Rick's Wine Country Journal

Lunch at Charming Dry Creek Valley Winery

2012-01-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

Dining at a winery is not easy to do. Only a handful of wineries have restaurants. Many wineries allow catered meals but this gets pricey. Yesterday, I visited Kachina Vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley and enjoyed their Tuscan Lunch. While we dined in the barrel room on a rainy day, you can enjoy your lunch on the patio when the sun shines over the valley.

Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by Nancy or Gregg Chambers, the owners and winemakers. Gregg makes the red wines: Charbono, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Port-style Zinfandel dessert wine. Nancy makes the Chardonnay. Nancy, who usually does the shopping, picks locally produced and seasonal cured meats, cheeses, fruits, breads, crackers, spreads, olives, chocolate, and other foods that pair well with their wines. The Tuscan Lunch and winetasting costs $45/person and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance to give Nancy enough time to find what's fresh in the market. Plan on spending between 1.5 and 2 hours lunching.

If you want a relaxing and special wine country experience, check out Kachina Vineyards. You can also make an appointment for a complimentary winetasting or a wine and food pairing that costs $15/person. If you'd like to include Kachina Vineyards on a private tour of the Dry Creek Valley, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Wines by the Glass to Last a Lifetime

2012-01-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

For over 25 years, Cindy Pawlcyn has been serving up terrific American food in the Napa Valley. When Mustard's Grill opened in 1983, it was among the first of the really good restaurants in wine country. Mustard's and Cindy's second restaurant, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, have been among my recommended wine country restaurants since Blue Heron opened in 2003.

Recently, I had the opportunity to lunch at Cindy's newest restaurant: Brassica. This restaurant is different from the other two in that it features Mediterranean cuisine. On our visit, we decided to share a variety of small plates; however, full entrees are also available. Among our favorites were the grilled Monterey Bay sardine; eggplant fries; Monterey squid, red bell pepper, and black olive pizza; and pizzichi di farro with pancetta, porcini, and cremini.

What really made the restaurant special for me was the wine list. Over 50 different wines are available by the glass. I love to try new wines and having both 2 and 5 ounce pours available enabled me to enjoy four small tastes without worrying about drinking too much.

I'll be including Brassica on the list of lunch options I give to guests touring with me in the Napa Valley. If you would like to take a private tour of the Napa Valley that includes lunch (or dinner) at Brassica, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Italian Varietals in the Napa Valley

2012-01-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

Cabernet is king in Napa. As I tell my guests, good $100 Napa Cabs are a dime a dozen. Therefore, I am always on the lookout for Napa producers who make other types of wine. Recently I was introduced to Benessere Vineyards, a small producer of Italian varietals, located between St. Helena and Calistoga.

If you like Italian wine and/or Zinfandel (red, not pink), you'll want to stop by this small, friendly tasting room. You won't find crowds here as the winery is on a side road and requires an appointment to visit. However, you will find good wine.

Benessere makes a couple of Zinfandels, including one from vines planted in the 1920s, which are usually included in your tasting. You are also likely to taste Pinot Grigio, Rosato (Rosé), Sangiovese, and a Super Tuscan-style wine called Phenomenon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah. Benessere also makes small lots from Anglianico, Muscat di Canelli, and Sagrantino. However, these wines are for wine club members and seldom available for tasting due to the limited production.

If you want to have a picnic while you are tasting, the Benessere staff are happy to have you taste outside while you lunch. Tastings cost $15/person. The tasting room is open daily from 10:00 - 5:00. To make an appointment, phone 707-963-5853 ext. 105. You are always welcome to call at the last minute to see if space is available. Staff will do their best to accommodate you. Better yet, take a private tour with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel and let us make your appointment for you. For more information, phone (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. Benessere Vineyards is located at 1010 Big Tree Road, just off CA 29.

Winter Closings in Napa

2012-01-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

Winter is a great time to visit the Napa Valley. Weekdays find tasting rooms nearly empty and appointments at wineries easier to come by. However, the flip side is that some eating establishments take a break. Here's a quick rundown on some of the winter closures in the Napa Valley.

Oakville Grocery - This gourmet grocery is closed for "a few months" for an extensive remodel. During the closure, you can still pick up sandwiches at Dean and DeLuca and Sunshine Foods in St. Helena.

