SF wine country: Napa or Sonoma, and how to get there?

[YahYahs]

DH and I are going to San Francisco for our 10-yr anniversary in July. We want to do 1 day in either Sonoma or Napa (back to our hotel in SF that night though).

I've never been to SF, and DH has been twice but never to wine country. Looking for suggestions for if we should take a train, bus, or something else; if we should do a structured tour or if it's better to go on our own; and if we should choose Napa or Sonoma.  Is this something we need to book tickets for now, or can we play it by ear when we get to SF?

We love wine, but we're no connoisseurs. 

Potentially relevant info: We'll be in SF on a Thurs to Mon, staying in Union Square.

[starburst604]

I'm on my way to the airport to fly to SFO and will be going to wine country tomorrow (not sure which, my friend lives there and has it all planned out). I'll come back here with feedback!!

[sent]

I was just reminiscing about a similar trip we did 5 years ago, pre-DD. We did Sonoma and Healdsburg. (I had been to Napa previously.) I drove, followed a map and drove to various vineyards.  No tours or reservations. Started with breakfast in Sonoma, ended with dinner at Mustards Grill on our way back.

[YahYahs]

May 18, 2017 7:59:24 GMT -5 starburst604 said:

I'm on my way to the airport to fly to SFO and will be going to wine country tomorrow (not sure which, my friend lives there and has it all planned out). I'll come back here with feedback!!

Yes, please! Have fun  

[janegold]

We rented a car to get from SF to Napa when we went in the fall. You'll want a car there, I think. Get a convertible! (ETA, just realized you are only doing a day trip...i still think it's nice to have a car. It's a quick, nice drive over the Golden Gate. There may very well be good day tour packages to consider too, though.)

[sakoro]

In deciding between the two regions, Napa has larger well-known brand name wineries and Sonoma has smaller family-run wineries. This is a huge generalization (because both regions have large and small wineries) but perhaps you can think about the type of experience you're looking for--cozy and initiate versus well-known grand names.

You'll have to get there by car. There are limo services you can hire but it's quite expensive. There is a wine train in Napa that only operates on weekends (as far as I know).

Personally, I prefer Sonoma because I like the smaller wineries where the owners family comes out to chat to you and there are dogs and llamas out in the yard. In Napa, you get more of the slick corporate presentations and you're in a much larger group of tourists. Also, portions of Point Reyes National Seashore is located in Sonoma and there are other activities like oyster barbecues and goat cheese tasting.

[shauni27]

May 18, 2017 8:12:44 GMT -5 sakoro said:

In deciding between the two regions, Napa has larger well-known brand name wineries and Sonoma has smaller family-run wineries. This is a huge generalization (because both regions have large and small wineries) but perhaps you can think about the type of experience you're looking for--cozy and initiate versus well-known grand names.

You'll have to get there by car. There are limo services you can hire but it's quite expensive. There is a wine train in Napa that only operates on weekends (as far as I know).

Personally, I prefer Sonoma because I like the smaller wineries where the owners family comes out to chat to you and there are dogs and llamas out in the yard. In Napa, you get more of the slick corporate presentations and you're in a much larger group of tourists. Also, portions of Point Reyes National Seashore is located in Sonoma and there are other activities like oyster barbecues and goat cheese tasting.

There is a wine train that runs regularly, but in my opinion it is $$$ and too structured for my taste. winetrain.com/

I agree with Sakoro--car is your best bet, and I always prefer Sonoma. If you rent a car for the day you can take your time, stop along the way and explore other areas. 

Have fun! We got engaged in Napa and then spent the weekend exploring the area. We have been back a couple of times but I would love to go again.

[goldengirlz]

Some of the wineries require reservations but most don't. You don't have to decide NOW, but you should probably decide before you arrive just in case you want to go somewhere you need to book in advance.

I love both Napa and Sonoma but we tend to keep going back to Sonoma ... not sure why. Napa is more inland so might be hotter in the summer. The wineries are a bit more "theme park" (think wineries in castles or that require you to ride a gondola to the top). Sonoma has a reputation for being more laidback. But you can't go wrong with either!

[zoomzoom]

May 18, 2017 8:01:52 GMT -5 sent said:

. Started with breakfast in Sonoma, ended with dinner at Mustards Grill on our way back.

Delicious!  There are so many good places to eat and visit.  It's hard to decide!  For eating and a few small wineries, we like Yountville.  We've been to both the 'big' wineries as well as some of the smaller off the beaten path ones.  

What I've always done is looked at a map of wineries (clicky) and then decided a loose schedule from there.  Limos are very expensive as are taxis.  Best bet is to rent a car.  If you don't want to drive the whole time, there's a service called Napa Bee Driven where you can meet them up there and they'll drive your car from winery to winery.  It's great because they're locals and they know some of the smaller wine places that are good.  One of our drivers hooked us up with Kristian Story Wines; they were already closed for the day so we were invited to their home for a private wine tasting and cheese/crackers.  That was awesome.  I would probably go to at least one of the large established wineries to check them out; Far Niente & Cake Bread are 2 of our favorites. Opus - don't waste your time.  Sterling has a lovely gondola ride which is beautiful; at the top, it's a self guided tour and tasting.  It's a bit touristy but the gondola ride is worth it to me and we like their wines anyway.  A couple of smaller places we like:  Hope & Grace, Hill Family, Fleury.  Fleury is absolutely AMAZING.  Brian Fleury is usually there and he is a trip!

