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Home , Alexander Valley AVA, Bennett Valley AVA, Mia Klein, Napa Valley AVA, Sommelier, Sonoma County wine

The Chief Concierge & ’s Country Guide

A comprehensive guide to the best of

Table of Contents

 Wine Country Intro…………………………………………………….…...page - 2

………………………………...... pages – 3 – 5

 Sonoma Valley Wineries - By Appointment……...... pages – 6 – 7

 Tasting Rooms in Sonoma’s Plaza……………………...... page – 8

 Northern Sonoma County Wineries …………….……………....pages – 9 – 10

 Northern Sonoma County Wineries - By Appointment……..pages – 11 – 12

 Napa Valley Wineries - By Appointment……………...... pages – 13 – 17

 Napa Valley Wineries – No Appointment Needed………...... pages – 18 – 20

 Wine Tour Options…………………………………………………..pages – 21 – 22

 Top ………………..………………………………...... pages – 23 – 26

 Other Wine Country Activities…..………………………………..pages – 27 – 28

Greetings from Wine Country,

We look forward to welcoming you to Sonoma and our resort and spa. We are happy to offer some great ideas and options to help in planning the perfect vacation in Wine Country!

Even though there are over 1,500 wineries and a hundred or so top restaurants in the region, we highly recommend planning ahead. Many of the most popular options do book out weeks or even months in advance, especially during high season, Spring through Fall.

With so many options to choose from, personal preference plays a big role in figuring out what is right for you. The following guide is a comprehensive list of our favorites. This guide is broken down into the main regions for wineries, which they specialize in, which require appointments and their different tour options. This guide will also list the top restaurants, activities and much more. There are many web links throughout the document, that I recommend clicking to access even more detailed information about specific places and services.

When choosing wineries to visit, we strongly recommend that you make a point to experience some of the smaller boutique or cult-style Mom and Pop wineries. These wineries produce amazing small production wines and typically only sell them directly from the . These wineries truly offer a genuine Wine Country experience that sadly most visitors miss.

We hope that this information is helpful. If you would rather leave the planning up to us, kindly provide a little information about your preferences such as I love Cabernet or , I am looking for rare higher-quality cult wines or I am just looking to nice wines, have fun and see pretty places. We are more than happy to arrange reservations and anything else you may request as well.

Please feel free to contact myself or my colleagues if there is anything we may do to make your stay with us memorable.

Thank you for choosing to stay with us!

Best Regards,

Jim Anderson

Chief Concierge & Sommelier

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

2

The Sonoma Valley Wineries – No Appointment Needed

The beautiful and historic Sonoma Valley surrounds us within a 20 minute radius from the hotel. This region is filled with more than 60 fantastic wineries that range in size and production and most are open to the public for tasting and/or tours. These wineries do not require an appointment for parties smaller than 8 people and are generally open from 10 AM to 5 PM daily, excluding major holidays. Sonoma is very fun, easy and visitor friendly in this aspect.

The Sonoma Valley AVA is generally known for Old Vine , Chardonnay, Cabernet from the surrounding mountains, Italian , and other Rhône varietals. is also a big focus of the Sonoma Valley, but much of this is grown in the Carneros AVA, which we share with Napa. The Carneros AVA is known for a leaner Burgundian style Pinot Noir, which tends to be lighter in body and earthier in flavor profile.

Some of our favorite Sonoma Valley wineries, that require no appointment to visit include:

Deerfield Ranch - One of my favorites for their great Cabernet, blends, Cuvée, estate Syrah, Old Vine Zinfandel, Super Tuscan, , and Chardonnay. I love their great tasting room located inside their caves, where one can enjoy seated tastings on large comfortable couches. I especially enjoy how pure and clean their wines are, as they are crafted specifically to be very low in sulphates and impurities. This makes for an especially smooth and enjoyable wine. Private tasting appointments, lunches and dinners can also be arranged at their private estate for a more intimate experience. (Certified Organic) Daily 10 - 4:30 PM.

Arrowood - Well known for their fantastic Cabernet and Chardonnay, they also produce a very nice Merlot and other Rhône varietals. They are situated up on a hill, in a beautiful New England style home with wrap-around porches. This is a perfect place to sit and relax and soak in their view and fine products. Daily 10 - 4:30 PM.

Ty Caton - Ty Caton’s tasting room is located in Kenwood. He specializes in high quality, low production varietals. Cellar quality wines with a reasonable price point. Daily 11 - 6 PM.

Pangloss Cellars – Formally known as Audelssa Estate, this tasting room in Glen Ellen is the sister to Erich Brably’s high-end label Repris. Focused on producing excellent wines in a ‘daily drinkers’ price point. Open 11 – 5 PM

Benziger - This winery is loved for their informative tractor tram tour through their beautiful bio- dynamic vineyards. This winery is still proudly family run and is classic Sonoma. The tram tour runs daily 11 AM - 3:30 PM every half hour except 12 noon. (Great for a picnic) (Certified Biodynamic) Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Landmark - This scenic winery produces nice Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. They also offer carriage rides and live music on Saturdays during season (Spring through Fall). (Great for a picnic) Daily 10 - 4:30 PM.

Muscardini Cellars - This talented has just opened his own new tasting room in the old red school house in Kenwood, just North of the hotel. He specializes in high quality, low production Italian varietals. Daily 11 - 6 PM.

VJB Cellars – This boutique winery specializes in delicious Italian varietals, as well as traditional varietals too. We recommend their , which is made by a family friend in Italy and imported under their label, their , Zinfandel (domestic and Primitivo style) and . 3

They are now offering delicious Panini sandwiches and brick oven pizzas, from their gourmet market as well.

Chateau St. Jean – This winery is well known for their beautiful gardens and elaborate chateau. Some of their most note-worth wines include a reserve Pinot Noir, , Merlot, Chardonnay, Fume Blanc, and their flag ship Meritage called Cinq Cepage. I recommend visiting the reserve tasting room to the left, for these higher-end wines. (Great for a picnic) Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Ledson – This iconic winery is known for their beautiful Gothic castle-like mansion, delicious deli and their undistributed wines like their Old Vine Zinfandel. Private tasting appointments are also available in private rooms and patios throughout the mansion. (Great for a picnic) Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Matanzas Creek - This fantastic winery is well known for their beautiful lavender fields and their wonderful wines. Daily 10 - 4:30 PM.

BR Cohn – BR Cohn is a fun and very much classic Sonoma winery. The proprietor is also the manager for the Doobie Brothers rock band and has a great classic car and motorcycle collection. They produce award winning Cabernet Sauvignon, , Zinfandel, Chardonnay and estate olive oil as well. Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Little Family Vineyards - This great family run winery operates out of their home and offer tastings of their great Cabernet and Syrah. They are open Thursday through Monday from 11- 4:30 PM.

Loxton - This is a very unique and some what rustic winery. The proprietor was born in Australia and usually will host the tastings himself. Their Syrah and Ports are outstanding, and Mr. Loxton is very entertaining and knowledgeable. Daily 10 - 5 PM.

St. Francis - Well known for their "Old Vine" Zinfandel, this winery also offers charcuterie plates on their patio terrace and delicious food pairings by appointment. Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Mayo Family Winery - This great family run winery operates out of two tasting rooms in Kenwood. The “Reserve” tasting room also offers a wonderful food pairing by appointment. They are well known for their Pinot and Zinfandel. Daily 11 - 6 PM.

Schug - This family run winery is located in the Carneros region. They are known for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mr. Schug was the original winemaker for Joseph Phelps and one of the first to plant Pinot in this region. Daily 10 - 5 PM. (Great for a picnic)

Anaba – The Anaba Tasting Room is conveniently situated at the gateway to Sonoma, on the corner of Highways 116 & 121/12, Anaba focuses on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rhône wines. They also have Ports and late wine too. As a special guest of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, we have arranged for you to receive one complimentary tasting with one paid tasting of your choice. Just show this or pick up a card at our desk for their hospitality staff and enjoy your tasting at the or seated on the patio overlooking their estate vineyards. Cheers!

Patz & Hall – This wonderful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producer just opened their tasting salon here is the Sonoma Valley in a small renovated cottage on the eastside of town. They are open Wednesday – Sunday from 10:30 – 4:30 PM. Private tastings are also available by advanced reservation.

