| If you have a passion for biodynamic wine, | | | | year (around 10am to 4pm), the best time to visit |
| farm-fresh food and miles of toasted-oat hills, come | | | | these valleys is spring, or still better fall. Visitors |
| to the California Wine Country. Northern California is | | | | should plan to visit only three to four wineries a day, |
| the place where some fascinating winery-laden | | | | as tastings usually take in four to six different types |
| valleys are located. Most popular are Napa and | | | | of wines and vary from free to US $ 25. There is a |
| Sonoma, but Dry Creek, Russian River and Alexander | | | | great variety of wines, many of them organic or |
| Valleys are also very famous. The Maya camas | | | | biodynamic. Napa Valley specializes in cabernets and |
| Mountains divide Napa and Sonoma Valleys, and the | | | | meritage, while Sonoma Valley is known for syrah |
| way between the two is narrow. The most | | | | and zinfandel. Dry Creek's famous varieties are |
| picturesque way is tree-lined Trinity Oaks between | | | | Sauvignon Blanc, syrah and sangiovese. Russian |
| highways 29 and 12. | | | | River's specialty is pinot noir and Alexander Valley has |
| Napa Valley is jam-packed with wineries and five-star | | | | zinfandel and chardonnay. |
| restaurants. It is the hub of the area. The best way | | | | Though most of the wineries are clustered near small |
| to reach there is to go down the Silverado Trail | | | | towns, it is very difficult to find an affordable place |
| instead of Hwy 29. Sonoma is sloppier and stretched, | | | | to stay, especially in summer and fall. There are many |
| even though Hwy 12 is not the most appealing drive | | | | alternatives, but if all options fail, Vallejo is the best |
| as it can also get backed up. Beautiful Dry Creek is | | | | place. It is about 20 minutes from downtown Napa |
| the best option for biking between tasting and rural | | | | with many cheap chain motels off the highway, or |
| West Dry Creek Rd is a good stake. Russian River is | | | | Santa Rosa to the north. Farm-to-table cuisine, diners, |
| the favorite of local people. It is full of wineries all | | | | or anything else, food is no problem here. One can |
| along Westside Rd and canoeing in summer and fall. | | | | enjoy nightlife going to the small-town bars with |
| Alexander is the calmest valley, having an Old West | | | | microbrews and early closing hours. Visiting these |
| aura and red wines. | | | | fascinating winery-laden valleys is a wonderful |
| Though tasting rooms remain open throughout the | | | | experience. |