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Featured Winery: Roche Winery & Vineyards. During your travels to the Sonoma wine country how would you like to visit a bucolic, family-owned winery with views of beautiful Sonoma Valley and rows of estate vineyards climbing up the golden slopes of the adjoining hills?
ST Helena Wineries. St.
Helena, known by many as Napa Valley’s Main Street, is an idyllic, charming wine producing community boasting world-class St. Helena wineries, restaurants, and high-end boutiques. It features 19th century Victorian architecture and lovely, tree-lined streets, making it ideal for a romantic weekend getaway. Holidays in Napa Valley This Year. While 2020 has not been the best year for everyone, there is still time to salvage the remaining days by engaging in some year-end holiday fun and excitement in wine country California-style.
Breaking away to enjoy the fresh air, sights, and flavors of the region can be the perfect distraction needed from the recent events. Calistoga Wineries. The northernmost town in the Napa Valley, Calistoga is known for old-west charm, unique wines, natural geothermal hot springs and down-home hospitality.
On our wine tours, we visit wineries in Calistoga frequently. It is a favorite among our tour guests! Calistoga wines offer distinctive flavors produced from diverse soil types and geology. Volcanic activity formed the bedrock eons ago, and today we get the chance to enjoy the resulting fine wines of the area.
Exploring through Calistoga wineries is a genuine treat, and we particularly love to tour through the area’s historic, and boutique, family-owned wineries. The modern history Calistoga dates back to the mid-1800s, when the region’s natural hot springs attracted attention and inspired Sam Brannon to build a resort town modeled on Saratoga Springs, NY. Wine Tasting in Napa CA. Tasting fees at the wineries are not included and are charged extra by the wineries, compensating them for the wine they pour for guests.
These fees typically run about $15 per person, per winery. Some tasting fees can be higher in the region, but Platypus works hard to cultivate relationships with our winery partners in order to keep the fees at an average of $15 per person, per winery. Because of our partnerships, almost any of the wineries on our Join-In Tours will often waive a tasting fee with a bottle purchase or wine club membership. You are not required to taste at the wineries, or pay tasting fees for wineries at which you do not taste. There are a couple of wineries that are exceptions to this rule, so if this is your intention, be sure to consult your driver. Visiting the Napa Valley and Sonoma Wine Country in the Off Season. A late fall and early winter trip to Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries can be the perfect escape from the crowded conditions of urban life.
The weather is cool and comfortable for any outdoor activity while the number of visitors tends to be smaller this time of year. You will find wineries and other businesses more accommodating when not having to manage a larger influx of visitors. During the current pandemic, you will note that businesses in the region will be practicing safe distancing and exercising strict safety protocols. ST Helena Wineries. ST Helena Wineries. What are some Napa Valley Harvest Traditions? Harvest season in wine country is a time to celebrate the fruits of nature.
Teams at many of the Napa wineries and Sonoma wineries breathe a collective sigh of relief following months of early mornings and endless nights for some young training interns. The effort is made possible by the common community spirit and supportive loved ones who during this time may work on opposite schedules. The sweat and struggle leads to an inevitable finale celebrated in different ways depending on tradition. Toasting to and Blessing of the Grapes Champagne is almost always guaranteed to mark the beginning and end of a busy couple of months. Communal Dining While communal dining this year may take a different form due to social distancing measures, a common tradition is to gather together and break bread over a laden table. Take a Private Wine Tour Through Napa Valley. Travel inspires us all.
Imagining the world and nature that awaits beyond the four walls nourishes our mind in a unique way. If you’re nearby in Northern California, we want you to know that your outdoor oasis is never far away. WHAT IS FOOD PAIRING? WHY DO IT? Posted on July 28, 2020 Quarantine and shelter in place regulations definitely have us learning new hobbies and leisure-time activities during this time.
Some of these new found interests can include exercise, writing, painting, cooking and of course maybe sipping on some delicious wine while you are in the kitchen. With many people now having more time on their hands while working from home and with restaurants closed for dine in, there has definitely been an increase for cooking at home. To take your cooking experience to the next level why not enhancing the food by trying a wine pairing. RECIPE: SUMMER SALMON CAKES. Posted on June 12, 2020 Summer is here and which means it’s all about seafood and white wine.
As the weather continues to warm up, we’re bringing you the perfect recipe for a light lunch on a sunny patio, or romantic dinner under the stars. And of course, these salmon cakes pair perfectly with a lovely California white wine or even a lightly chilled Pinot Noir. TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes 12-16 oz salmon fillets¼ cup bell pepper, diced small¼ cup scallions, minced¼ cup fine bread crumbs2 tbsp mayonnaise1 tsp mustard of your choice1 tbsp fresh tarragon or dill, stems removed, finely choppedSalt and pepper to tasteOlive oil for cooking For the salmon, remove skin and bones if present. Try this at home and let us know what you think. Best Napa Valley Tours. $110 per person. Platypi Guide Steve: Cultivated Top 10 List.
Kelly Burgess On Fires and Wine. Auction Napa Valley. Napa is heating up with May bringing National Wine Day on May 25th followed by BottleRock music festival that same weekend. But what’s the event that has everyone buzzing? Auction Napa Valley.