Robledo - Not only does this winery produce outstanding wines, like their Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinot Noir and , but their story is one of the best. This is the only winery that is owned and operated by all of their employees. Mr. Robledo came to America as a migrant field worker from Mexico with nothing more than a dream, an American dream if you will. He learned the art of wine-making and was able to start his own winery and made everyone who joined him partial owner. He is now one

4 of the largest owners in the region and was recently honored at a special dinner by President Obama at the White House. Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Gloria Ferrer - This beautiful classic Sonoma winery produces reasonably priced and well regarded sparkling wines. Open daily 10 - 5 PM.

Gundlach Bundschu - This family-run winery has been making award winning wines for over a hundred years. They are known most for their Gewürztraminer. Beautiful winery! (Great for a picnic) Daily 10 - 4:30 PM.

Bartholomew Park - This is the boutique sister to as they only produce about 4,000 cases a year. This beautiful winery has an interesting history and great hiking trails. (Great for a picnic) Daily 10 - 4:30 PM.

Buena Vista - This is known as the oldest premium winery in California. As you can guess by their name they also have beautiful views all around their historic property. (Great for a picnic) Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Ravenswood - This winery specializes in big, bold spicy . Their slogan is "No wimpy wines." Daily 10 - 5 PM.

Imagery - This is the sister property to Benziger. Family run and beautiful as well, this winery focuses on less common and rare varietals with smaller production. (Certified Organic) Daily 10 - 4:30 PM.

Eric Ross - This great little tasting room is located in the historic Jack London Library. Their are sourced from many great local vineyards, and this is the only place you can taste these wines. I love their Pinot Noir, Rhône blends and Spanish varietals. Daily 10 - 5 PM.

All of those great wineries are generally open from 10 - 5 PM with no reservation needed for groups of less than eight people. Some do offer private tours and/or seated tastings by appointment. There are many more fantastic wineries worth visiting as well.

For an example of a fun day here in the Sonoma, click this link for printable directions.

FSMI > Arrowood > Ledson > Chateau St. Jean > Deerfield Ranch > FSMI

For more information about Sonoma Valley wineries please click here Sonoma Valley Wineries - Sonoma Valley Wine Map

5

Sonoma Valley Wineries – Open By Appointment Only

There are a few wineries in Sonoma that do require appointments. Typically these are the owner's private estate and offer a more intimate experience. Usually, these appointments are geared to a more serious wine enthusiast, who is here specifically seeking cellar worthy wines.

Some of these great producers include;

Hanzell – Located on a beautiful private estate, this winery specializes in high-end Chardonnay and old vine Pinot Noir which usually scores above 90 points and are crafted to get even better with age. Appointments include a tasting and a small tour. They are famous for having the oldest Pinot vines in America.

Robert Hunter – Visits are at the owner’s private estate and feature a unique garden tour and an interesting property history overview. They produce a fantastic “ Method” and excellent Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet as well. Tours are typically only done twice daily, usually a morning 10 AM and an early afternoon, 12 noon session.

Repris Estate - This is Sonoma Valley’s newest and most over the top winery experience. Boutique, culty and exclusive, if you are an avid Cabernet fan or collector, Repris is a winery you need to get on your radar. Located on Moon Mountain Road at the old Carmenet Estate in the gorgeous Mayacama Mountain Range, Repris sits high above the valley floor and neighboring Monte Rosso Vineyard. Those in the know, regard winemaker Erich Bradley as being especially gifted at hand-crafting delicious, artisanal terrior driven wines. You may know his wines from other labels such as Audelssa and Sojourn Cellars. From extreme hillside mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Left and Right Bank style Meritage blends, Cabernet Franc, a Côte-Rôtie style Syrah, to up and coming rumored projects like vineyard designate Pinot Noirs and a Petite Sirah. Erich’s wines are well regarded, exceptionally balanced and very delicious. Tour and tasting experiences, include a production and cave tour in their gorgeous caves which are the biggest and most impressive in the region, tastings of future , cheese pairing and a vineyard excursion in their Polaris ATV to a lookout point at the very top of the mountain in the famed Bismarck vineyard. The view is spectacular and on a clear day one can see the entire . Gorgeous! Tours and tastings are available by appointment and are recommended to be made well in advance.

Kamen - This winery produces absolutely fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon, Meritage blends, a Côte-Rôtie style Syrah and a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. The owner, Robert Kamen is also known for writing the screen plays The Karate Kid, the 5th Element and many other well known films. Private vineyard tours and tastings are also available at the owner’s mountain-top estate by appointment in the mornings around 10:30 AM daily. 48 hour advance notice is needed, based on availability.

Flanagan - This hidden gem is only open by referral. They sit on the western facing slopes of the mountain range in the secluded AVA. Their wines, view, production facility and hospitality are beyond exceptional. They produce incredible Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Donum Estate – This high-end Pinot Noir producer offers tastings at their private winery estate. Tastings are held privately on a deck in the vineyard or in their estate during inclement weather. Their wines consistently receive 90+ point scores from the top publications. Their total production is less than 2500 cases, with some of their special vineyard designate Pinot Noirs are less than 100 cases. These are Pinots with real cellar potential, displaying intensity, elegance and power.

Lasseter Family – Mr. Pixar himself has recently opened his family’s winery to the public. They specialize in small production blends in the French style, featuring Rhône and Bordeaux varietals. Tastings are hosted by appointment only.

6

B Wise Vineyards – This unique winery specializes in hand-crafted Cabernet, Syrah and Zinfandel. They border the famous Monte Rosso Vineyard, where they source some of their fruit along side of their own estate grown as well. They also have some of the most beautiful caves and views in all of wine country.

Stone Edge Farm - This prominent Cabernet producer also operates as a sustainable farm. They open Monday through Friday by advanced reservation for tours and tastings.

Bucklin – This small and rustic family winery is open for tastings and tours by advanced reservation. They own and farm the oldest Zinfandel vines in California.

Annadel Estate – This beautiful and historic winery offers a wonderful tour of their gardens, farm house and historic winery ruins, with a tasting of their exceptional and reasonably priced estate wines. Rustic, unique and exclusive, this is a great winery for something out of the ordinary.

Amapola Creek – This note-worthy winery is operated by Mr. Arrowood of Arrowood Winery at his home in the hills of the Mayacamas. They also source grapes from the famous Monte Rosso vineyard.

Petroni - This family run winery sits on top of the near by Mayacama Mountain range and has amazing views. They are committed to preserving their Italian heritage and were one of the first to sow certain rare species of Italian grapes in Sonoma. The owners also own and operate the famous North Beach Restaurant, in San Francisco.

Sojourn Cellars - Offers private seated tastings of their outstanding Pinot Noirs in their downtown tasting room. They also share the same winemaker as Audelssa and Repris.

Scribe - This once historic pre-prohibition winery has just been reborn after years of sitting empty and forgotten. Their Pinot Noir, and Chardonnays have quickly become well regarded.

Macleod Family - Is little rustic but very authentic old Sonoma in the way they are still small production and run only by family members. They produce a delicious Sauvignon Blanc.

Glen Lyon - This great mom and pop winery operates out of their beautiful home and offers private tastings of their wonderful Syrah and Chardonnay. The proprietors also have an interesting and iconic past which you will recognize when you enter their home. I like to leave it as a surprise.

Keller Estate - Located conveniently on the way from the Airport in San Francisco, right next to Sonoma Raceway (Sears Point). This great small production winery is the perfect way to erase the stress of traveling and get your vacation started the right way! Open Thursday - Sunday 11-3 PM. Private Tastings available by appointment.

Appointments are recommended to be made in advance and may require a credit card to book as some do have cancellation policies. I am happy to book and arrange them for you.

For more information about Sonoma Valley wineries please click here Sonoma Valley Wineries - Sonoma Valley Wine Map

7

Tasting Rooms on the Sonoma Plaza -

There is an abundance of wonderful winery specific tasting rooms in the downtown Sonoma Plaza. This is a great place to taste multiple wines from a variety of producers while on foot. One can even add in a little shopping and dining in too.

