Need Napa/Sonoma advice

[origami]

DH & I are trying to plan a short trip to Napa valley or Sonoma for our 15th anniversary. We are thinking of staying 2 days in that area and maybe 2 days in SF. We’d probably go during the week instead of over a long weekend, if that matters.

We both love wine but don’t know enough about it to be snobs. I also want to do some spa treatments. We’ve never been to this area, so I’m inclined to see Napa over Sonoma but we have no idea what’s worth it. Is the wine train good? Any winery tours, hotel &/or spa recs?

[ESF]

My recommendation to everyone is to go to Healdsburg, and I'd say that's particularly true here. Sonoma can basically be divided into southern Sonoma, where the city of Sonoma is the main town, and northern Sonoma, where Healdsburg is the main town.

I think northern Sonoma is prettier, has more variety, and is more approachable. The wineries tend to not be as crowded, tasting fees are a little lower, and many of them just have warmer, more personal vibe.  The town of Healdsburg has a square with a lot of tasting rooms around it, as well as restaurants and hotels. The tasting rooms on the square are going to have wine without the pretense, plus no need to worry about a designated driver. And there are a lot of gorgeous wineries within a short drive. I like Bella, Medlock Ames, Ridge, Iron Horse, Lynmar, and Freeman. 

I've not stayed at any nice hotels in Healdsburg, but Hotel Healdsburg is in a good location and has a spa. Hotel Mars is a Relais & Chateaux property and also downtown, and their restaurant Chalk Board is amazing. There's a few other places in the area, as well as tons of Airbnb/VRBO options. 

If you do Napa, and you have a generous budget for the occasion, I'd check out Auberge du Soleil. I have not been, but it looks spectacular and has a spa. I've heard the tours at Schramsberg and Frog's Leap are great, but I haven't done them. My favorite Napa tasting rooms are Mumm and Elyse, but I also had good experiences a Miner, Duckhorn, and Clos du Val. And Oxbow Market is a great place to explore some of California's best food.

[RoxMonster]

For a winery tour, I highly recommend Max Napa Tours. He is pricier than the bigger tours, but max you will have six people total. He can get you into wineries for private tours that the big groups don’t go to, and he tailors the stops to the preferences of the group. He does both Napa and Sonoma. We had an amazing time with him!

[definitelyO]

I would not do the wine train - we looked into it for our trip and it was really expensive and one glass of wine included or something limited like that.

If you don't have a preference I agree with ESF - Sonoma is WAY cheaper and more boutique wineries. But if you want to go to the wineries you drink, then do that. We've used Valley Wine Tours quite a few times and never been disappointed. If you do a tour, you can tell them the types of wines that you prefer and they'll plan a great day - regardless of what tour company you go with. I would skip V Sattui (sp?) - it's a winery/lunch place but often crowded - I've heard great things about Oxbow Market as well.

re: spa, I don't have recommendations, but if I'm in Napa I'm there to taste wine and not get a massage that I could get in my hometown and pay 2x as much. (but that's just me)

[origami]

Thank you everyone!

Re: the wine train. I thought tastings were included. Maybe the one free glass what they give you on the train? That would definitely be an absurd price if it didn’t include any tastings. I will look into the private tours.

[egishere]

Jun 30, 2019 23:54:42 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

For a winery tour, I highly recommend Max Napa Tours. He is pricier than the bigger tours, but max you will have six people total. He can get you into wineries for private tours that the big groups don’t go to, and he tailors the stops to the preferences of the group. He does both Napa and Sonoma. We had an amazing time with him!

I'll second this.  I think I originally got the rec here from RoxMonster.  I've used them twice and they were so great!  

[mrspez07]

I’d say don’t go there. ;-)
So many better wine areas within a similar distance to SF without the inflated prices (especially true of Napa, Sonoma maybe slightly less so). Especially if you aren’t married to a specific winery.

The following are places I have been and recommend:
Santa Cruz mountains (day trip also good here)
Livermore Valley area (east of SF), more likely a day trip
Amador County/Sierra foothills region east of Sacramento
Paso Robles (personal favorite) is central coast a few hours south.

Https://discovercaliforniawinescom/wine-map-winery-directory/

[goldengirlz]

I’ll have to respectfully disagree with the advice not to go to Napa and Sonoma.🙂 We’ve been to all the wine regions (including Anderson Valley in Mendocino) and there’s a reason the Napa/Sonoma area is world renowned. I do agree that the tasting experience is better in the smaller wine regions because it’s more laidback and you can really get to know the winemakers. But in our experience, the wines themselves have been more hit or miss (with a couple of exceptions.)

Plus, I just love Napa and Sonoma.

I listed some wineries in another thread not long ago but as far as spas, we usually stay at the Renaissance in Sonoma (I have status with Marriott) — it’s not on the square but walkable to everything. Healdsburg is great too if you’re splurging.

[jg183]

we have spent a weekend in each Napa and Sonoma. Both are great but very different.
In Sonoma, we stayed in the square at ElDorado Hotel and loved being right in the square.
We also used MaxNapa for a tour and I recommend that! Especially if you don't know where to go.
Make reservations for dinner!