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A Day in Wine Country for Two

Here in San Francisco we love our local wines and in late summer there is nothing we enjoy more than leisurely day trips to our wine country – home to some of the best wine producers in the world all eager to share their latest creations with us. There is just one small problem with our wine country… where to start? There are so many different areas: the Russian River, Napa, Sonoma, Oakville, Yountville… with so many amazing wineries: Caymus, Arrowood, Duck Horn.

Then there is making a dining selection when you have some of the finest chefs in the country/world at your finger tips… everything sounds amazing… Thomas Keller alone has three fantastic restaurants.

Yes it seems overwhelming, but if you focus on one area at a time it makes it pretty easy. Here is one of our favorites to get you started…

Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville day for two

10:00am, Start your day off at Caymus with a few of their nationally acclaimed wines in their classy tasting room. It isn’t every day you get to start your day with big bold 90+ point Cabernet Sauvignon, right?  If you like any of their special reserve stuff get it there; otherwise, you can usually find their standard wines at SF wine stores like K&L cheaper.

11:30am, Have an early picnic lunch to counteract the high alcohol wines you just tried and get yourself on track for an early dinner. From Caymus the closest place to grab a 4-star picnic is Dean & Deluca… they have a fantastic selection of meats, cheeses, bread, olives, and fruit to make the perfect picnic for two… don’t forget to have them slice your bread.
Your next stop is Chappellet so get in your car and start heading that way. On your way there find a place along the shore of Lake Hennessy for a leisurely water-front picnic.

2:00pm, Time for the tour and tasting at Chappellet… they have an integrated tour and tasting, offering a great balance of sipping and strolling… during your tasting you can expect to sample a wide variety of top-tier wines while taking in a uniquely architectured winery with amazing secluded grounds.

4:00pm, Make your way to Yountville for a 6:00pm dinner. If you can get there before they close stop in at Honig for a quick tasting.  If not just continue to Yountville and stroll around the cute town for an hour or so as you build up your appetite for dinner at one of their fantastic world-class eateries.

6:00pm, Time for an early dinner. Of course, you really can’t go wrong with any of the restaurants in Yountville, but after the unique day you just had you will find the delicate California fusion/New American dining at Redd to be quite the complementary choice. Their combination of flavors are quite subtle and balanced, yet fun… share a few dishes so you can take in their entire gamut of flavors, and be sure to try their glazed pork belly, lobster risotto and of course anything they are doing with duck.

So, this summer weotta take the time to indulge, relax, and get up to our wine country.