Wine country visit...Napa, Sonoma or even WA state. Input from you left coasters?

[Dueller]

I've asked about this from you guys before but can't find the thread. Was going to try it last summer but domestic intranquility got in the way. We now have two airline tickets that have to be used by June.

Need some ideas for a wine country tour in May/June for about 4-5 days over a long weekend (Sat-wenesday/thursday). I'm not a connoseur but wife is pretty up to date on wine...especially whites. Don't have a huge budget so top shelf dining/accomodations are not in the plan.

We plan to rent a car and drive to a number of vineyards...especially small boutiques. Hotels don't have to be anything beyond clean and safe...nothing extravagant needed.

Thoughts, guys?

[Rick Lee]

I'm going to a wedding in Sonoma next weekend. I've been to Napa and Sonoma many times. Gorgeous country up there, but IMHO, it's overwith. Too damn crowded. Traffic is horrendous. Last time I was there was two years ago, it was a Thurs. and we had to wait in line for a parking space at V. Sattui. I don't know that we did any tasting anywhere, as I couldn't bear to stand in line just to get to the tasting counter and then feel all crowded once there. I don't know what the good days are there, but I'm sure you don't want to be there on a weekend.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I'm going to a wedding in Sonoma next weekend. I've been to Napa and Sonoma many times. Gorgeous country up there, but IMHO, it's overwith. Too damn crowded. Traffic is horrendous. Last time I was there was two years ago, it was a Thurs. and we had to wait in line for a parking space at V. Sattui. I don't know that we did any tasting anywhere, as I couldn't mear to stand in line just to get to the tasting counter and then feel all crowded once there. I don't know what the good days are there, but I'm sure you don't want to be there on a weekend.

Last time I was out there was mid-80's and it was downright pastoral. Low key, uncrowded, a nd cheap accomodations were plentiful.

Kinda figured that...why I was considering doing something up in Washington.

Anybody up there have suggestions?

[Dueller]

Just looked at some of the attarcytions in WA/OR....seems much more reasonably priced and less crowded...especially during the week.

Oregon is also in the mix.

PWD72...any suggestions?

[126coupe]

Went to Napa in October during the middle of the week, no crowds, great weather.
I never go on road trips on the weekends

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by 126coupe

Went to Napa in October during the middle of the week, no crowds, great weather.
I never go on road trips on the weekends

126...saw your post from last fall in my search...never saw any reports of the trip. How did it go? Pics? recommendations?

[Rick Lee]

Let us know what you decide on. I've never been to any wineries in WA, but I've been to most of them around NAPA and Sonoma. The big ones (Beringer, Woodbridge, etc,) you see on the supermarket shelves are the ones to avoid. The small ones are where it's at. Calistoga and St. Helena are very cool, though St. Helena has been discovered and is also very crowded now.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Let us know what you decide on. I've never been to any wineries in WA, but I've been to most of them around NAPA and Sonoma. The big ones (Beringer, Woodbridge, etc,) you see on the supermarket shelves are the ones to avoid. The small ones are where it's at. Calistoga and St. Helena are very cool, though St. Helena has been discovered and is also very crowded now.

Thanks, Rick...the way we "roll" (thanks Gogar) is to have a general plan but no set itinerary and just some places mapped out. Have made some amazing adventures out of getting "lost" while travelling. We both prefer getting off the beaten path and experiencing the truly local color.

[BeyGon]

Try the Santa Barbara area, Solvang, Buelton, lots of places. Watch Sideways one more time and hit those places. We used to go up there after the Porsche show in Ventura for a couple days. I like the place. We stayed in a small older single story motel outside of Buelton. Can't think of the name right now. Lots of good wine there also.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by BeyGon

Try the Santa Barbara area, Solvang, Buelton, lots of places. Watch Sideways one more time and hit those places. We used to go up there after the Porsche show in Ventura for a couple days. I like the place. We stayed in a small older single story motel outside of Buelton. Can't think of the name right now. Lots of good wine there also.

Hasn't the movie made it a mad house tourist attraction?

[ths911]

just went to this place last weekend in Napa. It is amazing. tour of the castle was $32 including tasting and well worth it.

Castello di Amorosa Napa Valley Winery, Super Tuscan, Italian Style Wines, Visit Castello di Amorosa; The beautiful Napa Valley Winery in a 13th century Tuscan Castle setting.

[126coupe]

Originally Posted by Dueller

126...saw your post from last fall in my search...never saw any reports of the trip. How did it go? Pics? recommendations?

Bottega Restaurant, make reservations way ahead of time.
ZD Winery, Del Dotto Caves expensive tasting but you get wasted.
Hall Winery

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Hasn't the movie made it a mad house tourist attraction?

Nope, was there for the Christmas holiday and was easy peasy...



Love the area... Solvang has at least three wine tasting shops... or drive up to a cool little town called Los Olivous (very pretty drive through the country 15-20 minutes) about every other shop is a wine tasting place.

Or you can easily hit the wineries themselfs in the area.

There is also a very cool group of wineries in the Morro bay, big sur area.

If you do Napa/Sonoma stop by Mondovi even if you don't like their wine they have the most impressive grounds and building and a good tour.

I plan on doing the Oregon tour but have not got around to it yet.

[126coupe]

Del Dotto Cave tour is amazing, the wines are expensive but very good, they don't sell in the retail stores. Bottega is Michael Chiarelli's new restaurant, unreal.
Peju winery is a good choice too!

[pwd72s]

Just head North on old Hwy. 99 out of Corvallis, Oregon...you'll see enough wineries...so many it would take a year of weekends to visit them all.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I'm from WA but not a real wine person. However, the wineries outside of Seattle are a several hour drive away, Chelan, Yakima and Walla Walla would probably top the list. Yakima is an armpit trying to change its tourist profile. I wouldn't waste your time there. Chelan is nice but quite rural and there is nothing else around which might be what you want. I have not been to Walla Walla in years. The Woodinville area is a Seattle suburb and has several wine tasting spots so if you wanted a combo of city/country I'd consider that. If you have several days you could string them together and probably get lost along the way. It depends on how much driving you want to do. A round trip from the airport would probably be 600+ miles. I doubt any of these compare to Napa or Sonoma in terms of the wine "experience". If you post this up in the PNW section you might get some better responses from those more knowledgeable than me about the pros/cons of visiting WA wineries.

[pwd72s]

Oregon Wineries & Vineyards | Wine Maps & Guides – OregonLive.com

A winery tour I went on some years back...at the stops, Gary Emory & I stayed in the parking lots, watched the cars, had a beer or two...

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Hasn't the movie made it a mad house tourist attraction?

The movie must be four years old or more, we have been up there the last three years and never a crowd. Especially during the week, great wineries. You could fly into LA and rent a car, be there in an hour and a half. Or fly into Santa Barbara and rent a car. Not so expensive up there.
Foxen Wine.

[BeyGon]

Sanford Winery outside of Solvang

[daepp]

Haven't had time to read the thread, but I have much more fun on the Central Coast (Paso/SLO) than Napa or Sonoma. IMHO of course.