A winery in California's wine country (Photo: sonoma and napa valley, california image by Chee-Onn Leong from Fotolia.com )
Although regions throughout California grow grapes and produce wine, the wine country of Northern California is renowned for its remarkable wines. This region consists of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and parts of Lake counties. An incredible range of varietals are grown in these four counties, and wine styles vary widely as well, from fruit-forward, jammy wines to earthy, funk-filled wines in the style of the Old World. California wine country is relatively easy to get to from around the state, and many people take a weekend to enjoy its wines.
The easiest way to taste wines in wine country is to visit public tasting rooms. In most of the region these will be specific to a single winery, but in some cities, such as Napa, there might be cooperatives in which four or five smaller wineries pour their wines. Tasting fees vary based on the region: In Napa Valley they might be high, while in most of Mendocino County tastings are free or at a nominal fee. Every tasting room has its own personality, and finding a tasting room that fits your desires – casual or elegant, many varietals or one focus, winemaker-operated or streamlined – will help make your trip much more enjoyable.
There are more than a hundred grape varietals grown in wine country, with wineries producing something for nearly everyone. From pinot noir and chardonnay to charbono and tocai friulano, the wines represented in the four counties draw from French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Eastern European varietals. Napa County is known primarily for its cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, pinot noir, zinfandel, chardonnay, and sauvignon blanc. Sonoma County is known primarily for its sauvignon blanc, zinfandel, cool-climate pinot noir, and chardonnay. Mendocino County is best known for its zinfandel, pinot noir, syrah, riesling, and gewürztraminer.
Traveling on the weekend can mean large crowds, which in turn can mean long waits at tasting rooms, or busy tasting room staff without time to connect with you. Tasting early in the day, around 10 a.m., when most tasting rooms open, can help you beat the crowds. Choosing weekends immediately following a long weekend can also minimize the traffic. In some areas, there is a natural direction – for example, in Napa County, people tend to travel from south to north on the wine route, as the majority are coming from the Bay Area. By beginning at the opposite end of a wine region and working your way back, you often can avoid the worst of the crowds.
In addition to wine, wine country is home to many restaurants, ranging from Michelin-rated establishments like the French Laundry in Yountville and Cyrus in Healdsburg to more rustic eateries. These restaurants often can be an excellent way to continue tasting the best wines the region has to offer, as they generally feature extensive wine lists with a focus on local bottles. Some restaurants will even waive their corkage fee if you bring in a bottle you bought while tasting that day.
Getting around wine country requires some planning, since wine tasting is involved. The easiest way to travel is to have a designated driver who can bring everyone from tasting room to tasting room. Alternately, there are wine tour services that operate in all of the counties in wine country, which will bring you around to the various wineries. In Napa there is even a wine train, which will take you by a handful of wineries found near the tracks.