europeannovice

Which winery provides the most comprehensive tour? Some only do tastings and others provide a full tour. Of the ones that provide the tour which in your opnion is the best?

Are children allowed on the tours? I know they are not allowed to parktake in the tasting but was wondering if there are restrictions on the winery tours.

Is an overnight recommended or can it be feasibly done as a day trip from San Francisco?

Which area do you recommend for an overnight--Sonoma? Napa? Healdsburg? Any other favorites?

Some of the wines I prefer seem to offer only tastings at their vinyards rather than tours but I would prefer to do the tour if they allow children to it.

Giovanna

The following URL might give you answers to some of your questions.

http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com/

boom_boom

Most tours I've taken allowed children. Sometimes they had a minimum like 10 or 12, but not always. Some place has self-guided tours.
Two places I recall right off that allowed children on tours were Iron Horse, near Forestville and Artesa, between Somona and Napa.

You can do it in a day trip from SF, but I don't think it's the best way. Sonoma County (Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexandar valleys) are a bit less crowded than Napa and IMO the wines are just as good.

elnap29

Beringer Winery, while not my favorite wines, has good tours of their lovely grounds and wine caves. They have tours specifically for families. (This winery is in St. Helena in the Napa Valley). http://www.beringer.com/index.cfm?me...2-c1394cd9b865

Centralparkgirl

I'm no expert and I don't know the age of your children, but the tour of Castello di Amorosa in Napa was wonderful - very interesting about the building of the castle and quite beautiful. http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/

easytraveler

How old are your children?

kleroux

Pick one winery to tour. Once you've seen the basics you don't need to do another one. If you go to Healdsburg, your kids can amuse themselves in the town square, while you and your husband trade off watching them and tasting wine at tasting rooms around the square itself. Hbg is about 1.5 hrs north of the Golden Gate bridge. You could do a day trip.

MichelleY

Agree with kleroux. With kids, only tour one winery and don't spend alot of time. A day trip from SF would probably be fine. Agree Beringer or Castello di Amorosa would be fun for them. Otherwise, wine country will be a big yawn for them.

MY

SAnParis2

If you do visit Beringer, go straight to the 'Library ie. top shelf' tasting room upstairs & avoid the swill they pour downstairs.

SOCALOC

If you do visit Beringer, go straight to the 'Library ie. top shelf' tasting room upstairs & avoid the swill they pour downstairs.
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Good advice.

The link below provides information for 'family friendly' tours.

My first thought is Sterling Vineyards due to the kids might enjoy the aerial tramway to the top?

http://www.napavintners.com/wineries...y_wineries.asp

europeannovice

Thanks everyone so much! This is really great information about family friendly things to do. I didn't realize the area offers this much stuff to do for families.

razzledazzle

Well we do have alot of families who live here, LOL !
Do you know about Safari West ?
http://www.safariwest.com/
Then there's kayaking on the Russian River
http://www.guernevillesport.com/Kayaking.html
or hiking around Pt. Reyes
http://www.nps.gov/pore/
or the Armstrong Redwoods State Preserve
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=450
and beautiful beaches
over at Bodega Bay at Sonoma Coast State Park
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=451

Lots to do other than wine realated things-
what time of year will you be here ?

R5

europeannovice

We are going in the summer--just not sure yet which month. We are working on the decision.

From wine country is it wise to stop at Muir Woods on the way back to San Francisco or is it better to leave Muir woods for another day entirely since it is only 30 minutes away from San Francisco and I understand gets really crowded during the day?

Also in wine country, can anyone recommend really good restaurants in Yountville and/or Healdsburg that is not outrageously expensive but offers good food? We are working on location to stay overnight also.

Trip advisor folks recommend French Laundry but not all reviews are stellar and the price appears really high. Are there more reasonable options?

Do Kendall Jackson and Simi only offer tastings and not tours?
I agree with the post above about Beringer--I didn't like their wine that I tried but are the wine caves worth seeing? Or is it better to go to the Sterling vinyard with the cable car or the castle at Castello Amorosa? If you had to chose one of those which would it be?

How many do we realistically have time for in a given day? I imagine you spend a couple of hours at each so can't possibly cover all the family friendly wineries. Which to chose?

Dayle

europeannovice,

I've done the tours at Beringer and Domaine Chandon. Both were many years ago, but I enjoyed the Domaine Chandon tour very much and found it quite interesting. Beringer tour was OK, nothing very special. Grounds are beautiful. I tasted in the library and that was very good!

Castello d'Amorosa - I skipped the tour and tasted. I loved their Italian style wines and went home with about 8 bottles. Their Sangiovese is one of the best I've ever had - outstanding!

marisylvia

The Napa Wine Train is a good way to visit Wine Country without having to drive, and you won't need a Designated Driver.
As for the French Laundry, it is one of the most celebrated and expensive restaurants in the country, possibly the world, and not suitable for children. You also have to book reservations far in advance, especially in the summer. Depending on where you go if you drive, there are many good, family friendly restaurants. I think Trip Advisor is a good resource, and suggest you narrow your search so you only get child (kid) friendly results.