I would go on a Friday rather than Sat/Sun which would be way more crowded than a weekday.  Friday would be the busiest weekday but still not as crowded as a weekend.  I know you wanted to drive back but if you could swing it, spending the night in Yountville and eating dinner there would be a great way to end the day and the morning drive back would be pretty and less crowded.

[followyourarrow]

We rented a car in SF and drove to Napa. We made a long day of it and kind of meandered through Sonoma, make a few stops, then on to Napa. We went on the Wine Train, which we really loved, and we did the winery tour option.

[jigsy]

Personally, if you are not wine savvy, I think Napa is a little better. IME, Sonoma was a little more snooty - like we were expected to know it all, but it could have been the places we elected to go.

V. Sattui Winery (http://www.vsattui.com/) in Napa is pretty big, but I think it is a really nice starting point if you don't have a really refined palate yet. They have some really easy wines that I think most people will like, but also have more complex wines - some of my favorites are from there (Angelica is a great fortified wine and their Dry Creek Zinfandel was what opened me up to reds - I actually could go on and on...want to pick me up some bottles? lol) It has been a few years since I visited, but the grounds are beautiful, they have a little deli so you can grab lunch. Its a nice experience that won't cost an arm and a leg.

[mich1]

I would seriously look at hiring a car to drive me. It might be a lot more expensive but since you only want to do one day, it might give you the most bang for the buck.

We were in South Africa, and hired someone to drive us. It meant that both of us could indulge a LOT, and the driver knew where to go and when to go (like we were at a really nice place for a good sunset). After that experience, I don't think I'll ever do a do it yourself because it meant that I could truly relax.

JMHO

BTW....second hitting V Sattui. It's been a long time since I was there, and it was a most enjoyable experience (probably helped as we brought a picnic lunch to eat there, comprised of lobster salad, grapes, a chunk of good cheese and a baguette).

[sonrisa]

Napa and Sonoma are much closer to each other than they are to SF. You can hop between the two if you want.

Drive up 101 to either rather than going east first. The scenery on the way is better and the traffic is usually better depending on time of day. (The bay bridge and 580 are always a mess). Instead, you'll cross the golden gate bridge, go past Mt. Tam, then head east on 37 (or 116 or 12 if you are heading to northern sonoma).

Point Reyes (and Muir Woods) are great but I wouldn't try to smoosh them into a wine trip. Those are very slow, windy roads if you've had any wine. If you want suggestions in Marin, let me know. (You could pop into rustic bakery at larkspur landing for breakfast on your way north to wine country).

[marvine]

I did a tour in March that went from SF to Muir Woods and then on to a few wineries in Napa and Sonoma. I really enjoyed it and liked that none of us had to drive. The wineries that we went to were smaller, family owned type of places. I am not a connoisseur by any means so it was perfect for me!

[mich1]

May 18, 2017 10:34:58 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

(i hate to say it, but don't do v. Sattui. It's a great spot for "I just turned 21!" and the picnic area is wonderful, but the tasting room is a mess. If you actually drink wine, there are many better options. There are a ton of beautiful options for picnics that don't have the crowds and have better wine.)

That's a shame.  Last time I went there was in the early 1990s, and I had heard that things had deteriorated due to crowds.  It wasn't like this when I went.

[orangello]

I am 100% a Sonoma fan. Napa can be a complete cluster at the larger well-known vineyards with tour buses full of drunk tourists constantly rotating in and out. When we lived in SF, our regular go-to was Healdsburg and the Dry Creek and Anderson Valleys, and we never made a reservation anywhere for tasting - just pop in and grab a glass. It's also very beautiful and full of smaller back roads. Downtown Sonoma is also nice and has good vineyards nearby.

I would just avoid anything off of Hwy 29 - the traffic is usually terrible, and it really feels hectic and not very fun.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Personally, since this is an anniversary trip, I'd spring for a limo tour. Depending on the tour, you could get access to wineries that may not offer public tasting, and regardless, you won't have to drive in Sonoma or Napa, since they're always heavy traffic. Bonus - you can drink more. In my experience, the Sonoma wineries do heavier pours and I can only do two tastings before I *definitely* should not be driving. Unless you're planning a sip and spit tour, get a driver. You can reserve these through most concierges in the city or DIY.

Also, I personally prefer Sonoma wineries in general. They're more casual and generally friendlier, in my experience.

[imojoebunny]

I would see if you can find a day trip with a driver or small tour provider that provides transportation. If I am going to wineries, I want to do tastings, and I would then not want to drive. We went to Sonoma and rented bikes to go to wineries, which was a lot of fun, but we stayed in Sonoma.

