Criteria for Tasting Room Reviews

I've been commenting on tasting rooms for over 4 years now and thought I should provide a little background on how I come to talk about a particular winery or tasting room.

First, I only comment on tasting rooms or wineries that I have personally visited.  Half of the wineries in Napa and Sonoma are not open to the public.  Of those that welcome visitors either by advance appointment or by dropping in,  I have visited about 125 of Sonoma's 270 wineries and tasting rooms and 145 of Napa's 335 wineries and tasting rooms.  The vast majority of those I have yet to get to require an appointment to visit.

Second, I operate under the assumption that the wine is good at nearly all of the tasting rooms in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties.  Not every winery has wine that is going to be to your or my taste but the wines are generally good.  There are many people far more qualified than me who review wines.  Besides visiting wine country to taste wine is more about the experience than the quality of the wine.

Third, I generally only post positive reviews.  I want to give my readers information on wineries and tasting rooms to seek out.  Most tasting rooms are neither good nor bad; they're much like every other tasting room.  However some tasting rooms are special and are worth visiting.  Many factors contribute to a positive review including friendly tasting room staff, unique architecture, good value, an opportunity to meet the owner and/or winemaker, pretty scenery, an unusual tasting experience, and/or an interesting tour.  On the rare occasion when I say something negative about a winery or tasting room, it's because I think the visitor is not getting a quality experience.

Fourth, I do not get compensated for my reviews.  Many guests on my tours ask if the wineries give me anything to thank me for bringing visitors to their tasting rooms.  At the end of the year, a couple wineries may give me a bottle or two, but that's it.  I've never received anything for a positive review other than an e-mail thanking me.

I hope this background is helpful.  Let me know what you think.

New Sonoma County IPhone Application

Yesterday, the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau released an application (app.) for the IPhone to help visitors to the county.  As soon as I found out this morning, I immediately downloaded it.  The coolest feature is the wine section where you can search the wineries by varietal (type of grape).  So next time you are in Kenwood in search of a Barbera, you can use the app. to find out which wineries produce one, their distances from your current location, and how to drive to each one.  For me this is the best feature in the app.

The app. also lets you find lodging, sorted by "Hotel/Motel/Lodge,"  "Inn/Bed & Breakfast," "RV/Camping,", and "Vacation Rentals."  This too is a helpful feature but the listing is not complete for the county.  I assume this is because some businesses choose not to be a member of the Bureau.

Other features include Breweries, spas, restaurants, museums, events, nightlife, and spas.  These you can sort alphabetically or by distance from your current location.  A great improvement for the next release would be to be able to sort the restaurants by cuisine.  To find the app., visit the IPhone Applications Store and select iVisit Sonoma County.

All in all, this is a great app. for wine lovers.  The tourism folks in Sonoma County really do a terrific job, whether they work for the Tourism Bureau, the Wine Road Northern Sonoma County, or the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.  Their neighbors to the east could learn something!

If you want to take a private tour of Sonoma County wine country, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Special Events in Wine Country

Nary a week goes by without individual wineries or groups of wineries having special events to entice folks to visit.  It's hard to keep track of all of the festivals, special tastings, and food pairings being offered.  Some of the more fun events are offered by the associations that represent wineries in particular regions.

The Wine Road Northern Sonoma County represents the wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys of Sonoma County.  Its website has a good listing of events in this part of wine country.  The Wine Road offers three major events each year, Winter Wineland (1/16 & 17), Barrel Tasting (3/6, 7, 13, & 14), and A Wine and Food Affair (11/6 & 7).  In addition, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley offers Passport to Dry Creek Valley on April 24 and 25.  Russian River Valley Winegrowers has its annual Grape to Glass on August 20 - 22.  Finally, the Alexander Valley Winegrowers has an annual Taste of the Alexander Valley, usually during the first weekend in June.  (2010 dates have yet to be announced.)

The Anderson Valley Winegrowers has two annual events.  The first is the International Alsace Varietals Festival on February 20 and 21.  Later in the year, they celebrate Pinot Noir at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival from May 14 to 16.

