Despite being a member of a fanbase comprised largely of dank beer and headies consumers, I figured I\'d give this thread a shot.
Living in one of the best wine-growing regions, I have taken many adventures in many of California\'s wine regions, and they can be found all over the state. I don\'t drink much wine, though an afternoon of tasting really gives me an appreciation of the many offerings at one\'s disposal.
Livermore Valley, right on the side of the Oakland Hills, is one of the best wine destinations. As it dwarfed by nearby wine counties of Napa and Sonoma, the crowds and traffic snarls are few and the vinters are very friendly/unpretentious. Another favorite reason to visit are the free samples offered by most of the vineyards with tasting rooms. Most of the wineries are clustered together within a few square miles, though there are a few nestled in the nearby hills (complete with vines growing up the steep hillsides).
My Livermore Valley pick: Fenestra Winery. With 20+ bottles lined up on a table, it\'s one of the tastiest free buzzes in the valley. For those with a low tolerance, drinking all 20+ of the free samples can make this place a one-stop wine destination. Additionally, good wines by the bottle start at a thrifty $9.
Napa and Sonoma: These counties sit alongside each other, and are a couple of the world\'s most famous wine epicenters. The local economy and scenery revolve completely around the industry. While touring the area, it seems there is nothing else to do other than drink wine and shop for gourmet food/cooking supplies. There are so many places to choose from, making pre-trip research a necessity to guide the tour. It\'s a really beautiful area to visit, though the drawbacks are crowds and the pretentious wineries with expensive wines and tasting fees. My friends and I talked a lot of
**** about all the wine
**** on our last trip there a few weekends ago.
Places to go:
Darioush: This place is a museum of-sorts, founded by a wealthy man who grew up in Iran\'s Shiraz region, a wine-growing region until the Islamic revolution. At $20 for a sample of 3 wines, we decided to skip the tasting here, and merely marveled at all the creative talent (hence $$) that went into the design. Almost all of the building materials (stone columns) were imported from the Middle East.
Del Dotto Caves: A really cool destination, housed entirely under ground. There is a system of wine caves where all the of the winemaking and storage barrels lie. Best offerings are the Port Shiraz and Port Cabernet Sauvignon. I picked up both, though the $75 each per bottle is a bit outrageous (but they\'re amazing) :biggrin: .
Chateau Boswell: By appointment only (meaning call ahead and see if you can drop in). Probably my favorite stop on "wine tour". The young dude running the show is unpretentious and knowledgable. Some amazing wines, particularly the buttery chardonnay and lineup of cabs. Production of most wines is limited to only a few hundred cases, allowing the utmost control of the craft.
