San Fran and Napa Valley Visit

[Alzoam]

We are off to San Fran for a few days in late September for our first visit and hoping to get some advice. We are thinking of hiring a car and heading to napa valley for the day to visit some wineries and do some tastings. We have no experience with US wines so does anyone have a recommendation of good ones to visit, good reasonably priced Cabernet would be the priority, good views, good lunch location? Also any recommendations of bars or tasting rooms in San Fran would also be greatly appreciated. Thinking of going to Auberge for lunch so recommendations in that areas would be appreciated. I also like bubbly.

 

[kookaburra75]

We are off to San Fran for a few days in late September for our first visit and hoping to get some advice. We are thinking of hiring a car and heading to napa valley for the day to visit some wineries and do some tastings. We have no experience with US wines so does anyone have a recommendation of good ones to visit, good reasonably priced Cabernet would be the priority, good views, good lunch location? Also any recommendations of bars or tasting rooms in San Fran would also be greatly appreciated. Thinking of going to Auberge for lunch so recommendations in that areas would be appreciated. I also like bubbly.

The Napa Valley is not the place for reasonably priced wine - it's a bit over the top. Sonoma Valley, which is next door is a better bet I think. You could head up the Sonoma Valley, and cut across the back road that comes out at Oakville in the Napa Valley (it is a bit windy in spots), which is close to Auberge. The thing about the wineries north of San Francisco, is they charge for tastings, which you get back if buy the wine about $10/p Also, many are only open for limited hours or by appointment only. They do a lot of bigger reds, Cabernets and Zinfandel (sort of like Durif), and a lot of Chardonnay. There are a lot of smaller operations that do things a bit different. If you go online and dig around the winery websites you can get a lot of information.

Depending on where you are staying in San Francisco, there is a good bottle shop in the Pacific Heights area, PlumpJack Wine & Spirits, on the corner of Greenwich and Fillmore Streets - opposite Balboa Bar & Cafe. We found their selections and ideas really useful, plus you can sample a lot over the road at Balboa.

 

[Solid]

I would second Sonoma county - drop into the tourist visitor centre first and you can pick up a free map which will also mean when you go to the places on the map and show them they waive the tasting charge. Of course not all are on the map but it will save you money for the ones to want to visit that are

 

[SYD]

Just back from SF and Wine Country. As others have said, you pay for tastings - so you don't feel compelled to buy wines - and let's face it, you can't take too much with you back home anyway.

For us, first time in the wine country but many times previously to SF. With 20/20 hindsight, should have done wine country first so we could have bought some bottles to enjoy in SF - doh!

Initially, we planned to stay in Sonoma (based on Napa being too overhyped and expensive). As it is, there are three Sonomas. The town (with its square and tasting rooms), Sonoma Valley (runs parallel to the west of Napa Valley) and Sonoma County - which covers multiple wine areas.

We ended up staying in Windsor for three nights. There is a cluster of hotels around the town and Hwy 101. There are some tasting rooms in town and a short drive to Healdsburg - which has more tasting rooms, fine ding and expensive hotels/B&Bs.

A tip: at each tasting room/winery - ask for recommendations on other places to go. You might be offered free tasting vouchers or at least 2 for 1s.

Napa, Sonoma, Windsor are all easy drives from SF (1 to 2 hrs). One day, we drove north from Windsor, down Napa Valley, across to Sonoma and back up Sonoma Valley to Windsor.

 

[RooFlyer]

Great advice above, esp kooka. Don't be afraid to head further north - like Russian River, only abt 2hrs from SFO, to taste some Zins. Something we don't see much of in Australia.

 

[Alzoam]

Thank you all for your advice particularly the bottle shop in town. Do things work the same over there where bottle shops are cheaper than the vineyards? I realise this will mean we may get the more mainstream wines but we are ok with that if we are to bring a few home. I realise Napa valley is not cheap which is exactly why I asked for recommendations. I am taking from the above that Sonoma may be more economical so will head there. Has anyone tried Auberge and have an opinion? Are there any must try wines while there?

 

[drron]

Visiting Napa or Sonoma we usually stay at Vacaville.As it's on I-80 a lot of cheaper hotel options.An easy drive to the wineries.
However we do this also because of the other things in the area-Premium factory outlet,Budweiser brewery tour and the Jelly Belly factory tour.
A great restaurant if you like seafood and garlic is the Dead Fish at Crockett.Off I-80 just before you cross the San Francisco river.

 

[boomy]

Glad I found this thread. We are doing similar trip next year, staying 3 nights in Napa and 3 in San Francisco.

 

[cove]

If you cannot get to Russian River for their Zinfandels you can do ok at Costco or even a supermarket or drug store. I think I paid $57 for some Alexander Valley Silver Oak from San Diego Wine co. That was $USD.