Your Wine Vacation -- Where to Go

Where to visit on your wine vacation? Some of these destinations well-known, a couple maybe not. These are reasonably easy to get to if you're flying in.

Napa (N. Calif)

Getting there: Fly into San Francisco, Oakland or Sacramento. Most will fly into SFO which is actually the longest drive from the airport to Napa. Figure an hour-and-a-quarter or more to the town of Napa; longer if you're going upvalley to Calistoga, for instance.

Wine: World-class cabernet, but there are other wines (yes, really). Don't miss the sparkling wines and zinfandel.

Eats: World-class restaurants plus normal stuff because some people actually live there and have to eat, too. Napa, Yountville, Rutherford, St. Helena all offer top-notch eats. None of the other areas listed here will compare with the food offerings of Napa Valley.

Cost: Yes, there will be lots of costs but hey, it's Napa! This will be the most expensive of all the destinations listed.

Non-wine: There's touristy shopping and you're not too far from San Francisco. Napa is not a good place to bring the kids as they will be bored and whiny.

Couple Napa wineries

Sonoma (N. Calif)

Getting there: Sonoma County is right next door to Napa so many visitors will spend few days in each county. Fly into San Francisco, Oakland or the little Sonoma County airport (they have flights going as far as Denver and Dallas). It's over an hour drive from SFO or OAK to Santa Rosa, the largest city, and centrally located in the county. Sonoma County airport? You're see vineyards and wineries on final approach.

Wine: It's quite diverse. The Russian River area is know for pinot noir, Dry Creek Valley for zinfandel, and Alexander Valley for cabernet. There's also sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and sparkling wine everywhere. Heck, you'll even find petite sirah!

Eats: Many excellent restaurants clustered mostly in the towns of Sonoma, Healdsburg, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa.

Cost: Less than Napa and what you'd call the norm for California (so yeah, a bit expensive).

Non-wine: For outdoors: the coast, rivers, redwood forests, and many hiking trails. Shopping geared to visitors is mostly in Sonoma and Healdsburg. There are some diversions for the kids. Also, a great selection of micro-breweries.

Couple Sonoma wineries

Santa Barbara (SoCal)

Getting there: The wine area is actually a bit inland from Santa Barbara in the Santa Ynez/Los Olivos area. It's over a two hour drive from LAX depending on the always-present traffic. There is a small airport in Santa Barbara.

Wine: Known for pinot noir and Rhone varietals, such as syrah.

Eats: Decent choices in the small towns.

Cost: Somewhat high.

Non-wine: It's really about the wine.

Solvang. No, I wouldn't expect a Danish-type tourist town here either

Sierra Foothills (inland N. Calif)

Getting there: The wine region is centered around Amador and El Dorado Counties but extends a bit north and south of there. Fly into Sacramento. A bit over an hour drive depending on where you're staying. It's a two hour drive from Oakland.

Wine: Known for zinfandel, barbera and Rhone varietals.

Eats: Pizza and spaghetti houses are around. There's actually a fancy "Napa-style" restaurant in the little town of Plymouth now.

Cost: Least expensive of all the places listed. Tasting fees and wine prices are definitely lower.

Non-wine: You're at the base of the Sierra Mountains so enjoy the great outdoors. Historically, this is that area of the California gold rush and signs of that time are still around.

One of the "bustling" towns in the Sierra Foothills

Willamette (OR)

Getting there: Fly into Portland then an hour or so drive depending on where you're staying.

Wine: It's all about pinot noir, but lots of chardonnay and some sparkling wine, too.

Eats: Lots of choices in the small town throughout the area.

Cost: Definitely cheaper than Napa, but close to what you'd call "California prices."

Non-wine: Hiking, including Silver Falls State Park, several breweries around, and you're close to Portland.

Autumn in Willamette Valley