bankbabe

Hi everyone -

We are headed to the west coast in a couple weeks and we will cover Pebble Beach, wine country and the city of San Fran, staying a few nights in each place. For wine country, we are staying in Sonoma, (Fairmont Mission Inn and Spa) and wanted to go to Stag's Leap winery. How bad is the damage at the wineries and vinyards? I assume roads will be clear by the time we get there? I have printed out Stu D's trip suggestions from years back and cannot wait! We are leaving on 9/11 (I know, I know.. with all the unrest in today's world, now I am kind of nervous about that, and then this earthquake recently too....). We are celebrating our 30 year anniversary, so the dates have been set for months.

Will everything be back up and running in wine country by the 14th?

Thanks,
bankbabe

Shanti

Here's an article with more info: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/25/665...lly-their.html

All the local articles have been about Napa. I haven't heard about any serious damage in Sonoma.

NewbE

I read that Silver Oak, the pictures of whose damaged wine cellar were widely distributed, reopened on Sunday. I think the vast majority of things are already up and running, especially in Sonoma.

DRJ

Good article in today's NYTimes.

NewbE

I just got an email from B.R. Cohn stating that their tasting room and retail shop in Glen Ellen are up and running, having never actually closed. They lost some wine at their warehouse in Napa, bit not as much as at first feared. FYI.

mlgb

Good article Shanti. We will be in Sonoma in 2 weeks and haven't heard that there is any damage.

NewbE

Thanks, Shanti, interesting article!

bankbabe

Great - thanks all.

mlgb - where are you staying?

mlgb

At a vineyard, up on Chalk Hill.

My best friend from college is SIL to one of the partners, we get the partner's house for two nights. Lucky me!!! Of course in return I am paying for the lodging for the other 10 days of our Thelma and Louise trip. Which is about what it would cost to rent the Partner House for 2 nights, so we're even.

sf7307

Our friends live across the street from Silver Oak and they had no damage whatsoever. So it's spotty. I don't think you'll even notice.

Momddtravel2

Happy Anniversary and enjoy your trip!

CatDarra

I was staying at the Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma when the earthquake hit. It was quite violent, but no injuries. There were large cracks and holes in the stucco of the lobby area, but it was mostly business as usual on Sunday once the power was back on.

I wish I had taken photos of the damage. If anyone else did, could you share? It was part of the adventure. Sorry to hear about the devastating losses at the wineries and local towns, though.

NewbE

<Our friends live across the street from Silver Oak >
I do, too--in my dreams, lol!! That is seriously enviable!!

mlgb

Tip: If you have Visa Signature Card, some of the Sonoma wineries don't charge for tastings.

Here's the list
http://www.sonomawine.com/visa-signa...s-winery-guide

And a map
http://www.sonomawine.com/images/vis...winery-map.pdf

rjw_lgb_ca

@mlgb: That sounds like a great time! I love Napa & Sonoma-- we entertained the idea of retiring up there in 15 or so years, and who knows? We just might. The list of wineries includes a few I really like, including Gundlach Bundschu, Landmark, Coppola and Paradise Ridge. This last one is really worth the visit-- their reds are awesome. Note that it has two sites; the Santa Rosa main facility is jaw-droppingly beautiful, while the Kenwood site is basically a tasting shack by the side of the Sonoma Highway-- seriously, it's a shack with a chicken coop out front. Which makes it that much more fun. And again-- the wines are KILLER.

@CatDarra: Sorry to hear there was a bit of superficial damage to the Mission Inn-- they had been renovating the lobby when I was there (April 2013 for a conference). I loved the place. Did you have a good stay there otherwise? Is Santé still great? (We also liked the Girl & the Fig in downtown Sonoma, incidentally....)

mlgb

Hi rjw_lgb_ca

I have a whole dissertation on wineries and restaurants. For now, the others that were suggested on the free tasting list were
Lynmar, Inman Family (both those near the airport), Stryker, Twomey, Thomas George, Chateau St Jean, and he also likes Landmark.

However he remarks that for Chateau St Jean it is the reserve tasting so I'm not sure that is the free one.

After we return I will do a little trip report and post the rest of his suggestions, I have to get to the bank now before it closes!

Centralparkgirl

I'm going to Sonoma (county) next week. I called our hotel yesterday and they assured me that they had no damage. I also asked about specific roads that I want to travel and meander on and they said that those were fine too. Interestingly, the rates at the hotel with a new booking are triple what I booked! I think they're taking advantage of misplaced visitors who were staying in Napa (like the Andaz) when the quake hit.

bankbabe

Wow CatDarra - thanks for that update! So, the lobby was the only place damaged that you could see? We are dining in Sante on the 15th which is our actual anniversary date.

Thanks mlgb for the fere wine tasing list too.

rattravlers

We were at The Harvest Inn in St Helena the night of the earthquake. It was scary but no apparent damage in that immediate area. The following day, we experienced a couple wineries with delayed openings or notices they would open the next day. We were supposed to check into the Napa Marriott for the next 2 nights but discovered it was evacuated and closed for structural evaluation. The biggest message from the local businesses was that for the most part, they are fine, up and running and very much in need of business. The media makes it appear as the whole area is a loss while it is actually quite localized and in specific buildings and streets. Having said that, after getting displaced from Marriott, we found the area hotel rates very high for a Sunday/Monday night.....kinda feel taken. Ended up staying at Wydown in St Helena for over $300 a night.

katydidnt

We are in Sonoma right now. No indication of any damage here. Staying at the Inn at Sonoma for just under $300 a night. Great location, close to the square. Not a luxury situation but very nice, would not hesitate to recommend.