The Lodi Wine and Visitor Center sponsors a Wine and Chocolate Weekend on February 13 and 14 and celebrates Zinfandel at the ZinFest from May 14 to 16.

The 20th annual Savor Sonoma Valley is being held on March 20 and 21 by the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance.  The Alliance also sponsors Passport to Sonoma Valley on May 15 and 16, 2010.

Hospitality de Los Carneros offers two events each year:  April in Carneros on April 17 and 18 and Holidays in Carneros on November 20 and 21.

The wineries along the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley have their own association, the Silverado Trail Wineries Association, which sponsors an annual Silver Pass Weekend.  The 2010 date has yet to be announced.

This is just a small sample of wine-related events in Northern California.  Monterey wineries sponsor events, as do those in Paso Robles and the Sierra Foothills.  It's tough to keep track of all the fun things to do in wine country.  The best resource I have found is Local Wine Events.  Visit the website for listings of wine events throughout the country.  You can also subscribe to the free, weekly newsletter of events in the regions of your choice.

If you would like to have a private tour of wine country during one of these events, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Winetasting on New Year's Day

If you wake up on New Year's Day still wanting some wine, you can visit wine country to do a little tasting.  Most wineries are closed on New Year's Day but enough are open that you can still do a day of tasting.  Before heading up you might want to contact a few of your favorites to see if they are open.  Otherwise, just head down Route 29 or the Silverado Trail in Napa or Route 12 in the Sonoma Valley and see what's open.  I know that Nicholson Ranch in Sonoma Valley, Domaine Carneros in the Napa side of Carneros, and Elizabeth Spencer, V. Sattui, and Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley are open.  However, I'm sure there are more.

You won't be able to take a wine country tour on New Year's Day with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel as we are closed for the day.  However, we are open for tours on January 2.  For more information or to book a tour, please phone (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

Coffee in Wine Country

Sometimes a cup of coffee hits the spot in wine country. Fortunately, there are a few options for getting a good cup of Joe or an espresso drink.

In the Napa Valley, you can visit the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company at 948 Main St. in Napa or 1400 Oak Ave. in St. Helena. Good coffee is also available from the Calistoga Roastery at 1426 Lincoln Ave. in Calistoga. Two gourmet groceries also serve good coffee: Dean & DeLuca at 600 S. St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy 29 just south of St. Helena) and Oakville Grocery (corner of Hwy 29 and Oakville Cross in Oakville). Lastly, the Yountville Coffee Caboose opened a few months ago and serves a good cup of hot java and all the regular espresso drinks from the caboose just south of the V 1870 shopping center (6523 Washington St.)

In Sonoma County, Flying Goat Coffee serves excellent coffee from three locations: 324 & 419 Center St. in Healdsburg and 10 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa. The Santa Rosa location is in historic Railroad Square and has the best pastry selection.

In Graton, which is in the heart of the Russian River Valley, you can get coffee to go at Willow Wood Market.

In the town of Sonoma, Barking Dog Roasters is located just off the plaza at 201 West Napa St. Sunflower Caffe on the west side of the plaza (421 1st St. West) also serves good coffee and espresso drinks. If you're further up the Sonoma Valley, you can get coffee to go at the Glen Ellen Village Market, in the center of town at 13751 Arnold Dr.

When you take a private wine country tour with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, you can stop for coffee at any time. For more information, phone (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or send an e-mail message by clicking here.

Best Sonoma County Restaurants - 2009/2010

The new "Zagat 2010 Bay Area Restaurants" and "The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2010" were recently released. Here's an update on the critics' favorite restaurants in the Sonoma County.

The only restaurant Michelin awarded three stars was The French Laundry in the Napa Valley. Michelin awarded two stars to four Bay Area restaurants with Cyrus in Healdsburg being the only Sonoma County recipient. Thirty-four restaurants received one star. The Sonoma County recipients are 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 (29 points), Applewood Inn and Restaurant in Guerneville (27 points), and Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant (26 points).

