Turns out, you don’t need to be wine-obsessed to enjoy and appreciate the Sonoma and Napa Valley region of California. The beautiful scenery, sunshine, great food, and social aspects of the wine tastings and vineyard visits can make even the most casual of wine drinkers fall in love with wine country.  There are many fantastic hotels throughout Sonoma and Napa, many with wonderful spas to experience when you’ve had your fill of wine.   However, another great way to experience wine country is by renting a villa with a group. There are beautiful properties that have pools, hot tubs, and even wine caves where you can bring in chefs to cook for your group after a long day of wine tasting.  It’s a great way to spend some QT with your friends on your own schedule. 

Another “must” is to have the tastings arranged well in advance along with transportation to take you from one tasting to the next, particularly if you are going during the “crush,” when grapes are being picked, beginning in August and usually wrapping up in late October.  This is the busiest time of year in Napa and Sonoma, but is also an exciting and vibrant time to visit.  Make sure you have an expert help you plan your trip, as you want to maximize your time in this beautiful area!