Napa + Sonoma
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Napa + Sonoma see + do
Napa is famous for its regal cabernet sauvignon and other heat-loving varietals like chardonnay and merlot. Sonoma Valley is a little cooler; here zinfandels and syrah thrive. The summertime fog in the Russian River Valley and Napa Valley's Carneros District nurtures pinot noirs and long–hang time chardonnays. Starting at Copia in Napa is a good bet; the knowledgeable docents will help you plan your trip and will introduce you to the basics of wine tasting. Otherwise, arrange for a private tour and check out our favorites from below.
Nearly all Napa wineries charge for tastings—expect $5–$40 per person—while those in Sonoma tend to be free or to charge a nominal fee of $2–$10. Call ahead for appointments, and don't try to see more than three wineries per day: You're bound to burn out, and those little tastes add up.
If you're coming from San Francisco, begin or end the day at Artesa, one of the closest wineries to the city. Dug into a hilltop high above the Carneros...more
The mood is upbeat and fun at Bella, a family-run Sonoma winery where tastings are conducted inside the barrel cellars, within giant caves dug out of the...more
Napa Valley's newest, grandest winery is not a contemporary architectural monument but a recreated European castle, complete with moat, secco fresco murals,...more
When you've had it with crowds, cabernet, and the pretense of the major wineries, book a tasting at Charbay Winery, a folksy throwback to the days when Napa's...more
This two-story facility in downtown Napa hosts an array of exhibitions and classes relating to wine, food, and art, as well as daily tastings and demos to help...more
The first gallery-style garden exhibit in the United States, Cornerstone's nine-acre grounds showcase 20 different walk-through gardens by famed landscape...more
When you see the tongue-in-cheek cut-out sheep dotting the hillside just outside of Napa, you've arrived at di Rosa Preserve, one of the largest regional art...more
One of the first French-owned wineries in California, Domaine Chandon opened with a splash in 1975 and is best known for its wide range of sparkling wines,...more
Frog's Leap provides a playful counterpoint to Napa Valley's stuffier wineries. Built around a big red barn, Frog's Leap feels like exactly what it is: a farm....more
Before Napa became famous for wine in the late 1970s, the valley was best known for the boiling hot springs bubbling up through volcanic mud in Calistoga. The...more
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