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Fun Things to Do in Wine Country in January 2023

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fun in january in wine country

 

A spa in winter is ideal – in Calistoga

Some very fun Things to do in wine country in January

There are plenty of fun activities to do in January in wine country. Many tourists stay away from wine country in January, so all the better to travel to Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and more. There will be days of inclement weather, but then comes sunshine, clear air, and spectacular views. Even when the weather is not favorable, there are plenty of fun things to keep you happy and excited. Many lodging establishments offer lodging discounts during the off-season in wine country. Try calling your favorite hotel and ask about winter specials.

Covid, fires, and smoke have brought many changes to tasting and touring in wine country in the past couple of years. Traveling the off-season wine country is a big help to the travel industry.

Here are several suggestions for fun things to do in January in wine country.

bare vines and cover crops

Bare vines with cover crops just beginning to grow

Take a hike

Yes, it may be chilly, but hiking in wine country is invigorating. Work up an appetite and take in views most travelers do not see in wine country. Check our “Things to Do” in each of our wine regions and you will find some very nice hiking paths and trails. We like hiking the Napa Vine Trail from Yountville toward Napa. In Healdsburg, we love the Healdsburg Ridge Hike.

Winter is Spa Weather

Spa treatments can be found in any of the wine regions. Napa Valley and Sonoma are particularly known for their many spas. Calistoga in the Napa Valley has made the mud bath and hot springs an inviting activity.

Art Galleries in Healdsburg and Napa Valley

Each wine country town has an excellent collection of boutique shopping and art galleries. Around the Plaza in Healdsburg, the Sonoma Plaza, or Paso Robles City Park, you can shop all day long. Antiquing is also a good choice. The bonus in January is that there are fewer travelers and more time to browse and get great deals. If you want to combine wine tasting and art, follow the Art and Wine Lovers’ Trail in the Napa Valley.  

In Healdsburg, be sure to visit the Paul Mahder art gallery. Not only does the art gallery have spectacular works of art, one can taste wine in the gallery. See the Grapeseed Wine Fund.

Things to do in January in wine country

 

At the Paul Mahder Art Gallery – GrapeSeed provides wine tasting

Head to Mendocino

Mendocino is a very romantic town on the Pacific Coast, but getting there adds to the experience. The Anderson Valley is on the way to Mendocino. It is the land of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Alsatian white wine varieties. Highway 128 to the coast is breathtaking. The town of Boonville in the Anderson Valley is a delight. We love what we call the Big Three wineries. Pack a lunch and, even in cold weather, picnicking among the vineyards is rejuvenating.

taste wine in Anderson Valley

Head to romantic Mendocino, and on the way taste wine in the Anderson Valley

Events in January 2023

Because January is the quietest month in wine country, several wine regions schedule planned events. Here is a list:

Napa Valley Restaurant Week January 20 to January 29, 2023
Enjoy lunch and dinner with multi-course, prix-fixe menus. Lunch $20, dinner is $38 or $48. See details at Napa Valley Restaurant Week

Winter Wineland  January 14 and 15 in the Healdsburg Area – this can get crowded and hectic, but folks love this annual event. See details

Calistoga’s Winter in the Wineries Passport

This event runs from December 3, 2022 to February 5, 2023. Purchase passports and enjoy activities at 17 Calistoga wineries. See details at Winter in the Wineries Passport

 

January in wine country what to do

 

Lunch at Costeaux Bakery in Healdsburg – nothing like freshly baked bread

More on Wine Country

The Fees to Taste Wine in Napa Valley

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

We established the Napa Valley Wine Tasting Fee Index in 2014. Each year we see an increase in what it costs a person to taste wine in the Napa Valley. Because of the COVID pandemic, we are not keeping an Index for the 2021 season. Tasting fees are in a fluid state. Walk-in tastings are almost a thing of the past. Most wineries require reservations. This means fewer visitors to the tasting room. That translates to higher tasting fees. Instead of standard tastings, wineries have more elaborate wine tasting along with food pairings.

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.

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

Not too late for Valentine’s Day in wine country

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valentine wine country

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. 

sparkling wine trail

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. 

Mumm Napa Silverado Trail

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

New Wine Trails on Wine Country Getaways

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

hollister hidden wine country

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

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

Limerick Lane backroad

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.

Geyserville Inn Revamps

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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 .

Geyserville Inn
Geyserville Inn – newly remodeled rooms – walking distance to restaurants and tasting rooms

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.

Geyserville Visitor Center
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.

Pedroncelli vines in the Fall

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.

Wine Country Bocce Party

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bocce armida winery

The Bocce courts at Armida Winery – overlook of Russian River Valley

How to Plan a Wine Country Bocce Party

Gather your family or friends for a casual wine country Bocce party. The great thing about Bocce is you do not need to be athletic to have fun and participate in a competitive game of Bocce. Young and old, fit or out of shape, all can be equals in this fun game. Add the environment of wine country and double your fun. If you follow these tips, you are sure to have a fantastic time and enjoy the many rewards of playing Bocce with family or friends in wine country.

bocce in wine country

Brutocoa Winery has six Bocce Courts

  • Invite your family or friends and pick a convenient date.
  • Select a winery where you can play Bocce for at least a couple of hours. A complete listing of wineries in California with Bocce Courts is listed below.
  • Make sure you can reserve the courts and give yourself ample time to complete the tournament.  With 6 couples playing on 4 courts, it takes about 6 hours to play, including time out for lunch.
  • Select lodging and dining nearby the Bocce venue.
  • Select a type of tournament play:  Single elimination, double elimination, round robin, or what have you.
  • Play a short version of the game. Play to a score of nine and win by at least two points. The Simple rules of Bocce are listed below.
  • Who is the commissioner? Assign someone to track wins and losses, settle disagreements.  A tape measure is a must!
  • What is the prize for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd?
  • How about a trophy (bottle of wine) for the winning team

The Bocce Court at Trinchero in St. Helena

The Bocce Court at Trinchero in St. Helena

For the past eleven years, we have been hosting a Bocce Tournament. The past six years we have been reserving the courts at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville. We order a catered lunch at the winery and water, etc.  This past year we lodged in Healdsburg. We chose two friendly restaurants where we could reserve a table for 14 people. Campo Fina was our first-night choice and Bravas Bar de Tapas was our second-night choice. They both have outdoor seating and a casual atmosphere. We have a perpetual trophy, an empty Jeroboam-sized bottle, that we award to the winning team. We also puck down $20 a couple and divide it for first, second, and third place. It is all done in fun and is an event we highly anticipate each year.

Bocce Courts at Francis Ford Coppola in Sonoma's Geyserville

Bocce Courts at Francis Ford Coppola in Sonoma’s Geyserville

Bocce Wine Country Resources

The Bocce Courts at Campovida in Mendocino's Hopland

The Bocce Courts at Campovida in Mendocino’s Hopland

Where and What is Franciacorta?

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Franciacorta sparkllng wine

Pouring Franciacorta sparkling wine

Where and What is Franciacorta?

You know Champagne! You probably know Cava from Spain. But you most likely do not now about Franciacorta sparkling wine. Where and what is Franciacorta? Franciacorta is an area of Italy that produces a high-quality sparkling wine.  After attending an excellent tasting of Franciacorta in San Francisco, I am convinced that we will see more Franciacorta coming to fine wine shops and becoming very popular in the U.S. It is delicious and rivals the best from Champagne and other great sparkling wine producers from around the world.

Franciacorta sparkling wine

In the Province of Brescia in northern Italy

Where is Franciacorta?

Franciacorta is an area that consists of 19 municipalities all in the province of Brescia in Northern Italy. The largest and closest big city is Brescia. Many wine travelers arrive in Franciacorta from the Verona Airport and then drive an hour to the Franciacorta area.  In 1995, the area of Franciacorta was awarded DOCG status by the Italian government. Vineyard plantings amount to 7,800 acres, and that is about one-tenth the size of Champagne. In March of 2009, the Franciacorta Consortium was formed and consists of 29 producers.

What is Franciacorta?

Franciacorta sparkling wine is a world-class wine. It is made in the same traditional manner as what is done in the Champagne region of France, Methode Champenoise. A second fermentation, which takes place in a closed bottle, creates the bubbles. The grapes used in the making of Franciacorta are Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco. Non-vintage Franciacorta must age at least 18 months in the bottle. In the photo below are riddling racks. Riddling is an ancient craft where cellar workers turn each bottle 1/8 of turn daily and bang the bottle back in place. Sediment and dead yeast cells move to the neck of the bottle by this action.  Read: “How sparkling wine is made.”

Riddling for Franciacorta sparkling wine

Riddling Racks in a Franciacorta cellar

Tasting Franciacorta Sparkling wine

What we find in tasting Franciacorta is an excellent and delicate sparkling wine, filling the sensory modes with many flavors. Subtle apple, pear, and mineral characteristics abound. It is a fun wine but also serious enough for celebrating the best of occasions. Add a few bottles of Franciacorta to your wine cellar. Use the Wine-Searcher.com to find where you can purchase Franciacorta near you.

We visited the Franciacorta region in 2011 while attending the European Bloggers Conference. If you love traveling the world in search of wine, think about this beautiful spot in Northern Italy. There are biking and hiking trails that are beyond spectacular. What a way to vacation! Please see the Franciacorta Wine Tourism Website.

