Synopses & Reviews
Lush, opulent pinot noir; rich, robust zinfandel; fruity, full-bodied Chardonnay—you can sample them all in California's Napa and Sonoma Valleys, which together comprise one of the world's premier wine regions. Completely up-to-date,
Frommer's Portable California Wine Country is a handy guide that will give you proven strategies for exploring the region. Our candid reviews of the top wineries will tell you which tours are worth your time and which wineries offer affordable bottles. You'll also get a beginner's guide to California wines: varietals, recommendations on recent vintages, tips on wine-tasting protocol (how to sniff, swish, and spit like a pro), tips on shipping, and much, much more. And when wine-tasting is done for the day, turn to our candid, complete reviews of the region's fabulous inns and restaurants! The 5th edition has been expanded to include a new section focusing on up-and-coming but off the beaten path northern Sonoma County, including towns like Healdsburg and Santa Rosa.
Free companion podcast available.
Synopsis
Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. And avoid tourist traps. At Frommer's, we use 150 outspoken travel experts around the world to help you make the right choices. Frommer's. The best trips start here.
Put the Best of California Wine Country in Your Pocket
- Featuring a brand-new chapter on Northern Sonoma, including the Russian River Valley and the charming town of Healdsburg.
- Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
- Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
- Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.
- The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews.
Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com
Synopsis
In 2006, there were more than 20 million winery visits in California, producing an estimated tourism revenue of $2 billion.
About the Author
Native San Franciscan
Erika Lenkert fled the dot-community to find respite
and great food and wine in Napa Valley. When she’s not writing about food,
wine, and travel for the likes of Four Seasons Magazine or InStyle, or promoting her book The Last-Minute Party Girl: Fashionable, Fearless, and Foolishly Simple Entertaining, she’s in search of Wine Country pleasures to share with Frommer’s readers. She also remains subservient to her owners—two Siamese cats and most recently, her new daughter Viva.
In addition to this guide, Erika authors and co-authors a number of other
Frommer’s guides to California, including Frommer’s California, Frommer’s
San Francisco, and Frommer’s Memorable Walks in San Francisco.
Table of Contents
List of Maps.1 The Best of the Wine Country.
1 The Best Wineries.
2 The Best Winery Tours for First-Timers.
3 The Best Experiences Beyond the Wineries.
4 The Best Luxury Hotels & Inns.
5 The Best Moderately Priced Accommodations.
6 The Best Restaurants.
2 The Wine Country Experience by John Thoreen.
1 Introducing Napa Valley & Sonoma Valley.
2 Winemaking 101.
3 How to Wine Taste Like a Pro.
3 Planning Your Trip to the Wine Country.
1 Visitor Information.
2 When to Go.
3 Money Matters.
Festivities to Plan Your Trip Around: The Wine Country’s Best Annual Events.
4 Getting There.
5 Getting Around.
6 Strategies for Touring the Wine Country.
Some Wine-Buying .
7 The Ins & Outs of Shipping Wine Home.
Fast Facts: The Wine Country.
4 Napa Valley.
1 Orientation & Getting Around.
Fast Facts: Napa Valley.
2 Touring the Wineries.
3 More to See & Do.
Up, Up & Away.
4 Where to Stay.
5 Where to Dine.
6 Where to Stock Up for a Picnic & Where to Enjoy It.
5 Sonoma Valley.
1 Orientation & Getting Around.
Fast Facts: Sonoma Valley.
2 Touring the Wineries.
3 More to See & Do.
The Super Spa.
4 Where to Stay.
5 Where to .
6 Where to Stock Up for a Picnic & Where to Enjoy It.
6 Northern Sonoma County.
1 Orientation & Getting Around.
Fast Facts: Northern Sonoma.
2 Touring the Wineries.
The Ways of Wine Clubs.
3 More to See & Do.
4 Where to Stay.
5 Where to Dine.
6 Where to Stock Up for a Picnic & Where to Enjoy It.
Appendix: Grape Varietals in the Wine Country by Erika Lenkert & Matthew R. Poole.
1 Major Grape Varietals.
2 Lesser-Known Grape .
Index.
General Index.
Accommodations Index.
Restaurant Index.