Everything fabulous in California: restaurants, spas, things to do, resorts and more!
A jewel in the crown of the Golden State, Dry Creek – together with Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley – make up northern Sonoma county. There are between 80 and 100 wineries in Dry Creek, many with bucket-list tasting experiences for any oenophile.
While 30 varietals grow well in the region, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay put the Russian River Valley on the map. “There are more than 100 wineries in the Russian River Valley, and it accounts for about one-sixth of the total planted acreage in the entire county.”
Ram’s Gate Winery, which straddles the Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Valley and Carneros AVAs, is a marvel. The 21,000-sq.-ft. visual masterpiece is perched atop a majestic rolling hill and is the first winery those driving in from San Francisco will see off of Highway 121, making it an unofficial “Welcome to Sonoma” mile marker of sorts.
The song may go “red, red wine…” but across California vineyards, it is all about “green, green wine.” In honor of Earth Day on April 22, here are some impressive strides local vineyards have made as it relates to protecting and preserving the environment as well as 22 ultra-sippable bottles to buy so you can do your part in supporting sustainability.
By 1857, Agoston Haraszthy de Mokesa opened Sonoma’s first-ever winery: Buena Vista. The Hungarian poured every drop of knowledge and creativity into his vineyard, building grand stone structures on property as well as some of Sonoma’s first wine caves.
Santé is not only located in a mission – the award-winning Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, to be exact – the restaurant is on a mission to fuse the ample bounty of all of California with the culinary artistry of Sonoma County.
With spring sprung, what better time to talk about Flowers? Of course, in this instance, we are talking about Flowers Vineyard & Winery, though the semi-remote property in Healdsburg where the tasting room sits certainly has its share of actual blooms right along with bottles.
Carneros Resort & Spa, which is nestled in Napa Valley’s famed Los Carneros growing region, makes it all too easy to get lost in the romance of wine country.
Today, Sonoma Valley boasts more than 100 wineries as well as nationally acclaimed eateries, award-winning resorts, lush golf courses and so much more.
Lake Tahoe, which straddles the Nevada-California border, boasts 27 beaches, 15 ski resorts, hundreds of miles of trails and idyllic communities with fine dining and après-ski hotspots galore.