I am taking a short vacation to San Francisco and plan on spening 1-2 days in Napa/Sonoma. What are the best places to sample and are there any places to avoid?
I am a fan of Gundlach Budschu, just outside of the town of Sonoma. Quirky, not super-popular, with some really tasty cabs. My experience is, the better known the winery, the better to avoid it. Most of them now charge tasting fees but you might get lucky driving around Sonoma county (more than Napa) and stopping at a smaller winery. Healdsburg also has a nice collection of wineries in the vicinity.
That said, Hess in Napa has an art gallery that is worth visiting if you happen to be there already. The Family of Robert Mondavi has a glorious spread in Napa that is worth it for the views. Pretty good wine, too.
Where are you staying? If you don’t have plans yet, and are looking to stay in Sonoma area, then give Healdsburg a try. Lot’s of good, small, wineries nearby. I’ll make another hotel rec now that I’m thinking about - River’s End in Jenner. You can drive to the wineries and then head out to the hotel. Right on the water, and they have an excellent restaurant. Rooms are tiny cabins with no phone, TV or wireless.
Haven’t been, but have heard the new Coppola winery is worth checking out.
I can’t give many recommendations because we just see one and stop, see one and stop, see one and stop… 
I have never had a bad time in that region. Here is a link to the 2011 best of guide: http://www.bestofnsv.com/digitalbook/2011/index.html
PS: A couple of years ago we were driving aimlessly through the region and stopped at some little winery. It turns out it was owned by the Doobie Brothers manager. We had
a great time there. I can’t remember what we drank but I am sure it was good. 
Also, weekends are the worst time to visit there so get in early.
We arrive in SF on the 28th and depart on the 4th. Looking at Thurs and maybe Sat for wine. Stay over night on Thurs at some place close by instead of traveling back to SF. Planning to rent a car for just 1 night.
Clos Pegase has some really cool art.
Vincent Arroyo is a very small winery, by appt only but you can often call the same day and get a tasting. Great wine and great personality. Not a big fancy operation, but it’s neat to see how the smaller wineries work.
V Sattui has a good tasting, a nice supply of breads, cheeses, and meats, and a beautiful lawn to picnic lunch on. I love doing their tasting, buying a few bottles and food, and then sitting in the grass and enjoying…
Are you a wine person or a person who wants to visit a winery?
Are you a wine person or a person who wants to visit a winery?
I like wine, but struggle to justify spending more than $20 on a bottle when I am not out for dinner.
Best = Frank Family
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Are you a wine person or a person who wants to visit a winery?
I like wine, but struggle to justify spending more than $20 on a bottle when I am not out for dinner.
Then go to one of the big wineries where there lots to see. Coppola has a lot of his movie stuff to see. Franciscan is nice. V. Sattui, which someone mentioned. Drive up the Silverado Trail and then last some of the cross roads. Lunch at Taylor’s Refresher. Or now it’s calls Gott’s something or other. In St. Helena.
Domain Carneros and Trefethen too.
I would spend most of the time in Sonoma area which has a highly diverse wine region. Sonoma is a cool little town. The town square is fun to walk around and relax in the park once you get burned out on wine. A lot of nice B & B’s there. A fun place in the immediate area is Gundlach Bundschau as mentioned above, Buena Vista and Bartholomew Park. Sebastiani is a huge winery and is right near the downtown.
+1 on Vincent Arroyo, Great wines.
Frank Family used to be good, atmosphere has gotten more corporate, but the wines are still great.
My favorite place in Sonoma is Hop Kiln in Healdsburg. Good wines at a good price.
If your still looking for a place to stay here is my favorite option: http://www.landmarkwine.com/
Are you a wine person or a person who wants to visit a winery?
I like wine, but struggle to justify spending more than $20 on a bottle when I am not out for dinner.
I would add another vote for Sonoma over Napa. Napa is great, and I really like V. Satui for the same reasons others have mentioned (great deli and picnic area), but Sonoma is quieter and there are a lot more wineries that are off the beaten path where you won’t be overwhelmed by either the winery or other visitors.
My wife and I stayed in a B&B just outside Healdsburg and I would definitely recommend looking into this type of an option. As I recall there was a trail system not too far from our B&B where I was able to get a 10 mile run in before breakfast and a few wineries that were in walking distance. The town had great restuarants for dinner that were casual and intimate. The majority of the wineries we visited on that trip were on the smaller side which meant a more personal touch for tastings. Some memorable wineries we hit on that trip were - Cafaro, DeLoach, Louis Martini, and Sunce. With the exception of the last I have seen the others’ wine in stores and restaurants.
Typing this out made me realize that my trip with my wife was 9 years and 4 kids ago. Crazy how time flies! Enjoy your trip.
There is a bike trail running through Sonoma. I saw Dick Smothers out there once!
There is a bike trail running through Sonoma. I saw Dick Smothers out there once!
Hard to beat that.
There is a bike trail running through Sonoma. I saw Dick Smothers out there once!
Tommy owns Remick Ridge.
It was Dicky!
When I was in navigator training at Mather AFB in 1987-1988, we used to love to visit V. Sattui for that exact reason…buy a nice bottle of vino, a baguette, some salami and cheese, and make a nice lunch out of it on their lawn. Glad to see they’re still in business.
Spot