Some of these great tasting rooms include:

Kamen - This winery produces absolutely fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon, Meritage blends, a Côte-Rôtie style Syrah and a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. The owner, Robert Kamen is also known for writing the screen plays The Karate Kid, the 5th Element and many other well known films. Private vineyard tours and tastings are also available at the owner’s mountain top estate by appointment in the mornings around 10:30 AM daily. 48 hour advance notice is needed, based on availability.

Eric K. James – Specializing in high quality, small production Pinot Noirs and Syrah from Sonoma and Napa Valley’s premier vineyards.

Walt Wines - Originally known as Roessler Cellars, which began in 2000. This winery has just rebranded as they are now owned by Kathryn Hall from Napa. They focus on Pinot Noir from the premiere appellations of the West Coast. They also produce small lots of a nice handcrafted chardonnay. Open 11- 6 PM.

Enoteca Della Santina – This great Enoteca is owned and operated by the Della Santinas family and is located adjacent to their wonderful and authentic Northern Italian restaurant. They are open late and offer tastings of unique wines from around the world. Cheese and light fare are also available from their kitchen next door. Open 11:30 – 9 PM

Haywood - Another family run and unique winery. Mr. Haywood has been growing grapes for many other well know wineries for the majority of his life. He fusses so much over his grapes, he recently decided that he wanted to produce his own label so he could see it through from the vine to the bottle. His focus is primarily with Zinfandel. Open 11- 6 PM.

Adobe Road - This is a great new tasting room on the Sonoma square with excellent Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and many more. Open 11- 6 PM.

Charles Creek - They specialize in Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir. Open 11- 6 PM.

Envolve Winery – This fun new tasting room specializes in organic biodynamic wines. The tasting room is stylish and laid back with a great patio area that is perfect for socializing with friends.

Highway 12 Winery - This nice tasting room offers complimentary tastings of their Cabernet and Meritage blends. Open 11- 6 PM.

Roche - This winery operates out of their downtown plaza tasting room, located in a converted home on the square. This is a fun location with nice Chardonnay. They are also open later than most. Daily 11 - 6:30 PM.

Hawkes - Hawkes is a small family-owned vineyard located in the Alexander Valley. They produce excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet. Open 12 – 6 PM.

Sonoma Enoteca - This excellent co-op tasting room is a great venue to sample different wines from many excellent boutique wineries that do not have tasting rooms. Open 11- 6 PM.

8

Northern Sonoma County Wineries – No Appointment Needed

There are three unique wine regions in the North-Western portion of Sonoma County (not the Sonoma Valley), the Russian River, Alexander Valley & Dry Creek AVA’s. These regions are located about 45 minutes to an 1 hour away by car.

The Russian River AVA - Famous for a ‘New World’ style Pinot Noir, which tends to be medium bodied and more fruit forward, as well as Chardonnay and some sparkling and Zinfandel.

Some of my favorites in the Russian River region, which are open with no appointment needed for tasting are;

Merry Edwards - This Russian River all-star is seldom found on maps. Appointments are not necessary but are recommended to maximize the timing and experience. They are known most for producing sensational vineyard designate Pinot Noirs and a unique Sauvignon Blanc, which is unusual for that region.

Lynmar - This beautiful and stylish winery produces luxurious Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They also offer food pairing by appointment.

Dutton Goldfield – This winery produces excellent small lot Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. Their wines always score highly and are definitely well regarded.

Rochioli – This prolific boutique Pinot Noir producer is open Thursday - Monday from 11 – 4 PM for walk in tasting and Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment.

Freestone – Affiliated with Joseph Phelps, this is their Pinot and Chardonnay label, which carries the same respect as their original label.

Martinelli – This winery was put on the map by . While she has since moved on to other projects, this winery still produces great wines. (Great for a picnic)

Thomas George Estate – This great winery is run by a father and son team, who has dedicated themselves to establishing a world-class winery focused on site-specific Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay grown in the cool heart of the Russian River Valley.

Iron Horse – This fun and unique winery is a perfect stop on a sunny day. Their open-air tasting bar is a great place to enjoy their fine bubbles.

Gary Farrell - This winery is not only known for their wines, but for their gorgeous view and the beautiful Westside road they are located on.

Deloach – This winery is well known for their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay.

J Vineyards - Great sparkling and Pinots. The food pairing in their Bubble Lounge is a blast!

All of these wineries are open to the public for tasting with no appointment for groups smaller than eight people. Some do offer private tours and/or seated tastings by appointment.

9

Dry Creek & Alexander Valley AVA’s

The Dry Creek Valley, is famous for Old Vine Zinfandel and the Alexander Valley is known most for Merlot, Cabernet and Chardonnay. Some favorites in these regions include:

Michel Schlumberger – Specializing in elegant wines made in very traditional styles, this high end winery is always a wonderful stop.

Lambert Bridge – World class wines and personable service, this winery is always a fun stop.

De Lorimier – This winery has won numerous gold medals for their recent vintages of Cabernet, Zinfandel and more!

Amista – This winery produces excellent Zinfandels and Syrah. They also produce a very unique sparkling Syrah too!

Papapietro Perry – This fun tasting room is a must stop for Pinot and Zinfandel lovers! Great staff and excellent wines!

Carol Shelton - Not only has Carol mastered Zin, she has taken it to new heights. This corky winery is always a fun vist and a must for Zin Lovers. Their tasting room is located in the city of Santa Rosa about 40 minutes north of the resort. Their tasting room is open daily from 11am - 4pm, except for major holidays.

Sbragia – Ed Sbragia was a long time winemaker at Beringer Winery in Napa. This is his personal small production family run project.

Williamson Wines – Their tasting room is open from 11-7 PM every day on the Healdsburg Plaza and offer complimentary wine tasting and food pairing.

Ridge - Lytton Springs - This winery produces single-vineyard lots of premium wines. They also have vineyards and a tasting room in the Paso Robles area..I am particularly fond of their Zinfandel from this location.

Kokomo – This winery produces ultra-premium wines with an emphasis on single vineyards. Their Zinfandels are excellent.

Seghesio – This well known winery consistently produces exceptional Zinfandels.

Silver – This is the Sonoma sister to their well known Napa property.

Ferrari Carano – This winery has beautiful gardens and nice wines!

Bella – This small production family-run winery makes delicious Zinfandel and offers fun cave tours. (Great for a picnic)

Francis Ford Coppola - Think Universal Studios meets Wine Country. This winery even has a pool with cabanas, a museum and a restaurant with a full bar.

All of the above wineries are open to the public for tasting with no appointment for groups smaller than eight people. Some do offer private tours and/or seated tastings by appointment.

10

Northern Sonoma County Wineries That Require Appointments

Russian River, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, wineries that are available in these regions by appointment only include:

Paul Hobbs – This famous winemaker is credited for single handedly creating the “new world” style Pinot Noir from this region. He is also partially responsible for the Malbec boom in Argentina. His Russian River winery is open Monday – Friday from 10 and 2 PM. Those on their mailing list have first priority. (Serious inquires only please)

Siduri – This excellent producer specializes in high-end, single vineyard designate Pinot Noirs for the premier vineyards of the Russian River and Sonoma Coast. While their wines are divine, their production facility and tasting room are very low key. They actually operate out of a warehouse in Santa Rosa, so very little ambiance, but plenty of amazing wine!

Jordan – This well known high-end Cabernet producer is always an excellent stop. They offer great tours and library tastings as well.

A.Rafanelli – This family run winery is well known for small production exceptional wines like their amazing Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Fisher Vineyards – Half Sonoma and half Napa, the best of both worlds. They specialize in high-end, hand-crafted Cabernet and Meritage blends with a friendly staff and a beautiful location. This boutique producer is a true hidden gem.

Copain – This wonderful boutique winery is perched on a hill overlooking the serenely beautiful Russian River Valley. They are open Thursday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. They produce excellent vineyard-designated wines from Pinot Noir, Syrah, , and Zinfandel.

MacPhail - MacPhail is a excellent Pinot Noir producer located near the town of Healdsburg. They offer comfortable and in-depth tastings by prior appointment Monday through Saturday, at their state- of-the-art winery. Opened in 2008, the is located only steps from winemaker James MacPhail’s home. They are a small, hands-on operation, so please schedule your visit in advance to ensure availiblity.