"The San Francisco Chronicle's" top rating is four stars, which were awarded to one Sonoma County restaurant: Cyrus. Three Sonoma County restaurants received 3.5 stars: Madrona Manor, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, and Dry Creek Kitchen (Healsburg). Eight 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.

Wine Clubs

When visiting wineries, many of my guests are invited to join the winery's wine club. Few tasters have heard of such clubs prior to their first time winetasting. Most winery's have wine clubs as they provide the winery with a steady source of customers. Small wineries, in particular, are dependent on successful wine clubs in order to stay in business.

The clubs vary slightly but usually do not require a fee to join. Most clubs send their members one case (12 bottles) of wine per year. Some wineries ship two bottles six times per year, others three bottles four times per year, still others four bottle three times a year, and many send six bottles twice a year. Some clubs let you pick the wines you want; others send you a mix of wines selected by the winery. Most wineries include wines in their club shipments that are not available to the general public. Most clubs give you a discount on the wine. The savings on the wine may cover the cost of shipping. If you join the club, most wineries will give you an immediate discount on purchases while you are visiting the winery and will waive your tasting fees. In return you agree to receive a minimum of one or two shipments. After receiving the minimum, you can usually cancel at any time. Most clubs offer discounts on all wine purchases. Many wine clubs have special parties and events for members.

I am a member of three wine clubs and think they are good deal in certain circumstances. The first issue to consider is whether you like the winemaker's style and the variety of wines produced by the winery. If the winery produces six different types of wine and you only like the Cab, the wine club is probably not for you.

Another issue is whether your drinking will keep up with the wine you receive. Be careful about joining too many clubs. If you end up with too much wine that cannot be stored properly, you could end up with a lot of spoiled wine.

Be sure you have your wine sent to an address where someone 21 or over will be physically present to sign for the wine. FedEx and UPS will not just leave the wine on your porch or give you a note to sign. The shippers are required to hand the wine to someone who is of legal age. The best bet is to ship the wine to your business, provided you trust your receptionist not to drink the wine.

I think receiving six bottles twice a year is far better than receiving two bottles six time per year. The fewer shipments, the more you save on shipping. Also, make sure the club does not ship during your hot weather months. You don't want your wine cooking in the shipper's truck as it travels through Arizona in the summer. Most wineries do not ship to club members in the summer but a few do. If you are scheduled to receive a shipment when it's still hot, ask the winery to hold the wine until cooler weather arrives. Most are glad to do so.

A few wineries push their clubs pretty hard. Most use a soft sell. Some don't mention their club unless asked. When you visit a winery, you are under no obligation to join the club or to buy any wine. Only join the club if you will enjoy getting the regular shipments of wine. If you do join the club, have fun. It's fun to get good wine that you won't find in your local wine shop.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

2009 Harvest is Underway

We're now approaching the end of the 2nd week of harvesting in Sonoma and Napa Counties. The first winery to harvest appears to have been Gloria Ferrer, which picked some grapes in the Sonoma Valley on August 10.

The principal grapes being picked now are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for sparkling wine, a little Pinot Noir for still wine, and Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest seems to be running about a week behind last year. While weather is unpredictable, harvest is likely to run through the end of October. Usually Cabernet is the last grape to be picked.

Harvest is a fun time to visit wine country as good smells abound, sweet grapes can be sampled, and the wineries are abuzz with activity. As a result, September and October see many tourists in wine country especially on Saturdays -- the busiest day of the week. If you must winetaste on a Saturday, visit wineries that require advance appointments as they tend to be less crowded.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour and avoid some of the crowds, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

One Stop for Cheese, Chocolate, Olive Oil, and Wine

Jack London Village in Glen Ellen provides one stop for tasting artisan cheese, chocolate, olive oil, and wine.

Raymond & Co. Cheesemongers provides a unique opportunity to taste cheeses from around the world. Recently, guests sat down with owner John Raymond for an hour-long tasting of an array of delicious cheeses paired with a local wine. Shorter tastings are also available and, of course, you can just stop in to buy some cheese.