Bouchon Bakery - This wonderful bakery is closed until at least early February for a remodel. If you are craving some sweets, try Sweetie Pies in Napa or Model Bakery in St. Helena.

Ad Hoc Restaurant - One of Thomas Keller's three restaurants in Yountville, Ad Hoc will be closed until March. If you still want to dine at one of Keller's establishments, Bouchon remains open.

The French Laundry - The restaurant that made Thomas Keller famous takes an annual break in early January. However, if you were waiting until your arrival to make a reservation, you probably wouldn't get one as reservations are usually full the first day they become available - two months in advance of the date you want to dine.

The Restaurant at Meadowood - The Napa Valley's other Michelin three-star restaurant is closed until March for renovation.

Etoile - Domaine Chandon is the only winery in the Napa Valley with a restaurant. Etoile closes for the month of January each year.

Terra - This Micheline one-start restaurant in St. Helena is closed for vacation until January 13.

Despite all of these restaurants taking a winter break, fine dining is still available at these Michelin one-star restaurants: Auberge du Soleil, Solbar, Bouchon, and Redd. Many excellent casual restaurants are also open throughout the winter. Don't be put off by the closures, come to Napa this January and enjoy the quiet and the beautiful fields of yellow mustard.

If you would like to take a private, Napa Valley tour, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll fee) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Interview on Visiting Wine Country

2011-12-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

I recently was interviewed by California Tours, one of my regular clients, on visiting Napa and Sonoma wine country. I provide private tours for California Tours' customers who want a more intimate touring experience. You can see the full interview by clicking here.

Winetasting Around the Holidays

2011-12-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

Visiting wine country is a popular outing during the holiday season. Please be aware that many wineries close early on both Christmas and New Year's Eves. A few may be closed for the entire day, particularly on Christmas Eve. So be sure to phone the winery before you visit. When I do a wine country tour on Christmas or New Year's Eve, I recommend tasting in the morning and having a late lunch in wine country.

I used to say that all wineries were closed on Christmas Day; however, I read that one opened last Christmas. I don't recommend planning to winetaste on Christmas Day; however, some of the restaurants are serving special meals that day, so you can still head to wine country and have a nice outing.

There are usually enough wineries open on New Year's Day for you to drop in at a few and do some tasting. However, you might not be able to visit all of your favorites. Again, check first before visiting.

Since both Christmas and New Year's fall on Sundays, the legal holidays will be on Monday, December 26 and January 2. Most wineries should be operating on their regular schedules on these dates.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour during the holidays, Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel will be open on all dates except December 25 and January 1. For more information, phone (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Sausage, Fries, and Beer in Healdsburg

2011-11-12T07:25:00.000-08:00

The other day, I noticed a restaurant sign in the distance that I had not seen before: The Wurst. Being a sausage lover, I figured this was my kind of place. At the entrance to the four-month-old restaurant, its owner, Charles Bell, introduced himself. Charles clearly loves what he does. He told me about each of the sausages, with all but two being produced by local artisan sausage makers; the burgers made with beef from grass-fed cows; and the variety of micro-brews on tap.

I tried his newest sausage, Provencial, a French country-style sausage. Grilled on a bun with some grilled onions and sweet peppers, it was delicious. For $10, I got the lunch special that included fresh cut French fries and a soft drink along with the sausage. As I was driving folks around wine country that day, I couldn't try any of the beers. I can't wait to return to try the burger or another sausage.

If you are touring the Russian River, Dry Creek, and/or Alexander Valley and want a quick, delicious lunch in Healdsburg, The Wurst could be the place for you. The Wurst is located at 22 Matheson Street, a half-block west of the square. The phone number is (707) 694-0770. If you want to take a private wine country tour that includes a stop at The Wurst, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Best Sonoma County Restaurants 2011/2012

2011-10-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

The new Zagat Bay Area Restaurants 2012 and The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2012 were recently released. Here's an update on the critics' favorite restaurants in the Sonoma County.

Cyrus in Healdsburg is the top rated restaurant in Sonoma County, according to Michelin, receiving two stars. The Sonoma County recipients of one Michelin star are Applewood in Guerneville, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant in Forestville, Madrona Manor in Healdsburg, Sante near Sonoma city, and Terrapin Creek in Bodega Bay.

