Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [240]
Château St. Jean ★ Château St. Jean is notable for its exceptionally beautiful buildings, expansive landscaped grounds, gourmet market–like tasting room, and tasty wines. Among California wineries, it’s a pioneer in vineyard designation—the procedure of making wine from, and naming it for, a single vineyard. A private drive takes you to what was once a 250-acre country retreat built in 1920; a well-manicured lawn overlooking the meticulously maintained vineyards is now a picnic area, complete with a fountain and picnic tables.
In the huge tasting room—with a charcuterie shop and housewares for sale—you can sample Château St. Jean’s bounty, from chardonnays and cabernet sauvignon to fumé blanc, merlot, Johannesburg Riesling, and Gewürztraminer. Tastings are $10 per person, $20 per person for reserve wines.
8555 Sonoma Hwy. (Calif. 12), Kenwood. 800/543-7572 or 707/833-4134. www.chateaustjean.com. Tasting daily 10am–4:30pm. At the foot of Sugarloaf Ridge, just north of Kenwood and east of Hwy. 12.
St. Francis Winery Although St. Francis Winery makes commendable chardonnay, zinfandel, and cabernet sauvignon, they’re best known for their highly coveted merlot. In fact, winemaker Tom Mackey, a former high-school English teacher from San Francisco, has been hailed as the “Master of Merlot” by Wine Spectator for his uncanny ability to craft the finest merlot in California.
Tastings at the chic tasting room are $10 per person for a choice of five wines from a selection of nationally known brands and wines only available at the winery. For $30 you can try their wine and food pairing which includes a flight of four wines paired with seasonal hors d’oeuvres. Now that St. Francis is planning more special activities, it’s worthwhile to call or check their website for their calendar of events.
100 Pythian Rd. (Calif. 12/Sonoma Hwy.), Santa Rosa (at the Kenwood border). 800/543-7713, ext. 242, or 707/833-4666. www.stfranciswinery.com. Daily 10am–5pm.
St. Francis.
Landmark Vineyards One of California’s oldest exclusively chardonnay estates was first founded in 1972 in the Windsor area of Northern Sonoma County. When new housing development started encroaching on the winery’s territory, proprietor Damaris Deere W. Ethridge (great-great-granddaughter of John Deere, the tractor baron) moved her operation to Northern Sonoma Valley in 1990. The winery, which produces 27,000 cases annually, is housed in a modest, mission-style building set on 11 acres of vineyards. The tasting room offers $5-to-$15 samples of current releases and pours reserve tastings for $10. (Notice the wall-to-wall mural behind the tasting counter painted by noted Sonoma County artist Claudia Wagar.) Wine prices range from $28 for the Overlook chardonnay to $65 for a reserve pinot noir.
The winery has a pond-side picnic area, as well as what is probably the only professional bocce court in the valley (yes, you can play, and yes, they provide instructions). Also available from Memorial Day to Labor Day are free Belgian horse–drawn wagon tours through the vineyards, offered every Saturday from 1 to 4pm.
101 Adobe Canyon Rd. (just east of Hwy. 12), Kenwood. 800/452-6365 or 707/833-1144. www.landmarkwine.com. Daily 10am–4:30pm. Tours available by appointment.
Where to Stay in Sonoma Valley
The biggest choice you need to make when considering where to shack up is whether to stay in downtown Sonoma, which allows for easy access to its walkable shopping and dining square, or anywhere else in the valley, which promises more rural small-town surroundings and guaranteed time in the car to get to any activities. Regardless, you’re destined to spend time behind the wheel, as the wineries and attractions are scattered. Keep in mind that during the peak season and on weekends, most B&Bs and hotels require a minimum 2-night stay. Of course, that’s assuming you can find a vacancy; make reservations as far in advance as possible. If you are having trouble finding a room, call the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau ( 866/996-1090 or 707/996-1090; www.sonomavalley.com). The staff