Figone's of California Olive Oil and Press always has a large array of olive oils and balsamic vinegars available for tasting. By prior appointment, you can tour the olive mill to learn how olive oil is made.

Wine Country Chocolates offers tastes of at least two ganaches used in their delicious truffles as well as samples of chocolate with varying percentages of cacao.

Finally, if you need some wine to ensure you taste all of the major food groups, you have two options. Jack London Vineyard has a small tasting counter inside of Figone's and Eric Ross Winery is directly across the street. I've not sampled Jack London Vineyard's wines but have enjoyed Eric Ross' Pinot Noir and Carignane.

If you would like to take a private Sonoma Valley tour that includes a stop at Jack London Village, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. I'd be happy to make appointments for you to taste cheese at Raymond & Co. and/or to tour Figone's mill.

Northern California: An Explorer's Guide

This new guidebook, written by San Francisco resident, Michele Bigley, was just released on June 1. It's a great resource for travel in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and all of Northern California - from Big Sur to the Oregon border.

Here's what Michele had to say about Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, "A wealth of knowledge, Rick takes folks on customized tours of the Bay Area, Wine Country, Central Coast, Mendocino, and even the Sierra Foothills. You tell him what you want and he'll create the ideal trip. He knows more about wine and food than most."

Many thanks to Michelle for the nice review. If you're planning a trip to San Francisco, you can pick up "Northern California: An Explorer's Guide" at most good bookstores.

If you'd like to take a tour with a guide who "knows more about wine and food than most," please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

More Than Wine In Sonoma Wine Country

I haven't had a chance to post recently. However, the May edition of "Rick's Tips" is about Sonoma County's wine country. To see the newsletter, click here.

If you would like to subscribe to "Rick's Tips," please follow the link in the newsletter. If you would like to take a private, custom tour of Sonoma's wine country, please call Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Winetasting During the Holidays

Many tasting rooms operate on different schedules during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. If you are planning on doing some winetasting in Northern California during the holidays, you might want to call your favorite wineries in advance to make sure their tasting rooms will be open. If that's too much work, here's some general guidance.

Most wineries will open and close at their regular times each day from December 21 through January 3, except on December 24, 25, and 31 and on January 1. A few of the small wineries will close for a few days during this period.

Most wineries will close early on Christmas Eve and a few will be closed entirely. After 2:00 p.m., there are very few tasting rooms open on December 24. Wineries also may decide to close earlier than planned if business is slow.

All tasting rooms are closed on Christmas Day.

Most wineries will close early on New Year's Eve; although some will stay open until their regular closing times. After 2:00 p.m., definitely call prior to visiting a tasting room to see if it is open.

Only a handful of wineries are open on New Year's Day. I know that Nicholson Ranch near Carneros and V. Sattui in Napa are open, but I am sure there are a few more. Phone ahead of your visit to confirm if the tasting room will be open.

If you would like to take a private wine country during the holidays or in 2009, please feel free to phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here. Blue Heron will be closed on both Christmas and New Year's Day.

Wineries with Caves

I frequently get asked to visit wineries that have caves. Most wineries do not have caves as they do not have access to hills in which to drill caves. When wineries do have hills, they often chose to excavate caves so they can store their wine in perfect climatic conditions with minimal expense for power. Fifty-eight degrees is the perfect temperature for storing wine. With a cave, the winery does not need to spend money on heating and air conditioning. In addition, wine should be aged in a humid environment to minimize evaporation. Caves, being naturally humid, save on power for humidification.

Below is a partial list of wineries with caves that can be visited:

Napa Valley

Del Dotto - Compare barrel samples while visiting their cave.
Hall-Rutherford - Taste wine under a chandelier in the shape of a vine's roots.
Jarvis - See beautiful crystals and a restroom with twinkling stars.
Palmaz - Enter a 180 foot tall cave while being guided by a family member.
Rombauer - Tour the cave and enjoy a picnic lunch on their beautiful grounds.
Rutherford Hill - Take a public tour that includes a visit to the winery's cave.
Schramsberg - Visit caves dug by Chinese laborers in the 19th century.

