Sonoma/Napa Itinerary - Please Comment - R5?
OK, here's the closest thing to a final itinerary I think we will get.
We've had to do alot of juggling, and are trying to be flexible.... Guys at the local wine merchant we've gone to tastings at are trying to set up a few tours. Mentioned Chalk Hill, Chapallet, and Contessa (can't find this - perhaps I heard the name wrong. I haven't finalized these yet). Day 1 - Monday, Oct 4 Travel Day Get into SFO from BOS at 12:47pm Drive to house to unload Grocery shop for week Quick dinner near house - ?Breakaway Cafe Day 2 - Tuesday, Oct 5 Drive to Cloverdale to check out town Head to Geyserville Ferrari-Carano Winery Head to Healdsburg Chalk Hill Winery Tour town/shops Lunch in Healdsburg Head back to Sonoma Plaza for Farmer's Market Day 3 - Wednesday - Oct 6th Drive to Windsor/Santa Rosa to check out towns Head to Kenwood Chateau St. Jean Winery Head to Glen Ellen - tour town Day 4 - Thursday - Oct 7th Drive North on Hwy 29 to Calistoga See town/shops Drive South on Silverado Trail Beringer Winery - St. Helena Tour St. Helena town/shops Lunch in St. Helena Chappellet Winery Head South to Rutherford Niebaum-Coppola Winery (There are 3 wineries on this day, so we are going to need to cut one. We want to do 1, 2 at the most per day to leave time for other things.) Day 5 - Friday - Oct 8th Head South to Carneros region Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves Viansa Winery Head to Petaluma Tour town/shops/victorian district/riverwalk Lunch at Dempsey's Day 6 - Sat - Oct 9th - Friends Arrive Drive to Napa - see town/shops Drive to Yountville See town/shops Domaine Chandon - Yountville Drive to Oakville and meet friends at Opus One for 2pm tour Copia Lunch in Napa - ?Don Giovanni?? Friends back to house with us Day 7 - Sun - Oct 10th - Last Full Day Brunch with friends at Cafe La Haye - Sonoma Plaza Head to Sebastapol See town/shops Iron Horse Winery Duncans Mills - see shops Head to Sonoma Coast Jenner Bodega Bay Goat Rock Beach Day 8 - Oct 11th - Travel Home Pack Flight leaves SFO at 1:55pm Any comments appreciated. Also, suggestions for lunches in towns noted would help. Would also like suggestion for dinner spot for Sat. night with friends close to our place - Sonoma or Glen Ellen. Moderate price, and not dressy or "fussy" but not burgers and fries either. Upscale casual sort of. |
Too much trapsing all over the county for me-here's how I would group you
more geographically Day 2 AM Santa Rosa (lunch) PM Hwy 12/Kenwood(Chateau st. Jean)/Glen Elen(Benzinger or Valley of the Moon) To Farmers Market in Sonoma Day 3 Cloverdale/Geyserville/Healdsburg (lunch) Windsor/Cotati/Rohnert Park Day 4 Mostly Napa-that's fine-I would cut Beringer, the grounds are pretty, no need to drink. Day 5 Fine-where are you buying me that drink? Day 6 Coppia then Napa lunch (Don Giovanni)then Yountville then Opus One or better yet, do Yountville AFTER Opus One. Day 7- Fine what did I miss? R5 |
Wow!
What a tough Taskmistress!!!! :-O |
Day 2 - I would have a picnic lunch at Chateau St Jean. I would also visit the nearby St Francis winery. I was very disappointed at Neibaum-Coppola - it is very commercial and feels like a tourist trap. I think it is a great idea to get yourself a limo tour or designated driver. Worrying about driving can put a damper on the tasting.
|
Yeah, Kal,I think so too...
:S- Wanderer, you just gotta wander more :d It will all work out fine! R5 |
R5 -
Owe you a CASE of wine, not just a drink for all your help!! Can anyone tell me how much time we will need on a Monday early AM to get from Agua Caliente to SFO airport? |
Since you're already doing Cafe La Haye for brunch ( we had an excellent dinner there) how about the girl and the fig for dinner?
We have also enjoyed the Swiss Hotel a few times for dinner out on their back patio with the fire going, very nice. ***kim*** |
We really enjoyed Piatti just off the Square - Relaxed place with great patio and very good food.
Also be sure on one night at your house to walk to the Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa for a night cap or desert - they have big fire pits and even sell smores kits! Good dinks and deserts at the bar off of the main lobby! Overall I think you schedule looks pretty good. I think I could fit more into some of the days and have less overlap, but it doesn't look terrible. I also find that it is nice to have an idea of a few places to go on the way and if something looks better then do that instead! |
Good suggestion for the SMI, I love that place! We haven't seen the complete remodel yet, last March they told me it would be compelted in July.
