All over Northern California, wild mustard starts to bloom in January. It’s such a wonderful thing to see that 17 years ago someone came up with the idea to turn it into the Napa Valley Mustard Festival.  There are lots of fun activities that come with a significant ticket price, but guess what?

You can see the wild mustard for free, get away from the crowds in Napa and the wineries are really quiet.  (There’s still lots of local nightlife too!)

I’d love to show you around. Or just pick up my guide and get going.  If you have any questions about visiting wine country, just ask!

PS: Did you know that most of the Dijon mustard in the USA is made from mustard seeds from Canada? (wikipedia)

Read Full Post »

As a wine country guide, I have the pleasure of meeting a wide variety of people.  Every group is different, but the common denominator is everyone hopes to have a great time.  People who are relaxed, open-minded and curious have the best experience. (The ones who put themselves in my hands for their itinerary are always happy.)

One memorable day was with two ladies in their 70′s. (A daughter of one of the gals’ bought them a surprise tour with me.) Old friends for decades, they had traveled the world together.  This was just a 3-day getaway not far from their homes. They were both shy about their “lack of knowledge” about wine (although one really likes drinking it).

With gentle help from my friends at the wineries, we introduced them to the joy of discovery.  I took them to four places (plus lunch)–a small but well-known boutique winery; a barrel tasting of futures (wine not ready for release); a casinoesque winery with gorgeous grounds, and Sbragia where Ed Sbragia is the winemaker.  (One of the gals likes Beringer wines, so I wanted to introduce them to Beringer’s famous ex-winemaker).

At the end of the day, their enthusiasm for trying new wine had grown by leaps and bounds.  It’s fun to think of them experimenting at home and getting a kick out of it.  As I always say, don’t worry about what you don’t know about wine, learn about the wine you’re drinking.

* I always bring my camera and email the pictures to my guests afterward as a thank you gift.  I took this picture at Ferrari-Carano.  I imagine they will reminisce about their trip every time they open a bottle of wine!

Read Full Post »

Here’s my recommendation for a 1 or 2 day trip to Healdsburg’s fabulous wine country.

Healdsburg is a beautiful little town in Northern California wine country.  I know I’m getting close when Hwy 101 is suddenly flanked by tall pine trees and open countryside as far as I can see.  I pass the Central Healdsburg exit and around the next curve I see Dry Creek Rd exit.  Dry Creek is a wine appellation like none other in Northern California.  It’s a monoculture…just vineyards, no cows, no dairies, no industrial buildings, nothing but rows and rows of vineyards cascading over rolling hills, with occasional tasting rooms dotting the countryside. As I turn left onto Dry Creek Road, I’m heading west towards the hills.  Every time I enter the Dry Creek appellation, all my cares in the world drop away; it feels magical.

First Stop

Michel Schlumberger (link goes to my review)

Place (terroir) is at the heart of this winery which makes it a wonderful place for a tour.  Learn about organic farming practices, how they “save the salmon” & meet the good insects “grown” in their garden. It’s a beautiful location & memorable experience. Plan to spend 1-2 hours here. Start with a 30 minute or more tour, then come back into their gorgeous tasting “salon” (fireplace in the winter).  Your personal wine educator will pour great Burgundy, Bourdeaux and Rhone varietals. Pick one of their many wonderful tour options on their website.

2nd Stop (across the road)

Quivira

Visiting Quivira, you’ll feel its aura of happiness, adventure & wholesome energy while sipping sophisticated wines in a beautiful setting. The wines are elegant, smooth, balanced & delicately blended.  The folks there are always welcoming which may be why it is such a hot local’s favorite (lots of bicyclists stop there; Quivira even sells their own biking jersey).  You’ll love their massive organic gardens (used by local chefs), the famous ancient Fig Tree and the precious farm animals (goats, hens, pigs).  Quivira is a vineyard farm that looks like an artist’s painting.

Third Stop

Dry Creek General Store

Go back the way you came in and you’ll run right into the only place to eat in Dry Creek Valley.  It’s a local’s place by night (a bar is attached) and a deli/store for visitors and winery workers during the day.  (TIP: A regular deli sandwich is better then the hot sandwich “specials” that are consistently greasy and disappointing.)  I recommend sitting on the porch and enjoying the people watching while you eat. You’re very likely to meet other wine enthusiasts from all over the country.  They have wine and non-alcoholic beverages, depending on your mood!