Acorn – This producer specializes in estate grown, sustainably farmed, field blend wines.

Lancaster Estate – This excellent winery produces small yield, high quality wines.

Freeman Winery - Believing in the vast potential of the Sonoma Coast to produce wines of complexity and refinement, after years of searching for the ideal site, the Freemans discovered a beautiful small winery in the picturesque Russian River Valley town of Sebastopol. This lesser know winery always produces exceptional wines rated over 90 points. This boutique, family-run winery is quickly emerging as one of the newest key players in high-end Pinot Noir.

Williams Selyem – This well regarded high-end Pinot Noir producer is technically not open to the public, but there is a way around this. You can sign up for their mailing list by clicking this link Sign up now, and request a tasting visit after you are confirmed on their list. A couple extra steps than normal, but after tasting the wines you’ll understand the demand. Just a FYI, this must be completed by you personally as they only accept serious inquires.

Joseph Swan – This fantastic Pinot Noir producer offers tastings in their charming barrel room. They have a wonderful tasting bar and the proprietors Rod and Lynn are often behind the counter ready to talk about their wines. Their hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am - 4:30 pm, no

11 appointment need for groups smaller than 6 people. They also offer tasting and sales by appointment on Mondays and Fridays. Sorry they do not accept groups larger than 6.

Ramey - Winemaker David Ramey produces excellent hand-crafted wines that are made in the old world tradition with new world style.

Sonoma Cutrer – This well known Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer also has a beautiful production facility and fun Croquet court.

Littorai - This beautiful winery sits atop a fog kissed mountain ridge in the great Sonoma Coast growing region. Their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are excellent!

Verité – This very high-end Bordeaux style producer sits at the axis of the prestigious Chalk Hill and Knights Valley growing appellations. They are the only winery in this region to ever receive eight perfect 100 point scores from Robert Parker for their recent releases. They make three distinct Meritage blends each vintage, each depicting a specific region of Boudreaux. Their first, La Muse, is a “Right-Bank”, Pomerol style blend, which of course is Merlot dominant and designed specifically to rival Chateau Petrus. Next, La Joie, is their “Left–Bank”, Pauillac styled, Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend. Last, but certainly not least, is Le Désir, their Saint-Émilion styled blend which is Cabernet Franc dominant. Not only are their wines spectacular, but their hospitality is also phenomenal! This is undeniably one of, if not the best winery in America in my personal opinion. The average cost per bottle is $400.

Kistler - After 30 plus years of making incredible Chardonnay and Pinot Noir behind closed doors, Kistler has finally opened up to the public for tours and tastings by appointment. Their new location is called the Trenton Roadhouse, which is located in a beautifully renovated farm house just off River Road. Tastings are offered Tuesday - Friday at 10:30 or 2 PM and there is two options: Four wines: 3 Chardonnay and 1 Pinot Noir - $75 per person or Seven wines: 5 Chardonnay and 2 Pinot Noir - $150 per person. Tasting fees are independent of purchases and they do have a three bottle max purchase. There is currently no wait for their allocation list.

Arnot-Roberts - Arnot-Roberts was founded in 2001 in Healdsburg by childhood friends, Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts. The focus of this two person operation is on small lot, single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, as well as several other varieties uncommon in Northern Californian vineyards.

Captûre - Captûre’s wines are inspired by their unique estate vineyard which rises nearly 2,500 feet above the Alexander Valley floor in Sonoma County. They were created with a vision of crafting world- class, Bordeaux-style wines.

We recommended to book all of the above wineries in advance as availability is limited. Reservations may require a credit card to book as some do have cancellation policies.

For more information on Sonoma County wineries please click this link Wineroad.com

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The Napa Valley – Wineries Open By Appointment Only

The Napa Valley AVA is world famous of course, for their high-end wineries and especially for their Cabernet. Napa is definitely the Bordeaux of California if you will. This region is located approximately 45 minutes east from the hotel.

Do to licensing requirements, the wineries in Napa are roughly 171 out of 260 plus that require a appointment to visit. I do recommend booking these wineries well in advance, as availability is very limited. Many of these do require a credit card to book as some do have cancellation policies.

Some of these exclusive Napa Valley wineries include;

Classic Main Stream Napa Valley Favorites:

Far Niente - Founded in Oakville in 1885 and restored in 1979, Far Niente is consistently recognized as a benchmark producer of Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Nickel & Nickel – Sister to Far Niente, this producer is dedicated exclusively to producing 100 percent varietal, single-vineyard wines that best express each vineyard’s .

Opus One – This joint venture between the extremely famous and Boudreaux’s Baroness Philippine de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild. They produces a single proprietary Bordeaux-style blend each vintage.

Joseph Phelps - This great classic winery has great educational wine seminars and wonderful Cabernets and blends, like their famous Meritage blend Insignia!

Cakebread – This classic producer makes wonderful wine in every price range and varietal.

Pride Mountain - This wonderful winery sits along the ridge of the Mayacama Mountain range. Their vineyards stretch half into Napa and half into Sonoma. They produce wonderfully big, Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Great hospitality, views and value!

Chappellet - Located near Lake Hennessey, this great winery is a bit of a drive but well worth it! Their estate is beautiful and their wines are excellent.

Del Dotto – Owned and operated by Mr. Del Dotto, aka “the Infomercial King”. This classic and unique winery specializes in small lot Cabernet and Port. Known for their barrel tasting experience, they sell most of their wine as futures, bottled especially for you. They have two properties; the historic winery in the Napa Proper, and the new glitz and glam location in Saint Helena, which is a favorite for its beautiful marble and gold tasting room with Venetian caves.

Quintessa - This very scenic winery produces nice Bordeaux varietals and has a very impressive production facility.

Jarvis Cellars - This unique winery is entirely underground. The wine doesn’t even see the light of day until you open the wooden box it comes in at home. They offer an amazing tour of their beautiful caves and even have a waterfall. They produce wonderful Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay.

Kathryn Hall (Rutherford) - Kathryn’s stunning winery is located amongst the legendary Sacrashe vineyard. State-of-the-art vision, timeless artisanship and gracious hospitality are showcased in every luxurious detail.

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Our Favorite Boutique Napa Valley Wineries:

While the classic Napa wineries receive the majority attention due to their mass distribution, we strongly recommend that you make a point to experience some of the smaller boutique or cult-style Mom and Pop wineries. These wineries produce amazing small production wines and typically only sell them directly from the winery. These wineries truly offer a genuine Wine Country experience that sadly most visitors miss.

Fleury Estate - This excellent yet rustic cult winery produces incredible Cabernets and Meritage blends made from only the ripest fruit possible. In addition to their exceptional wine their hospitality is gracious and very entertaining.

O'Shaughnessy - This is another amazing and under the radar winery. They produce outstanding Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder Cabernets which typically score well over 90 points with Parker and other top reviewers. They recently even had vintages scoring 98 points!

Vice Versa Winery – This outstanding winery is a true hidden gem. They produce amazing vineyard designate Cabernet Sauvignons, from well-regarded vineyards like Mondavi’s famed To Kalon vineyard. Tasting appointments are held privately at their nicely appointed home.

Anomaly – This high-end and very exclusive winery is located at the base of the in California's Napa Valley in the small historic town of Saint Helena. Anomaly specializes in the production of the highest-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and only produces 1000 cases annually.

Melka – Phillipe Melka is both a local and international cult superstar. Growing up in Bordeaux, , Phillipe has been an integral part of the winemaking teams at many prestigious estates. Some of these include; Chateau Haut Brion and Chateau Petrus in France, Chittering Estate in Austrailia, Badia O Coltibuono in , Italy and here in the Napa Valley. Not to mention the many other consultant positions, like at Flanagan here in Sonoma, for which Robert Parker named Phillipe one of the top wine consultants in the world. Melka is Phillipes own private label of which he focuses on delicious ultra premium, terrior-driven wines.

Somerston – This fantastic boutique producer is located on the backside of the Vaca Mountain range past Auberge Du Soliel near Lake Hennessey. This beautiful estate winery produces fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc and they even produce excellent Syrah, Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir from offsite vineyards. They also offer an ATV tour of their estate with beautiful views and even an option for a catered lunch from Bouchon, with 48 hours advanced notice.

