Napa or Sonoma?
 

My wife and I are going to SF for a long weekend for our anniversary in October. We're going to have one day for a day trip out of the city. Should we go to Napa or Sonoma?

Thanks in advance.

Flip a coin....
:)
Seriously, what do you want from the
experience ?
(My anniversary is in Oct, BTW and I was married over in Sonoma town.)
R5

We've never been to either. I guess we'd like something not very commercial, not too crowded with great wine and beautiful scenery.

Ah then, I would suggest a drive up to Healdsburg. Specifically a drive along
West Side road in the Russian River
Valley. One way to go would be Hwy 101 North to Santa Rosa, head west on Guerneville Road to Laguna Rd.-turn right and make your first visit to Martin Ray and perhaps Joseph Swan and tad further down Laguna Road on the right. Follow Laguna Rd. to River Rd.
turn left. Go right on Wohler Rd.
turn right and this will lead you directly to West Side Rd. Many great wineries to choose from.

West Side Rd. will take you into Healdsburg where there are lots of yummy choices for
a meal. After lunch you could venture into the Dry Creek or Alexander Valleys. You could return to SF via Hwy 101 or take you time and venture along the coast on Hwy 1.

All spectacular views !
Good maps are at www.wineroad.com.
Happy Anniversary !
R5

OOOOOOps, my bad...
Correction:
>>>>Go right on Wohler Rd.
turn <b>LEFT</b> and this will lead you directly to West Side Rd.&lt;&lt;&lt;
R5

Yes!

'dazzle dippin into the cookin' sherry already? &gt;:D&lt;

Razzledazzle has given you an excellent plan for beautiful scenery and excellent wine. If you're interested in Healdsburg restaurants check out my earlier reply.

I like the Russian River Valley area. Not far from Healdsburg. If you need a place to stay, I HIGHLY reccommend a cabin at the foot of the redwoods 1/2 block from the Russian River. www.springhillcabin.com You will LOVE it.

Sorry, I guess my reply was cut off.

&quot;Napa&quot; to some is the wine country north of there to include many small towns.

&quot;Sonoma&quot; to some people is another wine country area.

Do you want a wine tour or an experience out of town for your anniversary?

If the latter I would definitely recommend Sonoma...especially for an anniversary. The town of Sonoma is charming and historical.

try this...sonomavally.com...

There is NO WAY a comparison between the town of Sonoma and the city of Napa.

follow that razzle.

Pammer....
OK...I will. My pleasure &gt;:D&lt;

Hello,

If you want a first-class wine and dining experience and a cozy country inn, I'd recommend Napa. The restaurants in Yountville include The French Laundry and Bistro Jeanty, two of the best restaurants in the Bay Area.

Cheers,
Julian

I agree with the previous poster, Bistro Jeanty is very nice. If you want a nice special occasion place, we really enjoyed our meal last March at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville. www.farmhouseinn.com It's a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trek! ***kim*** ((f))

One of my very favorite places to stay is the Cottage Grove Inn in Calistoga (north end of Napa.) Though with just one day, you may want to consider a shorter drive from SF. The Cottage Grove Inn accommodations are private cottages- with world's most comfortable bed- fireplace, jacuzzi tub (big enough for two), TV/VCR/Stereo...wine and cheese in the &quot;main cottage&quot; every afternoon, it's a tiny little piece of heaven (and seems far removed from what can be the more bustling areas of Napa.) The restaurants in Napa are fantastic (other comments are correct)- just want to add a suggestion of the CIA at Greystone (Culinary Institute of America's Wine Spectator Restaurant.)

My husband and I stayed at the Gaige House in, in Sonoma and it was amazing. We loved it there and loved all the winery near that area.. I highly recommend Sonoma because it just seems more homey and has great restaurants and wineries just within a 5-8 mile radius. We can't wait to go back and we live in Los Angeles.

Both are wonderful places--I did a wine tour that covered both. The town of Sonoma is so charming--would love to return some day. We ate in a restaurant there that was owned by the family that owns Viansa Wine Vineyard--I believe they are related to the Sebastiani family. Anyway, the food was great! Enjoy your trip.

