Pamela

I have a trip planned to Napa in late August, but a lot of people who are posting messages here seem to think Napa is this crowded, awful, tourist destination. I live in Manhattan, so I can't see myself thinking anything else is crowded and full of tourists, but all these negative posts are giving me doubts about choosing Napa. I have a hotel reservation in Yountville, but is Sonoma really a better place to stay?

vinovino

I think Napa is more convenient which makes it more crowded & pricey. For example, most wineries especially on weekends charge to taste, typically $3-5. That adds up quickly. Napa is also a bit more 'snobby' to me while Sonoma is more friendly, laid-back & cheaper. In my view, if you have never been, by all means visit both. Go to Napa first though as you will have an even better appreciation for Sonoma.

Jennifer

Napa is very lovely. You will not be at
all disappointed. My husband and I have spent many lovely weekends there.
You can get to Sonoma within minutes to
visit both valleys. We love Yountville
and all that it offers so close together. You can walk to several rest.
and shops. I am amazed at all of the
people that put Napa down. But everyone
has their own opinion. Napa just has
more to see and do. Sonoma is more rural and spread out.

kal

Pamela,
I've been catching up on some of the recent Sonoma vs Napa Valley posts.
To each their own...but I guess Mrs Kal and I are the "white trash" that keeps NV in business?

We usually stay in Yountville (Bordeaux House or Railway Inn) or go thru Priceline and get The Napa Marriott for around $50/night. Yountville is a better, central location with a few good restaurants all located close together.

We like to bike ride and sometimes the roads over in Sonoma are a bit smaller, less shoulder than the Silverado Trail/Hwy 29.
Plus, in NV it's easier to ride criss-cross thru the vineyards on Pratt, Zinfandel Dr, Oakville Cross, Yountville Cross, etc... and get in a good ride without a lot of traffic.

Bottom line, since both are just a 10-15 min car ride away from each other, you can't go wrong in either valley.
Cheers!
Kal

Susan

Napa is beautiful and you will have a great time. If at all possible though, visit the wine country during the weekdays, and spend time in San Francisco over the weekends. You'll avoid some crowds in Napa this way, and hotel rates in SF are cheaper (relatively) on the weekends.

kam

Napa's not bad at all. It's just the most popular wine area in the state and consequently the most touristy. The wineries are pretty close together and traffic on hwy 29 can be just as bad as midtown Manhattan. Suggest you split your time between the two valleys by booking a couple days in Healdsburg or the town of Sonoma.

sandy

Pamela, the key to Napa is planning ahead, pace yourself, and not trying to see and do everything in a day. The problem with Napa in the summer is that the valley consists of two main roads running north/south parallel on each side of the valley with a few two-lane cross-roads bisecting. Highway 29, where most of the well known wineries are located (be aware that very few winery tastings are free now, but you may be able to keep the glass with the purchase (average cost: $5/pp for tasting an average of 6 wines) - too many people were taking advantage of drinking but not purchasing) - well known wineries are: Niebaum/Coppola (which used to be Inglenook, great tourist stop, stunning building and grounds) for learning about wine history in the valley, wine tour, gift shop, and everything you may want to learn about Francis Ford Coppola, and then some!); Cakebread (excellent wines selected for tasting); Beringer (even if you don't stop for a tasting, beautiful grounds to walk around, get there early to get reservations for the wine tour, it does get booked up); V. Sattui (great deli, they welcome you to picnic on their grounds if you purchase from the deli, (limited picnic tables, bring a blanket) and excellent shopping for wine-related gifts, no charge for wine tasting; Sterling Vineyards; Mondavi (old standard, lovely grounds, you may need advance reservation for the tour); Domaine Chandon (lovely buildings/grounds; Opus One - now open to the public, tours are strictly for private parties only, and it was a whopping $25 for a single wine tasting last time I was there. The road tends to get extremely crowded during the summer and being only two-lanes, does move slowly, no stop signs, no street lights to manage traffic. On the other side of the valley is the Silverado Trail, never as congested and a more scenic drive but fewer well-known wineries (although we particularly like Raumbauer and Mumm's Champagne is there, too). I suggest you get a Napa Valley winery map before you arrive, if you can, and select several wineries you want to visit (the concierge at your hotel can help too) and then set your route to stay on one side of the highway northbound, down the other southbound on Highway 29. With traffic bumper to bumper in the summer on the weekends (although late August may not be too bad), it's very difficult and frustrating to try to get across traffic. You may want to select a mix of types of wineries to visit (such as some with just tasting rooms or wineries with tours and gift shops too, etc., plus you may want to take advantage of other things to do in the valley (hot air ballon rides, Napa Valley Wine Train, the mud baths in Calistoga, Hurds Candle Shop, bike riding, excellent resturants, etc.) depending on how much time you have and your specific interests. Bottom line: if you want to see the beauty of the Valley, drive the Silverado Trail, for the fun and the crowds, stay on Highway 29, either way, have a great time!

Breaker

Sandy! My gosh!

Take a breath and insert a paragraph now and then!

linda

Oh Breather, give Sandy a break! Thank you Sandy for all that work!
I, personally, will not go back to Napa to tour and taste.Maybe for meals. I choose Sonoma and other areas of the state. I hate traffic and I hate hearing horns blowing , semis backfiring, etc. even when I'm having a $100.00 lunch at Auberge. Yes, there are great wineries and restaurants there. However, I can visit the region and sample all the great wines without having to stand in line, sit at traffic lights, etc. Go to tasting rooms in the region. Sonoma is truly peaceful and lovely.Next year, we'll start in Sonoma (city) then head towards Healdsburg and on north beyond Sonoma. It really depends on what your idea of a vacation is and what you want to experience.

eve

We just returned from two weeks there & definitely agree with the post about staying in San Fran. during the weekends & going to wine country during the week, if possible. We both liked Napa...there's some nice wineries to visit; however, we both liked Sonoma better...more rural, hills, curves, and stayed at Beltane Ranch (B&B)a couple nights in Glen Ellen, Ca. Oh, my gosh...what a treat! We couldn't have asked for more....a real gem in Sonoma. You can check out their website at www.beltaneranch.com Upon the approach, you feel like you're approaching Tara in Gone With the Wind!Their dogs even lead us through the vineyards...fresh flower garden right outside your room, tennis court, cow pastures, fresh cookies in the kitchen (all night...ask my hubby!), hammocks, gourmet breakfast on the veranda, fresh raspberries to pick, awesome room and accommodations. It was one of our favorites of the entire two weeks. Sonoma's best-kept secret, for sure! And you might want to drive a half hour out of the way and find Matanzas Creek Winery...ask how to get there. You are amidst fields of fresh lavendar and feel like you're in Provence, France. Definitely worth the trip, and awesome lavendar products as well as wine.
And don't forget Chinatown. Eat at Nan King where all the locals eat. We ate there three times and are still talking about it. Have fun!

Eve

I just posted a reply a minute ago, but just noticed you've already gone on your trip. Oh well....perhaps this will help someone who has yet to go!