STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

napa bed and breakfasts??

jj · Kate Spade

My husband and I stayed at this hotel in June:

http://www.eldoradosonoma.com/hotel.htm

We LOVED it. It's very new and everything is very chic. It's also across the street from an amazing restaurant, Girl and the Fig. It was nice to have a huge dinner with drinks and wine, then just stumble across the street back to the hotel.

One drawback: it's in Sonoma, and it was a 20 minute drive to the wineries we visited in Napa. But we only visited four (we made a very specific list) so it wasn't a big deal. I think most of the better wineries in Sonoma are much further north, like 1.5 hours away.

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

thanks, jj! i'll check that place out. i guess he and i need to figure out which wineries we want to visit and then pick a hotel in a central location. what wineries did you visit?

if anybody else has any winery or b&b recommendations, i'm all ears! thanks!

jj · Kate Spade

Here's the rundown of the wineries we visited:

Gloria Ferrar - we stopped on our way from SF to the hotel. They make wonderful champagne, and you can do you tastings on a beautiful patio that overlooks the vineyards.

Then the next day:

Neibaum Coppola

Cakebread

(lunch at V.Sattui - kind of touristy, but cute. There's a market where you can grab a bunch of food and have a picnic on the grounds)

Robert Stinsky

Pine Ridge

We brought back 12 bottles of wine!

Sunshinegirl · Kate Spade

Cakebread - yummy!!!!

shkitty · Nine West

I just got back from 5 days in Sonoma/Russian River Valley. And we (my boyfriend and I ) went to Napa last year. Personally I didn't like Napa as much, it seemed more commercialized and the people weren't as friendly. Part of the time, we stayed at the Sonoma Creek Inn (which isn't a B&B) but is located just outside of Sonoma downtown. It's simple hotel with nice decor and there is a breakfast/lunch place right next door, which has the best french toast EVER!!!

We also just stayed at the Grape Leaf Inn (which is a B&B) up in Healdesburg (spelling?) which was fantastic...they have a wine/cheese tasing every evening and the most scrumptious breakfast every morning. And it's walking distance from town square in Healdesburg.

I would recommend Ridge (its in this building made of clay), Harvest Moon, J winery (they pair food with the wine for you for $12..soo good), Acacia (their marsh chardonnay is to die for, we always bring back 3-4 bottles of it..), Saintsbury, Preston (great picnic place)...those are the ones that come to mind that I really liked.

We visited so many over the last two trips and this time we carried back 2 and a half cases on the plane. No one said a thing :) I live in PA so we can't join any of the wine clubs nor can I even get stuff shipped to me (althought there are some loopholes with busines addresses).

As you can see we've been up an down the area, so you have to plan carefully as not to spread yourself thin and spend to much time driving...although in a rented convertible in the sunny weather makes it worth it.

HTH

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

thanks for the info, jj and shkitty! we just booked a suite at honor mansion in healdsburg- super pricey, but we decided to pamper ourselves for a night. why not, right? shkitty, are any of those wineries that you mentioned near healdsburg? since we'll only be up there for a short visit, we'll probably stick to that area. unless sonoma is close enough- does anyone know how long the drive between sonoma and healdsburg takes?

thanks!

janey831 · Kate Spade

oooooo....don't do anything i wouldnt doooooo

shkitty · Nine West

Yup, Ridge and J winery are definitely within a reasonable driving distance to Healdesburg (they are in opposite directions though). And for a little more adventure, Preston is northwest of Healdesburg (the drive is worth the trek). I would also suggest if you go to Preston find your way to the Oakville Grocery near the center of healdesburg to pick up some sandwhiches and picnic up there, it's really pretty outside, although not sure how cold it will be... I also think harvest Moon is close to there too, but I can't remember off hand..

As for the drive from Healdesburg to Sonoma, you either have to take 101 or back roads..While the backroads are fun and maybe you'd find a winery or two to stop at along the way, the drive down to sonoma is at least 45min-1hr. Going through or even around Santa Rosa is difficult, there always seems to be alot of traffic...

I got a free map and some info from www.wineroad.com of the Russian River Valley. It should be helpful...

sfcaligirl · Dooney & Bourke

thanks so much for all the info, shkitty! i can't wait to go up there.