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Northeastern folks may get to jump in piles of pretty leaves and dunk apple cider donuts around this time of year. Locally, we have pretty leaves at Wine Country harvest parties, alongside tasting rooms, gardens, and even barns that may offer Calgon-y “take me away from my mouse-laden Mission apartment” moments.
There is one added bonus to getting to the Wine Country in the fall: The later it gets in the calendar year, the easier it may be to get around on the roads now that punchdown of grapes from the oh-so-recent harvest has already happened. Hotels can also be cheaper, especially for those who can go mid-week. Less traffic and fewer folks probably give a more chillax feel as you taste and learn about the soil, climate, and people who create wine.
These wine country happenings are hot right now:
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B Cellars Vineyards & Tasting Room Fall Adventures
Region: Napa Valley
Price: starting at $45, depending on event and number of people
Where: 701 Oakville Cross Road, Oakville 94562
Rundown: It's a new location for this 11.5 acre property in an area famous for Cabernet Sauvignons. There's a winery, tasting salon and culinary gardens, signaling a move from former digs in Calistoga in late summer. The Oakville Winery Trek ($45) grants tastes and access to the culinary gardens and wine caves followed by a tasting of limited production vino with some local noshes. On October 29, Nosh This chief chocolatier Kai Kronfield – famous in S.F. for his take on bacon crack – will pair wine with chocolate for a two hour event that costs $185 and is limited to 10 guests.
Hot tip: Garden fiends can get a serious fix via the two-hour Chef's garden pairing ($125), a tour that includes tasting fruit or garden veggies right at the source, with tips on the basics of how to DIY wine & food pairings. Post-tour, there's a seated three-course family style pairing at a nice looking communal garden table. I may only have a petite flower, succulent and herb garden on the stoop of my apartment building, but always feel refreshed and full of new ideas after this sort of adventure.
Wine & Food Affair along the Wine Road
Regions: Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys (northern Sonoma County)
Price: $56.46 to $78.65 (there's also a $34.27 rate for designated drivers who will not be sampling any wine)
Date: Sat. Nov. 1 & Sun Nov. 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 110 wineries (
Google map shows a nice list)
Rundown: Fall leaves aplenty over a weekend, when a whopping 110 wine producers open their doors for the somewhat simply titled 16th Annual “A Wine & Food Affair” along the
Wine Road in Sonoma county. Barrel tastings, wine-friendly food (pork belly sandwiches, pizza, risotto), music and the chance to see a slew of wineries make this one extra special. Maybe you're drawn to the mom-and-pop garagey feel of one spot? Or get taken over with delight by the cool, cavernous offerings in one of the tasting caves? Your journey and ticket price also include a tasting glass and calendar.
Thirsty for more? Open for business at writereadeat (at) gmail.
