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Benziger Family Winery ~ (705-935-4046) This was my favorite winery. I think what appealed to me was that the staff were very down-to-earth, and that they had a very informative tour; you actually get to know their philosophy and growing techniques. Not something you ordinarily think about when you knock back a glass of red.
Guests ride in carts pulled by a tractor, as the tour takes you all over the vineyard.The tour makes the requisite ending at a gift shop, which for once I dind't mind, as our tour guide (a Benziger family member) was so warm, friendly, and open. I was also impressed with the stewardship of their land; they have an insectorium where amphibians, insects and lizards are allowed to thrive.
We were also encouraged to wander around the vineyard, and I tasted my first wine grapes (or berries); I was shocked to taste how sweet and unlike table grapes they were. . At the time we were there, they had started producing their own olive oil as well. (www.benziger.com)
Domaine Carneros ~ (707-257-0101) This winery was probably the most beautiful, and makes sparkling wines (i.e. champagnes). Owned by Taittinger, the main building was modelled after a French Chateau. Their presentation is the most slick; they have a small theatre where they show a movie. Then, the curtains are pulled back, and *ta-da!* you can see through a viewing window the tanks where the wine is initially fermented, with poor joe schmoe walking by trying to get the job done. However, I found their tour very informative. We did pass on the free corks and cages being handed out. Tastings here are probably the most expensive, about $5 US. (www. domaine.com) Leave a Comment
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We decided to splurge (being carefree honeymooners) and book a limo with driver and spend a day in Sonoma Valley. It is not cheap; it was $800 Canadian, as we could not help but notice on our Visa bill on our return home. This included a personalized 8-hour tour, with lunch . It does seem easy to get around there if you have a car, as there are many maps and info available at the Visitor Information Centre in downtown San Francisco.
Sonoma Valley is located 1 1/2 hours outside of San Francisco, and we chose to go there because it is less commercial, plus there are more free and less expensive tastings (always a plus!). Many of the wineries have deli sections where you can buy something to compliment the wine you just purchased. It is recommended that you have a car, but there is bus service available, if you plan well. (Sonoma County Transit 800-345-7433). We used Beau Limousine Tours (1-800-387-2328), but certainly there are many other operators out there.
Sonoma Valley tends to be very relaxed, predominated by family-owned wineries. It is a 17-mile long valley, with the town of Sonoma at the end.
Wineries we visited were:
Buena Vista ~ (707-938-1266) A historic vineyard that helped launch the California Wine Industry. (www.buenavistawinery.com)
Cline Cellars ~ (707-938-5277) Best known for it's Zinfandel, and still in the Cline family, it has a calm, intimate setting. The main building is a charming house which was the original residence. There is a lovely garden beside it with a fountain, and many weddings are hosted here.(www.clinecellars.com)
Viansa Winery ~ (707-935-4700) Started by members of the Sabastiani family, it also has a large marketplace where it sells condiments and other foods, and it has an extensive deli. We had lunch here, and the food is delicious; my husband highly recommends the chocolate cookies. There is also a protected wetland on the winery grounds. (www.viansa.com) Leave a Comment Website: www. sonomavalley.com Other Contact: www.beaulimousine.com
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Napa is just about a hour's drive away from downtown via The Oakland Bay Bridge or the Golden gate Bridge. The County is dotted with Numerous Wineries and Vitners and is the Premier Wine Growing area of the United States. Since 1960's it is ranked among the great wine growing areas of the world and is at par with such wine growing areas like spain, france, portugal, Italy, South Africa and Australia. This was all started by the Visionary Robert Mondavi Sr. an Immigrant who envisoned a wine country in California to rival Europe (Hence his Mondavi Group is the largest Vitners in Napa Valley).
A Napa Wine tour is available in Union Square Area at the Greyline Bus at Powell Street for those who don't want to drive (Cost $ 148) since gas prices are $ 4.39 a gallon! Address: Napa ValleyPhone: (707) 226-7459Directions: Take U. S. Highway 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge and exit at CA 37 East (exit 460A). Go north on CA 29. Or Cross the Oakland Bay Bridge to I-80 then cross on CA 29.Website: www.napavalley.com
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Most People outside the United States only know about Napa Valley but only a little about Sonoma, little did they realise that Sonoma has more than twice the land area of Napa and again more than twice the wineries of Napa and most of the Famed Napa Wines exported abroad actually came from Sonoma! Actually if you ask Bay Area Locals, most go to Sonoma rather than Napa to Buy Wine. Sonoma is also known as the birthplace of American California, for it was in this town plaza that the Bear Flag Revolt took place and a Bear Flag was first raised on June 14, 1846. The rebelling men claimed to act on the orders of Col. John C. Fremont proclaiming independence from Mexican rule and a free country called the California Republic here. Sonoma served as the capital of the short-lived California Republic until the United States Stars and Stripes flag was raised during the Mexican-American war.
Winemaking here in Sonoma was started by the Hungarian-American Agoston Haraszthy in the 1800 but was made popular by the Sebiastiani Family. Address: Sonoma City, CA 95476Phone: (707) 857-4900Directions: I-80 upto San Rafael Bridge to US-101 North. Exit at CA-37 East toward Napa then north to CA-121. Stay on CA-121 N, which becomes ARNOLD DRIVE. RIGHT onto W. WATMAUGH ROAD.LEFT onto BROADWAY / CA-12 which leads to the Sonoma town plaza!Website: www.sonoma.com/
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this is part two of My Napa Valley Tips and newer pictures. Again although Napa is on the World Wine Map, Sonoma County Nearby has more wine production and where locals buy more wine (ok I've let out a secret!) than here in more touristy Napa.
A Napa Wine tour is available in Union Square Area at the Greyline Bus at Powell Street for those who don't want to drive (Cost $ 148) since Napa Wine Train is included (w/o Napa Wine train is $ 75) Address: Napa, Ca, 94558,Phone: (707) 226-7459Directions: Take U. S. Highway 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge and exit at CA 37 East (exit 460A). Go north on CA 29. Or Cross the Oakland Bay Bridge to I-80 then cross on CA 29.Website: www.napavalley.com
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 Wine Barrels by geeyookLeave a Comment Address: 2000 Main Street, St. HelenaPhone: (707) 963-7115Directions: Beringer Vineyards, 2000 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 963-7115Website: http://www.beringer.com
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 Grape vines by SLLiew
The larger ones will have a tour explaining the growing of different grape varieties, the harvesting and the making of alcohols and the brewing process in the back room. The proper storage of wines.
If you do not know your personal preference, you can try out the white vs the red, drv vs sweet. You will get an education on how to drink hold the wine glass and proper way to drink your wine, step by step - color, smell are as important as taste and ethanol content.
Remember not to drive back unless your alcohol level in your blood is well below legal limits.
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 Chinese Garden at Chateau
Montelena by geeyookLeave a Comment Address: 1429 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga, California 94515Phone: 707-942-5105Website: www.montelena.com
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 by pmarshuk
I must admit I preferred to visit Sonoma Valley rather than Napa when visiting wine country. It seemed more intimate and had much better scenery. However the wines from both areas were well tried and tested.
One of my favourite vineyards is Benzinger, the setting against the old Sonoma Mountain is great and the wine is pretty good too. Leave a Comment
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 Nappa Valley by seamandrew
What was great about Nappa Valley (and the Bay area as a whole) was that is probably the only place in the US where you can see mountains, ocean, skyscrapers, AND vinyards so close to each other. Leave a Comment Address: 8440 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford CA 94573Phone: 800-942-0809Website: www.stsupery.com Other Contact: Fax 707-963-4526
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