Jacuzzi Vineyards is less than an hour from San Francisco
Carneros is a quick wine country getaway
Carneros is a terrific wine country to visit. It is a quick and easy ride from San Francisco or Oakland. When traffic is light, you can be there in slightly less than one hour. Carneros wine country in some respects is lost in the shadow of the great Napa Valley and the Sonoma wine country. Because of this, Carneros is much less crowded than either Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley. The Carneros wine region spans two counties, Sonoma and Napa, and runs west to east along the San Pablo Bay. It is known for its cool climate and the late afternoon cooling winds that drift inland from the San Pablo Bay. What grows here are fabulous Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. How about the Spanish grape Albariño that grows near the Atlantic Ocean in Spain? Yes, it is grown successfully in Carneros and is used in wines that are just as tasty as the Albariño wines from Spain. Merlot, Syrah, and a few other varieties are also grown in Carneros. One of the specialties of the Carneros wine country is sparkling wine. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are two of the common varieties that grow here in Carneros and are used in Sparkling wine. Chateau Domain Carneros on the Napa side of Carneros and Gloria Ferrer on the Sonoma side of Carneros are the two wineries that focus on sparkling wine.
On the Sonoma side of Carneros we like to visit Cline, Jacuzzi, (the same family owns both wineries), Robledo, and Larson Family Winery. On the Napa side we enjoy Truchard, Bouchaine, Cuvaison, and Domain Carneros. We also enjoy exploring the backroads of Carneros that run right to the edge of the waters of the San Pablo Bay. Additional Information on Carneros: