Sonoma or Napa?

[Skiblets]

The Mrs and I heading to wine country in august. I enjoy bigger reds. She enjoys lighter reds and whites. First time heading there and will stay for three full days. Thanks in advance

 

[8893]

Yes.

Both great; if I had to choose one, I would probably choose Sonoma.

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Just went out there in October for 8 days. Both are great.

Sonoma is less uppity and the vineyards are more spread out. Napa is a little bit more formal and everything is close together basically on either route 29 or the Silverado Trail. You can drive between them in roughly an hour. Take Trinity Road in between if you like adventure and aren't driving a manual.

Both expensive. If you don't have tasting reservations and dinner reservations you need to do that this week.

Sonoma Recs:

• The Girl and The Fig: highly recommend. The duck confit was excellent.
• Tasca Tasca: Portuguese Tapas. On the above average side but affordable. Very casual food
• El Molino Centrale: A Must in Sonoma. Unbelievable Mexican food. Very casual and outdoors only.
• Sunflower cafe: great breakfast spot!

• Iron Horse Vineyards if you like bubbly. Great Brut's here.

Napa Recs:

• Farmstead: Highly highly recommend. This place is excellent, and they do just about everything right.
• Market: A local spot in Saint Helena. Really enjoyed it here. A casual vibe but just really nice food and great service
• Bottega: Chef Michael Chiarellos place in Yountville. Excellent Italian food. I highly recommend it.

• Paraduxx: Great red blends, a fun tasting and well worth it.
• Caymus: A classic tasting. Given the size you feel a little bit like a cog in the machine, but it was a good tasting nonetheless. What’s great about Caymus is they waive your tasting fee with an equivalent purchase in wine. So effectively if you have 2 $50 tastings, they’ll waive the tasting fees if you buy $100 in wine. Great value.
• Judds Hill: A small vineyard just outside of downtown Napa. Really enjoyed the tasting, and the sommelier was fantastic. Provided a great education, and didn’t rush us whatsoever. Wine was good, not spectacular but I highly recommend because of the experience.

 

[HooperScooper]

We stayed in Healdsburg, which is in Sonoma. There must be 50 wineries within a few miles of the town. Lots of good wine and plenty of each of what you and your wife like. My brother lives in San Francisco and he said to stay away from Napa because it was too snooty with rich people from all over. It's much bigger with more to do, but Healdsburg was a nice small town with good restaurants. If you decide to go there let me know and I can give you more information on places to stay, wineries to visit and restaurants in Healdsburg.

 

[Palatine]

You'll enjoy it either way. Both are fun. I was a huge Cakebread fan and the Napa winery was nothing to write home about (late 1990s) but the wine was great. Napa seems to have more of everything. But we stayed at the Fairmont in Sonoma on another trip and had a wonderful time. I know that's no help.

 

[NJHusky]

I know that's no help.

U just wanted us to know you’ve been to both.

 

[Waquoit]

Our go-to Napa restaurant didn't survive COVID, so I got nuthin'.

But to piggyback on the thread, anyone have a rec for a wine-related overnight between SF and LA? Paso Robles, maybe?

 

[HuskyHawk]

The Mrs and I heading to wine country in august. I enjoy bigger reds. She enjoys lighter reds and whites. First time heading there and will stay for three full days. Thanks in advance

That really depends. Napa is like DisneyWorld for wine. It's all there, fairly tightly packed together. But along with that comes lines, crowds, traffic etc. It is possible to visit some very nice Napa wineries that are less that way. Silverado Trail isn't as crowded as the main road (29).

Sonoma has some wonderful wineries, mostly more spread out. So more driving, but it's quite pretty and less crowded. Sonoma town is nice. Some of the "mountain" wineries in between Sonoma and Napa are very good, and those too would tend to draw fewer crowds. Mayacamaus and Hess for example. Hess has a modern art gallery if you like that kind of thing.

 

[8893]

But to piggyback on the thread, anyone have a rec for a wine-related overnight between SF and LA? Paso Robles, maybe?

We stayed in and liked San Luis Obsipo; hit some Santa Maria Valley wineries on the way there and Paso Robles on the way out; and then to Hearst Castle before heading up to Monterey for the aquarium, Big Sur and some more good wines...

 

[DaveHuskiesFan]

Our go-to Napa restaurant didn't survive COVID, so I got nuthin'.

But to piggyback on the thread, anyone have a rec for a wine-related overnight between SF and LA? Paso Robles, maybe?