Only 1 of the 25 most popular Bay Area restaurants, according to Zagat, is in Sonoma County: Cyrus. Not one other restaurant in Sonoma County made Zagat's most popular list. The top rated restaurants for food in Sonoma County, according to Zagat, are Cyrus (28 points); Cafe La Haye (Sonoma city), Madrona Manor, Farmhouse Inn, and Bistro des Copains (Occidental) (27 points); and Sante (26 points).

"The San Francisco Chronicle's" top rating is four stars, which were awarded to one Sonoma County restaurant: Cyrus. Two Sonoma County restaurants received 3.5 stars: Madrona Manor and Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant. Twelve restaurants are the recipients of three stars.

Lunchtime on my tours in Sonoma County usually finds my guests in either Healdsburg or the town of Sonoma. My favorite lunch spot in Healdsburg is Willi's Seafood, which features small plates of the freshest seafood. In Sonoma city, I recommend The Girl and the Fig for French influenced California food and Della Santina's for Italian cuisine. If you would like to take a private tour in Sonoma County that includes a meal at one of these great restaurants, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Best Napa Valley Restaurants - 2011/2012

2011-10-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

The new Zagat Bay Area Restaurants 2012 and The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2012 were recently released. Here's an update on the critics' favorite restaurants in the Napa Valley.

The French Laundry in Yountville and The Restaurant at Meadowood near St. Helena remain Michelin's only three-star restaurants in the Bay Area. Thirty-nine restaurants received one star from Michelin. The Napa recipients are Etoile at Domaine Chandon, Bouchon, and Redd in Yountville; La Toque and Ubuntu in Napa city, Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, Terra in St. Helena, and Solbar in the Solage resort in Calistoga.

Six of the 25 most popular Bay Area restaurants, according to Zagat, are in the Napa Valley: The French Laundry, Bouchon, Bottega (Yountville), Ad Hoc (Yountville), Bistro Jeanty (Yountville), and Auberge du Soleil. Other Napa Valley restaurants on the 50 most popular list are Redd (Yountville), Mustard's Grill (Yountville), and Hog Island (city of Napa).

The top rated restaurants for food in the Napa Valley, according to Zagat, are The French Laundry (29 points), The Restaurant at Meadowood (28), Terra (27), Ad Hoc (27), Redd (27), and Auberge du Soleil (27).

"The San Francisco Chronicle's" top rating is four stars, which were awarded to two Napa Valley restaurants: French Laundry and The Restaurant at Meadowood. The following Napa Valley restaurants received 3.5 stars: Bar Terra (St. Helena), Bistro Don Giovanni (Napa city), Etoile, Redd, and Terra. Twelve restaurants are the recipients of three stars.

My favorite lunch spot in the Napa Valley remains Auberge du Soleil. The combination of food, service, and view can't be beat. I've taken many happy guests to this restaurant. If you would like to take a private tour of the Napa Valley that includes a meal at one of these great restaurants, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Quick Lunches in the Napa Valley

2011-10-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

While the Napa Valley is well known for its many excellent restaurants, I find that many guests on my tours prefer a quick lunch, so they can spend more time visiting wineries. Here are some options for good, but quick, lunches in the Napa Valley.

Picnicking at a winery is a great option on nice days. While not all wineries permit picnics, there are enough with picnic grounds that you should be able to find a table to enjoy your lunch al fresco. Some nice wineries at which you can enjoy a picnic include Clos du Val, Regusci, Robert Sinskey, Rutherford Hill, Hall Wine - St. Helena, and Clos Pegase. A good list of wineries with picnic areas is available on the Napa Valley Vintners website.

Good places to pick up food for your picnic are Soda Canyon Store outside of Napa, Oakville Grocery, Dean and DeLuca south of St. Helena, and Sunshine Foods in St. Helena. You can also picnic at Oakville Grocery.

In Yountville, you can grab a quick panini or salad at Napa Style. Bouchon Bakery has salads, sandwiches, breads, and pastries to carry out. In Rutherford, you can get burritos to go at La Luna Market and Taqueria. St. Helena is home to Gott's Roadside, a great burgers and fries place. While service is usually pretty fast at Gott's, long lines are the norm on nice weekend days. Also in St. Helena is Giugni's Deli, where you can carry out sandwiches or eat them at one of the tables in the delicatessen. Lastly, Calistoga is home to Palisades Deli Cafe. Again, you can carry out the sandwiches or eat them at the restaurant.

