Wineries with a View

There is nothing better than enjoying a glass of wine overlooking a gorgeous vineyard this time of year. In every trip we have taken to Sonoma and Napa we try to balance the trip with some fantastic wines, along with wineries that have beautiful views. Here are a few of our favorite wineries for their views and ambiance.

Domaine Carneros

Domaine Carneros has one of my favorite views and ambiance in Napa and Sonoma. It is on CA-121 N , the road leading into Napa from San Francisco. We typically stop here on our first day as it is on the way into wine country. The winery itself is beautiful and looks like a french chateau. The views of the rolling vineyards surrounding the tasting room are even more breathtaking. They are open daily from 10 am- 5:30 pm and they do require reservations. We always make reservations for the terrace to enjoy the wine, fresh air and landscape. You will have table service. My advice is to plan to spend some time here and definitely snap a few pictures (or more). We first visited their winery back in 2013 and have been back numerous times. They are known for their sparkling wines and pinot noir. These are not typically my favorite varietals but they do such a good job with them and the experience is worth the stop.

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

This winery has not only gorgeous views, but a beautiful pool, cinema, dining, numerous tasting experiences and more. It’s worth a visit if you are looking for a non-conventional winery or just one with some additional flare. They allow short self-guided walks through the vineyard to explore and enjoy the views. The tasting room in Geyersville is open 11 AM to 6 PM daily.

Petroni Vineyards

We were lucky enough to visit this winery on one of our wine tours through Sonoma. The Estate is located at the top of a hill and has unbelievable views over the Valley of the Moon. It truly does remind you of an italian hillside with vines growing up the hills in all directions. Their tastings now take place in a wine cave. Petroni is open from 10 AM to 4 PM, but reservations are required. The drive to the top of the mountain is windy and narrow, but worth the trip. In addition to the ambiance they have some big bold red wines, Proprietors Reserve was my favorite.

Ferrari- Carano Vineyards and Winery

This winery is picturesque and very well groomed. The grounds are kept in pristine condition and it is a great place to stop and enjoy a glass of wine. There are two tasting rooms, one on the main floor and another in the underground cellar. Limited release wines are served in the cellar. In addition there is a terrace that overlooks the gardens and grounds, if it’s a nice day that is where I would be. Ferrari- Carano is open 10 AM to 5 PM daily. If you stay at Vintner’s Inn mentioned in my previous post about where to stay in Sonoma and Napa, you will receive a free tasting.

Viansa Sonoma Winery & Tasting Room

Viansa has a great view and terrace. Plan to stop here on your way into Sonoma and Napa or on your way out. They have an expansive terrace with several tables to enjoy the views and even some areas reserved for private tastings. In addition they have two large bars on each end of the tasting room. In the middle they have a large selection of souvenirs and wine paraphernalia. They also have a marketplace where you can buy food, cheese and charcuterie boards to enjoy a picnic inside or outside on the terrace. My favorite wines are their Reserves. They are located on CA-121 N which you can take in from Sausalito or San Francisco. They are open 10 AM to 5 PM. This is another great place to snap some beautiful pictures. There are several rows of vines where you can get pictures of the grapes up close or just a good look at them. We first visited this winery in 2012 and almost every trip we have made back to wine country we have stopped back in.

Paradise Ridge Winery

This winery has two tasting rooms. One is in Kenwood and the other is in Russian River Valley. Unfortunately the tasting room in Russian River Valley was burned by the terrible fires in 2017. They are currently rebuilding the tasting room and are slated to have it open in November 2019. When they re-open this location it is definitely a winery and view I would not miss. The views from the terrace are breathtaking over the vineyards and you can even see the ocean in the distance. The experience of sitting on their terrace overlooking the vineyards is not one I will soon forget. There is also a large steel sculpture of the word LOVE that is located below the winery, which is another great photo opportunity. We have been to both locations over the years and their wine is fantastic if you like that big bold delicious red. In the meantime stop by their Kenwood location open from 11 am-6 pm, their wine is well worth it. We love their Rockpile Cabernet.

Ridge Vineyards

This winery was recommended on our last trip to wine country. We were staying in Healdsburg and asked the concierge for suggestions of nearby wineries known for their reds. They had suggested Ridge Vineyards, which is located in Healdsburg. They have a nice tasting room with a covered outdoor terrace that overlooks their vines. The view is gorgeous! Be prepared to enjoy some good reds, beautiful views and definitely snap a picture or two too! They are known for their Monte Bello, which was made famous from the Judgement of Paris. We enjoyed their Zinfandels. Ridge is open 11 AM-4 PM (Monday-Thursday) and 11 AM-5 PM (Friday-Sunday). They also have a location in the Santa Cruz Mountains, their Monte Bello Estate.

Please note, I did not receive any compensation, gifts or royalties from these vineyards to write this post. As always these reviews are based on my own unbiased opinion.

Hotel Gem in Mill Valley

Enjoy the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, but truly desire the tranquility of the Sausalito area with views of the bay?  Consider Mill Valley, just a short drive away.

In the 8 trips we have taken to Northern California it is always a debate on where to stay.  While some trips we have stayed in both San Francisco and Sausalito there are trips where you want to combine both of the cities into one segment so you can see other parts of beautiful California.

We have stayed in Sausalito a few times and have loved our time there, but not the price tag of the location.  There are few hotel options here, which helps drive the price tag up.  As an alternative there are many places that are a short drive from Sausalito, one being Mill Valley.

While we have considered staying in Mill Valley a few times, we always decided we didn’t want the extra hassle of driving into Sausalito.  If only we knew what we had been missing out on!  This trip we made the decision to stay at the Acqua Hotel in Mill Valley and it is not to be missed!  We booked the first two days of our vacation here and loved it so much that we returned for the last night of our trip.  Who wouldn’t love this view, right?

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from balcony
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from balcony

Acqua Hotel

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Front of hotel
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Front of hotel

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Lobby
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Lobby

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Lobby
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Lobby

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Back of hotel
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Back of hotel

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- View of hotel rooms
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- View of hotel rooms

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Outside
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Outside

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Enclosed space with firepits
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Enclosed space with fire pits

The view from the back of the hotel was just beautiful and so serene.

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Outside
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Outside patio view

Complimentary Breakfast

The hotel provides complimentary breakfast and everyone in our party agreed it was the best we had on our trip.  Each of the 3 hotels we stayed at offered a complimentary breakfast.  The breakfast was served on the second floor.  You could sit at one of the many tables inside, or you could bring your breakfast on the patio outside on the first or second level.  There was also an all glass enclosed area on the 2nd floor that had gas fireplaces. You could enjoy the beautiful views while staying warm when the wind picks up, which we all know that bay breeze can be chilly!

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Scrambled eggs, sausages and veggie frittata)
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Scrambled eggs, sausages and veggie frittata)

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Bagels, breads, pastries)
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Bagels, breads, pastries)

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Cereals)
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Cereals)

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Waffle maker)
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Waffle maker)

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (hard boiled eggs and yogurts)
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (hard boiled eggs and yogurts)

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Toppings for oatmeal)
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast (Toppings for oatmeal)

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary breakfast

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Breakfast Area
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Breakfast Area

Complimentary Wine and Cheese

There was wine and cheese served at 5 pm which was looked forward to every day.  One wine they served I am told was truly amazing and rivaled if not beat the taste of several wineries we visited this trip.

We were lucky to have stayed during some beautiful weather and one night we enjoyed the wine, crackers and cheese on the patio outside.  The other nights we enjoyed them in the glass enclosed area on the second floor, with the fireplaces turned on.  We were able to watch the sunset and thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful water views from here.  Surprisingly the heat retention in the enclosed area was great!

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary wine and cheese reception
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary wine and cheese reception

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from tables outside at wine and cheese hour
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from tables outside at wine and cheese hour

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Wine and cheese hour by the firepits
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Wine and cheese hour by the firepits

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from enclosed space with firepits
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from enclosed space with firepits

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from 2nd level of hotel
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from 2nd level of hotel

Complimentary Fresh Baked Cookies

At 7 pm warm cookies were served in the lobby, which were delicious and something we always looked forward to.

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary cookies in evening
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Complimentary cookies in evening

Junior Suite Fireplace

We reserved a Junior Suite Fireplace which is located on the 3rd floor.  The king bed was very comfortable.  There was a small living area in the room which we used to store our luggage.

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from room
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from room

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from balcony
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- View from balcony

The bathroom was spacious and had a tub and a separate walk-in shower.  There were dispensers in the shower containing shampoo, conditioner and body wash.  I enjoyed this as you didn’t have to try to squeeze out the last bits of shampoo from the small bottles typically provided, but you could use as much as you wanted.

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite

Aqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite
Acqua Hotel Mill Valley- Junior fireplace suite

Sausalito is less than a 10 minute drive from the hotel.  You can easily enjoy either the beautiful seaside town or take the ferry across to San Francisco.  You are also only about a 20-30 minute drive to Muir Woods.

Both Guadalupe and Judy, the sales manager provided amazing customer service and made our stay absolutely perfect!  This stay was part of our anniversary trip and they sure went out of their way to make it special with a bottle of wine and some  delicious chocolates.

We would definitely return and we are  sad we didn’t find this gem sooner!

 

What wine tour should I take through Sonoma and Napa?

Dreaming of a tour through Sonoma and Napa….  There is nothing like the smell of freshly crushed grapes, the view of beautiful rolling vineyards, the swirling of a bright cherry red wine and the wonderful taste you can seemingly only create while visiting a vineyard.

Sonoma and Napa have been through a lot recently with terrible wildfires that raged through vineyards causing many to evacuate and some to lose their homes, belongings, businesses and vineyards.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been impacted by the devastating wildfires.  Many people have had to cancel or postpone their trips to wine country, but now that the smoke has cleared it is time to plan your trip to Sonoma and Napa!  My husband and I have been to Napa and Sonoma several times experiencing each season in wine country.   Every season brings something different to the region, but in my opinion fall is the most beautiful time of year to visit.

Iconic sign in Napa Valley
Iconic sign in Napa Valley

A wine tour through Sonoma or Napa is a great way to experience wine country.  It not only provides a safe way to visit each winery, but also allows you to visit wineries you most likely have never heard of.  We have taken a group wine tour while staying in San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma and Santa Rosa.  Typically where you stay will dictate where you can take a tour to.  I have listed the tour companies we have used to offer you a few suggestions. By no means is this a comprehensive or exhaustive list of all available tour companies.  We have only taken group tours, but these companies offer private tours too.   Continue reading “What wine tour should I take through Sonoma and Napa?”

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