![]() I could ride a bike from my hotel – the nearby Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville – and enjoy a glass of rose bubbles under the sun. While parts of the winery are undergoing construction, the grounds are still accessible and immaculate. I couldn’t leave Napa Valley without stopping for a glass of my favorite bubbles – Chandon. Helena location start at $60 and tours at $75. It was one of the most magical parts of my trip. I enjoyed a Cabernet tasting and a walk on the incredible grounds as the sun was setting. The “Modern Tasting Gallery” is a part modern art gallery, and part wine tasting room with over 35 pieces of contemporary art, and several options for tastings and tours. Helena property, I knew this spot was my style. After driving by the “Bunny Foo-Foo” sculpture that greets visitors to its St. Hall Wines came highly recommended to me by some other travelers earlier in my trip. Prices start at $20 – $125 and can be reserved in advance here. There are various tastings and tours available, as well as the option to “Sip and Stroll” the grounds with a glass of wine. The tasting included a selection of Beringer’s single vineyard reserve wines. I first enjoyed a tour of the incredible grounds and wine caves with a glass while learning about the history of the vineyard before sitting down to a decadent Veranda Tasting at the historic Rhine House. And while I’m sure any wine drinker has picked up some Beringer at the grocery store, let me tell you, there is so much more to experience at the vineyard. I spent a lovely afternoon at Beringer Vineyards – the oldest continuously operating vineyard in not just Napa but all of California. During peak seasons and weekends, these can be tricky to come by, so planning is of course the name of the game here. You’ll need reservations for nearly any wine tasting in Napa and many in Sonoma. In 1861 Charles Krug opened the first commercial winery in Napa Valley and by 1889 there were over 140 wineries in operation.Īfter many wineries were abandoned after prohibition and a destructive root louse, Napa and Sonoma began rebuilding – with California wine country truly being put “on the map” after the Paris tasting of 1976 where California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay beat out their French competitors in a blind tasting for the first time. Grapes were planted in Sonoma County as early as 1812 while George Calvert Yount was the first to grow grapes in Napa Valley in 1839. While Napa Valley and Sonoma County are incredibly diverse and offer a wide range of activities for any traveler, the big draw is still, of course, the wine. I recently spent a week solo exploring Sonoma and Napa, barely scratching the surface of what this surprisingly large area offers, here are my recommendations: WHERE TO DRINK: Emily Hart ![]() Still, you don’t have to be a wine enthusiast – or even a wine drinker for that matter – to enjoy the lush green beauty and quaint towns that dot these legendary wine regions. ![]() Home to many of the most well-known and exclusive wineries, restaurants, outdoor recreation spots, and hotels – there is something in these NorCal communities for every kind of traveler ( except the budget kind, the region is pricey). And while there are many areas of California known for beautiful vineyards and incredible wine, nothing approaches the prestige of the Napa and nearby Sonoma wine regions. While every traveler has their specific vision of what a “bucket list” trip would include, there are some destinations in the United States that seem to show up again and again – like a trip to California wine country. ![]()
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