Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
subjective matter, after all, and what I like will not necessarily please even the per-
son standing next to me. That's why, in the pages that follow, I don't spend much
time discussing the quality of the wine in each place. I think roaming the winer-
ies, tasting what's on offer, and deciding on your favorite is half the fun of a trip to
Wine Country, so I'll let you draw your own conclusions. It's perfectly possible to
enjoy a trip to the region without knowing a thing about wine (although it's hard
to come away from one without a little bit of knowledge and appreciation) and it's
even possible to have a blast without ever tasting a single drop of
vino.
If that's true, why name any wineries at all? The places I've chosen to highlight
possess that extra something that makes them fun or pleasant places to be. Some
of them have terrific views, and some have an unusual or rich history, some have
exceptionally affordable wines, some have excellent art displays, and some provide
the better tours in the region. But there are literally hundreds of wineries in the
region, so by no means do I consider my list exhaustive, and by no means should
any interested tourist, if he's into visiting wineries, stop with the places that I
name here. Like restaurants, wineries are a matter of personal choice, so you
should ask everyone you meet which wineries you should go to.
And take a look
at Chapter 12, which has basic information on the most popular varietals in Wine
Country, how to taste wine and more.
And don't feel pressured! Remember that most casual tourists, particularly
ones who fly into the Bay Area and can't carry back lots of luggage, don't neces-
sarily go to wineries to purchase wine—although plenty of people do buy bottles
at the places that strike their fancy—they go mostly for the atmosphere. So don't
feel like you have to buy any wine at all. You don't. That said, it's a lot harder to
find free tastings than it used to be because of the number of freeloading,
vino
-
guzzling tourists who come and depart without buying a thing.
SONOMA COUNTY
One of the busier wineries in Sonoma due to its long history and easy-to-reach
location right off the main town square,
Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery
(389
4th St. E., Sonoma;
%
407/933-3230; www.sebastiani.com; daily 10am-5pm)
has
been run by the same family for four generations, and is extremely tourist savvy.
That means it's not a terribly rustic or adorable place, and the old men who lead
the indoor winery tours could use a few lessons in theatricality. A trolley tour goes
around the grounds (which are somewhat industrial) at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, but
only when the weather is good because the vehicles are open-air. But the well-oiled
machinery of this place might make it a good first stop for nervous newbies—just
let yourself be carried along and you'll start to get the hang of how winery tours
Timing Your Tastings
Try to get a head start on your day; most wineries open to the public at 10 or
11am (they aren't always reliable about this, so it pays to call ahead), and serve
their last by 4:30 or 5pm. Unless I specify otherwise, listed wineries don't require
advance reservations.
