Author Fodor's Napa and Sonoma
Coauthor The California Directory of Fine Wineries
I cover wineries, sights to see, activities, restaurants, and hotels in Napa, Sonoma, and beyond.
Inland Mendocino County town entices with easy-going hospitality and varied experiences. Let’s get the logistics out of the way first: a half-hour drive from Healdsburg and a 90-minute […]
Hop Up to Hopland for Leisurely Wine Tasting and Striking Views Read More »
Best-of-the-best Pinot Noir blend a star in youth and a decade old. Sometimes a single bottle tells you everything you need to know about a winery and its
Freeman Vineyard and Winery Read More »
Sebastopol winery’s dry-farmed Hallberg Ranch ranks among Sonoma County’s elite Pinot Noir vineyards. Riggs Lokka, the vineyard manager at Emeritus Vineyards, descended into a soil pit at the winery’s
Emeritus Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years Read More »
Chardonnays prove ageworthy in retrospective Napa Valley wine tasting. Who says California Chardonnays can’t age? A June 2024 retrospective Chardonnay tasting at Trefethen Family Vineyards proved they can,
Trefethen Family Vineyards Read More »
Longtime winemaker Nicole Marchesi teams up with consultant Thomas River Brown on a new luxury Napa Valley wine. Such a pleasure last month to meet Beth Nickel of
Far Niente Unveils Benson Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Read More »
Napa Valley winery’s guests enjoy museum-quality art while sipping high-scoring Cabernets. With its landscaped grounds, museum-quality art, and glass-walled tasting room, HALL St. Helena captivates with equal parts glamour
Dinner alfresco at The Dalya Estate hit all the right notes as May 4th’s early downpour gave way to bright afternoon skies and a vivid sunset. A few
Mascarin Wines Launch at Dalya Estate Read More »
The best Calistoga restaurants – fine dining, comfort food, breakfast, and specialties. No need to wade through thousands of user reviews to find Calistoga’s top stops for a
Calistoga Restaurants Cheat Sheet Read More »
10th anniversary of Sonoma County Vintners event showcases exclusive Chardonnays, Pinots, Cabernets, and other wines. Sonoma County Vintners members presented their “one-of-a-kind” / “never before, never again” special
Sonoma County Barrel Auction 2024 Highlights Read More »
Iconic winery’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ages slowly in American oak. Celebrated Silver Oak releases only two wines each year, both primarily Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes for the