Weekends In The Wine Country

One of the many advantages of living in the Bay Area is our proximity to the Wine Country.  Whether you choose Napa or Sonoma, either is accessible in a little over an hour from San Francisco.  My family spends many weekends in Alexander Valley, in the Healdsburg area of Sonoma County.  People often question my choice of the wine country, as my husband does not drink, and I have four young children.  For my clan, the wine country is our country escape, with the side benefit of having great wine and culinary selections.  We just spent last the Labor Day holiday up there enjoying many of the special events the vineyards and tasting rooms were offering.

Now I am not suggesting you drag your children around from tasting room to tasting room. (Though if you do, a 'collect the cork' game is always a fun distraction.)  Many vineyards host special events, where families are welcome.  Last weekend the Bella Winery had a celebration weekend.  There was live music, the wine caves were open, and along with a tasting, there was food.  Gourmet mac & cheese kept my kids pretty happy.  Bella will be hosting their country fair this weekend.  Once again, there will be food, music and games.

Some events are open only to wine club members, yet another reason to join a club.  During "the crush" season you will also be able to find events open to the public.  Stonestreet Wines offers a "Stone Street Experience".  There are a variety of options to choose from, including an excursion to Mayacamas Mountain estate where their grapes are grown.  One of my favorite wines, Hawkes, will be hosting a winemaker dinner event with the Jimtown Store.

I suggest you go to the website of your favorite vineyard and check what events they will be hosting. Many events sell out in advance.  Take advantage of the Indian summer we are experiencing, and spend some time in the Wine Country.

Comments

[ShopLittleGifts]

totally agree. we head up to Napa as often as we can. food is definitely a higher priority for us than wine. love the little shops in St. Helena (soap shop, bakery). i've never done the hot air balloon ride, would love to try it... has anyone done it? was it fun?