Sonoma Valley

Moon Mountain - Visit one of the few natural caves used for aging wine.
Nicholson Ranch - Walk through their no-frills cave on a private tour.

Dry Creek Valley

Bella - Enjoy beautiful views from the hillside and then taste in the cave.

This list is by no means complete. It includes caves I've personally visited or have been recommended to me. If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a tour of one of these winery's caves, please call me at (866) 326-42377 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Italian Varietals in Sonoma Valley

Some wineries have their tasting rooms located away from the actual winery. Wineries do this because their facilities are too far away from the usual tourist routes; the county will not issue a permit for a tasting room at the actual winery; or they lease, rather than own, production facilities.

VJB Vineyards and Cellars has a tasting room on Sonoma Highway (Hwy. 12) in Kenwood that is open to the public daily. They also offer sit-down tastings at their estate, which is just off Sonoma Highway, a couple of miles north of the tasting room.I had a chance to stop by the tasting room on a quiet day recently and found the staff to be friendly and knowledgeable.

VJB produces wine from both traditional Italian and French varietals. I enjoyed their Barbera during my visit. They also produce Prosecco, an Italian-style sparkling wine, and Tocai Friulano, a white wine. Their Italian-style red wines include Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Anglianico, and Primitivo. Their French varietals include Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Syrah. Finally, they produce a Zinfandel (red, not pink).

VJB is a good stop on any visit to the Sonoma Valley. You'll get to taste wines that are not commonly available in an enjoyable environment. If you would like to take a private Sonoma tour that includes a stop at VJB, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Beautiful Hilltop Winery in Sonoma Valley

Moon Mountain Vineyard is easily overlooked when winetasting in the Sonoma Valley. It requires an appointment to visit and is a couple of miles up Moon Mountain Drive, on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder between the towns of Sonoma and Glen Ellen.

The drive up Moon Mountain Drive takes you through beautiful vineyards with fantastic views of the mountains and valley floor. Along the way, you will pass one of Sonoma County's most famous vineyards, Monte Rosso, which was founded by the Napa winery, Louis Martini. When you arrive at Moon Mountain Vineyard, you'll climb the steps to the tasting room, where you will have beautiful views of the surrounding hillside vineyards.

Moon Mountain grows all five of the classic Bordeaux varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot, and Malbec; as well as Syrah. The vineyards are certified organic; although, the wine is not as sulfites are added.

Tours and tastings are available from Tuesday through Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and sometimes at 10:30 a.m. A tour lasts about 90 minutes and includes a visit to the winery's natural caves. There is a nominal $10 fee for the tour and tasting that is credited towards any purchase.

Moon Mountain is a welcome retreat from the traffic and crowds along Route 12 in the Sonoma Valley. If you would like to take a private wine country tour of Sonoma Valley that includes a stop at Moon Mountain Vineyards, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Taking a Winery Tour

If you have never taken a tour of a winery, I recommend doing so when you visit wine country. Most of the tours focus on the winemaking process; although, a few focus on other areas such as biodynamic farming and the history of the winery. Once you have done one tour, you are probably set for life unless you are really into making wine. After all, one can only see so many stainless steel fermentation tanks and oak barrels.

Many wineries do not offer tours. Still more offer tours only by appointment. If you arrive in the Napa or Sonoma Valleys or Carneros without having scheduled a tour, here are a few options for you:

Sonoma Valley:

Benziger offers one of the more unique wine country tours. You can visit their biodynamic vineyards in a tractor-pulled tram and then walk through their production facilities. The schedule varies, but tours are usually offered hourly if not more frequently. The tour lasts about one hour and includes tasting some of their wines.