Fourth Stop

Gustafson Winery

Part of enjoying the Dry Creek area is seeing the stunning countryside.  Leaving the General Store, continue on Dry Creek Road, a two-lane, mostly empty tree-lined road with wide openings of hillside vineyards appearing then disappearing as you make your way to Lake Sonoma.  It’s only a 20 minute drive from the store to the Lake, but don’t stop there.  Drive another 10 minutes and you’ve discovered Gustafson Winery, the only winery in the Dry Creek Appellation that sits 1,800′ above the valley.  This is a true hidden gem.  Unbelievable views (30 miles in 3 directions) and stunning wines.

Wineries are open from 10:00 – 5:00 generally.  With three tours & tastings, lunch & enjoying the countryside, you’ve just had a fantastic day trip and you’re sober enough to drive home.

If you’re staying the night, here’s the place:

Honor Mansion

I’ve had lots of guests stay here and they are 1000% in love with the experience. It is gorgeous, welcoming & elegant. When you arrive, the temperature in the room will be perfect, soft music will be playing in your room, and if there is a chill in the air, a cozy fire will be lit in the fireplace.  As you drive up, it looks like a pretty mansion, but a surprise awaits you when you step through the house out into the homey, yet resort-size grounds.  You can swim, play croquet, bocce ball, tennis, or just relax and watch the Koi. Be sure to check out their online specials.

There are lots of great restaurants in Healdsburg, your concierge can give you recommendations for whatever you’re craving.  My favs are Willie’s Seafood & Wine Bar & Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen.

Day 2 Shopping (& a bit more wine tasting)!

Healdsburg is a special place with cute dress shops, galleries, and antique stores enclosing a town square. You’ll regret it if you don’t spend at least the afternoon wandering around, enjoying the fresh air and friendly people.  I recommend you have enjoy the Honor Mansion’s amenities in the a.m., have a fabulous breakfast, play a little Bocce Ball or get a massage.  After you check out, go visit my friends at the Wine Shop.  Located on the square, it’s a tasting room and wine shop.  They often have vintners hanging out talking about their wines.  Regardless, you can sit at the little bar and be introduced to fun and affordable wines.  This is a great opportunity to learn how a wine shop works, so when you go home, you won’t feel unsure about hooking up with your local wine shop, or you can even have The Wine Shop in Healdsburg send you wine, like I do.

After tasting wine, you’re ready to shop!  Spend the afternoon strolling, eating, window shopping and getting that perfect sculpture or other memory of your trip.  PS: You’ll want to come back, everyone does.  For more recommendations to plan your next trip to Healdsburg, just search my blog for Healdsburg.

If you want me to be your guide or want an affordable and friendly driving service, contact Vine Rover Tours (tell Jay, Alana sent you).

Read Full Post »

It seems like I have the best job in the world (I do); but sharing my experiences with my readers is something that I actually take pretty seriously.  For this reason, I generally prefer to visit wineries by myself (less distractions).

I usually make an appointment for a tour and a tasting, bring my camera, my red leather mini-notebook & my groovy leopard pen. I make sure I have plenty of time to hang out. Many times, I have never tasted the wines prior to visiting.  This makes it awkward if I don’t like the wines; but its only happened a handful of times.  Sometimes though, I discover wines & people that become my favorites.  Here’s a pic of my review of Michel-Schlumberger  posted in their tasting room.

(An Insider Pass to Michel-Schlumberger is in my guidebook.)

Come visit me & I’ll introduce you to them!

Read Full Post »

Courtesy of Hotelhealdsburg.com

Initially, I wasn’t drawn to this hotel because it seemed a bit slick for this small town village square, but once inside, my weakness for soft robes, tranquil surroundings and luxurious amenities won me over.  I was surprised by the light and architectural detail–anyone who appreciates stylish design will want to see inside this hotel.

I find that too many hotels are nondescript or overly designed.  The feeling I get at HH is a sensual collage of design, real light and a clean and fresh atmosphere. I liked discovering unexpected meditative seating areas. I think this is the first hotel that I’ve been in that has hardwood floors everywhere.  I would stay here in a heartbeat.  I’m also looking forward to getting a pedicure at their spa. Check online for specials and give them a call.

PS: After wine tasting in the Dry Creek or Russian River area, return by 5:00 p.m. on a Thursday or Friday to take advantage of their complimentary wine tasting.

Read Full Post »

If you are looking for a rental in the Paso Robles Wine Country, you might want to check out Cambria.  It’s a pretty little village with lots of empty beaches and a great location to relax between winery visits.

We found the perfect little cottage for Hubby, Tulip and I.  We loved it and would definitely stay here again. I especially loved the back and front decks, the quiet location and the big kitchen table where we were able to spread out our camera gear and laptops.  I recommend Breen Realty, ask for Bob, the manager, he’s a fellow wine enthusiast.

Read Full Post »