If you like Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey / Carmel By The Sea has a fantastic climate for growing those grapes and therefore puts out some really good Sauv Blancs. That whole area (Big Sur) is also a great to visit if you've never been.

 

[polycom]

It depends on how much money you have...Napa is very expensive Sonoma is just expensive.

 

[storrsroars]

Been to both, don't know if it really matters.

If you haven't done a bunch of tours before, try not to get hammered too early. It's surprising how it seems you're not drinking much, but you leave a cool cellar and step out into 105F heat and wham.

I don't know any of the newer restaurants cited here. Many I was familiar with are gone. But I'll always recommend Mustard's. That place (and its Mongolian pork chop) has stood the test of time, and you're not getting a reservation at TFL at this point.

I would strongly recommend trying to get into Jarvis winery (Healdsburg) if you can. You can get tired of the same old kinds of tours, but not this one. The whole operation was drilled out of a small mountain. The owners were oddballs. Not sure if they still have the his & her bedrooms as part of the tour, but it was definitely one of the weirdest wineries and histories I've ever seen. And the wines are solid - we shipped back 3 cases last visit.

I'd also make a point to hit Chateau Montelena, especially if you like big wines.

 

[FriarJ]

Sonoma all the way. I go every year down there and while Napa has some wonderful wineries it's just too much traffic and too touristy for me anymore. That is Napa itself I'm referring to, towns like Calistoga, and St. Helena are still worth a visit though if you are down there for a bit. Otherwise, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Geyserville, and Santa Rosa have more great wineries and restaurants than you could ever hope to visit.

 

[dvegas]

Sonoma if you like some green to go with your red or white!

 

[sledog]

Sonoma / Russian River / Dry Creek / Teldeschi. Big reds

 

[mussels]

Sonoma has a farmers market on Tuesday evenings in the middle of the square. My recollection is that they have music and you are allowed to picnic and drink wine on that night. Needless to say the produce is on another level.

Also in Sonoma we rented bikes and you can do a loop that will get you past several wineries. .

 

[UCLJ0211]

Sonoma is more low key and has a more “organic” vibe. I found Napa to be more commercialized and corporate. Enjoyed Sonoma much more- albeit this was about 10 years ago so not sure how much it’s changed.

 

[BigTenFan]

Napa has changed a lot over the past 20 years- many family owned wineries have sold to corporate and hedge fund owners. They tend to charge a lot for tasting and experiences.

Work your way up from Carneros and check out Domaine Carneros and Gloria Ferrer for great Sparkling. Healdsburg is a great place to stay in Sonoma and gives you access to great properties throughout Sonoma

 

[LIuconn]

Not a listed option but have you considered Paso Robles?

 

[8893]

Even though I would stay in Sonoma, I would consider a trip into Napa to spend a couple hours eating and sampling wines at this place:

Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ

Bounty Hunter is not your average restaurant. Part bar/lounge, part bottle shop, part restaurant; here we give guests unparalleled access to the very best bottles and makers in the wine and spirits industry.

www.bountyhunterwinebar.com

 

[LIuconn]

Healdsberg is gorgeous as is St Helena and Calistoga
If you need a break from the wine, can always head to Bear Republic Brewing and Russian River Brew (Pliny!) in Santa Rosa.
Also if time permits, check out this:

Hog Island - Marshall Restaurants, Oyster Bars and Oyster Farms

Visit us at our Marshall, California seafood restaurants, oyster bars and oyster farms

hogislandoysters.com

 

[Fishy]

The Mrs and I heading to wine country in august. I enjoy bigger reds. She enjoys lighter reds and whites. First time heading there and will stay for three full days. Thanks in advance

Waste of money.

Two boxes of wine and a stay in the Champagne Tower Suite at Covehaven Resort in the Poconos is the call here, Romeo.

 

[Peacefrog]

You're going to find more ultra-premium big reds in Napa but there are some in Sonoma as well, and as many have noted, Sonoma is more spread out and country-ish so if you detest crowds that might be a deciding factor. If Chardonnay is your white wine of choice then the Carneros region of Sonoma is hard to beat. I typically migrate toward Napa; despite the fact that I don't like crowds, there are many more of my favorite wineries there and I don't have to drive as much between stops which is a good thing when you're drinking.

But really, no reason not to try both.

 

[geordi]

Both are great. I'd probably pick Sonoma as well if I were forced to, but that's based on the day. Napa has some great options. Just be careful. As you go from winery to winery, strange things happen. Last time out there, we found that we had joined an eight and ninth wine club. The packages have to be sent to my office so someone from shipping can sign for them. My staff think I'm a certified wino - which, of course, is true, but I didn't need them to find out.

 

[cohenzone]

Only been to Napa and that only on a day trip years ago on a scalding hot August day. We visited some large more commercial wineries and some very good more local. In those days few were charging. The most striking looking big winery was Beringer. Other than that, I wish I could remember the names of the 2 or 3 smaller vineyards producing some robust reds. Have fun.

 

[pj]

Waste of money.

Two boxes of wine and a stay in the Champagne Tower Suite at Covehaven Resort in the Poconos is the call here, Romeo.

Do they have a handicapped-accessible champagne glass?

 

[Drumguy]

My daughter is director of operations at Domaine Carneros, I visit every 6-8 weeks and was just there last week. @DaveHuskiesFan had some good suggestions. There are great things to do in both valleys and you should be able to do both valleys in 3 days.

As stated above make reservations now. I can get you into Domaine Carneros but many of the wine rooms fill up even though they can cost $100 - $200 per person. Most are $50 - $100 and they wave the fee if you buy enough wine.

Persoanlly I think the best base to stay is Napa City. From Napa you can easily get to Napa Valley and also Sonoma Square is less than 20 minutes and Healdsberg is about an hour+ away - Calistoga is 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

Adding to @Dave's in Sonoma Square I'd consider the Edge Restaurant (part of Stony Edge WInery) - word is it will be getting a MIchelin Star shortly and on Thursday nights you can see Robert Kamen who wrote Karate Kid. Sunflower Cafe is a favorite as well for lunch or brunch - Girl and the fig is great as in La Soulatte. I really enjoy walking around the square and the Chocolate Cow or Sweet Scoops for ice cream is a nice topper.

Healdsberg is also fun to walk around and they have a hotel restaurant that has a wine wall where you can get some of the world's finest by the ounce - The Matthiason. I belong to the Journeyman sausage of the quarter club - amazing chacuterie.

In Napa Valley, as stated above Mustard's is a favorte, Charter Oak is great, Kenzo in Napa CIty - there are many many incredible restaurants - Yountville alone has Lucy, Bouchon, Bistro Jeanty not to mention the French Laundry. In Napa I like stopping at Model Bakery for a breakfast sandwich and Ritual coffee in the Ox Bow market neaxt door for breakfast or grabbing a croissant and coffee at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville. For lunch I order ahead at Gotts Roadside, Oakville grocery or the food truck at Clif Family winery (all between Oakville and St. Helena), then you can do an after lunch tasting nearby.

For wines I'd suggest FarNiente or Nickel & Nickel for big reds (either you can taste the same wines), Stony Hill for phenominal whites with a view of the Valley; Mayacamas - make the drive up Mt. Veeder - my favorite right now ; Pride at the top of Spring Mountain has great reds and whites. Bouchaine in Carneros would be a great one for both of you - they specialize in Pinots and whites. Trouchard is a small winery also in Carneros that has both Reds and whites and is very personal.

If you want to add beer to the visit - Russian River brew company in Windser and Mad Fritz in St. Helena both are great visits.

I can be overly enthusiastic - let me know if you want to have a private chat as I can add many many more or be very specific,, or if you can't get a reservation at Domaine Carneros!

 

[Rocktheworld]

Sonoma by a country mile

 

[HooperScooper]

As stated above make reservations now. I can get you into Domaine Carneros but many of the wine rooms fill up even though they can cost $100 - $200 per person. Most are $50 - $100 and they wave the fee if you buy enough wine.

Wow, that much? We went to mostly medium to high premium places around Healdsburg and they were all $15 or $20 per person for 3-4 pours of different wines. They waived 1 fee for each bottle you bought. So for the 2 of us if we bought 2 bottles the tasting room fee was waived for both of us. Most of the places were very casual and you could talk to them about their wines. One place said forget the tasting fee and just kept pouring us wines as we talked. We went in mid-August and I don't think there were more than 10 people in any of the tasting rooms at a time. Maybe it's less crowded there than Napa?

 

[Hugo]

I asked a friend this same question about 15 years ago as he had visited and enjoyed both. However he strongly recommended Sonoma for it's more rural and laidback atmosphere. Good weather, good food and just a great overall vibe. Loved the entire experience.