ABINGDON ON THAMES – November 10, 2023.

Every time I visit San Francisco I also take time out to escape for a day to the picturesque landscapes of Sonoma and Napa Valley where unforgettable wine tasting experiences abound. I like nothing better than Immersing myself in the region’s renowned vineyards whilst uncovering the rich flavours of the local wines.

I’ll cut straight to the chase here and say there’s three ways to discover the vineyards of Sonoma and Napa Valley, most of which lie an hours drive to the East of San Francisco. And if you choose to drive, well then there’s the added bonus of being able to go across the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was back in November 2015 when I took my first trip to wine country and it was part of an organised trip on a coach from San Francisco. It was expensive (Over $120 plus tasting fees) and yes there was the obligatory stop at the Golden Gate Bridge for pictures followed by tasting at five wineries starting at 09:30, but what that trip did was set me up for the future in discovering wine and wineries I liked. If like me you’re a solo traveller than this is for you and avoids the dreaded ‘Drink & Drive’ Scenario.

What that trip did do was give me the inspiration to revisit some of those wineries again on future trips merely to pick up wine I had already tasted and to stock up my cellar at home! If you know what you want and like and are prepared to do some research prior to arrival then this is the trip for you. This is a cheaper option as last time I did this in January 2023 car hire was around $50 for the day. And of course if there’s more than one of you, then the other members of your group can still enjoy wine tasting!

At this point it is worth pointing out that many vineyards charge for tasting with prices starting as low as $12. For that you get to sample four or five wines. In terms of vineyards, these are my three go to wineries all of which are within a mile of each other.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards was founded in 2005 by Fred and Nancy Cline as an homage to Fred’s grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi, who invented the namesake spa pump.

The winery is located on a 18,000-square-foot Tuscan-style property that was modelled on the Jacuzzi family’s ancestral home in Italy.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards offers a variety of Italian style wines, including Teroldego, Barbera, Moscato, Arneis, and Pinot Grigio.

The winery also offers a variety of wine tasting experiences, including a Wine & Food Pairing experience and a Vineyard Views experience.

Cline Family Cellars.

Cline Family Cellars is a family-owned and operated winery located in Sonoma, California. They specialize in Zinfandels, Rhône-style wines, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
Here are some of the wines that they offer:

• Seven Ranchlands Chardonnay
• J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon
• Seven Ranchlands Pinot Gris
• Seven Ranchlands Gewürztraminer
• Seven Ranchlands Sauvignon Blanc
• Seven Ranchlands Marsanne Roussanne
• Grenache Gris
• Mourvedre Rose
• Seven Ranchlands Pinot Noir
• Seven Ranchlands Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cashmere Red
• Cashmere Black
• Ancient Vines Zinfandel
• Ancient Vines Carignane
• Ancient Vines Mourvedre
• Fog Swept Pinot Noir
• Eight Spur Zinfandel
• Rock Carved Cabernet Sauvignon
• Late Harvest Mourvèdre
• Bridgehead Zinfandel

They also offer a variety of wine tasting experiences, including a Wine & Food Pairing experience and a Vineyard Views experience.

Larson Family Vineyard/

• Larson Family Winery is a family-owned and operated winery in the Carneros region of Sonoma County. The winery was founded in 1997 by the Larson family.
• Larson Family Winery is known for their Pinot Noir wines.
• The winery also offers a variety of other wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Larson Family Winery is committed to sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices.

Here are some of the wines that they offer:

• Pinot Noir
• Sparkling Brut
• Sparkling Rosé

They also offer a variety of wine tasting experiences, including a Vineyard View Experience.

And finally the third way to go wine tasting in Sonoma and Napa Valley was a recent discovery from September 2023. As mentioned and as a solo traveller I cannot ‘Drink & Drive’ which lead me to think was there anywhere closer to San Francisco and accessible via public transport to taste wine. After a lot of research I discovered Bacchus & Venus, a wine tasting room in Sausalito. This coastal town is nestled under the East side of the Golden Gate Bridge so is an easy Uber ride from San Francisco or in my case I took took the ferry from San Francisco to Sausalito which takes around 40 minutes.

Bacchus & Venus.

Bacchus & Venus is a chic wine retailer offering a tasting room & an art gallery displaying regionally themed works. It costs $20 per tasting for which you get four wines.

• “Great selection of California wines and a knowledgeable staff who can help you find the perfect bottle.”
• “The tasting room is a great place to try new wines and learn about different regions.”
• “The art gallery is a nice bonus, and the views of the San Francisco Bay are amazing.“

If you are looking for a great place to buy wine or learn more about California wines, I highly recommend Bacchus & Venus as I brought three bottles of one – of a – kind Californian wine after tasting.

So there you have it. Happy tasting and feel free to reach out with any questions.