| For those that think wine is more of a cultural | | | | spend quality time, and enjoy the places that you |
| thing than just alcohol, related to celebrations and | | | | visit. |
| festivities, a trip to Napa Valley in California is a | | | | You should also make time to have lunch, as |
| pilgrimage that one should go on. A trip to Napa | | | | tasting so many wines on an empty stomach is |
| Valley is also a great idea otherwise, even if you | | | | not a good idea. You can visit "The Spot", which is |
| are only looking for a day of fun. | | | | a burger and pizza joint in the 50s style. On a |
| Napa Valley has got something for everyone, | | | | bright sunny day, you can have lunch at V. Sattui |
| from breathtaking countryside to the rolling hills | | | | Winery, which features a full deli and you can |
| engulfed with vineries along both sides of Highway | | | | have your meal on beautiful lush, green lawns. If |
| 29, which runs right through the middle of the | | | | you want to plan your visit, you can buy a winery |
| valley. The highway, for its entire length in the | | | | tourist newspaper on entering the valley, which |
| valley, is lined on both sides by various vineyards. | | | | will give you all the facts about the wineries in the |
| Touring Napa Valley will give you the unique | | | | area with a map, business hours, etc. Some |
| opportunity to taste some of the best wines | | | | wineries offer tours on appointments only, and |
| from the region, which are renowned world over. | | | | these details can be found in the papers. |
| This proves to be a highly convenient way to | | | | Many of the wineries require you to take their |
| taste some of the best wines, as well as a very | | | | guided tour before tasting the wines. This serves |
| cost effective way. Here you can sample some | | | | two purposes- it educates people on the history |
| of your favourite wines, while also discovering | | | | and the heritage of the winery, as well as the |
| some new varieties. | | | | various facts that go into making quality wines; |
| There are two ways to go about your Napa | | | | and it keeps away people who only want to |
| Valley tour; planned and unplanned. While a planned | | | | indulge in free drinks. |
| tour can save you from a lot of hassles, an | | | | On entering the tasting room, most wineries |
| unplanned tour has its own charm and enables | | | | present you with a nice glass for tasting, stencilled |
| you to just drive down the Highway 29, and turn | | | | with the winery's name, along with the menu of |
| into any vineyard you fancy. However, there are | | | | the wines available. Visitors are usually allowed to |
| few things that you should know even if you are | | | | take the glasses as souvenirs with them. If you |
| going on an unplanned tour. Most of the vineyards | | | | don't find a particular wine that you were hoping |
| open at around 10 in the morning. It is a good idea | | | | to taste on the menu, you can ask one of their |
| to reach the valley around same time. You can | | | | staff, and they will be more than glad to help. |
| easily visit 2-3 vineyards by 5 in evening, which is | | | | Most wineries will have a shop selling souvenirs, as |
| when most of them close for the day. The idea is | | | | well as their own wines. |
| not to visit as many vineyards as possible, but to | | | | |