Geyserville Wine Country Excursion – Five Lovely Wineries to Visit

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Joe

Who would of thought that the tiny Russian River town of Geyserville would someday emerge as a destination spot for wine tasting and gourmet dining? Yes, amazingly, this little town and its surrounding countryside has much to offer for those who love to visit wineries. Here are five wonderful wineries to visit in the surrounding area of Geyserville. This route will take you to some absolutely beautiful vineyards along the Alexander Valley and into the Dry Creek Valley.

Head north on Highway 101 and take the Independence Lane exit some 20 miles past Santa Rosa.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery
You will either love it or hate it. This is Hollywood time in the Alexander Valley. It’s got swimming pools, cabanas, Bocce courts, the Tucker automobile, movie memorabilia and something for the entire family to enjoy. The Rustic Restaurant is a “must” for lunch and if the weather is nice you should ask for an outside table. What a view! You can take a tour of the winery and taste wines galore; there are many options at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. The winery is open daily 11 to 5 pm.

Poolside at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery


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April in Wine Country – Piner Road/Olivet Road

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Joe

This is one of our favorite months in wine country. The weather is warm and California poppies are proudly blooming among the vines. The main event this month is bud break. It signals a new growing period for the vines and it is the perfect time to savor the beauty of wine country.

We have a couple of suggested trips for this month. We’ll start with one in the Santa Rosa region. We’ll call it the Piner Road/Olivet Road Trail. In our next blog post, we will tell you about a great set of interesting wineries in the Geyserville area in northern Sonoma County. Continue reading →

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A Wine Getaway to Gold Country – Sutter Creek

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Joe

Looking for something different in wine country travel? Why not try the Gold Country of the Sierra Foothills. We make a trip to this region at least once a year and have discovered some very amazing wineries producing high quality wines equal to anywhere in California. In this trip, we introduce this region by exploring Amador and El Dorado Counties, both with a long history of wines but under the radar of most wine country travelers. Our headquarters for this wine country getaways is the best little town in Gold Country, Sutter Creek.

There are several good B&B’s in Sutter Creek but our favorite is the Hanford House Inn. Four years ago, Robert and Athena Gordon purchased the Inn and brought tender, loving care to this B & B. You are sure to find your stay here, which includes a gourmet breakfast, relaxed and enjoyable. For more lodging choices, see our list of recommended for places to stay in the area. Continue reading →

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Skinner Vineyards to Open Tasting Room Soon – What a View!

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Joe

We had the opportunity to take a sneak preview of the Skinner Vineyards tasting room that will open in just a few weeks. With its panoramic views it will easily qualify as one of the “Best Views” of any tasting room in California. And that is just the start of the tale of this remarkable winery in the wine region known as Fair Play in El Dorado County. We met up with winemaker Chris Pittenger at the Skinner Vineyard’s winery this past Sunday, Feb 27, and spent the next couple of hours tasting some excellent Rhone-style wines and learning all about this fascinating winery.

The Skinner wine saga began in 1860 when James Skinner purchased land in the Sierra Foothills and began a very successful business making wine and brandy. When Prohibition struck, the winery and brandy distillery ceased operation. Today it’s the great-great-great grandson of James Skinner, Mike Skinner, who has re-established this historic winery just a few miles from the original site.

Skinner Vineyards

Family photos of the original winery were used to recreate the same style


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Paso Robles Wine Country – We Recommend

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Joe

We just spent three days and two nights in the Paso Robles wine country. Once again, upon our return to this wine region, we find new and interesting places to visit. From our very enjoyable experience this past week, we have two wineries and two restaurants to highly recommend next time you visit Paso Robles.

Lodging – Paso Robles Inn
Nothing new to report here! We always stay at the Paso Robles Inn in the newest section of the Inn built after the earthquake in December of 2004. The Paso Robles Inn is comfortable and very reasonable and, best of all, within easy walking distance of several of wine country’s best restaurants. During the week and off-season, the rates are just around the $100 mark per night.