The wineries in Sonoma generally don't charge you to taste whereas most in Napa do. For that reason, we spend most of our time in Sonoma.

Dave

If it were my anniversary the last thing I would want to do is battle the crowds in the Napa Valley.

As someone mentioned, the town of Sonoma is historic, the downtown being built around an 8-acre plaza and surrounded by adobe buildings from the Mexican period.

There are wineries all through the valley, and the valley scenery is beautiful. One of them is Buena Visa where Count Haraszthy &quot;began&quot; the California wine industry by importing European grapes.

Another is Benzinger (sp?)in Glen Ellen, which gives a good tour, and Kunde Estates, on Hwy 12 further toward Santa Rosa. Their wine storing is done in a tunnel carved into the limestone hill with the same technology that built the Chunnel across the English Channel.

Sebastiani is just on the edge of town, walking distance from the Plaza.

There are many more.

Besides many bed and breakfast establishments in the valley, there are two historic hotels on the Plaza.

Go to sonomavalley.com and check out the visitor's bureau website. They will send you wine maps etc.

With one day the Healdsburg or Russian River ideas would have you traveling further. The town of Sonoma is 45 minutes fron the Golden Gate Bridge.

Napa or Sonoma? I love them both. But, I am surprised no one has mentioned Auberge d'Soleil, for a place to stay or a fantastic meal. Don't remember whether it is in Napa or Sonoma, but either way, it is a heavenly spot (if you don't mind the $$$).

We like them both. But a very nice road to drive is Silverado Trail, which runs east from Napa all the way up.
Many wineries there and beautiful views as the road is in a higher elevation

Auberge du Soleil is actually in Rutherford. www.aubergedusoleil.com We have had nice lunches out on the patio there. It's a very nice place. ***kim*** ((f))

&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;The wineries in Sonoma generally don't charge you to taste whereas most in Napa do. For that reason, we spend most of our time in Sonoma.

Dave&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;&quot;

Reflects the fact that Napa wines are better than Sonoma.

<i>Reflects the fact that Napa wines are better than Sonoma.</i>

Or, reflects the fact that Napa is far more crowded and vinters are tired of all the looky loos who don't buy!

My vote is Sonoma.

beenderdundat2

What a joke !!

jtrandolph,

I'm not joking.

While Napa may have had a reputation for the best wines in CA, that is supposedly changing, and Sonoma is now being seen as the place to find the better wines. Most artlicles and comparisons I've read (even my text book for my Wine class) now say that Sonoma overall has better wines, especially Pinot Noir, Zins, Merlots.

But it all comes down to personal taste. If you don't have a preference, why not try Sonoma and the Russian River area and avoid the crowds?

jt-Just remember,school is still out...
:S-
R5

Stop in at the No-Tell Motel and order a bottle of Sonoma Coma.

That's right, razzledale, when you learn a thing or 2 about wine, then you can butt in.

beenderdundat2

Hi R5, sooner of later the &quot;know it all&quot; tourist will go home, LOL!! Hope you have had a good weekend. Take care.

Triple LOL.
So will the self-absorbed wannabe-local-authority-on-bad-advice who's being trumped by the non-local.

The reason that many Napa wineries charge to taste is/was to discourage day-tripping kids from coming in &amp; 'sampling' on tours,etc. when you know they aren't going to buy anything (this omes from several of the vintners). Napa is much more compact &amp; you can hit many wineries in a short period of time. Not to mention, the wineries in Napa do think very highly of themselves &amp; do believe they make the best wines in the world. &amp; some of them do. However, for the money &amp; atmosphere I'll choose Sonoma over Napa all day. I would suggest the wine &amp; food pairings @ J, &amp; perhaps lunch &amp; a private tasting @ Ledson. Rodney Strong is right next door to J &amp; St. Francis is right down the street from Ledson. Quivera is also a personal favorite for reds (although quite off the beaten path) &amp; Preston is wonderfully unique &amp; has quite a nice bakery.