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Yes, we've been on several wine trips to Sonoma, Monterey/Carmel Valley, Paso Robles, Carneros, and Amador County. Some of these places we've benn to more than once.
By avoiding Napa and going "off-season" we had incredibly rich and unusual experiences: meeting and speaking with winemakers and winery owners one-on-one, being given behind the scenes winery tours at wineries where there are no tours, etc. We were driven through parts of Sonoma by the owner of the inn we stayed at in a 1925 Star Automobile! (I'd post a photo but I'm not on my laptop and that's where the photo is - so I can't upload to flickr and link to it. Sorry) ---- And this was all before I went into the wine industry. We also enjoyed grabbing meats, artisanal bread and locally-made cheese (as well as Sonoma apples) and picnicking at outdoor tables at te wineries taking in amazing vistas of rolling hills and vineyards, touring through orchid greenhouses, seeing the beaurtiful Russian River...and not being charged for the wine tastings (unlike Napa).
Visiting wine country is an unforgettable experience. We stayed in Bed & Breakfast inns, went antiquing, visited historical society museums and toured a California Pioneer Jewish Cemetery. We also shopped - Healdsburg in Sonoma has some very fancy, resort-type shops with items from Paris and Eastern Seaboard resort towns. The food was, naturally, fantastic. The people in wine country tend to be very friendly and welcoming.
If you're planning a trip do some research ahead of time. Your library, like mine may have books on wine and wine country and perhaps even some DVDs.
If your state allows it, have the winery ship any wine you purchase to you during a coller season. Also, don't purchase wines you can buy back home. Wines at the winery always cost a little extra BUT they sell wines you can't normally in addition to the usual fare. These are only sold at the winery or may also be sold to fine dining restaurants and collectors on their list only. So take advantage of these wines if you can buy some and have them shipped in the cooler months.
I've included some links for you. Obviously there are many Countries in California. As a wine educator I could speak to you about them but I prefer to speak from my own Mahaloian personal experience this time since that is what you requested.
By avoiding Napa and going "off-season" we had incredibly rich and unusual experiences: meeting and speaking with winemakers and winery owners one-on-one, being given behind the scenes winery tours at wineries where there are no tours, etc. We were driven through parts of Sonoma by the owner of the inn we stayed at in a 1925 Star Automobile! (I'd post a photo but I'm not on my laptop and that's where the photo is - so I can't upload to flickr and link to it. Sorry) ---- And this was all before I went into the wine industry. We also enjoyed grabbing meats, artisanal bread and locally-made cheese (as well as Sonoma apples) and picnicking at outdoor tables at te wineries taking in amazing vistas of rolling hills and vineyards, touring through orchid greenhouses, seeing the beaurtiful Russian River...and not being charged for the wine tastings (unlike Napa).
Visiting wine country is an unforgettable experience. We stayed in Bed & Breakfast inns, went antiquing, visited historical society museums and toured a California Pioneer Jewish Cemetery. We also shopped - Healdsburg in Sonoma has some very fancy, resort-type shops with items from Paris and Eastern Seaboard resort towns. The food was, naturally, fantastic. The people in wine country tend to be very friendly and welcoming.
If you're planning a trip do some research ahead of time. Your library, like mine may have books on wine and wine country and perhaps even some DVDs.
If your state allows it, have the winery ship any wine you purchase to you during a coller season. Also, don't purchase wines you can buy back home. Wines at the winery always cost a little extra BUT they sell wines you can't normally in addition to the usual fare. These are only sold at the winery or may also be sold to fine dining restaurants and collectors on their list only. So take advantage of these wines if you can buy some and have them shipped in the cooler months.
I've included some links for you. Obviously there are many Countries in California. As a wine educator I could speak to you about them but I prefer to speak from my own Mahaloian personal experience this time since that is what you requested.
source(s):
Professional and personl experience
Yes, we've been on several wine trips to Sonoma, Monterey/Carmel Valley, Paso Robles, Carneros, and Amador County. Some of these places we've benn to more than once.
By avoiding Napa and going "off-season" we had incredibly rich and unusual experiences: meeting and speaking with winemakers and winery owners one-on-one, being given behind the scenes winery tours at wineries where there are no tours, etc. We were driventhrough parts of Sonoma by the owner of the inn we stayed at in a 1925 Star Automobile! (I'd post a photo but I'm not on my laptop and that's where the photo is - so I can't upload to flickr and link to it. Sorry) ---- And this was all before I went into the wine industry. We also enjoyed grabbing meats, artisanal bread and locally-made cheese (as well as Sonoma apples) and picnicking at outdoor tables at te wineries taking in amazing vistas of rolling hills and vineyards, touring through orchid greenhouses, seeing the beaurtiful Russian River...and not being charged for the wine tastings (unlike Napa).
Visiting wine country is an unforgettable experience. We stayed in Bed & Breakfast inns, went antiquing, visited historical society museums and toured a California Pioneer (Jewish) Cemetery. We also shopped - Healdsburg in Sonoma has some very fancy, resort-type shops with items from Paris and Eastern Seaboard resort towns. The food was, naturally, fantastic. The people in wine country tend to be very friendly and welcoming.
