With over 800 wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and hundreds of restaurants from diners to Michelin rated restaurants, planning a trip to Napa and Sonoma Valleys can be an overwhelming experience. We use our years of experience and insiders knowledge to create the perfect visit for you.
When to come depends upon on the experience you would like.
Don't like crowds or hot weather come to visit from November through March. The air is crisp with an occasional rain shower and the vineyards are dormant. Winery tours and tastings are widely available and prime restaurant reservations are plentiful. This is a great time for a leisurely experience.
Want to be here for the awakening of the vineyards, April through July is a magical time. From the first growth appearing in the vineyards to bud break, to the ripening of the grapes. You can experience the transition of the vineyards. This is the time for great experiences like wine release events to wine auctions to Bottle Rock . Winery appointments and restaurant reservations are slightly more limited but still available.
Don't mind crowds, harvest time is an amazing time to visit from August through October. Napa and Sonoma Wine country is very busy during this time. Visitors come from all over the world to see the harvesting and crushing of grapes. This is a great time to see first hand the wine making process . During this time appointments for winery tours and tasting and dining reservations are at a premium. A visit during the harvest season requires advance planning.
Drinking and driving is never a good idea, though it might seem like one when you see so many people in wine country leaving wineries and jumping into their rentals. The truth is that there is a lot of driving under the influence, but very few DUI checkpoints. Of course, that doesn't make it safe and a DUI means trading that resort bed for a jail cell
Feel free to share your tastings. Most tasting rooms have a normal charge for a certain number of pours in a flight. Some wine tasting rooms also have different tiers of tasting menus for different prices. For example, you may choose four wines per person from a list of ten. In these circumstances, we often suggest you order four different wines, taste each other’s, and thus experience eight different pours. You may also be able to choose a classic tasting menu or a reserve tasting menu flight. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to taste too much, try sharing one tasting between two people.
Only if you want to! Most wineries are more casual than you'd think, but that doesn't mean you'll be out of place if you want to wear something special!
Dress in Layers. Temperatures can vary drastically from foggy mornings to sunny afternoons. Take a lightweight jacket along—caves are kept at a consistent temperature of about 55 to 60 degrees and can feel chilly at any time of year. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. Another thing to keep in mind - typically, Sonoma is more casual than Napa.
Eat Beforehand. It’s best to not wine taste on an empty stomach. Even when you sip lightly, the alcohol levels can often add up.
Avoid coffee and chewing gum.The acidity and flavor will affect your palette.
Bring bottled water. Staying hydrated is critical. The best rule of thumb is to drink as much water as wine.
Avoid anything that interferes with your sense of smell. Heavy perfumes and lotions will affect your tasting experience. If you smoke, remember to consider that the smell of smoke could affect the tasting experience for you and for others.
Remember to switch your phone to vibrate. If you need to take a call, step outside as a courtesy to the other guests and staff. Tasters will be concentrating on hearing wine descriptions and answers to their questions.
Ask Questions.That’s right! If you want to know more about the winery or the wine, or if there is something you’re not sure of or don’t understand, just ask!
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