It's always my first choice when in Sonoma area. I love their Apricots N' Cream body lotion they sell there. How about Carnaros for dinner? At the Lodge at Sonoma? Haven't been there, but hear it's really good! ***kim*** |
Since it appears you'll be in the St Helena area on a Friday, you might want to visit their Farmers Market in the morning. It's pretty amazing.
Another option for dinner on Sat night is La Poste in Sonoma. It's a small French Bistro and very good. |
Montyw - Please give suggestions about filling in and expound on "overlap".
We've read that the roads in Sonoma are difficult to drive at night (I assume not well lit?) and to stay close to home for dinner. Is this accurate?? Can anyone answer the airport question? How much time should we plan to get to SFO airport from Agua Caliente early Mon AM? We will have a rental car to drop off. Have e-tickets, and only carry-ons. |
The only thing that gets overlapped in Sonoma/Napa when I'm there is my belt! 8-}
|
IMHO I think you have some "overlap"
due to the fact that you are researching the majority of Sonoma county as a future place to live-with that knowledge you may see the some of the same town/road countryside more than once, but not spend an equal amount of time in in it-yes some "overlap", but not unecessary redundancy considering your "mission". Now as to your airport question Mr. R5 travels Hwy 101 to Pt.Richmond (crossing the San Rafael bridge) 5 days a week. The traffic in this corridor is miserable.To arrive at 8AM he leaves Petaluma at 6:30-6:45. It is not unusual for him to be later if an accident screws things up.If you are continuing on to SFO via 19th Ave./280 I would allow no less than an additional hour. 2.5 hours minimum. Now, because there are 2 of you, you can travel in the carpool lane from the Sonoma/Marin County line (just North of Novato) into Corte Madera (I think)and that will help your time. You just never know what's going to happen on the Bay area freeways. I had 2 clients meeting with me up here at 10 AM this morning traveling 2 different routes from the south and no one got here until 10:45-in a reverse commute flow. In addition, Hwy 101 is well-lit,Hwy 12 116,121 are not. I don't know that I would stay home, but because of their curvy nature in places, I wouldn't drink and drive! R5 |
R5, thanks for the airport info. I never would have guessed 2.5 hours! And I thought Boston traffic was bad!!
We really like Cafe La Haye, and are thinking dinner there with friends Sat as it is close and menu looks great. That takes our Sunday brunch pick. Can anyone recommend a good place in Sonoma/Glen Ellen for Sunday brunch? We will be heading to Sebastapol from there, and our friends heading back to Sacramento. One more week - can't wait!! R5, what do you like to drink?? |
I just found Meritage - menu looks pretty good for brunch. Anyone eaten there?
We are unsure of Domaine Chandon for Sat. AM, as we are already doing a Champagnery (Gloria Ferrer). Can anyone suggest another winery in Napa/Yountville/Oakville/Rutherford? We will be touring Opus One later that day, so don't want a tour, just a winery with some ambience, architecture, etc. or something unique. |
Yep, it's that bad,especially Monday AM. We have no
mass transit in Marin/Sonoma/Napa counties (like your "T"-I lived in the Back Bay for a year, BTW) so it's pretty much HWY 101 or 580/80 to the City. Meritage is fabulous-we had lunch there Sept.2nd-I do believe they moved Labor Day weekend, so do call them first. Probably on their website. I can give you (3) of my favorite wineries. There will be no mob scene/gift shop/tour buses/mass picninicking at any of these. A lovely gem of a winery, beautiful architecture and wine, Robert Sinskey on the Silverado Trail. Rombauer, also on the silverado Trail is equally gorgeous-I LOVE their Chardonnay. If you want truly unique architecture and grounds then, on your way over to Napa, off Hwy 12 on Dealy Road-then Artesa is a MUST. Websites have all the directions. R5 |
Strongly agree about Sinsky and Rombauer. Also on Silverado is Joseph Phelps - beautiful setting and there are picnic tables but I think you have to call ahead and reserve one. The tour and tasting is also on a reserved basis.
|
Consider eating at Celedon which is at the Napa River Inn near Copia.
Skip uninteresting Cloverdale. I strongly second a tasting at Robert Sinskey. |
Thanks everyone.
R5, what time you meeting us at Dempseys? |
oh my goodness wanderer if you don't decide to move here I'll eat my organic hat!
|
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:46 AM. |