San Francisco is surrounded by wineries. Not literally. One has to drive at least an hour to get out to the open country side where the hills start to roll with row upon row of grapes. Head north towards Sonoma County or Napa Valley for some of the area’s oldest and most famous wineries. Head south, between San Jose and Santa Barbara for some of the state’s newest. Or head towards the Sierra’s for a few hidden gems.
Some wineries are famous for their art collections, like Hess on Mt. Veeder. Some have French connections like Chandon or movie connections like Rubicon. Some have excellent locations with sweeping views of the landscape, old-world style cellars carved out of the hills, or really cool architecture. Some are off the beaten wine trail path. And then there are some small wineries that have their tasting rooms in the barn out behind the family house.
And a lot of them make really, no I mean really, good wine.
Send us to your favorite winery within a day’s journey of San Francisco! Tell us where it is, how to get there, and most of all, why you like it. And not least of all, which wine should we look for when we get there?
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Tags: napa, sonoma, wine, winery
4 Comments
I like Gloria Ferrer and Ravenswood.
Mary Jo, what is it that you like about those wineries?
I always take out of town visitors to Hess to see his art collection.
All of these have great wine. Take that as given, but there is something pleasant about them.
Napa: Dutch Henry – for tasting with the barrels and hysterical staff; Rombauer – for aviation buffs; Schramsburg – for the cave tour/tasting.
Sonoma: Trentadue – for the ports; Hop Kiln – for the attack ducks/great place to picnic in historic building and great mustard selection; Iron Horse – outdoor tasting with an idyllic view plus great drive to get there.
Mendocino: Goldeneye – lovey picnic spot plus an Obama inaugural wine; Toulouse – tasting with the wine barrels and the BEST winery dogs; Husch – there is something special about this place – old building, surrounded by farm fields; Navarro – to watch the sheep eat through the weeds in the vineyards.
I think you turned me on to Hess years ago. I love their art collection. Not a huge fan of their wine, but they open early so it’s a great first stop. They do make one I like, I can never remember so it’s always a surprise.
I’m also a big fan of Clos Pegase. He has an amazing art collection up there and the grounds are gorgeous. Love Shaun’s wines too. I remember taking a cousin and his college grad daughter there. She asked “How can he put this on his label”. Cousin: He owns it.
I like Keenan for their biodynamic sustainable farming and the barn their tasting room is located in. Same with Benziger. Frog’s Leap is a fascinating stop. They pay their field workers’ health insurance and grow organic vegetables that they’ll hand out to the visitors. Appointment necessary.
Caymus is another favorite. They’re farmers first and I think it shows in the wine. They do formal sit down tastings, if you’re lucky they’ll crack the Special Select.
My $1.95.