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Road trip California part 3 – vineyards at Sonoma!

3 October 2013

Road trip West Coast California: Sonoma (part 3 of 4)

Road trip California: These 2 days are all about wine, wine and wine…

Missed part 2? You can read it here.

Wineries I’m coming!

At 8am we leave for Sonoma. We’re so excited!!! On the way from Cambria to Paso Robles (at around 2/3) we pass a lot of beautiful vineyards with some of them having nice terraces. If you have time, then go visit one or two.

We make a quick stop at Gilroy Outlets. There are many outlets in this area.
Result? One hour. 3 pairs of jeans. Levi’s. 7 For All Mankind. Total amount: 120 dollars. Not bad!

Sonoma: too much wine, too little time

These 2 days we’re staying at the America’s Best Value Inn. All hotels in Healdsburg, Sonoma are so luxurious and expensive, but this one is a good choice.
We have reserved a table at Scopa for dinner, so before that we drink some wine at one of the tasting rooms in the small center.
If you’re here go and eat at Scopa. The people are friendly, the food is really good and the prices are decent. No wonder we had to wait until 9.30pm to get a table…

The next morning we rent a bike at Wine Country Bikes.
It’s 11 ‘o clock, the sun is shining and we’re ready for some wine tasting! Now don’t think that this is the type of bike riding we do in Amsterdam or New York. This is some serious “tour-de-france” hill climbing. One and a half hour and a sore ass later we arrive at the first one of our list Ferrari Carano. So beautiful. Upstairs they have a tasting room, but we head down to the cellar where they serve their reservas. When you do something, you gotta do it right. :)
Ferrari Carano Winery

Next winery on our list is Bella Vineyards. The tasting room is in a cave, but you can also take your glass of wine outside and enjoy the magnificent view at the same time. And so we did. Remember to bring some lunch (sourdough french baguettes and fig tarts from Downtown Bakery & Creamery Breads!).
Bella Vineyards
Too bad we don’t have time to visit Unti Vineyards and Preston of Dry Creek. The other two vineyards simply took too much of our time.

After bringing back the bikes we’re having some drinks at the Spoon bar. This is a cool decorated half indoor, half outdoor bar in the center of Healdsburg. If you’re in Healdsburg, you will want to have a few drinks at this bar. And a bloody mary can taste great at any time of the day! ;)
Spoon bar

This evening we’re having dinner at Barndiva. Wow, this is a nice and romantic place (outside rather than inside). And the food? Lobster risotto with garlic foam and fennel pollen Just perfect.
Barndiva

The next morning we have breakfast at the Dry Creek General Store. I want those cutting boards. Way too expensive though… :(
Dry Creek General Store

Before heading back to San Francisco we decide to do just one last tasting. We almost order a case (expensive!) but we decide to buy just 3 bottles of wine. Hopefully there’s still enough room in our backpacks. Later I find out that it’s cheaper to order the exact same bottles online. Well I guess the experience is worth a lot…
Dry Creek Vineyard

We definitely want more of this. We promise each other that when we’re back in the Netherlands our first weekend trip will be to the wineries in either France (champaign!!!) or Germany. Must be great as well… And just a couple of hours away!

Next and last stop: San Francisco!

You can read the last part here »
PS: more hotspots are in the New York Little Black Book. A city guide to New York with the best restaurants, shops and things to do. Every week I will post new adventures on Your Little Black Book so stay tuned for the latest gems I spotted!

This is B.!

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a 30 something in New York? Follow the weekly diary of Bianca! A girl from Amsterdam living as an expat in New York. In her personal diary B. tells you all about her latest hotspot discoveries, shopping adventures and events not to miss.

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