food sectionfood section
It's easy to confuse wine tasting in Sonoma with wine tasting in Sonoma Valley or Sonoma County. Sonoma is a charming town located at the southern end of Sonoma County, sandwiched between the Mayacamas and Sonoma mountains. Sonoma boasts the largest town square in the entire State of California; and although the friendly town has many activities to enjoy, wine is often at the top of the list. When visiting Sonoma, you will want to stop at some of its renowned wineries.
Wine Country extends from the California's central coast up north into Napa and Sonoma County. Though the land attributed to Wine Country had been farmed since 8000 B.C. by Native American tribes, it was not until European settlers came to the region and planted grapes that wine production began. Agoston Haraszthy is largely credited with the birth of California Wine Country industry. Credited as the first professional winery in the area, his winery still operates as of 2011.
Whether you are planning a romantic evening out, a girls' night or your birthday party, consider a wine tour. A sophisticated yet fun activity, wine tours give you a chance to enjoy good company and tasty drinks. If you live near an area where several wineries are close to a railroad, look into booking a wine tour by train. Here are just a few options.
Champagne is the quintessential celebratory drink. Although many sparkling white wines are referred to as champagne, only the sparkling whites coming from the Champagne region of France are truly champagne. Champagne is an hour and a half out of Paris, making a day trip to wineries there an easy day trip. Many tours start in Reims or Epernay, the well-known wine-producing towns of Champagne. Tours also go into the smaller villages.
Wine connoisseurs can take a wine tour from Los Angeles to explore the stunning vineyards of Southern California. Different packages are available, including custom and group tours. Gourmet lunches are usually provided, as are tour guides to help visitors better understand the beauty and history of the wine-making region. Options include day and evening tours, which generally visit three or four wineries.
Michigan may not immediately spring to mind as a winery hot spot in the United States, but in truth it is one of the more recognized wine regions of the Midwest. While certainly not on par with the likes of the Napa Valley in California, Michigan's wine country is full of large wineries, scenic countryside and plenty of opportunities to see the wine region up close via either self-conducted trips or guided tours.
California vineyards produce a variety of excellent wines that include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Fumé (Sauvignon) Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel. They also produce generic brands wines like red, white and rose. Many California wineries are in the Napa and Sonoma Valley, Santa Maria, or Redwood Valley region and most are open to tours and wine tastings. There are a variety of specialty tours available that focus on area wines, production, bottling, tastings and pairings. All are entertaining and informative and make for an great day exploring the culture of wine making in the region. For those who have…
Oregon has eight official wine regions, with most of the wineries being generally small and family-owned. Most of Oregon's wine regions lie in valleys between the Coast and Cascade Mountain ranges. The Willamette Valley wine country is the largest wine region in Oregon, covering more than 3.5 million acres. See these wineries by embarking on an Oregon wine tour.
