AboutWilliam Conde Expertise I wish to serve as a sort of guide to the North Bay area, with extensive experience in Sonoma County proper, and abilities to help with more general questions regarding the Marin and Napa County areas. For questions regarding what the area is like, what to bring, where to stay, etc., I'm eager and capable to help bring forth solutions to your regional queries.
Please note that while I can suggest many wineries to visit in the area, there are so many to choose from that I wouldn't be able to answer questions about each and every one. I can also suggest non-winery-related sights to see and locales to visit, depending on whatever sort of vacation, business trip, or other excursion you may have in mind.
Also, I am not a wine expert (I don't drink alcohol), so please don't ask me specific questions about such-and-such labels of wine.
Experience I have lived in the Sonoma County region for 10 years and wish to help others understand and appreciate the unique experience that is being part of this area. I am goal-oriented and love to help "fill in the gaps," so to speak, of the plans and ideas of those who are considering visiting this beautiful region.
Education/Credentials Licensed Pharmacy Technician; B.S. degree in Chemistry (Biochemistry Emphasis).
I have an out of town visitor who would one day like to own a vineyard. So, of course, a tour of the wine country would seem like the appropriate activity to suggest for his short time here. I don't drink and I don't want to be around a lot of alcohol. Is there any tours that focus on the horticultural aspects of the wine business? He is interested in the vineyards themselves more than the product. Any suggestions? We will be coming on Jan 26. Thank you. Joanne Danville, CA
ANSWER: Hello, Joanne!
You have a valid point, and off the top of my head I'm not sure that I know of any places that have expressly and widely advertised a non-alcoholic vineyard tour, so to speak. Robert Mondavi Windery, for example, has a guided tour of the winery and workings, but ends in an "educational" wine tasting; Beringer, similarly, appears to be about half-tour, half-tasting. I suspect that if you called ahead to certain vineyards--or at least the smaller ones, at any rate--you could probably schedule such a tour, though it might not be free of charge.
Also, you may be interested in contacting the Santa Rosa Junior College's Agriculture Department, as the school maintains a few viticulture classes and likely has a vineyard somewhere that is generally used for educational purposes. (The college's website is www.santarosa.edu .)
However, beyond that, I'm sorry to say that I don't know for certain. Again, your chances are best if you work with a small vineyard, as these are likely independently owned, and the people in Sonoma County tend to be pretty friendly, so I can imagine that small vintners are likely to be happy to show you how they do things.
My apologies for not having a more thorough solution on hand for you. If you would like my assistance in coming up with other alcohol-free activities in the Wine Country during your visitor's stay, please feel free to let me know--we have plenty of other options to offer!
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QUESTION: Thanks for the reply. What other activities do you suggest? We only have 1 day and evening.
Joanne
Answer Hello again!
Part of my recommendation will depend on what part of the area you'll be visiting; if you're coming from Danville, I imagine the closer destination will be Napa County, as opposed to Sonoma County. In the Napa area, you should definitely make a point of visiting St. Helena, which is home to all manner of relaxed shopping and beautiful architecture, plus extremely nice restaurants in all manners of cuisines while still maintaining a pleasant small-town feel. While in the area, you should also visit the Castello di Amorosa, which is an Italian-style castle located just north of St. Helena--between it and Calistoga.
For lunch, I'd heartily recommend Pizzeria Tra Vigne, towards the south side of St. Helena, if you're in the mood for Italian; if south of the border is more your taste, Armadillo's, also located on Main St., will definitely serve up the flavor. Or, for something quick but still intensely high-quality, drop by the 50's-drive-in-style Taylor's Refresher, across the street from Tra Vigne.
After that, I'd suggest you also visit Calistoga and get at least a look (if not perhaps a soak?) at the mineral springs in the area. Calistoga is famous for its geothermal properties, and as such the hot springs and mud baths are plentiful and well-recommended.
Alternatively, you may decide to take a quick jaunt over or around the foothills to visit Sonoma County. To the far west lies the Pacific Coast, and if the weather is nice on the day of the trip, you can get a look at the rugged shores and grab a quick bite to eat in one of the coastal towns (I recommend Bodega and Jenner, myself). For something a little less windy, the Armstrong Redwoods make a great destination for peace and beauty amongst the gigantic trees. Or, you could see if the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa is having a performance--the space is beautiful and often is home to some classic shows.
For an even more laid-back experience, you can try one of the towns on the Russian River, which are rustic and full of delightful flavor. Guerneville is unforgettably campy, while Forestville is quiet and serene, and Sebastopol is just populated enough to keep things interesting without getting that overgrown urban feeling.
I can probably come up with more ideas, but in order to do so effectively, I'll need to know what other kinds of experiences you'd like to get out of your trip. Let me know if there's anything else I can do to assist you and your friend in preparation for your visit!