V. Madrone - This excellent boutique winery produces less than 1000 case annually of excellent Cabernet, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel and Chardonnay.

Ehlers Estate – This great winery not only produces high quality Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc, but they are a non-profit winery, donating a large portion of their profits to cardiac research.

Palmaz - This over the top winery has amazing caves stretching 17 stories deep and a very high tech production facility. They produce fantastic Cabernet, Chardonnay and Riesling. Their incredible multimillion facility is jaw dropping to say the least, especially when you find out that they produce less than 5,000 cases annually. Make sure to ask about the secret car collection!

Crocker & Starr - This boutique Saint Helena winery produces small lots of exceptional Sauvignon Blanc Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Blankiet – This is another of Helen Turley’s projects. They produce small amounts of exceptional Bordeaux varietals and host tastings in a beautiful old stone building.

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Spottswoode – This historic family run winery offers tastings by appointment Monday through Friday and tours on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 AM. They produce highly rated Cabernets and Sauvignon Blancs.

Lail – This producer hand crafts small lots of delicious Bordeaux varietals.

Seavey - "...there is a strong argument to be made that this is the most underrated great Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Napa Valley." - Robert Parker

Viader - Tony Soter and help Delia Viader produce this Deer Park winery's distinctive blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Cardinale - Cardinale creates a single wine from each vintage. The wine is a limited production Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend made from distinct and diverse mountain and bench vineyards situated in the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges surrounding the Napa Valley. Made from select lots of low-yielding vines, Cardinale is in essence, many wines merged into one. The flavor characteristics establish distinctive "footprints" of individual flavor components that lend complexity to the blend. In the bottle, Cardinale is classy, elegant and refined.

Chateau Boswell - This boutique Bordeaux producer offers tours and tastings daily in their well appointed caves.

Fontanella – This family winery operates out of their home. They produce great Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel.

Shafer – This high end Stag’s leap District winery is open Monday through Fridays for tasting of their exceptional Cabernet and Syrah blend called Relentless and their other great wines.

Failla - "FAILLA is a top-notch source of high quality, European-inspired wines that combine flavor, intensity and elegance." - Robert M. Parker

Buehler – This small family run winery produces exceptional artisan Cabernet and Zinfandel.

Brown Estate – This excellent small production winery produces great Zinfandel and Cabernet. Private tastings are hosted at their home Monday through Friday.

Continuum Estate - This winery is Tim Mondavi’s version of “Opus One”.

Carter Cellars – This high-end Cabernet producer continuously receives high marks for their wines. Tastings are available by appointment in the Envy tasting room in Calistoga.

Corison - Cathy Corison produces artisanal Cabernet Sauvignon. made from organic grapes reflecting the terroir and season of each vintage.

Schramsberg – This wonderful and historic winery produces outstanding sparkling wines. Tasting appointments include an amazing candelabra lit tour through their historic hand-dug caves.

Larkmead - History, family heritage and excellent wine come together in a unique Napa Valley estate.

Kuleto – This excellent winery is owned and operated by the well-known Pat Kuleto.

Kenzo – This beautiful Japanese themed winery offers tours, lunches and tastings of their excellent Bordeaux style wines. If you played video games like Street Fighter and Pac Man in the 80’s and 90’s, then you helped fund this winery.

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Barnett – Located at the top ridge of Spring Mountain, this small production winery offers beautiful views and great wines like their Rattlesnake Hill Cabernet.

Anderson Conn - Since their inception in 1983, the Anderson Family has been dedicated to the production of fine wines. Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards offers more than just a tasting, they offer an education. They tailor your experience to fit your specific desires. They offer everything from tastings to making your own barrel of wine!

David Arthur – This great winery is dedicated to producing hand-crafted wines which express the terroir of their unique estate.

Outpost - Outpost was established with the vision of producing wines that are a living, breathing embodiment of one of the world's great Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel growing regions, Howell Mountain. The unique terroir of the Outpost vineyards - the hard, rocky red soil, high altitude, gentle cooling breezes and sunny western exposure - produces fruit of incredible intensity and richness, with a distinctive spice you simply cannot find anywhere else. Outpost creates world-class 100% varietal bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and from their own hand-cultivated, organically farmed 28 acre estate vineyards.

Neyers Family Vineyards – Located in relativity unknown and often missed Chiles Valley AVA, which is tucked away behind the Vaca Mountain range on the eastside of the Napa Valley. Neyers Family Vineyards is one of Napa’s best kept secrets for high quality, reasonable priced, small production wines.

Vineyard 7 & 8 - Vineyard 7 & 8 is a small family run winery who is committed to producing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay which expresses the unique characteristics of the Spring Mountain District.

Sherwin Family – This small family winery sits atop Spring Mountain. They too have great wines and beautiful views.

Charbay - This unique winery produces great wines and distills excellent spirits too!

Maritas – This rustic and unique winery offers tastings and even lunches at their homes.

Hendry Ranch – This is another unique winery with a very informative and fun tour with the owner.

Round Pond – This popular winery offers seated tastings and tours and also produces delicious olive oil.

O'Brien Estate – Family run and unique, this winery is truly a fun and unique stop. The produce excellent Cabernets and Meritage blends, which have recently received very high marks from Robert Parker and other leading wine critics.

Baldacci – This great small production Stag’s Leap District winery not only produces outstanding wines for a great value, but also offers warm and friendly hospitality.

Keenan - Combining both the art and science of winemaking, Keenan’s passion and commitment to quality is evident in every aspect of their world class wines, from using only the finest grapes to the Portuguese use to seal every bottle.

Ovid – This beautiful high-end winery not only has great wines but also offers beautiful views from their tasting room and a great tour of their gravity flow production facility.

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Hartwell Vineyards – This high-end boutique producer specializes in excellent small production Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

Swanson – This unique winery offers tastings of their delicious wines and food pairings in their stylish salon.

Keever Vineyards - Nestled in the western slopes of Yountville, this family-owned and operated winery produces exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon from the family’s six acre estate.

Volker Eisele –This family estate creates enticing wines from the Chiles Valley appellation of the Napa Valley.

Vincent Arroyo – This high-quality small production winery produces fantastic Petite Sirah and Cabernet.

Quixote – This beautiful and whimsical winery produces excellent Petite Sirah!

Robert Biale - This excellent boutique winery produces great Petite Sirah & Zinfandel.

Saintsbury – This winery remains at the forefront of California's Pinot Noir revolution by producing delicious vineyard designate Pinot Noir and offering great hospitality.

Rudd – This very high-end winery produces fine artisanal wines from Bordeaux varietals. All tasting appointments are seated and include a very nice food pairing as well. The cost is $80 per person with a 48 hour cancelation policy from the time of booking.

Kapcsandy – This high-end family winery is an award-winning, small estate grown production winery bottling three distinct red wines from their estate State Lane Vineyard. The cost is $100 per person to taste for parties of 4 – 8 people only.

Constant Diamond Mountain - This is one of the most high-end wineries in Napa that one can actually visit. Their wines are extremely well regarded and highly allocated.

Please keep in mind that most of these wineries "open by appointment only" may require a credit card to book as most do have cancellation policies, usually 24 to 72 hours.

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Napa Valley Wineries – No Appointment Needed

There are a good amount of excellent wineries in Napa that are open to the public for tasting without an appointment for groups smaller than 8 people that also have delicious wine. These wineries also tend to be some of the most ‘easy going’ and fun of the bunch. Just because a winery doesn't requires an appointment, doesn't mean their wine is inferior by any means. Generally it has to do with the counties licensing procedures, which can limit some wineries to a certain amount of visitors.

Some of our favorites are:

Silver Oak – This well known producer is always a quality stop. They have a beautiful property and produce wonderful Cabernets.

Robert Sinskey – Produces a range of reds and whites from organic, bio-dynamically farmed vineyards.

Pineridge – Another excellent Napa Valley winery which produces meticulously hand-crafted Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Bordeaux blend style wines.

Miner – Located in the heart of the Napa Valley on the scenic Silverado Trail, this great winery is open daily for tastings and offers tours by appointment.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars – Not to be confused with their neighbor and long time rival Stags’ Leap Winery, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is known for their signature wine Cask 23 and friendlier hospitality. Tasting are available without an appointment for groups of five or less. They first became famous in 1976 at the blind tasting in Paris, France, when they won a gold medal for their 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the first American winery to ever do so in that category. Fellow Napa winery also won gold for their Chardonnay that year, and California was brought to the fore front of the global wine world. Needless to say the French judges were not happy about their decision when they realized whom they had chosen.