Sebastiani's Historical Tour covers the history of Sebastiani as well as the winemaking process. Tours are usually offered at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00; however, they may be cancelled due to special events so call before you arrive to make sure the tour is being offered. The tour lasts 40 minutes.

Carneros:

Artesa provides free tours of their production facilities at 11:00 and 2:00. There is no charge for the 45 minute tour.

Napa Valley:

Mondavi offers hourly tours that include tastes of some of their current releases. The tour is advertised as 75 minutes in length but frequently takes longer. During the summer and fall, more frequent tours may be offered. Children are allowed only on the noon tour.

Rutherford Hill's tours include a visit to their caves and tastings of some of their current releases. Tours are offered at 11:30, 1:30, and 3:30. During the busy summer and fall seasons, arrive early to make sure you get a ticket.

Mumm Napa has free hourly tours of their production facilities and photography gallery. You can just show up at the winery a few minutes before the start of the tour.

Beringer offers an array of tours. Some tours require advance reservations. For other tours, you just buy a ticket when you arrive at the winery. Most focus on some aspect of the history of Beringer, the oldest continuously operated winery in the Napa Valley.

Other wineries offer quality tours. If you have taken one, post a comment. If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a winery tour, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Sandwiches and Salads on Sonoma Plaza

If you are winetasting in Carneros or Sonoma Valley and just want a quick sandwich or salad for lunch, the Sunflower Caffe on Sonoma Plaza is the place to go. (The sign on the restaurant says, "Caffe," but all the internet listings say, "Cafe.") Using the freshest of ingredients, this pleasant bistro prepares a variety of light meals. On summer weekends, the Sunflower also offers sandwiches with freshly barbecued meats.

After placing your order at the counter, you will be given your drink and a number. Find a table and then wait for your meal to be brought to you. You can lunch inside on a rainy day, but on warm days you will want to sit out back in their sunny garden or at one of the tables in front facing the plaza.

The cafe is also a good spot to stop for coffee, espresso, and/or pastry.

Sunflower Caffe is located on the west side of Sonoma Plaza at 421 First Street West.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour in Sonoma County that includes lunch at the Sunflower Caffe, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

More History in Sonoma

Up the valley from the city of Sonoma is the small town of Glen Ellen. Just up the hill from the center of town is Jack London State Park; located on the site of Jack London's Beauty Ranch.

Jack London is one of America's great writers. Born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland, Jack London wrote extensively about nature, politics, and the social conditions of late 19th and early 20th century America. After becoming successful, London and his wife, Charmian, purchased land overlooking the Sonoma Valley that they named the Beauty Ranch. Here London wrote, farmed, and supervised the construction of his dream home, the Wolf House. Tragically, the Wolf House was destroyed by fire shortly before the Londons were to move in. The cause of the fire was never discovered.

There is a museum in The House of Happy Walls, which Charmian built as her home after Jack died. You also can see the Wolf House ruins and remnants of the Londons' farm. Hiking, biking, and horse riding trails provide beautiful views of the Sonoma Valley.

If you are a Jack London fan, or just want to learn more about this charismatic author, I recommend a visit to Jack London State Park. It is located just up the road from Benziger winery, which I wrote about on June 10, 2006, so you can combine history with wine tasting.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Sonoma Valley that includes a visit to the Beauty Ranch, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Historic Sonoma Plaza

The town of Sonoma is important in California's history. The last of California's 21 missions, Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma (better known as Mission Sonoma) was founded in 1823; the only mission to be established under Mexican Rule. Nearby are the old barracks and the home of General Mariano Vallejo, a central figure in California's Mexican era as well as the first years of statehood. All of the historic buildings in Sonoma comprise the Sonoma State Historic Park. If you have some time while you are in Sonoma, take a walk back in time by visiting the park. If you are tasting wine with your children in tow, a visit to the Mission will provide them with a nice break from watching you savor your Chardonnay and Cabernet.

