There are few more delightful areas than the Napa and Sonoma wine country, with its quaint towns, fine restaurants, stylish shops and landscape covered by a quilt of manicured vineyards. The Napa Valley forms a graceful crescent, its wide, fertile plain flanked by verdant mountains. This is where you will find iconic names such as Robert Mondavi, Shafer, Schramsberg, Stag’s Leap, Caymus and many more. Sonoma County comprises four wine-producing areas: the Alexander and Dry Creek valleys to the north; the Russian River Valley to the west; and the Sonoma Valley to the south.
Our itineraries are for your inspiration. Please contact a travel advisor to customize this itinerary to fit your needs.
Fly into Oakland, San Francisco or Napa and transfer north into one of the world’s most renowned and beautiful wine regions. Take some time to relax with a glass of delicious wine or play a game of croquet on Meadowood Napa Valley's lawn.
In the evening, meet with a local
sommelier for an introduction to the wines of Napa Valley.
Tailored to your interests, the tasting can be anything from a broad overview
of the region to an in-depth blind tasting.
Through our connections in Napa Valley, we can arrange for private tastings at wineries not normally open to the general public, including a number of well-known “cult” wineries. These can be enjoyed with a guide, who can be an invaluable resource, or simply have a driver whisk you from winery to winery.
You might visit
establishments such as Ovid, Château Boswell and Continuum, but the specific
wineries to be included in the day can be customized. Enjoy a romantic picnic
lunch, and have dinner at a noted Napa Valley restaurant such as Terra, Redd, The Grill at Meadowood or Thomas Keller's The French Laundry.
An early-morning hot air balloon flight is an iconic Napa Valley experience, particularly when followed by a gourmet brunch paired with sparkling wines. After some time to relax, spend several hours at a top winery tasting from the barrel and learning about wine-blending techniques. After you’ve honed your skills, create your own Napa blend, complete with a custom label that you can bring home to share with friends (or keep all to yourself).
This evening, head to a top winery nearby and help the chef forage for produce
from the garden to include in a special menu just for you. After taking a
cooking class with the chef, sit down to dinner paired with wines you helped
select.
Head west from Napa toward Sonoma. “Wineries in Sonoma and adjacent Carneros produce impressive reds,” says Mr. Harper, “notably the pinot noir from Saintsbury, cabernets from larger winemakers north of the town of Sonoma such as St. Francis and Chateau St. Jean, and zinfandels from Ravenswood.”
We recommend visiting Saintsbury en route to Sonoma, and stopping for lunch at Dry Creek Kitchen in stylish Healdsburg.
In the afternoon, relax at your hotel and explore Healdsburg, or visit some
additional wineries in the Sonoma Valley.
Visit wineries along West Dry Creek Road, which Mr. Harper calls “one of the most enjoyable wine drives in the United States.” The scenery isn’t the only reason; the pinot noirs of the cool Russian River Valley are some of the finest anywhere. This region has embraced the Burgundian style of single-vineyard-designated pinot noirs.
Return to the airport and take your flight home. Or add a few days or more to enjoy San Francisco.
Contact a travel advisor to book your custom itinerary. Fill out the form or call (630) 734-4610.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
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