Wineries – Venteux and Calcareous
The names of these two wineries both have to do with the terroir (climate and geology) of the wine region west of Highway 101 in the Paso Robles area. In the case of Venteux, the word means windy in French. The wineries in this western portion of Paso Robles are in the Templeton Gap corridor. Each day in the afternoon winds from the Pacific Ocean roar through this area bringing cooling temperatures to the vines. Calcareous is an adjective describing rock composed of calcium carbonate or limestone. This is the predominant soil type that is found along the rolling hills of this beautiful area. The geology of this area is similar to the same soils found in the famous wine regions of Champagne and the Rhone Valley in France. Continue reading →

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This February in California Wine Country

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Joe

Valentine’s Day Activities
This is biggest event of the month. Wine Country is the perfect romantic spot for a getaway with your loved one. If you’re looking to stay in the Napa Valley, Sonoma or Healdsburg, you might be too late reserving that perfect B&B and that favorite intimate restaurant. You might find a few open spots this late in the Napa Valley in the towns of Calistoga, Sonoma or Geyserville. Calistoga is a more laid-back town with more casual restaurants and lodging establishments. Calistoga may not have the panache of the other Napa Valley towns but it does have something the other towns don’t have, mud baths and hot springs. Geyserville, five miles north of Healdsburg, is all of two blocks long but boasts several really great tasting rooms and one of the hottest restaurants in the area, Diavola Pizzeria & Salumeria. Try the Geyserville Inn for accommodations. Continue reading →

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Top Things to Do in Wine Country in January 2011

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Joe

Now is the best time to travel to the wine country. I know it can be cold or rainy this time of year, but it so peaceful and relaxing because the huge crowds are missing. Here are some recommendations for formal and informal events that are happening in wine country in January.

San Francisco: “How Wine Became Modern” + the 20th Annual ZAP Festival

Etienne Meneau, Carafe No. 5, 2008, fabricated 2009


Well, San Francisco is technically not wine country but there are two events that are sure to attract wine lovers. The first one is happening at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, “How Wine Became Modern: Design + Wine 1976 to Now” on view through April 17, 2011. S.F. MOMA is offering enticing promotions to encourage you to visit this wine exhibit: If you not currently a member, you can receive a 10% discount if you join between now and April 17th. To join, register at
Member Promotions. After you visit the exhibit, you can use your ticket stub to receive wine-related discounts in San Francisco and Sonoma County. Visit Wine Promotions. Additionally, you can enter the SFMOMA Uncorked contest to win a Luxury Wine Adventure in exchange for bringing natural used corks to the museum for recycling. Wine Uncorked. Wow! Continue reading →

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Top Wine Country Photographs 2010

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Joe

During 2010 we logged 4800 miles in our car visiting wineries in California. We spent a week in Washington state visiting wineries and attending the 3rd Annual Wine Bloggers Conference. In late September we ventured off to France for a three-week stay. We rented a house in the village of Obernai in the Alsatian region and explored the villages and wineries along the Alsace Wine Route. Then it was off to the Champagne region and a week’s stay in a beautiful old country home in the vineyards in the small village of Le Breuil. What a great year of tasting delicious wines and taking photographs of the all the beautiful wine regions we visited. These are our favorite wine country photographs from the year 2010.

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Domenico Winery – Urban Winery in San Carlos

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Joe

Winemaker Dominick Chirichillo


If you live on the San Francisco Peninsula or in the South Bay and you’re hunkering to taste some wines and not travel too far, then schedule a stop at Domenico Winery in San Carlos. The owner and winemaker is Dominick Chirichillo. This urban winery is located in the industrial area of San Carlos and is a winery that wears many hats. Not only can you taste and buy wine, but you can also make your own wine at Domenico or host a heck of party or wedding reception in the winery’s warehouse. Dominick also puts on a novel activity, a blending party where participants form groups can blend their own wines after which Dominick and his coworkers judge the wines. All this in little sleepy San Carlos! Continue reading →

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Merry Edwards Tasting Room – Awesome Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on November 11, 2010 by Joe

Drop by any day of the week and you will likely find that the Merry Edwards tasting room is a very busy place in the Russian River Valley wine country of Sonoma County. The draw here is the owner and winemaker Merry Edwards. She is one of the most respected winemakers in California, and when wine travelers on Highway 116 see the Merry Edwards winery entrance, they can hardly resist stopping by. The winery has been open about two years but the name Merry Edwards goes way back and has been renowned for making great Pinot Noir wines. Continue reading →

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