Signorello - Located on the Silverado Trail in Napa, they produce premium, limited production wines including Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

Orin Swift – This cult all-star has recently opened a new tasting room in Saint Helena. They are very well known for wines like the Prisoner, an unusual red blend, Mercury Head their Cabernet and D66 a GSM blend sourced from grapes grown in the Rhone Valley in France. They open at 11 AM and do not require a reservation for groups smaller than six.

Jessup Cellars - We love this tasting room, their staff and especially their wines!!!

John Anthony - This stylish tasting room and wine bar in downtown Napa features delicious wines and a fun staff and knowledgeable. They are also open late, till 12 AM during high season.

Peju - This fun winery has great wines and is open later than normal till 6 PM.

Beau Vigne - This fantastic cult winery operates out of a small tasting room in Yountville. They have amazing Cabs and blends and are open late till 7 PM.

Darioush – Known for its beautiful palace, this winery is one of the most scenic in Napa!

Robert Mondavi – The family winery of the famous winemaker who started it all. Their tours are very informative, but can be very crowded, especially on weekends.

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Elizabeth Spencer – This great boutique producer offers walk-in and seated tastings of their great artisan Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Reservations are not necessary but are encouraged.

Beringer – This is yet another pioneer winery, which along-side Mondavi, helped to set the course for the Napa Valley wine region.

Alpha Omega – This fun winery has more of a relaxed “Sonoma” feel. They are well known for their Chardonnays.

Bouchaine - This great family run winery specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They produce a few different styles of each to best suit multiple palettes and preferences. (Great for a picnic)

Etude – This exceptional winery produces very well regarded Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.

Beaulieu (BV) – This yet another historic winery which helped pioneer California’s Wine Country..

Hall (St. Helena) – Sister winery to Kathryn Hall’s high end Rutherford property, this is her more casual location.

Kelham - This beautiful winery also has nice wines. Delicious charcuterie plates can also be arranged in advance.

Flora Springs - Perched at the base of the Mayacama Mountains, at the widest point in the valley, the panoramic views from their estate are stunning.

Rombauer – This winery is very well-known for their big butter Chardonnay, as well as their Zinfandel and Cabernet.

Markham – This nice winery specializes in Bordeaux varietals.

ZD – This winery specializes in bio-dynamic farming and small lot production of high quality Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Malbec and more. They also produce a very unique multi-vintage Bordeaux- style blend called Abacus.

Castello di Amorosa - Designed to resemble a 12th century Tuscan castle, this beautiful winery was constructed stone by stone from repurposed stone from Europe.

Chateau Montelena – A historic winery, most famous for winning a gold medal in the 1976 blind tasting in Paris for their Chardonnay. This was the first time an American wine ever did so.

Clos Pegase – This beautiful winery is known for their wines, cave and art.

Signorello - Located on the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley, they produce limited production wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay.

Frank Family – This winery has been a preferred stop for generations. They have nice wines and very personable hospitality staff.

Regusci – This winery is located in the Stag’s Leap region and produces very nice wines as well.

Louis M. Martini - This classic Napa Valley winery has been producing award winning wines since 1933.

Whitehall Lane – Is a small, family owned winery in the Napa Valley's historic Rutherford appellation. 19

Inglenook (Rubicon Estate) – This is Francis Ford Coppola's Napa property. They just restored the property’s name back to its historic name .

Grgich – Miljenko “Mike” Grgich's gained his credibility as the winemaker from Chateau Montelena when they won their gold medal in France for his Chardonnay in 1976, this is current project.

Trefethen – This family run winery has been making great wines for over 40 years.

Frog's Leap – This quirky winery is a fun stop. Tours are by appointment.

Domaine Chandon – This is the Napa property of famed Moët Chandon from France. They have beautiful grounds and an excellent Michelin rated restaurant called Etoilé which serves lunch and dinner.

Domaine Carneros – This is the Napa affiliate of Tattinger, from France. The winery is located in a beautiful, giant chateau on the hillside overlooking their vineyards. They produce great sparkling wines and Pinot Noir. They even offer charcuterie, caviar and cheese plates as well.

Mumm – This is yet another great sparkling producer in Napa. They typically have great art exhibits as well.

All of these wineries truly are fantastic and are open to the public for pop-in tasting for groups smaller than eight people. Some do offer private tours and/or seated tastings by appointment.

For more information about Napa wineries click this link: napavintners.com - interactive map.

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Arranging a Wine Tasting or a “Wine Tour”-

There are many options for visiting wineries and over a 1,500 of them in our immediate area to choose from. Out of those 1,500, about half are open to the public for tastings and or tours. Wineries are generally open from 10 – 5 PM, but hours do vary. Many of the wineries which are open to the public do not require appointments; however there are a good amount of smaller wineries in Sonoma and many more in Napa, which do require appointments made in advance. Typically wineries that are open by appointment only, have the mindset that you have made an appointment because you are specifically seeking their wines and these tend to be a more serious experience.

Generally we recommend to only make a couple appointments a day and to fill the rest of your day with walk-in tastings. We recommend doing three or four wineries in a day, five in total at the very most. Less truly is more, as cramming in too many tastings will cut short your experience at each winery. When choosing wineries, we strongly recommend that make a point to experience some of the smaller boutique or cult-style Mom and Pop wineries. These wineries produce amazing small production wines and typically only sell them directly from the winery. These wineries truly offer a genuine Wine Country experience that sadly most visitors miss.

Transportation options:

While some prefer to drive on their own and only visit one or two wineries a day, there are many options outlined below for those who wish to see more. We highly recommend you make arrangements for a designated driver or hire one. Not only is it safer, but this really does add to the experience and the fun. Not to mention that these regions can be confusing to navigate especially after your first stop.

The four basic genres of wine tours are:

1.) Chauffer: These companies would transport you from the hotel to the wineries. They offer sedans SUV's, limo's and buses. The two most reliable and affordable limo/sedan driver services are;

Pure Luxury - $55 per hour, plus tax and tip and fuel charge, for a town car (sedan) with 4 hour minimum during the week and a 5 hour minimal on weekends.

A Sedan for 5 hours would cost $385 all inclusive. An 8 passenger limo for 5 hours would cost $490 all inclusive. (Price is subject to change and will be confirmed upon booking) They also have a 72 hour cancellation policy.

California Wine Tours - $65 per hour plus tax and tip and fuel charge, for a town car (sedan) with 4 hour minimum during the week Monday – Friday and a 5 hour minimal on weekends.

For a Sedan for 5 hours it would cost $441.12 all inclusive. A 6 passenger limo for 5 hours would cost $504.37 all inclusive. (Price is subject to change and will be confirmed upon booking) They also have a 72 hour cancellation policy.

Beau Wine Tours - $65 per hour plus tax and tip and fuel charge, for a town car (sedan) with 4 hour minimum during the week Monday – Friday and a 5 hour minimal on weekends.

For a Sedan for 5 hours it would cost $445.25 all inclusive. A 6 passenger limo for 5 hours would cost $616.50 all inclusive. (Price is subject to change and will be confirmed upon booking) They also have a 72 hour cancellation policy.

