Five Perfect Days in California Wine Country

If there is one thing I really like to do when I travel is discover new wines...and go to Napa Valley, California. I'm such a novice at it and I follow this blog for wine novices to learn all the good stuff. But recently I was told about this great article from Conde Nast Traveler about spending so much needed time in California Wine Country.

I love Napa Valley and all it has to offer, so if you are looking to take a well deserved trip to wine Country then below is a great article for just the right occasion for you. I know I will use this article as a reference for my next visit to Napa. In fact...I think I might have to take a balloon ride over Napa. Wouldn't that be fun?

Click HERE for the article.

Here's a small preview of the article...

The Challenge

You've got less than a week to see Napa Valley, California's most famous farm country. But where to start among the roughly 450 wineries? Although the first commercial Napa grapes were planted by George Yount in 1838, it wasn't until 1976 that the region's winemakers earned international respect by beating true French Bordeaux and Burgundies in a blind tasting. Furthermore, you'll likely be sharing the 30-mile-long, 5-mile-wide valley with more than a few oenophiles: The more than 5 million annual visitors make Napa the state's second most popular tourist destination (after Disneyland). In the peak summer months, this means crowds running five deep at the most popular tasting bars, and one-lane highways choked with traffic. Even if you go in the off-season, don't plan on leaving things to serendipity: Many of the best wineries are open by appointment only, so no one will be there to greet you if you arrive unannounced. Finally, the sequence of your itinerary can be as problematic as the content: Each wine tasting and meal has a different stylistic note, and combining them is like composing a symphony.

The Solution

What you need is a Wine Country Concierge—and that's where Jackie Richmond comes in (see "Top Travel Specialists," August 2007; or go to cntraveler.com/travelagentfinder). A 22-year resident of the valley, Richmond helped me orchestrate a Napa itinerary that would delight a first-time visitor as well as a valley veteran, and a wine neophtye as much as the owner of a thousand-bottle cellar....CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY.