GREAT AMERICAN ESCAPE: DECADENCE BY THE GLASS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

It's always the right time for a trip to the world famous Napa and Sonoma Wine Country in northern California.

Located only an hour and a half north of San Francisco, it's an easy escape for a romantic weekend getaway or a more leisurely extended West Coast vacation. Rolling hills covered with miles of grape vines, all in perfectly manicured rows, fill the landscape. Spectacular wineries built to impress in all different styles and sizes invite visitors to sample the best the wine makers have to offer. Gourmet restaurants tempt you at each turn to find the perfect food to pair with the wines you most enjoyed.

The possibilities for an oenophile-pleasing itinerary are endless, but we've got some insider tips to help make your trip extraordinary, well rounded - and give you bragging rights when you return home.

For a truly unique tasting experience visit Del Dotto Winery and take a candle-lit tour of the second-oldest cave in Napa, where nature ages barrels of wine in the perfect climate and humidity. The privately guided tour teaches visitors about the different methods used to create some of the most delicious boutique wines in Napa, emphasizing how different wood choices and barrel-making techniques impact a wine's final flavor. But the highlight of the tour is tasting the wine right out of the barrel.

Another can't-miss boutique winery in Napa is Darioush. This elegant Persian-style winery is built to reflect its owner's heritage and his desire to produce only the highest quality wine. Try the wine and cheese pairing, which begins with a tour of the vineyard highlighting the different grapes used. The pairing is presented in a private dining room where multiple wines are paired with different local cheeses and freshly baked breads.

One of my favorite spots and perhaps the best value in wine country is the food and wine pairing at Sonoma's Kendall Jackson Winery. Seven wines ranging from whites to reds to dessert wines are presented along with edible matches, including appetizers through sweet surprises. The local chef personally presents each food selection and explains how they are designed to bring out the unique flavors and bouquets of each of the wines. The winery also boasts a beautiful garden perfect for a romantic stroll.

If you're partial to bubbly you'll want to schedule a stop at Domaine Carneros. Sip sparkling wine while sitting outside a spectacular French-style chateau with panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards. Can you think of a more perfect way to end a day in Napa?

A day filled with vineyards should be followed by an outstanding meal. Some of the best dining in America is here. The highest concentration of gourmet restaurants can be found in Yountville. There are many terrific options, including acclaimed chef Michael Chiarello's Bottega. This Italian restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating designed to create a fun and elegant atmosphere. The menu offers an overwhelming array of spectacular choices and of course an extensive wine list. Some of my favorites include the unique beet salad with blue cheese and pistachios, the melt-in-your-mouth ricotta gnocchi, and the over-the-top wood grilled porterhouse with truffle-parmiggiano fries. Remember to save room for dessert. But forget the calories and simply enjoy.

- Dr. Jeffrey Klugman

(For more savvy travel info, pick up the latest issue of travelgirl magazine or visit www.travelgirlinc.com.)

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@