Although the region is clearly known for its wines, Napa and Sonoma are also home to some of the best eating in the country. Of course, great food goes best with great wine, and local chefs craft meals that allow you to truly appreciate the wine. Look for restaurants that feature locally-grown ingredients to truly appreciate what Napa and Sonoma have to offer. Fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat are all raised in the region, providing ample ingredients for creative chefs. Bouchon (bouchonbistro.com) and French Laundry (frenchlaundry.com) are two Napa restaurants with international renown, and Cyrus (cyrusrestaurant.com) in Sonoma has received two Michelin stars.
Touring wine country is ultimately about visiting the wineries themselves. Fodor's Travel Publications recommends Bartholomew Park (bartpark.com), Hess Collection (hesscollection.com) and Joseph Phelps (jpvwines.com) wineries. Shramsberg Winery (schramsberg.com), Domaine Chandon (chandon.com), Artesa vineyards (artesawinery.com) and Shafer Vineyards (schafervineyards.com) all get high ratings from Frommer's travel guides.
Sonoma also has several wineries that are a cut above the rest. These wineries are recommended to visitors based on the quality of the product as well as the quality of the tourist experience when visiting the winery. "Food & Wine" magazine recommends Hanzell Vineyards (hanzell.com), a pioneer in Chardonnay production techniques, and Gallo Family vineyards (gallo.com). At Gallo, the tour introduces guests to 10 different varieties of grapes before you get to try the wine paired with cheese from the region.
The primary tourist season is over if you visit in September. This means less traffic, less-crowded winery tours and hosts and winemakers who have more time to spend with you. Also, you get to witness the end of the year's hard work in the wineries. The colors of harvest are spectacular, as are the aromas, and some wineries have specialized harvest events for guests to attend.