Sonoma was also the sight of the Bear Flag Revolt. On June 14, 1846 a rag-tag group of Americans captured General Vallejo and declared California to be independent. William B. Ide became the first and only President of the California Republic. The Republic was short-lived as the American navy sent a detachment to Sonoma on July 9, lowered the Bear Flag, and raised the American Flag. A monument to the Bear Flag revolt is located in the northeast corner of Sonoma Plaza, near the Mission.

If you would like to take a private Sonoma tour that includes a visit to Mission Sonoma, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Winetasting for Non-Drinkers

Sometimes my tour groups include one or two people who do not drink. Since watching others taste wine is not much fun, I try to visit wineries that would also be enjoyable for the non-drinkers.

Wineries that are interesting to visit for both tasters and obstainers are those with art galleries. The Hess Collection, on Mount Veeder in the Napa Valley, has a large gallery of contemporary art. Three floors of modern art will give the nondrinkers plenty to do while their friends taste Hess' wines in the pretty tasting room. Mumm Napa Valley, producer or quality sparkling wines, has a photography gallery with a regular exhibit of works by Anselm Adams as well as rotating exhibits. Turnbull Wine Cellars, also in the Napa Valley, produces excellent Cabernet Sauvignon and other wines and has a gallery of excellent black and white photographs. Imagery Estate Winery, in the Sonoma Valley, has an on-going exhibit of the original works of art used for their wine labels. Lastly, Clos Pegase Estate Winery, in the northern end of the Napa Valley, has a sculpture garden with works by some of the twentieth century's best known sculptors.

Non-drinkers also enjoy visiting architecturally interesting wineries. Sterling Vineyards sits on a knoll overlooking the Napa Valley. Visitors travel to the winery in a gondola and upon arrival are treated to beautiful views of the valley. In the Carneros Region, Artesa Winery is an architecturally stunning building atop a hill. Great views may be had from the entry way to the winery as well as from the deck outside the tasting room. The winery is also home to a resident sculptor and a small museum on the history of Carneros.

If you are planning a trip to San Francisco with a group that contains both folks who enjoy wine as well as those who do not, I'd be happy to plan a Wine Country tour that includes stops at wineries that all will find interesting. To schedule a tour, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Artisan Cheese in Sonoma

Not only is the Bay Area home to terrific wine, but it is also the home of many artisan cheesemakers. One of the oldest is Vella Cheese Company, located at 315 2nd Street East, just 2 blocks from the Sonoma Plaza. Founded in 1931 by Tom Vella, today the company is run by his son, Ig (short for Ignazio).

Vella is best known for its dry Monterey Jack Cheese, but also makes a Mezzo Secco and Jacks with more moisture, both flavored and regular. I also enjoy Vella's Italian Table Cheese as well as its Asiago. There are other Italian-style cheeses available and two types of Cheddar.

When you visit Sonoma, take a walk over to Vella Cheese and taste some of their wonderful offerings. You can pick up some cheese for a picnic on the Sonoma Square. Vella is open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. from Monday through Saturday. You may also purchase cheese on on-line or by calling (800) 848-0505.

If you want to take a Sonoma private tour that includes a stop on Sonoma Plaza so you may visit Vella, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Fun Winery Tour in the Sonoma Valley

Benziger Family Winery offers one of the most fun winery tours in all of Wine Country. Several times each day, Benziger offers a tractor-pulled tram wine through the vineyards. Here you will have a chance to look at the vines close up. And Benziger's vines are special as the vineyard is Biodynamic certified.

Biodynamics is a holistic approach to farming. Going beyond the requirements of an organic certification, biodynamics requires that the farm be self-sustaining and in harmony with nature.

The tour costs $10/person and advance reservations are highly recommended. Call (888) 490-2739 to book your space on one of these fun tractor tours. The winery is located at 1883 London Ranch Road.

Nearby is Jack London State Park where you can visit Jack London's famed Beauty Ranch. The nearby town of Glen Ellen is home to some good restaurants as well as The Olive Press, where you can taste artisan olive oils.

If you would like to take a private, custom tours of the Sonoma Valley that includes a tour at Benziger and a stroll through Glen Ellen, call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.