As you can see, there are many options for quick lunches in Napa. If you would like to take a private Napa Valley tour that includes one of these quick lunches, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Monterey County Posts

2011-10-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

Monterey County is part of wine country. On my other blog, "Rick's San Francisco Journal," I have posted recently about Monterey County; just not about Monterey's wine country. If you are traveling to Monterey County, you might like to see these posts. To do so, click here.

Friendly Tasting Room in Carneros

2011-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

In August 2010, "Rick's Tips," Blue Heron's quarterly newsletter provided an in-depth look at winetasting in the Carneros Region of southern Sonoma and Napa Counties. At that time, I had yet to visit the tasting room of a new winery, Anaba. Located near the intersection of Hwy. 121 and Arnold Road in the Sonoma side of Carneros, Anaba offers a variety of whites and reds, including Rhone-Style blends, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Port-style wines. For those who enjoy sweet wines, Anaba is one of the few wineries in the area to offer tastes of three dessert wines: two port-style wines and a late harvest Viognier.

Upon arrival, the friendly staff will explain the tasting menu to you. You can then taste at the bar or enjoy a seated tasting in the converted farmhouse or on the patio next to the vineyards. Being a new winery, the surrounding vineyards are in their infancy. Within a few years, the vines will be producing grapes for use in Anaba's wines. Currently, Anaba makes its wines at a different location but plans to build a winery and new tasting room next to their vineyards.

Anaba is open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.at 60 Bonneau Road. If you are heading to Carneros via the Golden Gate Bridge and Hwys. 37 & 121, Anaba will be on the left, past Cornerstone, as 121 turns to the right.

Best Restaurants for Lunch in the Napa Valley

2011-08-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I finally got to lunch at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. I'd been wanting to dine there for many years as I had heard good things about the restaurant and had eaten many years ago at its now-closed, sister restaurant in San Francisco - Jeanty at Jack's. If you enjoy classic French cuisine, you will love Bistro Jeanty. While the menu was a little too meat focused for us, we found enough to keep us happy and had a nice meal on the patio. Bistro Jeanty is a slice of France in California's wine country.

Having now lunched at Bistro Jeanty, I've eaten at nearly all of the major restaurants between Yountville and St. Helena. I find Napa too far south and Calistoga too far north to stop for lunch when I am touring in the Napa Valley.. Here are my picks for the best lunch spots in the heart of the Napa Valley.

Auberge du Soleil continues to be my favorite restaurant for lunch in the Valley. Lunching on Auberge's terrace is the quintessential Napa experience. The combination of food, service, and view is unparalleled. Enjoy California/French cuisine at this Michelin one-star restaurant.

For American food, my recommendations are Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena; Mustard's Grill in Yountville, and Farmstead in St. Helena. The first two restaurants have the same chef/owner Cindy Pawlcyn. Farmstead recently changed chefs. I have not had a chance to lunch there under the new regime so I hope it is still as good as it was. Pick your spot depending on where you think you'll be at lunch time. However, if you love onion rings, Mustard's are the best I have ever had.

For Italian, Bottega, in Yountville, has great, high-end, Italian cuisine. Chef/Owner Michael Chiarello makes the best calamari I have ever eaten. I've dined at Bottega a couple of times and every morsel has been delicious. For more casual fare, including some pizzas, try Bistro Don Giovanni, between the city of Napa and Yountville. The service is friendly and the food very good.

If you love traditional French food, then I recommend Bistro Jeanty.

For terrific burgers, fries, and shakes, you can't beat Gott's Roadside in St. Helena or at Oxbow Market in Napa. If some of your party is more health conscious, Gott's has good salads, terrific fish tacos, and a yummy ahi tuna burger. Being in Napa, Gott's also has a wine list.

Now here are my caveats:.

Yes, the French Laundry is fantastic. But, unless you are in Napa for a few days, do you really want to spend three hours lunching? Plus at $290/person without wine, I'd rather split the money among a few of the above restaurants. And, good luck getting a reservation. You must call exactly 60 days in advance of the date you want to eat and then have very good karma.
Redd and Etoile in Yountville have very good California cuisine. I recommend both highly but, given just one day in Napa, get equally good food plus a great view at Auberge du Soleil.
Bouchon in Yountville gets rave reviews everywhere. But, for me, I think it's overpriced and can't recommend it, especially given the other terrific choices.
There are many other fabulous restaurants in the Valley, e.g. Restaurant at Meadowood and Terra, but they are not open for lunch.

