California wine touring? Featured

What part of California? There are wineries throughout the state.

Yeah, I suppose that is an important bit of information... :) Anything/everything is on the table. I'm a bit of a Zin nut, and love the wines from Ridge, Martinelli amongst others, so does Sonoma/Napa makes sense as a starting point? Too cliched/touristy? Full disclosure, I'm far from an expert oenophile (to call me a novice would be generous), so looking to the pros for some advice.

For Zins, I'd recommend touring Sonoma county, mostly in the Dry Creek Valley/Lytton Springs/Geyserville region. There, you can visit Ridge, Martinelli, Seghesio, Dry Creek, Quivira, Lambert Bridge and others. For a starting point, you can see the travel advice in our FAQ at

Mark Lipton

I'd check out ZAP, which most a lot of zin producers belong to. If you have time, check out the Sierra foothills, Mendocino, and Paso Robles, in addition to Sonoma and Napa.

To email me, remove the invalid word and change .net to .com

Sonoma and Napa are major tourist areas especially Napa. When I travel there I still go wine tasting but stay away from the bigger names.

I'm a big Zin lover too. The major Zin regions that I'm aware of are Paso Robles and Amador County (Near Plymouth, California). Paso Robles has far more wineries but I prefer Amador because its more remote, rather quaint and a lot of fun.

In March I will be in Paso Robles for the Zin festival. A fun time at the regions wineries. It's a very relaxed area to visit with some pretty countryside.

Thanks to all for all these tips - excellent stuff and very helpful. Looking forward to a blurry, lip-stained honeymoon!

Don't be such a cheapskate. Take her to Tuscany and then Sicily.

No way! I'd rather have some decent wine along with some great food.

.....and you expect to find these in (cough) California? (cough, cough, choke)....

Yep, just not in Los Angeles where your (Cough, Cough) is understandable.

Have you ever been to Italy/Sicily? Where do you live?

No but I intend to visit soon. I have some good friends from there who have offered me use of their house any time. They bring me Italian wines that I can't buy here when they visit each year. I enjoy several good Italian wines but overall I prefer California and Oregon or Washington wines. Mainly because I prefer California Zinfandels over Italian Primativo. I also prefer California Pinot Noirs over French styles.

True but California exports a ton of its smog problems. A steady cloud of smog can easily be seen blowing all the way from the coast through Barstow and into Arizona. Just one very long cloud. But you are right, the coastal areas are mostly smog free. Just don't go inland!

I would not go to Venice. Sicily is where I want to go next. Been only to Firenza.

Joe "Beppe"Rosenberg wrote:

There are many lovely things about Venice and Firenze--the service people in Venice are like New Yorkers, sending tourists on long water taxi rides--when can walk 1/4 mile, being disdainful of the amount of a tip. Verona is the real Veneto, as for Firenze is a sightseer paradise, old bridges rooms along the Arno, no traffic in the center and surrounding hill towns like Fiesole. I love the Langhe but its become a little like Route 29 in Napa or the highway from Sonoma to Santa Rosa, places for conspicuous consumption.

Let's go to Palermo and find out!

I'll be there Wednesday next week, I'll let you know but I doubt flak jackets are in style.

Bringa me backa somma gooda wine, eh?

What's the weather like in Palermo this time of year?