|
This past weekend we headed out with the family and some friends to check out the new restaurant in downtown Santa Rosa. Ever since the Cantina closed, we’ve been looking forward to checking out its replacement. The restaurant is set right on 4th Street, which is a great location at the heart of the city. ... (read more →)
Balletto Vineyards and Winery is set amongst fields of grapes. It has a peaceful pavered patio, covered with a pergola and centered on an olive tree growing out of a large water feature. Inside, the cozy tasting room is staffed with friendly people who are very knowledgeable about the wine they serve. There is a ... (read more →)
This family-owned winery has a lovely tasting room in a tranquil setting just outside Healdsburg in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. Their hand-crafted, estate-grown wine is made from organic grapes and the tasting room is set in the middle of one of their biodynamic vineyards. There are solar panels on the roof, and a garden ... (read more →)
Dutton Goldfield Winery has a new tasting room on Gravenstein Highway North in Sebastopol. They used to participate in the Visa Signature program, but sadly have stopped. They now charge a $10 tasting fee for 4 wines, which is rather steep for Sonoma County. The fee is refunded with purchase, and tasting is also free ... (read more →)
Walking up to the Deloach Vineyards tasting room from their parking lot you pass through a tranquil Biodynamic garden. There is a lovely brick courtyard complete with umbrella shaded tables for those who prefer to take advantage of Sonoma County’s fabulous weather and do their tasting outdoors. Inside, the tasting room is lined with bottles ... (read more →)
We were on our way home from one of our favorite wineries, Armida, when we passed a newly opened tasting room. Quite honestly, we weren’t that hopeful – there are a LOT of tasting rooms in Dry Creek Valley and more generally all over Sonoma County. But, since it was right on our way, and ... (read more →)
We are blessed with living in the heart of Northern California’s wine country. Even though we live very close to many wineries, we somehow always find ourselves driving to further ones to go wine tasting. So, when we wanted to go wine tasting a couple of weeks ago, we decided to change that, and start ... (read more →)
While traveling in New Zealand we were introduced to all sorts of new death-defying activities along with others that the Kiwis have made famous. On offer were bungee jumping (in many different forms), canyoning, heli-skiing, hang-gliding, skydiving, zorbing, sweebing and a plethora of other thrill sports. In particular, in Rotorua adventure sports are a main ... (read more →)
The holiday season brings a number of wonderfully lit houses to Wine Country. Recently we visited this beautifully decorated house on Arabian Lane, in Santa Rosa, California. The street is only a block long; tucked into a quiet subdivision. The lights from the house shine brightly enough that we knew we’d found the right street ... (read more →)
Traveling in Wine Country with children? There are lots of holiday events to keep your little ones happy! December 2nd we headed to downtown Windsor for the lighting of the 2nd Annual Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Grove on Windsor Town Green. Windsor is located right off the 101 Freeway, in the heart of Sonoma County ... (read more →)
Sonoma County is Northern California Wine Country, so there are plenty of attractions to keep the adults in holiday cheer. But don’t think the kids get left out! This past weekend we checked out a recent Santa Rosa tradition. Every Saturday and Sunday in December, as well as the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, ... (read more →)
It was yet another gorgeous fall day here in Sonoma County so we decided to take advantage of the weather and head out to lunch. We chose a place we’d been to many, many times. Thai Cuisine is in a large, old Victorian house that’s been converted to other uses. The restaurant occupies the bottom ... (read more →)
Today was an absolutely perfect fall day in Sonoma County. Sunny and warm, with the highs in the high 70s (25C), it was the perfect day to head out into the spectacular Dry Creek Valley. The grapes are in full fall colors with brilliant splashes of red and yellow painting the valley in vibrant color. ... (read more →)
Wendy’s cousins came to visit and requested that we visit some Napa Valley wineries. So we solicited advice, and off we went to tour the best of the Napa Valley, starting with Duckhorn Vineyards Estate Winery. The winery charges for tastings. A regular tasting is $15, and the reserve tasting is $25. Reservations are recommended, ... (read more →)
Tonight was an unusually warm night here in Santa Rosa. Sonoma County evenings are typically quite cool. Even hot summer days give ways to chilly temperatures at night. So we decided to take advantage of the mild evening and pop into Fruta. We’re lucky enough to live walking distance from this fabulous new ice cream ... (read more →)
You’ll find De La Montanya Winery along a windy rural road just outside Healdsburg, in the heart of Sonoma County, California. Just as you pass under the bridge, the winery, with its small wooden tasting room and rows of sun-drenched grapes pop into view. The small parking lot is framed by trees and bordered by ... (read more →)
We were waiting for our flight and after the drive to the airport and the time to check-in and go through security we were starving. We debated between the different places to get a bite to eat and finally settled on Andale. As you might expect, they serve Mexican food. You order at the counter ... (read more →)
Just a short walk away from the wonderful downtown square in the center of Sonoma you’ll find the historic Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery. The winery is over a 100-years-old and they’ve used that time to perfect their fabulous wine. Inside their beautiful tasting room is a long wooden bar flanked at one end by an ... (read more →)
The classy Beringer Vineyard is a large winery in the heart of the Napa Valley. There are lovely views out over the valley and their grounds, but unfortunately no picnic tables to enjoy it from. We wound up eating lunch on the benches in front of the tasting room. Not bad, but not the ideal ... (read more →)