I hope this list helps you pick the perfect place for lunch when you are in the Napa Valley. Be sure to make a reservation as tables can be hard to come by especially on Saturdays and during the busy season of June through October. If you would like to take a private Napa Valley tour that includes lunch at one of these restaurants, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com or (866) 326-4237.

Wine and Bread in Freestone

2011-05-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Freestone is a small town in western Sonoma County; really just a crossroads. Not many folks live here but it's worth a visit if you like good wine or bread.

Freestone Vineyards is owned by Joseph Phelps and his family, long-time winemakers in the Napa Valley. Freestone has much cooler weather than Napa so here the Phelps family makes superb Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. When we visited, the tasting consisted of current releases of all three Chardonnays and two Pinot Noirs made by the winery. We had the option for a sit-down tasting in the Guest Center or outside at picnic tables. Being a bright, sunny day, we chose the latter. From our table, we could see rolling hills covered with Freestone's vineyards. Freestone is currently open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday to Monday. In the near future, they will also be open on Tuesday and Wednesday.

About 150 yards from the Freestone Guest Center is Wild Flour Bread. The bakery produces a variety of organic sourdough breads, scones, and biscotti; all made in a brick oven. Coffee is also available. When we walked in we could see bakers kneading bread in the back of the bakery and were offered samples of all of the breads being sold that day. We tasted nearly all of them and walked away with three loaves of bread. The bakery is open from Friday through Monday from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Freestone is a bit away from the main Russian River Valley tasting route, but you can easily include a visit to Freestone with stops at wineries near Sebastopol and Graton. The quaint town of Occidental is also close by. If you visit Freestone, bring picnic supplies, get bread from Wild Flour, and enjoy your meal at Freestone's Guest Center with some nice Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River Valley that includes a stop in Freestone, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Beautiful Rhododendrons at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

2011-05-10T09:02:00.000-07:00

After visiting the Mendocino coast for many years, we finally visited the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens this past weekend. We were rewarded with a magnificent display of rhododendrons at the height of their glory.

The Botanical Gardens consists of 47 acres of cultivated flowers as well as native landscape that overlooks the Pacific. While the rhododendrons were the stars of the weekend, other beautiful flowers were in bloom.

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is open daily; except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Saturday after Labor Day; from 9:00 until 5:00 from March through October and until 4:00 from November through February. Plan on spending between one and two hours wandering through gardens; longer if you want to participate in one of the guided walks.

If you would like to take a private tour from San Francisco to Mendocino that includes the Botanical Gardens and other sights, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Winetasting in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley - Part II, Food and Lodging

2011-04-13T15:06:00.001-07:00

In my last post, I talked about wineries in the Shenandoah Valley. In this post, I will discuss food and lodging options. Not much has changed since I last visited the area in 2007. (See Rick's Tips from August 2007.) A few restaurants have closed and a couple of new ones have opened. The lodging situation seems unchanged.

The consensus best restaurant in the area remains Taste in Plymouth. This is the only restaurant serving sophisticated meals in the region. We have eaten there twice and enjoyed both our meals. The wine list features many wines from Amador County as well as wines from elsewhere in California and outside of the U.S. Dinner is served Thursday to Monday and lunch is now available on Saturday.

A couple of steps down but still good is Susan's Place Wine Bar and Eatery in Sutter Creek. This casual restaurant features Mediterranean influenced cuisine. In 2007, we had a pretty good dinner at the Imperial Hotel in Amador City but did not get there on this trip. A local shop owner said the Twisted Fork in Sutter Creek is also quite good.

There's not much food in the Shenandoah Valley so plan on picnicking during your visit. You can pick up good supplies for your picnic at Andrae's Bakery in Amador City or Amador Vintage Market in Plymouth.

If you find yourself in the small town of Volcano, you might want to check out the Union Pub as it is owned by the same folks that own Taste.

All of these places have limited hours so be sure to check their hours of operation before you visit.

