Napa/Sonoma trip timing
Jun 8th, 2011, 01:47 PM
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Napa/Sonoma trip timing
My husband REALLY wants to go to the Napa/Sonoma area for a food and wine holiday. I'm very happy to tag along, but this is truly his trip (I'll be doing the research and planning as I have for the last ten adventures where he was a willing tag-a-long). We've crossed lots more off my bucket list than his.
We are thinking of a week-10 days trip, flying from the mid-west to San Francisco and driving north. What time of year would you choose? I can think of advantages and disadvantages for each of our options - early April or early to mid October. We would like one or two base locations and then do day trips from those. We like good food, good wine and smaller hotels or inns and back roads. Our budget is ample but not extravagant - it does allow for the occasional splurge.
Any recommendations of wineries or restaurants not to be missed?
We are thinking of a week-10 days trip, flying from the mid-west to San Francisco and driving north. What time of year would you choose? I can think of advantages and disadvantages for each of our options - early April or early to mid October. We would like one or two base locations and then do day trips from those. We like good food, good wine and smaller hotels or inns and back roads. Our budget is ample but not extravagant - it does allow for the occasional splurge.
Any recommendations of wineries or restaurants not to be missed?
Jun 8th, 2011, 02:08 PM
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October is my favorite month in northern California. April is nice, too. There's a chance that it might rain either month, but it's more likely to rain in April than October.
I remember going for a job interview near Sonoma before I moved to California. It was in October and just driving there - the area actually smelled like wine.
I remember going for a job interview near Sonoma before I moved to California. It was in October and just driving there - the area actually smelled like wine.
Jun 8th, 2011, 02:39 PM
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A wonderful trip and best time of year for both SF and wine country would be mid-September through mid-October. You aren't clear about spending time in SF, but if you want to you should allow at least 3 days to do it justice. Then I would split my time between the 2 wine valleys and spend 3 nights in Yountville or St. Helena on the Napa side and 3 days in either Healdsburg or Sonoma on the Sonoma side.
Accomodations are pricey, especially in wine country in October because it is the harvest season and a big draw, but midweek is usually cheaper, conversely weekend rates are usually cheaper in SF, so you could pick up a cost savings with good planning.
Wine country is almost all back roads so no need to find a place on the outskirts of any cities mentioned above. As for not to be missed food options, the choices are vast. But here are a few I like personally, though this is nowhere near comprehensive:
Napa- Bouchon, Bottega, Farmstead, Mustards
Healdsburg/Sonoma - Cyrus, Dry Creek Kitchen, Cena Luna
SF- Delfina, Foreign Cinema, Boulevard, La Mar Cevicheria, Chez Spencer, Town Hall, Kokkari, Bar Agricole...
Accomodations are pricey, especially in wine country in October because it is the harvest season and a big draw, but midweek is usually cheaper, conversely weekend rates are usually cheaper in SF, so you could pick up a cost savings with good planning.
Wine country is almost all back roads so no need to find a place on the outskirts of any cities mentioned above. As for not to be missed food options, the choices are vast. But here are a few I like personally, though this is nowhere near comprehensive:
Napa- Bouchon, Bottega, Farmstead, Mustards
Healdsburg/Sonoma - Cyrus, Dry Creek Kitchen, Cena Luna
SF- Delfina, Foreign Cinema, Boulevard, La Mar Cevicheria, Chez Spencer, Town Hall, Kokkari, Bar Agricole...
Jun 8th, 2011, 03:10 PM
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Early October is still crush. This is a busy time in the Wine Country. Rooms are more expensive than in April. It can be very warm then but the weather on the coast could be very nice.
April will be cooler and perhaps wetter. The vines are just coming out of dormancy. The hills are still green. There's wildflowers everywhere and the days are longer than October. The wineries will be less crowded in April especially during the week and so will the restaurants. For hiking and biking, April also is the best time to come.
April will be cooler and perhaps wetter. The vines are just coming out of dormancy. The hills are still green. There's wildflowers everywhere and the days are longer than October. The wineries will be less crowded in April especially during the week and so will the restaurants. For hiking and biking, April also is the best time to come.
Jun 8th, 2011, 03:55 PM
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For a splurge restaurant two great options are The French Laundry in Yountville and Meadowood in St. Helena (8 miles north). These are the only two Michelin 3* restaurants in California, 2 of just 10 Michelin 3*s currently in the USA.
French Laundry was ranked # 1 in USA for several years when Keller was chef but has recently slipped a bit to 'just' the top 4 or 5. Extremely difficult to get a reservation unless you are staying at one of the Yountville lodges that have a table reserved but worth it if you can score (you can also try calling at exactly the moment they open reservations 2 months in advance but the lines are generally jammed).
Meadowood just received 3* this past year and is much easier to get a reservation for, using OpenTable.com. We've dined at both and thought both lived up to the hype, with TFL a bit more ambitious and more expensive and slightly better.
Bouchon is owned by the same chef as TFL but a more relaxed place with less ambitious cuisine.
In Sonoma I hear Cyrus is excellent (haven't been there), pretty much on par with Meadowood most nights.
French Laundry was ranked # 1 in USA for several years when Keller was chef but has recently slipped a bit to 'just' the top 4 or 5. Extremely difficult to get a reservation unless you are staying at one of the Yountville lodges that have a table reserved but worth it if you can score (you can also try calling at exactly the moment they open reservations 2 months in advance but the lines are generally jammed).
Meadowood just received 3* this past year and is much easier to get a reservation for, using OpenTable.com. We've dined at both and thought both lived up to the hype, with TFL a bit more ambitious and more expensive and slightly better.
Bouchon is owned by the same chef as TFL but a more relaxed place with less ambitious cuisine.
In Sonoma I hear Cyrus is excellent (haven't been there), pretty much on par with Meadowood most nights.
Jun 9th, 2011, 02:08 PM
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Because the "crush" includes a crush of visitors with the associated traffic on the main road and at the tasting rooms, I'd pick the spring.
As noted by others, the hills are green, the vines are budding out, the weather is more pleasant and the crowds somewhat less than the fall. Still very busy on any weekend, but not like the Oct. scene.
Liked Mustard's in Napa Valley and Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg. Another less expensice choice in Healdsburg would the Zin Restaurant and Wine BarAlso the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville near Healdsburg. In the city of Sonoma the Girl & the Fig is excellent.
As noted by others, the hills are green, the vines are budding out, the weather is more pleasant and the crowds somewhat less than the fall. Still very busy on any weekend, but not like the Oct. scene.
Liked Mustard's in Napa Valley and Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg. Another less expensice choice in Healdsburg would the Zin Restaurant and Wine BarAlso the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville near Healdsburg. In the city of Sonoma the Girl & the Fig is excellent.