Where to Find the Best Wine and Art Wineries in the Napa Valley

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Mumm Art Gallery

Mumm Gallery

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. It includes five outstanding wineries that also have art collections for wine tasters to enjoy. For those wine lovers who appreciate art, it makes good sense to plan to visit at least a few of these wineries on a Napa Valley wine country getaway. These are the five wineries we have chosen for our Wine and Art Lover’s Wine Trail. There are many other wineries and tasting rooms with art exhibits, but we have singled out these five as top tourist choices.

  • Hess Collection Winery – Mount Veeder winery with a large contemporary art collection
  • Cliff Lede Vineyards – Artistic gardens and classic rock inspired exhibits
  • Turnbull Wine Cellars – Boutique winery with twice-a-year rotating photography exhibits
  • Mumm Napa – Two art galleries, one with 27 Ansel Adams photographs
  • Hall Winery – Fantastic tasting room with an eclectic art collection throughout the winery

For additional details on each of these art wineries and a wine route map, go to Wine and Art Lover’s Wine Route page. These are popular wineries during peak season, so plan for an early day visit or go during the week.

Important Napa Valley Travel News

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.

Is Sutter Creek the best wine country town in the Sierra Foothills?

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Sutter Creek best wine town Sutter Creek Theater and other boutiques on Main Street

Is Sutter Creek the best wine town in the Sierra Foothills?

Here are some reasons why we think it is.

Close to wineries

Sutter Creek is 20 minutes away from the Shenandoah Valley in the Plymouth area. There are over 40 wineries in this area of Amador County.  The wineries are mostly small and family owned. Most of the wineries are open from Thursday to Sunday, but several others are open daily. This wine country features some lovely side country roads lined with oak trees, grasslands and vineyards. For more wine adventures, travelers can head into the Fair Play wine region of El Dorado County. There are 19 wineries there, and many feature Rhone-style wines. Our favorite wineries are listed in our Sierra Foothills Wine Routes.

Excellent B&B’s

Sutter Creek offers many choices in B&B accommodations. Leading the way is the newly-remodeled Hanford House Inn. Owners Robert and Athena Gordon are wonderful hosts. Other B&B’s include the Eureka Street Inn and the Grey Gables Inn.  The Hotel Sutter has also recently been remodeled and has a lively bar and restaurant.

Tasting Room Row

In this small town, there are nine tasting rooms. They have their own Website, Sutter Creek Wine on Main, with complete visiting details. We like Yorba, Scott Harvey and Baiocchi. We really have not had much chance to visit the others, but I would guess they are also good. On Thursday, Yorba stays open until 7 pm. Beginning at 5 pm,  catered food from Lucy’s Spice Box is featured along with the great Yorba wines.

A historic gold mining town

Sutter Creek is where the gold discoveries began in California. There are lots of historic treasures, and visitors can take a tour of some of the old mining caves. If you are a California history buff, you will find plenty to do in the Sutter Creek area. The Sutter Creek Association has a complete list of the tours and historic gold mining sites.

Boutique shops

Even though the town is all of three blocks long, you can spend a lazy afternoon visiting many boutique shops loaded with knick-knacks, antiques, artworks and other goodies. Sandwich in a couple of wine tasting visits while browsing the cool shops.

Gourmet Dining

The Hotel Sutter and Susan’s Place are the top dining spots for now. But soon, the Element Restaurant at the Hanford House Inn will be serving gourmet dinners. Hanford House presently serves a fantastic breakfast.  I am sure that we can expect some delicious dinner meals by mid Spring. Additionally, there are the Sutter Creek Cheese Shoppe, Sutter Creek Provisions and Cavana’s Deli for gourmet items not found at the local markets.

The town of Volcano and Daffodil Hill

Volcano is an even smaller town 13 miles from Sutter Creek. Up in Volcano is the St. George Hotel. It is a historic place with an old saloon and restaurant. It is a fun spot. There is also the Union Inn and Pub. From late March to mid-April (depending on the weather), Daffodil Hill is a huge attraction. See our article on our visit there in late Feb.

Amador Flower Farm

While wine tasting in the Shenandoah Valley, mix in a trip to the finest garden nursery in Amador County. It’s the Amador Flower Farm on Shenandoah School Road.  They have a wide variety of flowers, plants, and trees available.  They also have a good selection of garden-related merchandise for sale.

Sutter Creek Slide Show

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The slide show gives you a quick glance at all the interesting and exciting things you can do in and around Sutter Creek. Sutter Creek is on the rise and it is destined to become one of the more popular wine country towns in California.

Something missing?

Did we miss something? An attraction, restaurant or lodging? Please post in the comment section. Even though Sutter Creek is small, there is always something new each time we visit.

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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