wine country lovin’
Planning a visit to Wine Country and need recommendations about where to eat and drink? This is probably the number two most asked question I receive on the blog, second only to what is my real natural hair color. To save you that email, the answer is blond. Happy now?
As for Northern California, here’s a list I came up with some of my favorite places. This will be expanded upon in the very near future! Click on each restaurant’s name and you will find my review and sufficient food porn. You’re welcome.
Best wine tour around
Platypus wine tours. I went went on one of their tours the day after my Century bike ride and it was one of the best decisions of my entire life. It’s $80 for the day and includes lunch, snack and transportation to about seven wineries.
Great wineries to check out:
Kendall-Jackson food and wine center (do the food and wine pairing and garden tour!)
Iron Horse Winery
Kokomo
Arrowood
Bella
Matanzas Creek
Michel Schlumberger
Gary Ferrell
Quivera
Passalacqua
Lynmar Estates
Sonoma County restaurants:
Girl and the Fig (sonoma)
Zin (healdsburg)
Zazu (Santa Rosa)
Scopa (healdsburg)
p-30 (Sebastopol)
Island Deli (Botega Bay)
Rocker Oysterfeller’s (Valley Ford)
Rosso (Santa Rosa)
Dry Creek Kitchen (Healdsburg)
Cyrus (Healdsburg)
Diavola (Geyserville)
Peter Lowell’s (Sebastopol)
The Estate (Sonoma)
Nick’s Cove (Tomales Bay)
Stark’s Steakhouse (Santa Rosa)
Stellina (Point Reyes Station)
Sea Thai Bistro (Santa Rosa)
Smokehouse BBQ (Sebastopol)
Restaurants in San Francisco:
Sunrise Deli (yummy falafel!)
Poggio (Sausalito)
Cibo (actually this is in Sausalito but it’s delicious so I wanted to add it, too)
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I stumbled onto your blog from Pinterest and was happy to find this post. I’m planning a trip to San Fran and Napa this July and I’ve asked several people these very questions. Thanks for the tips.
Hi! I have tried some of your restaurant recommendations and have never been disappointed! We are visiting Santa Cruz next month and I wondered if you have any suggestions for that area?
You know, I’ve actually never been to Santa Cruz! I’ve been camping in the Santa Cruz mountains, but never have been to the actual town of Santa Cruz…I’m sorry I can’t be more help!
Sadly I stumbled on this after our trip out in June. We had a great time but I would have loved to have tried a couple of these.
Some time ago, you listed a few of your travel suggestions and I am not able to find it anywhere now. You had info about a cute bed and breakfast somewhere – maybe Monterey or ?? I think you said it was a great price and one you recommended. Can you please tell me more? Thank you!
I just wanted to let you know how excited I am to find this blog! I also am from the South, love cooking, love yoga, & enjoy the delicious battle between my simultaneous urges for making baked goods & healthy eats! I will be moving to Nothern California in February & was just researching great places to celebrate & eat. Thanks so much!
Hi Jenna, awesome blog! I live in Napa, and have been mulling over a food processor purchase for some time…glad to know you don’t have one so I’ll keep things going with my KA and crummy blender
I’ll be sure to take heed of your restuarant pics…definitely a few on there I haven’t heard of. Keep up the good work!
Went to plant cafe and LOVED it!! Amazing veggie burger, wow.
Hey Jenna! I am loving this post! So, question about the wine tour you did with platypus…do you get to pick the wineries you go to? There are a few I have my eye on so I’m wondering if we should do a tour…and then plan to go to the extras on our own. Have you heard anything about the wine train???
Do you have any recommendations for a yummy brunch place in SF by chance?? I’m flying in this weekend for New Year’s!
Platypus really is the best wine tour ever! My now-husband and I went on one of their tours in Napa in the summer of 2010, and it was an amazing experience. So glad you also like and recommend it!
we LOVE the wine country, and vacation there every summer (and as many more times as we can throughout the year
). thank you for these recommendations!
Have you ever been to Bread & Cocoa? When we visited San Francisco we LOVED it for a low key casual breakfast. Wonderful chai lattes, you really must try it if you’ve never been!
So excited to read this! My best friend is in her final course at LCB and I love the creations she comes up with so I can’t wait to try yours, thanks for sharing. My hubby and friends are going to Napa for a week May 19-26. Definitely look into the platypus tour. We’ve been to Cakebread, loved it, Ato Z, Chandon, Clos du Bois and Acacia, least fave. Any new recommendations?
Plan to visit NC early June. I’ll be near Goldsboro so I figured I will look up the locations you’ve listed to see which ones are along the way or nearby. Thanks again!
Hey! So a gf and I are going to be traveling to San Diego here in a few weeks.. Any chance you have good finds in that area? I figured “hey its in cali – worth a shot??” right?? I so ENJOY your site and admire the Women of God you are!