My husband and I are planning to go to wine country as a day trip while visiting relatives in Sacramento, but there are so many wineries, I'm not quite sure where to go....can anyone recommend a good itinerary?

We will be there in early April and have heard Sonoma is less crowded, but just as pretty/good as Napa. I was looking into doing a train tour w/ lunch, or maybe going on a special excursion tour for 4-5 hours so we can do tastings, but then have time to sober up and have dinner before driving back to Sacramento in the evening. I would appreciate any suggestions! Thanks.

This is a very easy day trip. I suggest an early start so that you can see as much as you can (there are over 200 wineries in Napa Valley). Wineries usually start opening at 10:00 am and close between 5-6:00. My recommendation would be to go to Napa Valley. I have been to both on multiple occasions and everything is more condensed in Napa so you can see more in a short period of time. My advice is to drive yourself. That way you can come and go as you see want. I recently ate at Don Giovanni in the Napa area. The food was great. You can research the wineries online and see what time they open. You will have a blast in Napa and wish you had 2-3 days to spend.

I'd suggest forgetting the wine train--all it does is go up the valley and then back down again; all you can see is what's visible from the train, and you don't have the option of getting out of a car and stopping wherever you want.

Here's a possible itinerary. Take Interstate 80 south from Sacramento and head for Winters; from there take the scenic route over the mountains past Lake Berryessa to St. Helena. Make a short stop on the way at Nichelini winery. When you reach the valley floor, go north toward Calistoga and visit Sterling Vineyards, which has a cable car that takes you from the valley up to the winery; fine view, good tasting. Afterwards, in the same area, visit the Cuvaison and Clos Pegase wineries. Possible lunch stop at the Culinary Institute of America if you're hungry by then.

Then head south To Rutherford and visit the Mumm operation. Afterwards go to the St-Supéry winery, which has a very good tasting room.

If you didn't have lunch near St. Helena, stop for lunch at one of the several excellent restaurants in Yountville; afterwards take the fine tour at Robert Mondavi Winery.

Next, especially if you're a fan of cabernet sauvignon, pay a visit to Stag's Leap Winery, up on the Silverado Trail.

Finally continue south to the turn-off toward Sonoma and stop at the beautiful Domaine Carneros, owned by the Taittenger family. The design is pure French château, and the wines are very pleasant. Finally, stop at Carneros Creek Winery, known especially for its pinot noirs.

After dinner at Don Giovanni, head back toward Sacramento, taking the road that leads toward and up Interstate 80 instead of the mountain route.

That should give you a little taste of the Napa Valley wine country. April shouldn't be especially crowded--the big season starts in the summer and continues through October.

If you're interested in particular wines or wineries, just ask.

Both previous posters suggestions sound really great, but from my experience last week their execution might be somewhat rushed and/or exhausting especially following your visit with relatives and recent air travel (presumed). While tracking very closely as you are planning (relatives in Sacramento, a trip to wine country) we were advised to skip the Berryssa route as too time consuming. Thus our itinerary took us through Jamison canyon (STR 12)from I-80, then into Napa and up the valley. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and traffic and crowds were surprisingly light. We enjoyed the Copola winery near Rutherford; found Yountville trendy yet quaint; St. Helena charmingly stuck in a past time; and the scenery stunning - spectacular. We also considered the train excursion, but declined noting later that it parallels inside 100 feet, the Valley highway. As a note: Upon returning the next day around noon or so, the traffic into Jamison canyon was horrific. We aborted and re-routed through Vallejo to connect with I-80.

The drive over the mountains takes the same amount of time as going I-80 and then across to Napa.

Another suggestion: visit Coppia in Napa, a wonderful wine/food exhibition with a good restaurant, Julia's Kitchen (the only one Julia Child has allowed to be named for her).