I'm thinking of taking a 5 day 4 nite vaca to wine country in California. I would fly into and stay in San Fran. Ideally I would like to go this month but practically I dont see it happening till at least January. My question is, to anyone who lives in the area or has visited, what is wine country like in Jan./Feb.? Are the wineries open? Is it too cold? I guess when I get my answers to these questions then I'll be looking for recommendations on restaurants/wineries. Thanks for your help.

I think winter is a nice time to visit the wine country. Of course, it's not as attractive as it is in the summer and fall, however all of the wineries are open. In fact, they have a lot more time to spend tasting and entertaining than say around harvest time. Too cold? You're from PA. The California winter will be a total joke to you. Hope this helps.

-Brett

In San Francisco, I highly recommend dining at Farallon. One of my favorite lunches ever was had there last year. Q is great for beer and comfort food. Millenium is great whether or not you're a vegetarian. Rue St. Jacques and Marche are lovely. Aux Delices has wonderful Vietnamese.

There's always Chez Panisse in Berkeley and The French Laundry in Yountville.

I know you haven't decided yet but the food in San Francisco is just so good I couldn't help but start recommending places.

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Thanks for the help, looks like I'll proceed with Jan/Feb. travel plans then. I'll keep you posted for some suggestions.

vinoman we went to SF earlier this fall for a quick 1 week vacation. Napa is a drive from SF, so if you're going specifically for wine, you may want to stay somewhere closer. We only did 1 day in Napa, and a couple days doing the toutisty SF stuff. We stayed in Union Square, which was perfect. Some great shopping (for the wife), right on the trolly line to Fisherman's Wharf, some great breakfast places, close to the theaters if you like. Definately a good spot.

If you've never been to SF before, I suggest spending atleast 2 days in Napa and then 3 days in SF.

Skip Chinatown (or spend minimal time there) as it is a nasty dump (I'm asian).

Fisherman's Wharf...ok. Do a tour of Alcatraz/Golden Gate.

I wasnt going to go specifically for Napa, although that will be one of my stops. Are there other wine regions/wineries closer to San Fran. to visit as well? I don't mind taking a days ride to Napa as long as I'm there. Thanks for your help.

Winter is nice in wine country. It used to be my favorite time of year there. In SF, the good news is, the bums will be moved inside, so you won't get harassed as much in winetr. Check the weather ahead and make sure it will be cold, windy and rainy and the drunks and bums will be moved inside, so it will be far more pleasant for you.

quote:

Originally posted by vinoman7:
I wasnt going to go specifically for Napa, although that will be one of my stops. Are there other wine regions/wineries closer to San Fran. to visit as well? I don't mind taking a days ride to Napa as long as I'm there. Thanks for your help.

Napa is not a day's trip away...maybe 2 hours.

I think it took us around 1 hour to get to Napa from Union Sq in SF... but we left early and there was no traffic (not even in Napa).

If I remember my CA geography correectly, the only other region that is close is Sonoma. The central coast wineries are a few hours drive.

mwagner is correct. Paso Robles is about 2.5 to 3.0 hours away but the drive is the most beautiful drive.

I guess I could always look on a map but its easier to ask, now I'm seriously researching this trip, I found a deal for a flight into San Fran. and hotel accomodations in Sonoma. How close are Sonoma and Napa? Thanks again for everyones help.

From experience, just because it says 1 hour on mapsquest doesn't mean it's really 1 hour...it may be longer due to traffic (which is always the case in Cali)

I think Sonoma is 45 minutes to an hour from Napa...someone correct me if I am wrong.

This may be oversimplifying, but Sonoma Valley is due west of Napa Valley, separated by a mountain range. Sonoma Valley is much larger to the north, but the valleys are joined at the southern end by the Carneros region. As the crow flies, they are only a few miles apart throughout their respective lengths, but the drive over mountain roads can be treacherous, especially after tasting wines. The safer route is to drive between them through Carneros.

The distance between the two valleys is dependent on where you start and stop. If you were to drive from the town of Napa to the town of Sonoma through Carneros, it may only take you 15 to 20 minutes because both of these towns are at the southern ends of their respective valleys. To start further north in Napa, say St. Helena, and travel further north in Sonoma, say Kenwood, could take quite some time if you went south through Carneros. I hope this is some help from a midwesterner who loves to visit "God's country."

As for Paso Robles, my recollection is that if you take an interior interstate (not a scenic drive), Paso Robles is about 3 1/2 hours from Napa without traffic. To take the scenic route along the coast would take much longer.

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