It’s autumn and that means Grape Harvest! Take a timeshare rental vacation to northern California’s amazing Wine Country – now is the time to go – in September and October. The days are warm, the nights are crisp, the vineyards are beautiful in orange and gold, and the grapes are plump and inviting.
To help you get your itinerary started here are 4 Top California Wine Country towns and their local wineries suggested by Frommers:
1. Napa. Nestled along the Napa River, this is one of the best known and most popular stops in the Napa Valley area. Enjoy a visit to the Napa Mill, a historic building dating back to the 1880s. Be sure to check out the mosaic fountain depicting scenes from Napa’s colorful history. The Main Street Bridge over the Napa River is the oldest stone bridge in the state of California.
Nearby Wineries – Clos du Val is French-owned and known for its cabernet and pinot. Besides a rustic tasting room there’s a rose garden, picnic areas, and a petanque court (a popular French sport). Darioush was founded by an Iranian from the Shiraz region whose ancient Persian city lent inspiration to the winery’s Greco architecture.
2. Sonoma. The town’s crowning jewel is the plaza’s Mission San Francisco Solano (also called Sonoma Mission), Mexico’s last and northernmost outpost in the string of missions that starts in San Diego.
Nearby Wineries – The cavernous tasting room of the Gundlach Bunschu winery rocks with lively music, and you can take a tour into the caves and vineyard. Family-owned Ravenswood winery, famous for its bold zinfandels, offers barrel-tasting in the cellar.
3. Petaluma. This historic town sits along the Petaluma River, a tidal estuary from San Pablo Bay. Its well-preserved city center includes many buildings that survived the 1906 earthquake in neighboring San Francisco.
Nearby Wineries – The Keller Estate is the area’s most prominent winery and is considered one of the most beautiful wineries in the state of California. The family-owned property displays a commitment to art and architecture just as strong as its devotion to good wine, especially its pinot. The Lagunitas Brewing Co. is also popular, especially its “TapRoom and Beer Sanctuary,” where generous pours are free.
4. Mendocino. A gorgeous scenic drive of wind-swept coastal views will get you to this charming town with historic architecture and lovely antique shops. One of the most popular activities here is riding the Skunk Train, an old-fashioned steam-powered train that traverses a circa-1885 railroad track through ancient groves of redwoods.
Nearby Wineries – The popular Navarro Vineyards serves up gewürztraminer, pinot noir, and chardonnay. During Navarro’s one-hour vineyard tour you might see a chicken tractor or babydoll sheep. Breggo is another popular spot, known for its outstanding pinot gris.
You can find affordable timeshare rentals in the Napa Valley, or plan to stay in a budget-friendly San Francisco timeshare rental less than an hour away.
Read the Frommers article in its entirety.
Photo Credit (Napa): destination360.com
Photo Credit (Sonoma): housenumbers.ca
Photo Credit (Petaluma): frommers.com
Photo Credit (Mendocino): frommers.com