Request Info: 1st time visit to CA wine country

[winoweenie]

Hi Jodi.Here`s my ideas for 1st time visitors to the vallies. I`m not personally acquanted with any of the B&B`s as I stay with friends there but friends of mine have stayed and highly reccommend the Wine Country Inn In St. Helena. Even tho Napa is far more travelled than Sonoma, I think you`ll be able to get more done in the short period of time by staying in Napa. There are several of the great wineries close by; Merryvale, Beringer, Mondavi, B.V. and some super smaller ones like Cakebread , Spottswood, And Freemark Abbey that generally welcome visitors. There are also IMHO some of the best restaurants clustered in St. Helena. Terra, Brava Terrace ( In the Freemark Abbey Plaza and a hop-skip-and-jump from Beringer, Krug, and Markham) Tra Vigne, Paris Parkside Cafe, and the famous old Greystone Restaurant that now serves as a training ground for culinary students. Across the hiway from Brava Terrace is teh beautiful old mansion housing St. Clement and its newly opened tasting room. Calistoga is only a few miles up the road and on your right you`ll see the beautiful Sterling Vineyard winery and tasting room which is not to be missed.( Unless you`re afraid to ride in a cable-car.) Calistoga is a fun town to walk and shop. There are many fine restaurants. I like the informality of the All-Seasons Cafe and their super wine list. Wappo Bar and Bistro is relatively new, but a real dining experience. You should go south on 29 and plan on lunch at Domaine Chandon, one of the prettiest and plushest spots in the valley. Mustards Grill is also a popular spot and there are plenty of wineries to sample on the way. Highly reccommend Whitehall Lanes tasting room, Grigich Hills ,Beaulieu, Niebaum-Coppola, Cakebread, Mondavi, Opus One,Far Niente, and Cosintino in that order. Then you`re in Yountville and Dom Chandon. Do half on the way down and the other half going back north. We have now done 2 very intense days. I`d suggest on the 3rd day ( going back to SF or Oakland) cut over to the Silverado Trail and start your day at Joe Phelps beautiful winery. The last 2 I`d suggest are Plumpjack and Groth. You`ll probably be on schedule to leave so drive carefully. Save Sonoma for your next visit. Plan on at least 3 days there as the wineries aren`t as clustered as in Napa and getting around will take up a lot of your time. Again, if you have any further questions E-Mail me. winoweenie Oh, by the way, you wont have to worry about buying any wine at the places you`re going as I just remembered your 10-buck limit.

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 01-13-2001).]