As for lodging, the best choices are bed and breakfasts. I recommend staying in Sutter Creek as it is the most interesting of the towns in the area. We stayed at The Foxes Inn and had a very nice, large room with a good choice of breakfast foods. There are other good B & B's to choose from. A list is available on the Sutter Creek Business Association's website.

If you would like to take a private tour from the Bay Area to Amador County's wine country, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Winetasting in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley - Part I, The Wineries

2011-04-06T09:25:00.001-07:00

The August 2007 edition of "Rick's Tips," Blue Heron's free newsletter of fun things to do in the Bay Area and Northern California, focused on winetasting in the Shenandoah Valley of California. Located about 2.5 hours east of San Francisco, this wine region produces mostly red wine from grapes that like hot weather, e.g., Zinfandel and Barbera.

This past weekend, I had a chance to return to the Shenandoah Valley and saw that many things had remained the same while a few new wineries had opened. What I like best about this region is that most of the wineries are still low-key, family-run affairs. Tasting rooms are modest and fees largely nonexistent. Staff is friendly and the owners and/or winemakers frequently pour your wine. Even on Saturday, you are unlikely to find the crowds that frequent wineries closer to San Francisco. With most bottles priced between $15 and $30, you are unlikely to break the bank with your wine purchases. Plus the drive is very pretty; with rolling hills and vineyards full of gnarly old vines.

A good place to start your visit is at Amador 360°, Wine and Visitor Center in the town of Plymouth, gateway to the Shenandoah Valley. Gregg, the friendly owner, will pour you some wines from wineries that do not have tasting rooms in the Valley and orient you to the area. He's a wealth of information on all things Amador.

On this visit, we tasted at wineries that we didn't get to on our previous trip. We enjoyed many good Barberas, Zinfandels, Sangioveses, and Syrahs and bought way too much wine. Some of our favorites included Scott Harvey (tasting room in Sutter Creek), Sera Fina (tasting rooms at the winery and at Cinque in Sutter Creek), Dillian, Cooper, Driven, Terra Rouge, Andis, and Jeff Runquist. On our previous visit, we enjoyed Karly, Story, Deaver, Shenandoah Vineyards, Sobon Estate, Vino Nocetto, and Wilderotter (largest selection of white wines in the Valley). The Amador Vintners website has lots of good information on the wineries. Before you go, check each winery's hours as many tasting rooms are open only on certain days.

My next post will focus on lodging and restaurants in the area. Meanwhile, if you would like to take a private tour of Amador wine country starting in San Francisco, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Opening Day at Daffodil Hill

2011-04-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Daffodil Hill, near the small town of Volcano in Amador County, is home to thousands of beautiful flowers each spring. Opening day was late this year with the flowers buried under snow until just a week or so ago. Finally, on April 1, the early blooms were available for viewing.

For the next few weeks visitors will be treated to thousands of beautiful flowers. Admission is free.

In the nearby town of Volcano, you can stroll among its historic buildings and have lunch. The Union Pub is open for lunch on Saturday and Sunday and for dinner from Friday through Monday. Since it is owned by the same folks who own the best restaurant in Amador County, Taste in Plymouth, the food is bound to be good. The St. George Hotel offers Sunday brunch in its restaurant and lunch in the Whiskey Flat Saloon on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant services dinner Wednesday through Saturday.

If you would like to take a private tour from San Francisco that includes visits to Daffodil Hill, Volcano, and the nearby wine country in the Shenandoah Valley, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Good Sandwiches and Salads in Yountville

2011-03-29T19:35:00.000-07:00

On my tour of the Napa Valley today, my guests from Alberta, Canada wanted sandwiches and salads for lunch. Since we were in the southern end of the Valley, we ate at Pacific Blues Cafe in Yountville. This cafe has fresh sandwiches and salads, burgers made with Niman Ranch beef, and a few entrees. Today was warm and sunny, a nice change from my guests who have gone through one of the snowiest winters on record, so we ate outside.