If you're planning a trip do some research ahead of time. Your library, like mine may have books on wine and wine country and perhaps even some DVDs.
If your state allows it, have the winery ship any wine you purchase to you during a coller season. Also, don't purchase wines you can buy back home. Wines at the winery always cost a little extra BUT they sell wines you can't normally in addition to the usual fare. These are only sold at the winery or may also be sold to fine dining restaurants and collectors on their list only. So take advantage of these wines if you can buy some and have them shipped in the cooler months.
Yes, we've been on several wine trips to Sonoma, Monterey/Carmel Valley, Paso Robles, Carneros, and Amador County. Some of these places we've benn to more than once.
By avoiding Napa and going "off-season" we had incredibly rich and unusual experiences: meeting and speaking with winemakers and winery owners one-on-one, being given behind the scenes winery tours at wineries where there are no tours, etc. We were driventhrough parts of Sonoma by the owner of the inn we stayed at in a 1925 Star Automobile! (I'd post a photo but I'm not on my laptop and that's where the photo is - so I can't upload to flickr and link to it. Sorry) ---- And this was all before I went into the wine industry. We also enjoyed grabbing meats, artisanal bread and locally-made cheese (as well as Sonoma apples) and picnicking at outdoor tables at te wineries taking in amazing vistas of rolling hills and vineyards, touring through orchid greenhouses, seeing the beaurtiful Russian River...and not being charged for the wine tastings (unlike Napa).
Visiting wine country is an unforgettable experience. We stayed in Bed & Breakfast inns, went antiquing, visited historical society museums and toured a California Pioneer (Jewish) Cemetery. We also shopped - Healdsburg in Sonoma has some very fancy, resort-type shops with items from Paris and Eastern Seaboard resort towns. The food was, naturally, fantastic. The people in wine country tend to be very friendly and welcoming.
If you're planning a trip do some research ahead of time. Your library, like mine may have books on wine and wine country and perhaps even some DVDs.
If your state allows it, have the winery ship any wine you purchase to you during a coller season. Also, don't purchase wines you can buy back home. Wines at the winery always cost a little extra BUT they sell wines you can't normally in addition to the usual fare. These are only sold at the winery or may also be sold to fine dining restaurants and collectors on their list only. So take advantage of these wines if you can buy some and have them shipped in the cooler months.
http://www.sonomavalley.com/
http://www.russianrivertravel.com/wineries/index.htm
http://www.wineroad.com/
http://www.healdsburg.com/
http://www.amadorwine.com/new/pages/home.cgi
http://www.touramador.com/wineries/
http://www.montereywines.org/
http://www.montereywines.org/wineries_main.php
http://www.monterey-carmel.com/carmel_valley_wineries.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32737-i159-k711096-Carmel_valley_wine...
http://www.calwineries.com/explore/regions/monterey-county/santa-lucia-high...
http://www.pasowine.com/
http://www.wineriesofpasorobles.com/
Professional and personl experience
Yes, we've been on several wine trips to Sonoma, Monterey/Carmel Valley, Paso Robles, Carneros, and Amador County. Some of these places we've benn to more than once.
By avoiding Napa and going "off-season" we had incredibly rich and unusual experiences: meeting and speaking with winemakers and winery owners one-on-one, being given behind the scenes winery tours at wineries where there are no tours, etc. We were driventhrough parts of Sonoma by the owner of the inn we stayed at in a 1925 Star Automobile! (I'd post a photo but I'm not on my laptop and that's where the photo is - so I can't upload to flickr and link to it. Sorry) ---- And this was all before I went into the wine industry. We also enjoyed grabbing meats, artisanal bread and locally-made cheese (as well as Sonoma apples) and picnicking at outdoor tables at te wineries taking in amazing vistas of rolling hills and vineyards, touring through orchid greenhouses, seeing the beaurtiful Russian River...and not being charged for the wine tastings (unlike Napa).
Visiting wine country is an unforgettable experience. We stayed in Bed & Breakfast inns, went antiquing, visited historical society museums and toured a California Pioneer (Jewish) Cemetery. We also shopped - Healdsburg in Sonoma has some very fancy, resort-type shops with items from Paris and Eastern Seaboard resort towns. The food was, naturally, fantastic. The people in wine country tend to be very friendly and welcoming.
If you're planning a trip do some research ahead of time. Your library, like mine may have books on wine and wine country and perhaps even some DVDs.
If your state allows it, have the winery ship any wine you purchase to you during a coller season. Also, don't purchase wines you can buy back home. Wines at the winery always cost a little extra BUT they sell wines you can't normally in addition to the usual fare. These are only sold at the winery or may also be sold to fine dining restaurants and collectors on their list only. So take advantage of these wines if you can buy some and have them shipped in the cooler months.
Yes, we've been on several wine trips to Sonoma, Monterey/Carmel Valley, Paso Robles, Carneros, and Amador County. Some of these places we've benn to more than once.
