What To Do in Wine Country

What To Do in Wine Country

By Michelle Steinhaus
Financial Advisor, Branch Manager

When picturing my dream vacation, I imagine the beautiful rolling hills of California wine country, sprinkled with picturesque vineyards. As someone who enjoys the perfect glass of wine, for my 50th birthday I decided I wanted to see it for myself. Here are some lessons learned from my recent adventure through wine country.

Getting Around
The two airports most commonly used to travel to wine country are San Francisco (SFO) and Oakland (OAK). While OAK is closer to wine country, my friends and I opted for SFO because the flights were cheaper at the time. We rented a car at the airport, which is a necessity to explore all the area has to offer tourists and wine enthusiasts.

One of the best decisions we made in planning our trip was investing in a car service to courier us to and from all of our planned activities in the area. Because we didn’t have to concern ourselves with any of the travel logistics we were able to soak in the scenic countryside.

Where to Stay
There are several attractive options for accommodations in wine country, but it truly boils down to personal preference. We stayed in a beautiful house in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, which we booked through Airbnb. The location was perfect for our planned itinerary, the scenery was gorgeous and the house was exactly what we had hoped for. Having a comfortable place to relax and socialize together in the evenings after a long day of visiting vineyards was something we prioritized.

Vineyards to Visit
Although we stayed in Santa Rosa, we made stops all over wine country. My absolute favorite vineyards were Frank Family Vineyards, Grgich Hills Estate, and Saintsbury Winery.

We began our wine tasting adventures at Saintsbury Winery in the Napa-Carneros region. Saintsbury was the smallest winery we visited but it left a huge impact, from the amazing wine to the best sommelier we encountered on our trip. Everyone at Saintsbury treated us as if we were part of their family.

Next up was a visit to Grgich Hills Estate in St. Helena. We toured their facilities and enjoyed a wonderful food pairing with our tasting. I loved learning about their organic farming practices and trying their special Chardonnay in honor of the 100th Birthday of Miljenko “Mike” Grgich who is one of the founders of Grgich Hills.

My favorite vineyard was Frank Family Vineyards in Calistoga. The property was picturesque and the wine proved to be so enjoyable that I decided to join their wine club. I am so glad this winery visit was on our last full day because if it would have been our first stop, I may not have wanted to venture anywhere else.

Overall, I enjoyed the smaller winery experience much more than the bigger, commercial, experience. Some of the larger wineries such as Mumm Napa and J Vineyards were both very pleasant, but the experience felt very rushed. I preferred the more personalized experience and the hospitality shown to us by Frank Family Vineyards , Grgich Hills Estates and Saintsbury.

Plan Ahead
While we booked our house a few months in advance, we weren’t able to book any of our tastings or tours until 30 days out. Walk-in tours or tastings, including dinner reservations, aren’t typically permitted unless you are already a member of that winery. We went to Barndiva in Healdsburg for lunch and absolutely loved it. They grow all their own herbs and use them in their dishes and drinks. I recommend making dinner reservations in advance since things tend to book up pretty quickly in this region.

Aside from the winery visits and tastings, we also spent some time shopping in St. Helena and Healdsburg. I loved browsing through the many unique stores and small boutiques while walking around the quaint streets.

Overall, this was a fantastic trip. To all wine lovers, I cannot recommend a trip to wine country enough. If you’re thinking about going yourself, feel free to reach out to me for more suggestions as I have too many to include in this blog!

Michelle Steinhaus is the Branch Manager and a Financial Advisor at The Arlington Group Investment Consulting, LLC. An industry veteran, client partner, and holistic strategist, Michelle uses her years of experience to help provide innovative solutions to our clients and their families.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. The Arlington Group Investment Consulting, LLC is a separate entity from WFAFN.