eyeball

I will be going to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay late June with my wife on Business. We arrive Friday and the meeting ends on Sunday morning (10:00am). Our flight back home leaves on Monday from SFO so we have one extra night. We would like to go to the wine country but not sure if there is enough time. Should we stay overnight in Napa area (Sunday) and return to SFO Monday or should we skip wine country all together and see another site south of San Francisco? Also, how long should I expect the drive to take if we do decide to go wine tasting from the Half Moon Bay.

nancytwo

You would really have a busy day but it could be done. The drive from Half Moon Bay to Sonoma (nice little town) area wineries would probably be the closest. You have to drive through SF and 19th Ave. will slow you down but maybe 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. I would spend the night but getting back to SFO could be a problem if you have an early flight you have to fight the commuters over the Golden Gate Bridge. You might have lots of fog in Half Moon Bay but you won't in the Sonoma/Napa area ie could be in the 50's in Half Moon Bay and the 80's in wine country.

viamar

You don't need to go all the way to Napa or Sonoma to go wine tasting. The Santa Cruz mountains are full of wineries. Bonny Doon winery is close to Half Moon Bay. It's about an hour south on highway 1 on Pine Flat rd. Go to www.winecountrygetaways/santacruz for a list and maps of other wineries.

montyw

There are also several other wineries in the Santa Cruz City are as well as the both sides of the mountains all the way up to near Half Moon Bay.

Go to http://www.scmwa.com/wineries.htm

Storrs is our favorite in town, but there are a few others including Pelican Ranch, Anderson Cellars, & Beauregard.

In the mountains there is of course Bonny Doon as previously pointed out, which is a great tasting room, but also my favorite David Bruce.
In Half Moon Bay you could check out Obester and there are several wineries in Woodside, Cupertino and Los Gatos that have amazing wines including some we recomend: Ridge, Testarossa, Savannah-Chanelle

eyeball

Thanks for your suggestions. If we do the Santa Cruz area should we just stay the night at Half Moon Bay before catching our flight home Monday at Noon from SFO.

montyw

You could easily stay in Half Moon Bay the additional night, or stay in a Hotel right next to the airport - but the drive from Half Moon Bay would be quick and easy to SFO

bodi

Another option, Enjoy the Ritz Carlton Sunday Brunch, then spend Sunday and night at the Landis Shores Inn in Half Moon Bay right on the beach and ask Ellen for a wine tasting experence to your liking. She is a respected sommelier and I'm confident she will do her best for you. I love staying in their inn and being right on the beach, very different from the cliff at the Ritz Carlton. If you like cheesecake, also check out the local Elegant Cheescake. They will deliver. Half Moon Bay is a very unique and beautiful village worth enjoying while you are there and then plan another visit to explore the wine country ,Russian River and coast. So much to see in every appellation.

iamq

If you do decide to stay in the area, don't Fogarty Winery in the mountains on Skyline Blvd between Highway 84 and Highway 9. Fabulous wines and gorgeous views of the Bay Area as it perched right on the side of the mountain.

-Bill

iamq

...what I meant to say was: Don't forget Fogarty...