graduate School in Australia.  Her goal at the time was to become a Community College professor in her field of Marine Biology. While she was writing her Graduate School dissertation, she worked on urchin boats.  After a part-time teaching job ended, she decided to concentrate on fishing full time.

Being that most of the people Stephanie fishes with are male, she feels fortunate that they are accepting of her and very helpful when necessary. She usually goes out on her boat alone, unless the weather is bad or she needs extra help getting what she needs for the market.  In some cases, she joins other fishermen on their boats for fishing or diving.  Stephanie fishes for sea urchins and snails and regularly delivers her catch to local chefs when the weather and the catch are good. There seems to be a fad for sea urchin delicacies in Southern California and that demand is keeping Stephanie very busy these days. She also works closely with Jeff Olsson and his Industrial Eats Restaurant.  Stephanie does not always know what her daily catch will be and often she will bring Jeff in something different than he asked for.  She praises Jeff for being adaptable and creative in making the best of Stephanie’s haul.

After a day at sea, Stephanie unwinds by sitting in her meadow at home with a glass of wine to recap the day with her boyfriend, also a fisherman.  They discuss ways to become more efficient and productive at doing what they love to do.  She does her best to promote what the industry is all about to the entire community. She thinks its important to encourage people to have a balanced lifestyle, which includes eating local foods.

For recipes and information on how to find Stephanie’s catch, consult her website:  seastephaniefish.com

sea urchin delicacies

Appetizers prepared by Chef Jeff Olsson. On the right is sea urchin on avocado

Navigating the Napa Valley Wine Route

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First-time visitors to the Napa Valley are often bewildered or overwhelmed. When should we go, where should we stay and dine, and most often which wineries are the best ones to visit? Let’s tackle these dilemmas one at a time.

Napa Valley Wine Route Planning

Navigating the Napa Valley Wine Route

Navigating the Napa Valley Wine Route

When should you visit the Napa Valley?

In my book, anytime is a good time to visit the Napa Valley. No matter what time of the year, the Napa Valley has something special to offer the wine country traveler. In winter it is the mustard, the cover crops, and the bare rows of vines that delight. Spring brings bud break and wildflowers. Summer brings the warm weather and full growth to the vines. Fall means harvest of the grapes followed by the fantastic autumn colors in the vineyards. Yes indeed, any time of the year in the Napa Valley is a good time to visit.

image of calistoga

Lincoln Avenue in Calistoga

Where should you stay and dine?

The main towns for lodging are Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. We like each town; they all offer something different in lodging and dining. We recommend you lodge within walking distance of dining. When you can walk to restaurants there are no worries about drinking and driving. In Calistoga, there is a free shuttle that runs most of the year. It will bring visitors to restaurants, wineries, and shopping and then pick you up when you are done. There are three cab companies in the Napa Valley, so taking a cab is a great option if you cannot walk to a restaurant. Yountville has the most-noted restaurant scene with five Michelin star restaurants, all within a few blocks of one another. Check our list of recommended restaurants for Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.

image of bottega

One of Yountville’s many fine restaurants

Which are the best wineries to visit?

We recommend that visitors to the Napa Valley Wine Trails visit between 3 to 5 wineries in one full day. More than that and you will miss something and mostly likely imbibe too much of the good life. There are over 400 wineries to visit in the Napa Valley and, if you are visiting the max of ten wineries in a two-day excursion, how does one seriously decide on which of these 400 wineries are the most enjoyable to visit?

image of clos pegase

Clos Pegase

You can visit the best wineries in two different ways. One way is to follow one of our ready-made wine trails. Or you can mix-or-match the wineries within our Napa Valley wine trails. A second way is to head over to our Winery Finder and search for tasting rooms and wineries according to your likes and dislikes. The winery finder will enable you to select the best wineries to visit by various criteria. If you want boutique wineries that are family owned and have a picnic area, the winery finder narrows down the choices for you. It is a very handy tool for the first-time visitor or ones who visit the Napa Valley every few years.

Lastly we encourage you to watch this informative short video on Napa Valley Travel Tips.

CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

Carneros • Livermore • Lodi • Mendocino • Monterey • Napa Valley • Paso Robles • Santa Barbara County • Santa Cruz Mts. • Sierra Foothills • Russian River • Sonoma Valley

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