My husband and I are planning to spend three days in the wine country. I think we will spend one day in Napa and two in Sonoma. We will be touring the wineries in a rental car and would like to see a good mix of small and large wineries. We love big, bold reds. With that background information in mind, where do you recommend that we go?

I know there are a million posts on this very subject (and I think I have read them all!), and I tried to make a list of the recommended wineries, but my list now looks like this:

Napa - Sterling, Silver Oak, Tumi, Frank Family Wineries, Domaine Carneros, Joseph Phelps, Stag's Leap.

Sonoma - Artesa, Ferrari-Carano, Ronsenblum, Amphora, Cakebread, David Caffaro, A. Raffanelli, Sebastini, Ledson, Benzinger, Bella, Seghesio, Viansa.

As you can see, I am a bit overwhelmed! Could someone recommend a good plan for each of our three days that makes sense, both in terms of the location of the wineries and our interests? Thanks very much!

If you like reds and a smaller winery, try Wilson on Dry Creek Rd. in Healdsburg. Really great wines. Their zins are usually fabulous. As with any winery, they vary year by year..depends on the harvest etc., but they are consistanly good.

Cakebread is actually in the Napa Valley on Highway 29. Just north of Cakebread is Peju Winery, one of my favorites. Their Cabernets are big, fruity, smooth, and wonderful. It is a small family-owned winery; they live on the property and can be frequently found working out in the gardens, as they love growing things. It is a friendly place and often there is a lot of singing, yodeling and silliness in the tasting room - fun!
Artesa is also in Napa, not too far from Domaine Carneros. These are both in the southern part of Napa Valley.
Since I don't know your lodging or geographic itinerary, I'd just suggest the following:
Visit in this order (starting South and heading North)
1. Domaine Carneros (hwy 12)
2. Artesa (from hwy 12 take Old Sonoma Rd, then left Dealy Lane, watch for signs on left for Artesa)
The next grouping is between Oakville and Rutherford on and off Hwy 29 -
3. Silver Oak, Cakebread, Peju
Take Rutherford Crossroad over to Silverado Trail, head North to
4. Joseph Phelps
5. Frank Family Vineyards
Sterling is on Dunaweal Lane between Silverado Trail and Hwy 29 - The view is great, the wines...not my favorite; I hear it now costs $20 to ride the tram up to the tasting room.
Decide whether you want to go to STAG'S Leap or STAGS' Leap (two different wineries as noted by the courts with the placement of the apostrophe). They are both on Silverado Trail further south.

David Caffaro was our favorite winery in Sonoma. It's about "2 doors down" from Ferrari Carano and SO different. Ferrari Carano is big and beautifully landscaped. David has what looks like a huge barn where he has tastings. We were lucky and got there when David himself was there. His assistant led us through several (generous) barrel tastings. We liked almost every single one of them. (We are big red fans too...) David let us walk thru his vineyard. Got some wonderful photos.

My other favorite was Russian Hill Winery in the Russian River area. Their 2002 pinot noir was heavenly.

You desperately need this map to organize your tour:
http://tinyurl.com/y7xz7j

It's from Compass maps, and IMHO is the best for this region.
As has been noted, your Sonoma picks are all over the county and some are in Napa-soooooo this map will sort that out for you. You may also want to do a tad more research on your choices-
A.Rafanelli is by appt. only, for example.

Happy touring !

R5

5 bucks for a map???.... here's a sample of one for free
http://www.napavintners.com/maps/map...a_wineries.asp

As suggested by JayZee, the napavinters map is terrific and useful! Plus it's free.

There are a ton of good FREE winery maps once you're in the wine country, To pay $5 bucks for an online map is a rip off!

Oh, and by the way, here's one from Sonoma ... and it's free online. There are a ton of others if you google - just don't get suckered into paying for them.

http://www.wineroad.com/maps

i would skip Twomey (they only make Merlots, and they are too expensive, IMO) and Viansa. The latter is fine for eating food samples, etc, but the wine has gone to pot. We used to be wine club members, but quit 2 years ago when we couldn't stand what they were sending. I'll add a second to Wilson- grrreeaaat wines. While you are at Amphora, stop in across the parking lot at Papapietro-Perry. They make some incredible Pinots. I've enjoyed their wine club the most this year!

bookmarking

Sebastiani and Ledson are nice places in Sonoma, you may also want to add Gundlach-Bundschu to your list, really nice Merlot and Pinot Noir there. You will love Domaine Carneros, also. ***kim***

Go ahead and try to print out JayZee's
map-it will be pretty useless if you want to take it with you, LOL!

Yes, there are loads of maps on the internet. So any traveler can print out
multiple pages and paste them all together. What a mess !

The map I'm suggesting
is much, much clearer than any on-line map I've seen.

So folks, don't knock it if you've never seen it.

R5

Gary Farrell and do make reservations for Rafanelli. Look at the wineries along Alexander Valley Road. (check the wineroad.com map.). As R5 said your places mentioned are in all sorts of directions.

Rosenblum is a storefront in downtown Healdsburg. Try their Rockpile Road Syrah. Seghesio is a good tasting room and can provide you with the taste of some old vine Zins. It is just outside downtown Healdsburg. Sapphhire Hill is in the town of Healdsburg and has some pretty decent Zin and Pinot Noir. Along the Alexander Valley Road you have places like Sausal which also make very good Zins.

On the Sonoma side you will have your pick of some VERY good Zins and Pinot Noir. Check out wine sources for some info on Russian RIver Valley Pinots.

Check out sfgate.com for the recent listing of the Chronicle Wine Awards.


In Napa I do recommend Robert Sinskey as a tasting room. It's really a nice winery and has some very good reds as well. Rombauer along the Silverado Trail is a must for Chardonnay. Also on the Silverado Trail is Silver Oak.
Stag's Leap is there as well.

In the town or area of Sonoma itself you will find Ledson I think and Acacia. Acacia is a good tasting room as well with some very good wines. I particularly like their chardonnay and their pinot noir.

So I shouldn't pay $5 for a map but I should pay $200+ for a PDA or lap top and lug it around the Wine Co. just to save $5?:-?

We went into the Chamber of Commerce in Yountville and the guy gave us a map and marked the wineries with free tastings.
We were on bicycles but thanks anyway.

Are they more or less?

Anyway, sure look at the i'net all yah want while planning because IT'S FREE.

I prefer to drive to Border's, B&N et al...and <gasp> BUY A MAP rather have it mailed to me.

Make sure you start out at Wine Merchant at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market (formerly a dump site), now a hot gotta-see place. http://www.postcardsforyou.com/sffarmersmarkt.html

Tell Peter (the Market icon replete with tablecloth, wine, seasonal items and newspaper) you heard about it from travelingmom.com and he might offer you a cracker (if it's in season)!

TarHeel...........Joseph Phelps is wonderful as is Opus One and they are pretty close together. Also try Far Niente, but you'll need to call ahead for a reservation.....have a great time.

Pam, a few years ago when my nephew turned 40, my niece had a big party weekend for him in Napa. During the day one of our stops was Robert Sinskey. It was in March but it was so warm that we sat out on the deck and the server brought us nice things to eat, and bottles to taste. That's such a nice memory - thanks for reminding me of it.

For Napa, I do like Robert Sinskey as well. Also, Darioush and Pine Ridge might be of interest.

I know you said you like your big reds, but if you decide to take a break while in Sonoma, J Winery has a pretty tasting room and I enjoy their bubbles.

You can get a free map of the Russuan River area sent to you. I got one a couple years ago. I need to get another for our trip this summer....