[berbles]

You've gotten great suggestions. I just want to remind you (as I remind anyone visiting SF in the summer) to bring LAYERS. The city will be surprisingly cold in July. You will be lucky if it breaks into the 70s. Napa and Sonoma will be a little warmer, but SF will be chilly, especially at night!

[sonrisa]

May 18, 2017 14:21:37 GMT -5 berbles said:

You've gotten great suggestions. I just want to remind you (as I remind anyone visiting SF in the summer) to bring LAYERS. The city will be surprisingly cold in July. You will be lucky if it breaks into the 70s. Napa and Sonoma will be a little warmer, but SF will be chilly, especially at night!

Absolutely. You can easily have a 20+ degree difference between Union Square and wine country. Mid summer the city can easily be 60, foggy and windy while Napa is 85, clear, hot and sunny. 

[RoxMonster]

I would like to recommend Max Napa Tours (he also does Sonoma if that's what you decide). He was amazing. He picks you up from your SF hotel and plans the tour around what you like. Non-private tours have max of six people or you can do private. He was so knowledgeable and got us into some awesome places. No worrying about driving and you are back in SF around 6 PM.

ETA: We did luck out with weather in late July (70s and sunny) but I agree with being prepared for colder. Also Napa was hot! (Like low 90s).

[YahYahs]

Thanks for the great tips so far, guys - this is awesome. I think we're leaning Sonoma and probably a limo-type ride (b/c as someone said, it IS the 10-year - we should be fancy!), but will look into those options more.

Especially good to know about the wild temp swings even in the summer. We'll be coming from 90-100 degrees in SC, so I'll need to remember to pack layers!

[berbles]

May 18, 2017 19:24:14 GMT -5 YahYahs said:

Thanks for the great tips so far, guys - this is awesome. I think we're leaning Sonoma and probably a limo-type ride (b/c as someone said, it IS the 10-year - we should be fancy!), but will look into those options more.

Especially good to know about the wild temp swings even in the summer. We'll be coming from 90-100 degrees in SC, so I'll need to remember to pack layers!

The street vendors make a KILLING selling sweatshirts! LOL

[YahYahs]

May 18, 2017 19:26:34 GMT -5 berbles said:

May 18, 2017 19:24:14 GMT -5 YahYahs said:

Especially good to know about the wild temp swings even in the summer. We'll be coming from 90-100 degrees in SC, so I'll need to remember to pack layers!

The street vendors make a KILLING selling sweatshirts! LOL

I'd rock this:

[mrs.jacinthe]

May 18, 2017 19:29:10 GMT -5 YahYahs said:

May 18, 2017 19:26:34 GMT -5 berbles said:

The street vendors make a KILLING selling sweatshirts! LOL

I'd rock this:

LOL.  And bring jeans for touring the city.  You can always peg a tourist in SF summertime because they're wearing shorts and a [alcatraz-GG bridge-cable car-other SF theme] sweatshirt.

[pinkdutchtulips]

May 18, 2017 14:21:37 GMT -5 berbles said:

You've gotten great suggestions. I just want to remind you (as I remind anyone visiting SF in the summer) to bring LAYERS. The city will be surprisingly cold in July. You will be lucky if it breaks into the 70s. Napa and Sonoma will be a little warmer, but SF will be chilly, especially at night!

yes this !! it's the warning i give anyone visiting SF/Bay Area in the summer. an hr in any direction and there could be a 20-30 +/- change in temp depending on where you go.

[spinnaker5]

Another vote for Sonoma - Healdsburg and surrounding areas. Have fun!

[berbles]

May 18, 2017 20:01:40 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

May 18, 2017 14:21:37 GMT -5 berbles said:

You've gotten great suggestions. I just want to remind you (as I remind anyone visiting SF in the summer) to bring LAYERS. The city will be surprisingly cold in July. You will be lucky if it breaks into the 70s. Napa and Sonoma will be a little warmer, but SF will be chilly, especially at night!

yes this !! it's the warning i give anyone visiting SF/Bay Area in the summer. an hr in any direction and there could be a 20-30 +/- change in temp depending on where you go.

Or more!

My friend from VA was convinced we went through a wormhole because we left SJ and it was 104, drove 1 hour to South SF and it was 54 and raining. I said, "No wormhole, just Colma." 

[1confused1]

May 18, 2017 20:32:56 GMT -5 berbles said:

May 18, 2017 20:01:40 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

yes this !! it's the warning i give anyone visiting SF/Bay Area in the summer. an hr in any direction and there could be a 20-30 +/- change in temp depending on where you go.

Or more!

My friend from VA was convinced we went through a wormhole because we left SJ and it was 104, drove 1 hour to South SF and it was 54 and raining. I said, "No wormhole, just Colma." 

Lol! Colma, the place where there's more dead people than living!

[sonrisa]

May 18, 2017 19:24:14 GMT -5 YahYahs said:

We'll be coming from 90-100 degrees in SC, so I'll need to remember to pack layers!

Even our "hot" days will feel like spring to you. Dress for your Thanksgiving weather.