By avoiding Napa and going "off-season" we had incredibly rich and unusual experiences: meeting and speaking with winemakers and winery owners one-on-one, being given behind the scenes winery tours at wineries where there are no tours, etc. We were driventhrough parts of Sonoma by the owner of the inn we stayed at in a 1925 Star Automobile! (I'd post a photo but I'm not on my laptop and that's where the photo is - so I can't upload to flickr and link to it. Sorry) ---- And this was all before I went into the wine industry. We also enjoyed grabbing meats, artisanal bread and locally-made cheese (as well as Sonoma apples) and picnicking at outdoor tables at te wineries taking in amazing vistas of rolling hills and vineyards, touring through orchid greenhouses, seeing the beaurtiful Russian River...and not being charged for the wine tastings (unlike Napa).
Visiting wine country is an unforgettable experience. We stayed in Bed & Breakfast inns, went antiquing, visited historical society museums and toured a California Pioneer (Jewish) Cemetery. We also shopped - Healdsburg in Sonoma has some very fancy, resort-type shops with items from Paris and Eastern Seaboard resort towns. The food was, naturally, fantastic. The people in wine country tend to be very friendly and welcoming.
If you're planning a trip do some research ahead of time. Your library, like mine may have books on wine and wine country and perhaps even some DVDs.
If your state allows it, have the winery ship any wine you purchase to you during a coller season. Also, don't purchase wines you can buy back home. Wines at the winery always cost a little extra BUT they sell wines you can't normally in addition to the usual fare. These are only sold at the winery or may also be sold to fine dining restaurants and collectors on their list only. So take advantage of these wines if you can buy some and have them shipped in the cooler months.
http://www.sonomavalley.com/
http://www.russianrivertravel.com/wineries/index.htm
http://www.wineroad.com/
http://www.healdsburg.com/
http://www.amadorwine.com/new/pages/home.cgi
http://www.touramador.com/wineries/
http://www.montereywines.org/
http://www.montereywines.org/wineries_main.php
http://www.monterey-carmel.com/carmel_valley_wineries.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g32737-i159-k711096-Carmel_valley_wine...
http://www.calwineries.com/explore/regions/monterey-county/santa-lucia-high...
http://www.pasowine.com/
http://www.wineriesofpasorobles.com/
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always great information...thanks!
Best place is in OPorto (Portugal). Where you can drink the world famous Port Wine, Douro wines, Douro Muscat and Sparkling.
Also you can visit the the vines as well doing the crops.
Ruby Style
Are wines in which the winemaker looks to restrain the evolution of their deep red colour and maintain the fruit and strength of a young wine. This is the type of wine that you will find in the following categories, in ascending order of quality: Ruby, Reserve, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) and Vintage. The finest category wines, especially Vintage, followed by LBV, are good for storing as they age well in bottle. We particularly recommend LBV and Vintage.
Tawny Style
Are obtained from lots of different wines that have aged for different lengths of time in casks or in vats. With age, the colour of the wines slowly develops into tawny, medium tawny or light tawny, with a bouquet of dried fruits and wood; the older the wine, the stronger these aromas. The present categories in this style are: Tawny, Tawny Reserve, Tawny with an Indication of Age (10, 20, 30 and 40 years old) and Colheita. These are blends of wines from several years, except for Colheitas, wines of a single year that are similar to an aged Tawny of the same age. These wines are ready to drink when they are bottled. We particularly recommended a Tawny with an Indication of Age and Colheita.
White Port
Varies in style according to whether it has aged for a shorter or longer period of time, and different degrees of sweetness according to the manner by which it is made. In addition to the traditional White Ports, there now are other wines with a floral and complex aroma and a minimum alcohol content of 16.5% (Light Dry White Port) capable of meeting the demand for less alcoholic Ports.
The next link will provide enought info to came to Portugal
http://www.ivp.pt/index.asp?idioma=1&;
Also you can visit the the vines as well doing the crops.
Ruby Style
Are wines in which the winemaker looks to restrain the evolution of their deep red colour and maintain the fruit and strength of a young wine. This is the type of wine that you will find in the following categories, in ascending order of quality: Ruby, Reserve, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) and Vintage. The finest category wines, especially Vintage, followed by LBV, are good for storing as they age well in bottle. We particularly recommend LBV and Vintage.
Tawny Style
Are obtained from lots of different wines that have aged for different lengths of time in casks or in vats. With age, the colour of the wines slowly develops into tawny, medium tawny or light tawny, with a bouquet of dried fruits and wood; the older the wine, the stronger these aromas. The present categories in this style are: Tawny, Tawny Reserve, Tawny with an Indication of Age (10, 20, 30 and 40 years old) and Colheita. These are blends of wines from several years, except for Colheitas, wines of a single year that are similar to an aged Tawny of the same age. These wines are ready to drink when they are bottled. We particularly recommended a Tawny with an Indication of Age and Colheita.
White Port
Varies in style according to whether it has aged for a shorter or longer period of time, and different degrees of sweetness according to the manner by which it is made. In addition to the traditional White Ports, there now are other wines with a floral and complex aroma and a minimum alcohol content of 16.5% (Light Dry White Port) capable of meeting the demand for less alcoholic Ports.
The next link will provide enought info to came to Portugal
http://www.ivp.pt/index.asp?idioma=1&;
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