When visiting Napa, gourmet restaurants abound. Places to get inexpensive and good food are harder to find, especially between Yountville and St. Helena. So next time you are in Napa and want a simple lunch, check out Pacific Blues Cafe. If you would like to take a private Napa Valley tour that includes lunch at Pacific Blues, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Good Deli in Calistoga

2011-03-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

I don't get to Calistoga very often as it is at the far northern end of the Napa Valley, about two hours from San Francisco. However, yesterday's guests wanted to visit nearby Chateau Montelena, having seen the movie "Bottle Shock, " which is about the winery's role in the so-called "Judgment of Paris.". They wanted a good, quick lunch, so we headed to the Palisades Deli and Cafe located in the old Calistoga Train Depot on Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga's main street. Palisades is one of the better delis in all of wine country; serving hot and cold sandwiches, salads, Mexican dishes, and a few other items. The deli has both indoor and outdoor seating, or you can take your food to a nearby winery for a picnic. Rombauer would be a good spot as it has picnic tables nestled in the woods overlooking the valley.

If you would like to take a private Napa Valley tour that includes visits to Chateau Montelena, Palisades Deli and Cafe, and Rombauer Vineyards, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Hilltop Winery with a View

2011-01-24T16:28:00.000-08:00

I've been taking guests to Plumpjack Winery in Oakville for as long as Blue Heron has been open. A couple of years ago wines from Plumpjack's sister winery, Cade, started showing up in the Plumpjack tasting room. The Plumpjack staff kept telling me that I had to see Cade. A couple of weeks ago, I made the journey.

Cade Winery is located high up on Howell Mountain, one of the premier Cabernet regions in Napa. The winery is Gold LEED Certified for its environmental efforts and the vineyards are organically farmed. The Plumpjack staff were right, the view is spectacular.

Cade takes full advantage of its location, producing three Cabernet Sauvignons and one Sauvignon Blanc. One of the Cabs is from the estate and another is made from grapes sourced from other Howell Mountain growers. The third Cab, as well as the Sauvignon Blanc, carry the Napa Valley designation.

Tastings are by appointment and cost $20/person. The experience is very personal. One of Cade's staff walks you through the currently available wines while you sit in the parlor or on the terrace, from which the above photo was taken. If you like Cabernet and want to have a leisurely tasting experience, then journey up Howell Mountain to Cade. If you'd like to take a private tour of the Napa Valley that includes a visit to Cade, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

All-in-One in St. Helena

2011-01-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

Want to taste wine? How about some olive oil? Paired with cheese? Maybe a little grass-fed beef? Then Long Meadow Ranch's tasting room in St. Helena is for you. The Ranch is located in the Mayacamas Mountains and produces wine, olive oil, grass-fed beef, eggs, and heirloom fruits and vegetables. You can arrange a tour of the ranch but, if you just want to taste the ranch's food, visit Long Meadow's tasting room in the historic Logan-Ives House, just south of the center of St. Helena

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If you want more of Long Meadow Ranch's and other tasty food, visit Farmstead Restaurant - right next door. The southern influenced cuisine is delicious. On a recent visit, I enjoyed a tasty Rancho Ribellita soup full of kale, beans, other good veggies, and beef in a tomato stock. I love dumplings and was not disappointed with Farmstead's buttermilk dumplings with chickens. One friend had wood roasted winter squash as an appetizer and "brick cooked" chicken for her main course. She said both were yummy. My other friend had the soup and potato gnocchi with grass-fed beef. The serving was so big, he took much of it home for dinner. The deserts looked terrific but we were all too stuffed. I'll definitely be including Farmstead among my Napa Valley restaurant recommendations.

If you would like to take a private Napa Valley tour that includes a stop at Long Meadow Ranch and Farmstead Restaurant, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Five Tips for Visiting Wine Country

2010-12-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Wine Country welcomes millions of visitors every year. Here are five tips to make your visit more enjoyable:

Plan Ahead: Decide what part of wine country you want to visit so you can focus your tasting on a smaller area. After all, it's more fun tasting in the wineries than being stuck in traffic on Hwy 29 in Napa. Try to make any necessary appointments well in advance as a few of the more popular wineries can fill up six weeks ahead of time.
Visit One or Two Appointment-Only Wineries: More than half of the wineries that welcome visitors require an advance appointment. These wineries control the number of visitors and, therefore, usually provide for a more personalized tasting experience. However, don't make more than one or two appointments on any one day as you don't want to be constantly rushing off to the next winery.
Limit What You Taste: After tasting at three or four wineries, you are likely to begin to suffer from palate fatigue; where you can no longer taste the differences among the wines. Therefore, don't plan on visiting too many wineries and limit what you taste at the wineries you do visit. This will also help to ensure that you drive safely.
Take Only One Winery Tour: Winery tours are interesting but, unless you are a real wine geek, one tour will suffice. Do note that some of the appointment-only wineries do not offer tastings without also taking a tour. If you would like to visit one of these wineries, make this the one winery you tour.
Eat Breakfast and Lunch: Having some food in your stomach can reduce the affects of the alcohol and make for a more enjoyable day. Plus there's lots of great food in wine country. You'll definitely want to have lunch; whether it's a picnic at a winery or a gourmet lunch at one of region's fine restaurants.

