The world-famous Wine Country comprises two
picturesque valleys, Napa and Sonoma, and the extensive hills and dales
surrounding them. Altogether, this bucolic zone boasts over 300
wineries, from which countless award-winning wines have emerged. Napa,
the slightly more distant of the two, is more developed for visitors,
while Sonoma is more low-key but equally inviting. Both are convenient
for a day trip, but it’s worth spending a day or two here – not only to
sample the fruit of the vine but also to take a dip in one of the
rejuvenating hot springs that abound throughout the area (see Wine Country Spas).
Napa Valley Wine Train
Clos Pegase
Sterling Vineyard
Opus One
Domaine Chandon
Hess Collection
V Sattui
Beringer Vineyards
“Old Faithful” Geyser
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Since 1857, wine-making
has been the mainstay of this area. A phylloxera blight in the early
1900s nearly put an end to it all, but Europe was hit harder, and it was
resistant California vines that brought back the wine business to parts
of Italy, France, and Spain. In 1976 California wines were put on the
international map, when they trounced France in a blind taste-test in
Paris. Now, many European producers have wineries in the valley.
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Map of the Wine Country
Napa Valley sign
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For very special snacks try the Model Bakery at 1357 Main Street in St Helena .
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The Napa Valley Wine Train
costs $49.50 for a round trip, but for the gourmet meal the cost rises
to $89 (lunch) and $97 (dinner).
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Top 10 SightsNapa Valley Train Leaving
from Napa and arriving in St. Helena, or vice versa, you can avoid the
traffic and partake of a gourmet meal complemented by local wines. The
trip takes 3 hours each way and the train features a 1915 Pullman dining
car.
Sonoma This
appealing town, nestled in the Valley of the Moon, is filled with
high-end restaurants, small hotels, and shops. The town also features a
State Historic Park with a mission building and structures from the
early to mid-1800s. Clos Pegase Housed
in an award-winning Postmodern structure, this beguiling winery offers
free tours and features an extensive collection of modern art. The wine
is memorable, too – specialties include Cabernet, Merlot, and Petite
Syrah port. Sterling Vineyard These
whitewashed buildings perched on top of a mountain can be seen for
miles. The self-guided tour is well marked. Notable wines include
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Opus One Legendary
winemaker Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild have put
their skills together to produce Bordeaux-style reds in their
state-of-the-art facilities, modeled on the Château Mouton Rothschild
winery in France. Domaine Chandon Lovely
gardens, a fine restaurant, and sweeping views complement the
sparkling, champagne-style wines of this Moët Hennessy showcase. The
winery produces 500,000 cases every year. Hess Collection The
tours here are a pleasure, including not only wine-making facilities
but also the owner’s private art gallery of contemporary European and
American artists. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay are
especially good. V Sattui Extensive
gardens and a gourmet deli make this the ideal place along the main
Napa Valley road to stop for a picnic. Also on offer are wine-tastings
of lesser products free of charge – you have to pay for reserve
tastings.
Beringer Vineyards The
oldest Napa Valley winery, established in 1876, and the most beautiful.
Tours include a visit to the 1,000-ft (300-m) wine tunnels, which
Chinese laborers carved out of volcanic stone. ”Old Faithful” Geyser One
of only three known geysers in the world that erupt with near-perfect
regularity. Every 40 minutes, it spews boiling water 60 ft (18 m) into
the air.
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