2.) Wine Host / Guide Service: This is the best option for a slightly higher end and more exclusive private tour. For not much more than a standard chauffer, you can hire a guide or host service that arranges your tour and also drives you in a luxury vehicle. Both of the following companies specialize

21 in the Napa and regions. They would arrange all the wineries for you after a phone call based on your interests and guide you through your tour. They also have great connections for privileged access for hard to get into boutique wineries. This is the best option in our opinion and what we do personally when we go wine tasting. (72 hour cancelation policies apply to both). These two preferred companies are;

Rosso Hosts - $75 per hour plus tax, tip and tasting fees, Monday - Thursday 5 hour minimum, Friday & Saturday 6 hour minimum - special Fairmont price, normally $85!) – Our Guests consistently about their experiences with Rosso Hosts. They are in fact tour guides, but take it one step further referring to themselves as “Hosts.” Their goal is to show you the real Country and make you feel like you are out with friends, experiencing the local’s favorites. Their wine knowledge and preferred wineries they visit are unparalleled. They make a point to showcase some of the smaller boutique or cult-style Mom and Pop wineries, as opposed to the normal larger commercial stops. These wineries produce amazing small production wines and typically only sell them directly from the winery. These wineries truly offer a genuine Wine Country experience that sadly most visitors miss. Rosso does call you to talk about your wine preferences, but typically they do choose the specific wineries you would visit, if you want to choose yourself, we recommend considering a normal Chauffeur service. They drive Jaguar sedans which are ideal for groups of four people or smaller. Rosso Hosts reviews on Tripadvisor.com

ICONIC Wine Tours – ($75 per hour plus tax, tip and tasting fees, Monday - Thursday 5 hour minimum, Friday & Saturday 6 hour minimum) – This husband and wife team specialize is small boutique wineries and create wonderful wine tasting itineraries. They speak multiple languages and have even written many books about Wine Country. They drive a Mercedes SUV.(Six passenger max)

Napa Private Tours – ($75 per hour plus tax, tip and tasting fees – six hour minimum) NPT is a boutique tour operator out of the Napa Valley. They too focus on smaller non-commercial wineries. They offer a Mercedes or Lexus SUV (Four passenger max)

Swanson Wine Tours - ($65 - $80 per hour depending on number of Guests with a 6 hour minimum). This company does an excellent job with their guided tours as well. They too have great guides and excellent recommended wineries they frequent. We receive great feedback consistently for this company as well.

3.) Group Tours: These companies offer a small lunch and usually go to 4 or 5 wineries. 48 hour cancelation policies also apply. Our favorite options for group tours are:

Platypus Tours - (Typically less than 15 people in a minibus) - for $99 per person (Plus tax). This is the best option for a group tour and the most affordable option. This tour is ideal for someone who is not worried about visiting specific wineries, but is looking to have a fun day, stress free day of tasting nice wines in a social and casual setting. We consistently receive great feedback from our Guests regarding their experience with this company.

Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley – This is a fun tour option offers a unique wine tour on their restored trolley car that includes a lunch at a winery ($99 plus tax, tip and tasting fees per person).

4.) Intimate Wine Tours – Similar to a guide service, this company would drive your personal vehicle or rental car and help arrange your day for you as well. Rates start at $50 per hour plus tip with a four hour minimal.

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Top Restaurants in Wine Country –

There are many wonderful restaurants in the Sonoma Valley, some of the top choices are:

Santé - Santé, the signature fine-dining room at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn continues to be one of the Valley’s most lauded restaurants. The acclaimed dining room is a recipient of multiple designations including those bestowed by Wine Spectator, AAA Four Diamond and the San Francisco Chronicle’s (Top 100.) The California contemporary menu has earned a national reputation for outstanding food. Literally meaning “to your health,” the restaurant is a celebration of innovative cuisine and good taste. Designed to exude the California Wine Country experience, the culinary team is committed to sourcing ingredients locally and organically. The restaurant's Napa/Sonoma-centric features boutique and limited production varietals. Under the helm of Executive Bruno Tison and Andrew Cain the touted dining room has steadily gained in reputation and refinement. Menu

Café La Haye – This great restaurant is loved by locals and visitors alike. Small and sought after this restaurant tends to sells out every night. The cuisine is Gourmet American with amazing attention to detail and big bold flavors. Reservations are recommended in advance. “Located just off the square in the town of Sonoma, Café La Haye is one of those rare restaurants in which you know the moment you walk in the door, you're going to have a good time... Simple food prepared to perfection... excellent service". Michael Bauer - San Francisco Chronicle. Menu

The El Dorado Kitchen - This lively and fun restaurant is slightly larger than others. They have a modern decor with fantastic French inspired Californian cuisine. They also have a great wine list and a full bar which features delicious and unusual combination's. - Menu

The Harvest Moon - This quaint little restaurant is run by a husband and wife team who create a new menu every night with the freshest ingredients possible. Farm to table meets gourmet Californian with a Mediterranean influence. - Sample Menu

LaSalette - Is a popular alternative for dinners looking for something different from the popular Californian, French and Italian style restaurants that dominate the market. The cuisine is Mediterranean, more specifically Portuguese. Very nice! Menu

Olive & Vine - Nestled away in Glen Ellen, California, this excellent restaurant showcases the abundance of Sonoma County's seasonal harvests and local artisans. Menu

The Glen Ellen Star - Resembling a quaint farmhouse, while invoking a rural and rustic feeling of California wine country, the Glen Ellen Star is a taste of both local and international flavors. Menu

Della Santina’s - Owned and operated by a third generation family from Luca, Italy. They make their own pasta fresh and have a great patio that tends to book first. Relaxed dining that will make you feel as if you are actually back in the old world. Menu

Café Citti - An authentic Italian restaurant, which is a little more casual than the others for their trattoria deli style set up. However, they have constantly been a local favorite for years. They make their own pasta and ravioli fresh daily and were recently featured on the Food Network. Menu

The Glen Ellen Inn - Unpretentious service with a delicious and well rounded menu which features local California gourmet cuisine and fresh oysters. - Menu

The Girl & The Fig - This trendy cafe is in every guide book and is very popular with visitors. The cuisine is country French and tends to book up every night. Reservations are recommended in advance. Menu

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Napa Valley -

In Napa there are a plethora of wonderful restaurants as well. (Located roughly between 30 and 50 minutes away) Some favorites include:

The French Laundry - www.frenchlaundry.com - This three Michelin-starred Thomas Keller restaurant is considered to be the number one in the world by chefs and foodies alike. This small and extremely sought after restaurant is also the most challenging to book. Reservations must be made two months exactly to the day, precisely at 10 AM.

Other options great include:

Bouchon - This is Thomas Keller's French bistro and sister to The French Laundry. Michelin starred as well, many say this popular restaurant captures the feeling of dining in Paris. Menu

The Restaurant at Meadowood - This amazing restaurant is hidden away in a small luxury hotel in hills of the Napa Valley. Their fine dining restaurant is the only one in the area to share the honor of three Michelin stars with the French Laundry. They too require reservations made well in advance. Menu

Auberge Du Soleil - First class all the way, this high-end French restaurant has the best views in Napa from their popular terrace. They also boast a Michelin star. Menu

Bottega - Michael Chiarello's Italian masterpiece, this extremely trendy restaurant is considered one of the best Italian restaurants in the region. Menu

Bistro Jeanty - A fantastic French bistro in Yountville, that is very charming and offers a delicious and surprisingly reasonably priced menu as well. Menu

Redd - Regionally inspired, Michelin starred, seasonal cuisine with ethnic influences. They too have a Michelin star. Menu

Ad Hoc – This is Thomas Keller’s casual home-style cooking favorite. They feature a different set menu every night with country favorites like fried chicken and short ribs. This restaurant was originally intended to be a very different style of restaurant, and was open in this format as a temporary project and experiment to see how people would like it. Now it rivals his other restaurant and is equally desired. Sample Menu

R + D Kitchen – This popular casual restaurant in Yountville offers delicious Californian cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner daily. Menu

Morimoto - This extremely popular Japanese restaurant is the latest creation of the famed Iron Chef Morimoto. They specialize in highly creative and delicious gourmet Japanese style cuisine with sheik modern Tokyo-esque atmosphere. Menu

Mustard’s Grill – This great restaurant has been a favorite for decades. Mustard’s is the quintessential lunch spot in Napa, and is also great for dinner. The menu is a fusion of BBQ and California comfort food. Menu

Tra Vigne - Wonderful Italian cuisine with a stylish and lively ambiance. This was Michael Chiarello's first restaurant in Napa and the favorite of locals still to this day. Menu

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Etoilé at Domaine Chandon - This great French restaurant is not only fantastic but it is also the only fine dining restaurant located inside a winery in both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Menu

Angéle - This beautiful and delicious French restaurant is located on the river front in downtown Napa. Menu

Celadon - This Michelin starred restaurant is most acclaimed for its "global comfort food" as it takes influences from all around the world, paired with California Wine Country gourmet style. Menu

