Some of you may be wondering what possibly could be left to do in San Francisco when you have to figure out what to do when a day is freed up all of a sudden after you’ve already seen every corner of the city, from Alcatraz to Chinatown, from Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 to the shops in Union Square. Well, here’s an idea. What do you think about a nice wine tasting tour to discover California’s wines in Napa Valley?
As you may already know, California is the most renowned wine-producing area of America. Just go an hour north of San Francisco and you will find yourself immersed in the lush, green and rich wine country, which encompasses both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, two valleys that couldn’t be more different, but they have one winning common denominator, which is wine!
Okay, Napa Valley wine may be exceptional, but why should I read this article if I don’t drink wine or prefer enjoying an ice-cold beer? Well, hold on a second! A visit to Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley is not only for sommeliers, connoisseurs, wine lovers, or those who just want to try some wine.
Rather, California’s wine region welcomes anyone who wants to explore these valleys, for those who love landscapes with rolling hills covered with vineyards, castles, resorts, magnificent villas, museums, art galleries, natural parks of historical importance, shops, and wellness centers where you can treat yourself to a volcanic ash mud bath in Calistoga.
You will find all of this in Napa Valley. So how do you choose what to do? Most importantly, which are the best wineries where you should go for a wine tasting? Let’s discover Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley together.
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San Francisco to Napa Valley: A Classic Day Trip
Not many people decide to invest more than a day in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. Many people choose to take a day trip to visit these valleys and then seek accommodations in San Francisco. While I am on the subject, please don’t forget to take a look at our article with tips on where to stay in San Francisco. If, on the other hand, you’re planning to stay a little longer in the two valleys, you’ll find below plenty of suggestions to enjoy all that Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley have to offer.
Best Things to Do in Napa Valley
We officially begin our virtual tour of the verdant valleys surrounding Napa and Sonoma, two cities that may be similar in some respects, but, as we will see, they have different vibes. Let’s start by focusing on the points of interest in Napa Valley, the small paradise in California that is reminiscent of Tuscany. The question is what is the best plan to visit this land overflowing with wine, where the god Bacchus holds one glass of wine in each hand?
Napa: How to Get around the City
Let’s start in the heart of the valley in Napa. When you first arrive at the bustling and trendy downtown area, I suggest that you grab a bite at the Oxbow Public Market (610 and 664 1 St), that way you will not start the food and wine tour on an empty stomach. Once you’ve tasted the local food, head back to 1 St and head north on Main St. Vintner’s Collective, located at 1245 Main St, is a tasting room that has about 20 of the best local wineries.
Meanwhile, if you go south on Main Street, go to the Napa Valley Welcome Center at 1300 1st St #313, where you will find information about local businesses, dinner and wine tasting packages, tours, and demonstrations. You may even find some good offers!
Accommodations in Napa and in the surrounding area
Road Trip on Highway 29: Watch Out for Drunk Drivers!
The title may be ironic, but there is also some truth to it. Highway 29 is one of the three roads that cut through Napa Valley (the others are the Silverado Trail and Carneros Hwy) and this is the road most frequented by visitors and where the most renowned wineries are located. On either side of the road, you will see a long series of wine tasting venues, shops, restaurants, and endless expanses of vineyards surrounded by rolling hills with the best farms in the United States.
The Most Famous Wineries in Napa Valley
Of all the wineries in Napa Valley, it is worth mentioning the Robert Mondavi Winery (7801, Highway 29). Robert Mondavi is considered the most important figure in California’s wine region. With his dedication and thanks to some effective marketing strategies, he raised the standards of Napa Valley wines and brought them to the attention of the most important oenologists in the world.
On this road, you’ll pass through Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga and there will be countless wine tasting rooms to choose from. However, just before Calistoga (the last city as you travel from south to north, as well as the most informal one), you must definitely stop at the Castello di Amorosa (4045 St Helena Hwy, Calistoga)Â which has a spectacular location, to say the least. It is a faithful replica of a Tuscan castle of the 12th century. In addition to the cellars, the cloister and all the classic rooms of the castle, there is also an equipped and disturbing torture chamber. Here, too, of course, you can taste excellent wines, including its famous Merlot. Remember to book a tour.
Napa Valley Art Galleries
As you may have guessed, Napa Valley does not look rustic. As you visit its gourmet restaurants, galleries, and glittering tasting rooms, you will have the impression of being in a small capital of fashion and culture. We would like to mention two art galleries that seem best display the characteristics of this valley.
