Thursday, October 2, 2008

Sonoma Recommendations


We (i.e., me) are in the process of making reservations for our honeymoon in Napa Valley. Neither of us have been to Sonoma, but would like to check it out. Can anyone recommend any wineries or tours to check out. Here's our Napa agenda so far...


Wineries:
Cakebread (one of Andy's favorites)
Merryvale
Sterling (pretty)
Stag's Leap
Silver Oak (my favorite)


Tours:


Lunch Plans:
AuBerge de Soleil -- We'd so be having our wedding here if we were rich and having a destination wedding.


Dinner Reservations:
If we win the lottery with enough time to make reservations,
French Laundry is so being added to the list.
Bistro Jeanty
FlatIron Grill -- I'm iffy on this one based on the Yelp reviews.
Rutherford Grill (Dinner with Friends)

8 comments:

Karen said...

Hi Tina,
I’m originally from California (southern), currently stuck in Texas, and moving to Chicago in Jan.
I love Sonoma so much more than Napa. My recommendations include:
Hanna - one of my favorites. http://www.hannawinery.com/winery/tasting/.
Foppiano winery - Tasty http://www.foppiano.com/
The Sausal winery is charming, and if you have any gifts to purchase for cat lovers – this is the place. http://www.sausalwinery.com/
The Trentadue winery has tasty port. http://www.trentadue.com/winery/1
The Coppola Winery is interesting – but the wine not so good.
Also of note is Acacia winery (Carneros area)– good wine http://www2.acaciavineyard.com/en-us/flash.htm
Hope this helps!
PS – Cakebread is the bomb!

Unknown said...

Hi...what a great site! You have a lot of great wedding links on your blog! I've been on the search for them!! Congrats and goodluck with all your wedding plans!

Linda said...

I'll be interested to hear where you do and which restaurants you guys try. We're planning a trip to Napa in a couple of years.

Tara Vorhes said...

I LOVE Sonoma (much more than Napa)... I would move there in a heartbeat. Here are the places that we liked the most (but even just driving around on the quiet country roads you will stumble upon such cute ones):

- Preston Winery (pack a picnic lunch for this place!) www.prestonofdrycreek.com
- Trentadue Winery
www.trentadue.com
- Bella Winery
www.bellawinery.com

Dinner
River's End Restaurant in Jenner
ilovesunsets.com

Have Fun!!!

devon lorraine ... said...

tina! i used to live in n. california. you might want to try
Bouchon; it is the sister restaurant to french laundry (same chef!) and you don't have to get on the waiting list three years in advance!!
6534 Washington St.
Yountville
707/944-8037
www.frenchlaundry.com/bouchon/bouchon.htm


mustards grill is a good pick, as are bistro jeanty or pere jaunty both. the rutherford grill is exactly like the restaurant Bandera, which they have here in chicago (i believe they are all part of the Houstons chain). might want to skip for that reason only. but the food is still good and excellent wine list - duh!

this is another good place; they use ingredients fresh from their garden:
Brix Restaurant
7377 St. Helena Hwy
Yountville
707-944-2749
www.brix.com
Seasonal California cuisine.
"Some of the best prepared food anywhere."

since you are going to be in sonoma, i highly recommend the girl and the fig. the patio is darling. and since it's california, it will probably still be warm enough!

The Girl & the Fig
110 W Spain St
Sonoma
(707) 938-3634
www.thegirlandthefig.com
Very popular restaurant now in the Sonoma Hotel. Was in Glenn Ellen. "Country food with a French passion." The fig salad is a consistent favorite.

part of the draw of wine country for me is just driving along and happening upon charming little boutique wineries ... a barrel tasting ... or any special tasting event. patrick and i have built great memories exploring. but everyone has their favorites, and you two will find your favorites, too.

mmm, i love cakebread. opus one is, expectedly so, a little stuffy. my $25 taste was really good though. there are some fun places along the silverado trail, just north of napa (try miner family vineyards - on the website you'll see a photo of a husband and wife. her name is emily, my friend's sister, and she is fighting an amazing battle against cancer ... or rombauer for some deep fruity zins or california-esque creamy chard with good oak ... or plumpjack ... or ...).

then up in sonoma, the russian river valley is really pretty.
we ventured to rochiolo and had an unexpectedly good time at a number of other nearby finds, like hop kiln and davis bynum (yumm pinot noir; tasting room in a damp woodsey structure). coppola opened up a tasting room in sonoma; MUCH quieter than the one in napa, less disney, more picnic table friendly. but i definitely suggest exploring off the beaten path! that's when we've been able to taste the most and spend time with the winemakers themselves (as opposed to the UC Davis viticulture grads that bigger wineries hire for their larger, impersonal tasting rooms).

i love how A New Leaf brides also seem to have an affinity for wine country.

Tracey said...

Hi Tina!

I agree with most of the recommendations here for Sonoma and Sonoma County. The Girl & the Fig is a great idea, also Maya's in Sonoma for mexican food. If you want to hike there's Jack London State Park in Glen Ellen. I also like Domaine Carneros http://www.domainecarneros.com//index.cfm
It's part of the Taittinger family and has some yummy champagne. It's just outside of Napa on the way to Sonoma. Niebaum-Coppola is now called Rubicon Estate, right? I can't wait to hear if you liked it - it looks beautiful but I have yet to go.

No matter what you choose, you'll enjoy it. You'll be surrounded by beautiful scenary with the man of your dreams - who could ask for more?

Pandesaldreamer said...

If you go to Bistro Jeanty, I highly recommend their tomato soup in a puff pastry. It's on their appetizer menu, but it's way more of an appetizer. For ony $7, you get pretty full just eating that. We also love Thomas Keller's newest restaurant, Ad Hoc. It's very casual and they change their menu everyday. Also, you may want to check out Redd which is in the same neighborhood as Ad Hoc and Bistro Jeanty.

We also love Silver Oak and Duckhorn wines. Looks like you guys have excellent taste! :)

kristina said...

go to bouchon. it is delicious and you'll have a teensy hint at what the FL is like.

and then definitely have breakfast at the bakery next door!

have an amazing time. i love napa.