La Toque - This contemporary French restaurant has a Michelin star and is located in the Westin Hotel in the town of Napa. Menu

Terra - This Michelin starred restaurant is owned and operated by a husband and wife team. The cuisine is “California Fusion” with strong influences from France, Italy and Asia. Menu

The FARM - Supported by the bounty of the Carneros and surrounding farmers and ranches, FARM at the Carneros Inn offers a relaxing, authentic, elegant, and exciting wine country experience. Menu

Ristoranté Allegria - This Restaurant features Northern Italian cuisine influenced with California Wine Country Style. Located in downtown Napa, Ristorante Allegria is in a historic landmark bank building featuring 35 foot ceilings, a breathtaking ambiance, delicious food, superb service and relaxing Italian music. They also make their own pasta fresh in house. Menu

Oenotri – This great little southern Italian restaurant is committed to authenticity, quality and value of their product. They are located in downtown Napa. Menu

Northern Sonoma County -

Other amazing Wine Country restaurants located in the Healdsburg and Russian River regions (approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour away) include:

Madrona Manor – Stylish and high-end cuisine in a cozy, old-world setting. Michelin starred Contemporary American. Menu

Dry Creek Kitchen - Charlie Palmer's wonderful Michelin rated restaurant in Healdsburg. Menu

The Farmhouse Inn - Nestled in the heart of the Russian River Valley wine region, this "country-chic" Farmhouse is a Michelin starred Californian restaurant. Menu

The Applewood - This restaurant is highly regarded for its exquisite cuisine, soothing atmosphere, polished guest services, and mellow earthy ambiance. Menu

Barndiva - Barndiva is a celebration of all things local. Their ingredients are sourced from local farmers, ranchers and small batch purveyors who live and work in the magnificent food shed in the surrounding area. Menu

Please keep in mind that some reservations may require a credit card to book as some do have cancelation policies. Booking in advance is always recommended. Please feel free to call the Concierge if there is anything we can do to assist in making your reservations. 707 939 2407.

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Breakfast Restaurants:

The Big 3 - The Big 3 is located on the north corner of the Inn's grounds and has been pleasing customers for over 50 years with its casual bistro atmosphere, hearty country breakfasts and eclectic American cuisine. Our famous Pancakes, Eggs Benedict, Homemade Macaroni & Cheese and Pizzas are all specialties. The Big 3's outstanding cuisine has resulted in its consistently being a local favorite in Sonoma!

The Fremont Diner - Don’t judge a book by its cover, this quirky diner is one of the top favorites in the region. I love the fried chicken and waffles.

Garden Court Cafe - If you love Eggs Benedict this is the place for you!

Sunflower Café - This great café is very popular with local and visitors alike! They were also recently featured on the Food Network.

Other dining options:

Napa Wine Train - This is another wonderful option for dining. They offer a lunch and dinner excursions and different seating options in different train compartments.

Gourmet Dinner at St Francis Winery –

Enjoy a memorable seven-course prix-fixe dinner prepared by St. Francis’ own personal chef. In this intimate, one-of-a-kind experience, their chef will create multiple courses paired with St. Francis’ iconic wines, starting with a wine reception on their patio overlooking the lush . Dinner is served in their private dining room with sweeping views of the winery’s estate vineyards. Their chef and hospitality staff will guide you on a 2½ hour culinary journey, showcasing the bounty of Sonoma County and sharing a fun and unique approach to .

 Offered Tuesday - Sunday, 6:30pm-9pm  Groups of 8-16 only  By appointment only, with minimum of 72 hours notice  $135 per person (plus tax & gratuity)  Seasonal prix-fixe menu. Substitutions are limited - call for details.  Reservations required by calling: (707) 833-0255

Round Pond Winery - Garden to Table Sunday Brunch

This intimate Sunday brunch begins with a tour of their biodynamic sensory garden (weather permitting) led by winery chef, Eric Maczko. With the morning's garden fresh vegetables in hand, you will make your way to their kitchen for a cooking demonstration as well as a wine pairing discussion. Your morning continues with a comprehensive tasting of our Estate wines and a seated brunch on our terrace overlooking the vineyards (weather permitting). Garden to Table Brunches are $100 per person, by appointment only Sunday's at 10:00am.

 Please allow two hours for this experience.  Four person minimum, 10 persons maximum.  We require 48 hour in advance for cancellations to avoid being charged for the garden to table brunch. RESERVE NOW

Please note that due to the nature of our tastings, they do not permit any children or persons under the age of 21.

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Other Wine Country Activities:

Hot Air Ballooning - This is a wonderful way to enjoy breath-taking views of the beautiful vineyards here in Wine Country. This is an early morning activity (usually picking up around 5 AM) and is highly weather permitted, but definitely well worth it. Both of the below companies include a sparkling brunch after your flight and have 72 hour cancellation policies.

The two preferred companies are;

Balloons Above The Valley - (Brunch at the Napa Marriott) - $205 per person.

Napa Valley Balloons - (Brunch at Domaine Chandon Winery) - $240 per person.

Please let us know if you are interested, as I can arrange a pick up from the hotel included in the above price.

Please click here for Sonoma's Weather Forecast.

Vintage Aircraft Flights - Another fun activity is an acrobatic bi-plane ride in a vintage aircraft - www.vintageaircraft.com

Horseback Riding – This is a wonderful way to enjoy the wineries and it puts the “country” in Wine Country.

Triple Creek Horse Outfit - Offers both group and private rides at the beautiful and historic Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen (15 minute drive from the resort).

Wine Country Trail Rides - Offers both group and private rides at the beautiful Chalk Hill Winery near Healdsburg (45 minute drive from the resort). www.vineyardrides.com

Hiking - There are many great parks and trails to explore in Sonoma. Some of my favorites include:

Jack London State Park – This historic property is where the author lived. This park features beautiful trails with redwoods and a small lake.

Sugarloaf State Park - Sugarloaf Ridge State Park contains the headwaters of Sonoma Creek. It runs through gorge and canyon, across the meadow floor, beneath scenic rock outcroppings, and is surrounded at times by redwoods and ferns

Additional Hiking Information - www.bestinsonoma.com/best-hikes

Another beautiful place to go hiking is among the beautiful ancient redwoods near the ocean at the epic Armstrong Woods. (1 hour drive)

Sonoma Canopy Tours - If you’re feeling extra adventurous try a zip line ride through the redwood forest

Bicycling - is another great way to enjoy wine country.

For bicycling tours In the Sonoma Valley we recommend:

Goodtime Touring - This great little Mom and Pop operation is owned and operated by our former mayor. They offer a great in-depth tour of the Sonoma Valley, a few wineries and of our local history. They are the same company that gives our internal guided bike ride daily at 8 AM for $30 per person.

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The also offer a more extensive private tour during the day that includes stops at some of the wineries for wine tasting. Bike tour rates start at $135 per person and include equipment rental, guide, lunch, and standard wine tasting fees (gratuities not included).

For bicycling tours in the Napa Valley we recommend:

Napa Valley Bike Tours - This is another similar company that offers different guided tours of the Napa Valley, which include wineries and a deli lunch as well. Prices range from $115 - $149. Drive time to the city of Napa is about 30 minutes.

For bicycling tours in Northern Sonoma County we recommend:

Getaway Adventures - They offer a variety of different options for bike tours and even kayaking as well. Locations vary from through out the Russian River and Healdsburg to northern Napa Valley in Calistoga and Alexander Valley areas. Tours start at $75 per person.

Sonoma’s Calendar of Events

Roche Winery Mountain Biking – Roche is now offering guided mountain biking at their winery. This beautiful and fun activity is perfect for everyone from the beginner to the advanced rider. This fun activity ends with a delicious food pairing at their downtown tasting room.

I hope this information is helpful in planning your trip. Please feel free to reply to this email or call directly at 707 939 2407 if you would like to book any of these services, or if there is anything else we may do to assist. We are more than happy to arrange a full itinerary for your vacation. There is definitely more to do than drink wine and eat amazing food around here, but it is what we enjoy most.

Cheers!

Best Regards,

Jim Anderson | Chief Concierge & Sommelier |Member Les Clefs d’Or,USA| The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa P: 707.939.2407 | F: 707.996.4148 |

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