I hope these tips are helpful. I try to keep them in mind when I organize wine country tours for my guests. If you would like to take a private wine country tour, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com or (866) 326-4237 (toll free).

Best Sonoma County Restaurants - 2010/2011

2010-11-19T09:40:00.000-08:00

The new "Zagat 2011 Bay Area Restaurants" and "The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2011" were recently released. Here's an update on the critics' favorite restaurants in the Sonoma County.

Cyrus in Healdsburg is the top rated restaurant according to Michelin, receiving two stars. The Sonoma County recipients of one Michelin star are Applewood Inn and Restaurant in Guerneville, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant in Forestville, Madrona Manor in Healdsburg, and Sante in Sonoma city.

Only 1 of the 25 most popular Bay Area restaurants according to Zagat is in Sonoma County: Cyrus. Not one other restaurant in Sonoma County made Zagat's most popular list. The top rated restaurants for food in Sonoma County according to Zagat are Cyrus and Hana Japanese (Rohnert Park) (28 points); Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant (27 points); Cafe La Haye (Sonoma), Rosso Pizzeria (Santa Rosa), and Madrona Manor (26 points); and Bistro des Copains (Occidental) (25 points).

"The San Francisco Chronicle's" top rating is four stars, which were awarded to one Sonoma County restaurant: Cyrus. Two Sonoma County restaurants received 3.5 stars: Madrona Manor and Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant. Seven restaurants are the recipients of three stars.

Lunchtime on my tours in Sonoma County usually finds my guests in either Healdsburg or the town of Sonoma. My favorite lunch spot in Healdsburg is Willi's Seafood, which features small plates of the freshest seafood. In Sonoma city, I recommend The Girl and the Fig for French influenced California food and Della Santina's for Italian cuisine. If you would like to take a private tour in Sonoma County that includes a meal at one of these great restaurants, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Best Napa Valley Restaurants - 2010/2011

2010-11-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

The new "Zagat 2011 Bay Area Restaurants" and "The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2011" were recently released. Here's an update on the critics' favorite restaurants in the Napa Valley.

Joining the The French Laundry in Yountville as the only restaurants to receive three stars from the Michelin Guide in the entire Bay Area is The Restaurant at Meadowood in St. Helena. Thirty-nine restaurants received one star from Michelin. The Napa recipients are Etoile at Domaine Chandon, Bouchon, and Redd in Yountville; La Toque and Ubuntu in Napa city, Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, Terra in St. Helena and Solbar in the Solage resort in Calistoga.

Only 4 of the 25 most popular Bay Area restaurants, according to Zagat, are in the Napa Valley: The French Laundry, Bouchon, Ad Hoc (Yountville), and Auberge du Soleil. Other Napa Valley restaurants on the 50 most popular list are Bottega (Yountville), Bistro Jeanty (Yountville), Mustard's Grill (Yountville), Redd , and Hog Island Oyster (Napa city).

The top rated restaurants for food in the Napa Valley according to Zagat are The French Laundry (29 points), La Toque (27), Redd (27), Ad Hoc (27), Auberge du Soleil (26), Terra (26), Ubuntu (26), The Restaurant at Meadowood (26), Martini House (26) (now closed), Bouchon (26), and Bottega (26).

"The San Francisco Chronicle's" top rating is four stars, which were awarded to two Napa Valley restaurants: French Laundry and The Restaurant at Meadowood. The following Napa Valley restaurants received 3.5 stars: Bistro Don Giovanni (Napa city), Etoile, Redd, and Terra. Fourteen restaurants are the recipients of three stars.

My favorite lunch spot in the Napa Valley remains Auberge du Soleil. The combination of food, service, and view can't be beat. I've taken many happy guests to this restaurant. If you would like to take a private tour of the Napa Valley that includes a meal at one of these great restaurants, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.