NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY
Tips for food & wine touring in Napa & Sonoma wine country
GETTING THERE
Napa Valley is about 400 miles north of Los Angeles. The closest airport is San Francisco International, about 55 miles southwest of Napa. American, Frontier and United fly nonstop from LAX to SFO. Restricted round-trip fares start at $98.
WHERE TO STAY
Ambrose Bierce House, 1515 Main St., St. Helena; (707) 963-3003, www.ambrosebiercehouse.com. Quaint bed-and-breakfast (four rooms). Includes Champagne breakfast and wine and cheese in the afternoon. Doubles $189-$299.
Hotel St. Helena, 1309 Main St., St. Helena; (707) 963-4388, www.hotelsthelena.com. Quirky bed-and-breakfast with porcelain dolls and lots of lace. Rooms are very small, but the location is great, within walking distance of several restaurants. Continental breakfast included. Doubles with shared bath $95-$155, private bath $125-$225.
Meadowood Napa Valley, 900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena; (707) 963-3646, www.meadowood.com. Luxury cottages on a private estate. Spa, golf, tennis, swimming pool and restaurants on site. Doubles $500-$925, suites $675-$4,300.
WHERE TO EAT: NAPA
Cakebread Cellars, 8300 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford; (800) 588-0298, www.cakebread.com. Guided food-wine pairing, Thursdays and Fridays only, $20. Reservations required.
COPIA, 500 1st St., Napa; (888) 512-6742, www.copia.org. Exhibitions, demonstrations, wine programs and events, $5 general admission. COPIA Atrium serves wine flights with tasting plates $15-$20. Julia's Kitchen restaurant, (707) 265-5700, www.juliaskitchen.org. Lunch $16-$22 (four-course tasting menu $45); dinner entrees $18-$33 (six-course tasting menu $70).
Darioush, 4240 Silverado Trail, Napa; (707) 257-2345, www.darioush.com. Pairing, daily, of special-release wine and artisan cheese $50. Reservations required. The chef-in-residence tasting program begins in the spring.
Domaine Chandon, 1 California Drive, Yountville; (707) 204-7530, www.chandon.com. Étoile restaurant; (707) 204-7529. Lunch entrees $29-$34; dinner entrees $28-$37; seven-course tasting menu $95, with wine pairings $155. Reservations recommended. After 6 p.m., the Wine Tasting Salon serves a mini version of the restaurant menu with smaller portions $7-$20. Regular tastings with paired appetizers $7-$17.
Duckhorn Wine Co., 1000 Lodi Lane, St. Helena; (707) 963-7108, www.duckhornvineyards.com. Guided food-wine tasting program $25. Reservations required.
Peju Province Winery, 8466 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford; (707) 963-3600, www.peju.com. Prix-fixe four-course lunch paired with wines $40. Offered spring, summer and fall. Reservations required.
Robert Sinskey Vineyards, 6320 Silverado Trail, Napa; (800) 869-2030, www.robertsinskey.com. Bento-box food-wine tasting, Saturdays and Sundays only, $40. Reservations required. Culinary tour with wine and cheese tasting $30. Reservations required.
WHERE TO EAT: SONOMA
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