California WIne Country

Originally published in LifeStyle Magazine, June, 2006

California’s two most famous wine regions, Napa and Sonoma, offer spectacular wines to appreciate and purchase. And while wine is the main attraction, there’s much more to discover within these wonderful places. Even if you’re not a wine lover, or find yourself dragging along an uninterested partner, a wealth of fabulous activities abound that compliment the wine tasting atmosphere. Napa and Sonoma are leading producers of olives and boast several olive oil tasting rooms. Napa is also a great source for mustard and features a Mustard Festival each spring.

Let’s take a tour!

First stop is Sonoma. Beautiful and meticulously kept gardens are a worldwide tradition at most wineries. Some are huge, magnificent and worthy of horticulture magazine covers, while others are small, modest and well kept. Serious gardeners should head to Ferrari-Carano’s truly spectacular display near Healdsburg, Sonoma.

Although Sonoma has a wealth of other interesting vineyards, let’s head on to Napa.

My all time favorite Bed and Breakfast is the wonderful Chateau de Vie in Calistoga, Napa. The food, service, amenities, view and vineyard are breathtaking, and it’s situated at the foot of Mount Helena. Make an appointment to visit nearby Schramsberg, a not-to-be missed adventure featuring California’s best sparkling wines that are stored in caves dug out of a mountainside by Chinese immigrants. This part of Napa is known for its natural hot springs, dormant volcanoes and occasional earthquakes, as well as it’s own version of “Old Faithful”, with a hokey display that doesn’t diminish one of nature’s more interesting natural clocks. The modern art at Clos Pegase Winery, Artesa Winery in Carneros, which is built into a hill, and the Hess Collection Winery featuring the flaming Underwood typewriter sculpture, will please all art and architecture aficionados.

For those who love opulence (and who doesn’t?) Francis Ford Coppola built Niebaum-Coppola Winery in Rutherford, Napa. No expense was spared… the main staircase alone cost one million dollars. For those who feel more comfortable in more modest surroundings, yet with fantastic wines, Elyse Winery in Oakville, Napa, excels with their Petite Sirah.

Continue on to the Oakville Grocer, the best spot to stock up with picnic supplies. It combines a tremendous selection of cheeses, homemade deli items and local condiments with old world charm. Don’t want to picnic? Back in Sonoma the Michel-Schlumberger Winery hosts The Harvest Lunch, the most wonderful European-style outdoor lunch this side of Tuscany, every September. Reservations required!

The selection of terrific restaurants in Napa and Sonoma is plentiful, but try the Culinary Institute of American in Rutherford, Napa, a graduate school where the alumni of other CIA’s around the country attend to hone their craft. You’ll be the lucky beneficiary. And for a good general source of information before you go, check out www.WineCountry.com.

Ernest Valtri designs wine labels and teaches wine appreciation in Bucks County. He can be reached at ev@objdesign.com