- Hess Collection Vineyard: A cellar-gallery on top of Mt. Veeder (4411 Redwood Rd, Napa). Here you can taste a cabernet in the lavish tasting rooms in a splendid building. The gardens and art galleries house works by important contemporary artists, such as Francis Bacon. Don’t forget to book a tour of the museum.
- di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art: If you can’t stand wineries, tastings and wine tasting, visit this eclectic museum located in a phenomenal location (5200 Carneros Hwy 121) on a hill surrounded by vineyards where some metal sheep graze in front of a stream. There is a garden where peacocks wander among some of the most interesting sculptures and installations in all of California. The paintings and works of the gallery are surreal and bizarre to say the least!
Speaking of bizarre, if you want to see lavish reconstructions of ancient buildings like those found in Las Vegas… go to the Darioush Winery (4240 Silverado Trail, Napa). Here you’ll taste excellent wine in front of the imposing columns of a Persian temple.
The Rustic Sonoma Valley
If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like the frills of the sophisticated tasting rooms of Napa Valley, you’ll definitely want to go to Sonoma Valley, the more rustic and artisanal side of the wine region.
Sonoma: Things to Do in the City
Although it may be small, Sonoma boasts its own record. Sonoma Plaza, the town square, is the largest in all of California and there’s nothing better than finding a quiet corner in the square to have a picnic with a bottle of wine purchased from one of the local wineries or directly from a boutique in the square. Don’t underestimate this. Unlike Sonoma, in Napa and the surrounding area, it’s rare for wineries to allow visitors to enjoy a picnic on their own premises.
Recommended Wineries in Sonoma Valley
As we have mentioned, Sonoma Valley’s wineries are generally a little less formal and sophisticated than those in the neighboring valley. We would like to recommend the Jacuzzi Family Vineyard (24724 Arnold Dr, Sonoma), one of Sonoma’s most renowned wineries, the cozy Italian-inspired Viansa (25200 Arnold Dr, Sonoma), and the enchanting Gundlach-Bundschu  (2000 Denmark St, Sonoma), a nice place to stop for a picnic.
Two minutes from the Jacuzzi Family Vineyard, near the famous Cline Cellars (24737 Arnold Drive), you’ll find the Cornerstone Gardens, one of Sonoma’s best attractions. These colorful and imaginative gardens are a perfect place to take a walk and do some shopping.
Napa Valley and Sonoma: Guided Tours and Wine Tastings
If you don’t feel like trying to sort through the myriad of food and wine tours, offers, guided tours of wineries and tastings in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, I suggest that you choose one of the packages available. There are packages to suit all tastes and budgets, and most importantly, there are useful and interesting packages for those who don’t feel like renting a car and want to depart from San Francisco on an organized tour of Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley.
Wine Tours in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley
Not Just Wine… Three Activities for Teetotalers!
If you want to discover the beautiful valleys of California’s wine region but are not interested in wine, you can explore the Jack London Historic State Park (2400 London Ranch Rd, Glen Ellen), a park dedicated to the memory of the great writer of The Call of the Wild. There is a museum that London’s wife established to keep the memory of her husband alive. You can also venture along the paths around the lake, on the grounds that London had chosen to build his house.
Speaking of writers, not far from Calistoga, in the heart of Napa Valley, there is also the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park (Lake County Hwy, Calistoga). The park is dedicated to the author of Treasure Island, because he spent his honeymoon here on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena. On top of the mountain, you can see a beautiful view of the valley.
Mount Saint Helena is composed of volcanic rock. In Calistoga, there are places where you can even take a volcanic ash mud bath at, such as Indian Springs, a historic resort that offers healthy thermal baths in its 19th-century style spa.
How to Get to Napa Valley from San Francisco
As you may have understood, the wineries and places of interest of California’s wine region are located in various points around the two valleys, and in some cases, it is necessary to travel up the hills. For this reason, if you have not opted for a tour, the ideal option would be to rent a car in San Francisco, if you don’t already have a car. Alternatively, there are other means of transportation and some of which are very unique:
- Ferry to Napa Valley from San Francisco: Go to the Ferry Building in San Francisco and take a boat to Vallejo, where you can then use the Vine, Napa Valley’s shuttle bus system, to get around (Route 10).
- Wine Train Napa: You can opt for a very fascinating experience to travel through the valley on an old restored train leaving from the center of Napa. There are special packages that allow you to eat and taste local wines on board the train.
- Napa Valley on a Cable Car: Tour the valley which offers tastings in a typical San Francisco cable car. Click here for more information.
