April is a great time to visit wine country, with Spring in full swing and the vineyards coming to life with new growth. While wine tasting is certainly a highlight of any trip to wine country, there are plenty of other fun things to do in April besides sipping vino. Easter is April 9th, and Easter Brunch is always fun in wine country. Spring break is here, so bring the kids to wine country. Many fun things to do in the month of April in wine country Napa Valley ballooning and other fun stuff Here are some ideas for a memorable trip to wine country in April: Take a hot air balloon ride: There ..read more

Fermenting stainless steel tanks Why Visit a Working Winery? What do we mean by a working winery? A working winery is where all the winemaking actions take place. From bud break to harvest, to fermentation and aging; you can see it all at a working winery. Take a vineyard walk Walking in a winery’s vineyards can be a memorable experience that allows you to connect with the land, the wine, and the people who make it. It can deepen your appreciation for wine and enhance your understanding of where wine begins. The winery will also have a tasting room where visitors can taste the wine and food-pa ..read more

Lovely Old Vine Zinfandel Old Vine Zinfandel For zealots of Zinfandel, there are plenty of vineyards and wineries in California where you can see old vine Zinfandel vines and taste old vine Zinfandel wines. Zinfandel vines in many areas of California date back to over 100 years ago. They are still thriving and producing complex wines. Old-Vine Zinfandel – Forchini in Dry Creek How old is Old Vine Zinfandel? There is no legal definition of Old Vine Zinfandel. We have many Zinfandel Vineyards that are over 100 years old. There is a standard agreement among Vintners of Zinfandel that any vines 50 ..read more

One of the most interesting wine country regions on the world of wine is the Russian River Valley. The Russian River Valley is the land of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other cool climate grape varieties. If you like these type of wines, you must visit the Russian River Valley. In less than an hours drive from the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge, you will be in some of the most beautiful wine country. About the Russian River Valley AVA View from the Westside of the Russian River Valley Before we make suggestions for wineries to visit, let us talk about the characteristics of the region. There ar ..read more

City Park in Downtown Paso Robles – Great wine country Once a cowboy and cowgirl town, Paso Robles is now a wine country destination for wine lovers and tourists. More than 200 wineries and eleven Wine AVA’s await the traveler. In this article, we focus on what we call the Big Three Wineries in Paso Robles Paso Robles Big Three Wineries If you love visiting the elegant and elaborate wineries of the Napa Valley, the Paso Robles Big Three wineries will certainly be equally as great as an experience in Napa Valley. The Big Three each produce fantastic wines and offer stupendous views and tastings ..read more

Maybe Lodi wine country? Where to go in California Wine Country in 2023 January is the time to plan your 2023 vacation to California wine country. So where should you go in wine country this year? We cover 14 different wine regions, and we are here to help with that decision. Here are things to consider when choosing your wine country region. What’s your budget? Look for the smaller wine regions for a $10 tasting You must figure transportation costs, restaurants, lodging, and wine tasting in your budget. Those are the main expenses, but also calculate expenses for buying some wine and shopping ..read more

  A spa in winter is ideal – in CalistogaSome very fun Things to do in wine country in January There are plenty of fun activities to do in January in wine country. Many tourists stay away from wine country in January, so all the better to travel to Napa Valley, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and more. There will be days of inclement weather, but then comes sunshine, clear air, and spectacular views. Even when the weather is not favorable, there are plenty of fun things to keep you happy and excited. Many lodging establishments offer lodging discounts during the off-season in wine country. Try call ..read more

Joe and Janelle in the Yakima Valley Washington Reds and Wine Country I recently received a sample of the 2019 Trothe Cabernet Sauvignon from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in the state of Washington. As soon as I tasted the wine, I instantly recalled the times we’d spent exploring the wine regions of Washington State. The Columbia Valley is the main wine appellation in Washington. It is composed of many sub-appellations, including the Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and Horse Heaven Hills. The Columbia Valley is spectacular in its beauty and as a wine-growing region. It is all about red wines and, i ..read more

The joy of Lake Union Seattle and the Olympic National Park If you like wine, food and nature, you will enjoy the activities of our dazzling six-day excursion in the Pacific Northwest.   Our Stay in Seattle For our three-night stay in Seattle, we chose the Seattle Courtyard Marriott at Lake Union. The hotel is 20 minutes from the SeaTac Airport. Beautiful Lake Union is all about seafood, boating, and seaplanes. The paths near the lake are a paradise for walkers, runners, and cyclists. The views are spectacular. The Marriot Courtyard Union Lake is also walking distance to the Sea ..read more

Yorkville Cellars Tasting Room – Highway 128 The new Yorkville Cellars Our last visit to the Yorkville area had been in 2019. COVID struck and we missed going through this area the past two years. We were quite surprised to learn that one of our favorite hidden wineries has new owners. Yorkville Cellars began in the 1980’s and, apparently, the original owners decided it was time to live the retired life. Not only did Yorkville Cellars get new owners, but also the tasting room has been completely refreshed. The structure has a new paint job, and the deck is newly decorated with comfortable seat ..read more