Who wants to come and where do you wanna go?

I know this area pretty well and could possibly construct a fun run route incorporating winetasting/buying.

By the by... my discont only works with small groups

This could be great fun, lets make it happen. the weekend of 11/20 should work for me. If there are folks interested in dinner after we can make that happen too.

Please, any thoughts.

 

Too bad I am 2600 miles away in the other side of the continent, but I would love to eventually visit wine country.

MINIs and wine! Who needs more in life?

 

Im in. Why dont we plan this for November 20th. Only place I NEED to go to is St Supery in the Napa Valley. I need to pick up a bottle that I promised for my mom.

Why dont we do this.... these are preliminary so nothing is set in stone yet... this is flexible.

Lets have anyone from the bay area meet up on Mission Boulevard in Fremont... This is the main junction from 880 to 680 and visa versa. There are a few parking lots in there that we can stop at to meet up. From there, we will travel north up 680 and meetup with any folks in that area or from Sacramento where it meets highway 80. This is also a good place for people from San Fransisco to meet up with us.... Just cross the bay bridge and keep on 80 til you come to the 680 area. Last time I met people here it was at the Saturn dealership that is easy to see from both freeways. From there we head up to Napa..... Maybe winechic could work out details for the drive up there?? I know that there was a mountain road that we took last time from Sonoma to Napa... maybe start in Napa and take that road to Sonoma?

-jason

 

Let's do it.

 

I think it would be best if all traveling from Sacramento and the immediate Bay Area meet those of us in the North Bay Area in Saint Helena at Beringer or Charles Krug by 9:30- 10 am in the morning. Beringer would make a good Kodak moment or maybe in front of the old Christian Brother's Winery. We will want to get through the county before all the tourists jamb up Hwy 29.

From Saint Helena take Silverado Trail or Hwy 29 thru the Napa Valley... it's a small county, so unless someone really wants to pay for each glass of wine tasted, head directly into Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, and into Dry Creek Valley via Canyon Road in Geyserville. We could leave Dry Creek Valley via West Dry Creek Road ending up on West Side Road west of Healdsburg.... easy access back to 101 for those returning to the south lands.

It is important to know if you all want to visit the tourist trap wineries, or the small mom & pop's or boutique wineries. I certainly prefer the smaller wineries.

There are only about 100+ wineries on that route... With a handful of stops and lunch, we could be done by about 4pm. It should be a slow leisurely drive. Plan on driving by many half intoxicated tourists riding bikes on all the country roads. I have seen two drunken bike riders hauled off by ambulance in Healdsburg in the last 3-4 years after traveling 2 or 3 abreast in the middle of small two lane roads.

And to be safe, if you plan on tasting a lot of wines, I suggest bringing along your favorite loaf of sour dough bread to absorb some of the alcohol. There is a pretty good bakery in Saint Helena, but if you like your bread real sour with a very hard crust, nothing beats Custeaux French Bakery in Healdsburg. They serve lunch too.

 

Beringer is WAY far north. I say we meet somewhere at the southern end and drive up through TO beringer or something. Stop for pictures, wine tasting, etc etc. Its a good breaking point, not starting point. That is why I recommend starting at 680/80 which is about 1 mile from highway 29... that way we can all parade our cars down 29 also :D

 

Those of you in the city and south should meet somewhere first, but you can meet the rest of us up here... Saint Helena is really towards the middle part of Napa County so maybe Yountville would be a little better or maybe in the City of Napa. There's not many wineries south of the City of Napa.

People in Marin and Sonoma County could meet in southern Petaluma and meet the rest of the group at the at the merge just south of Napa on 29.

 

winey, you KNOW I'm interested!

Um....for those of us in SoCal who'd love to join in...where do you recommend we stay that is reasonably priced?

Let's get this wine barrel rollin'!

Clover

 

There is nothing reasonable that I know of in Napa Valley and very little resonable in Sonoma County except motels in the Santa Rosa area that you might want to stay in, but if you want to meet up with JCampos, there are some hotels on 80 just north east of where 680 merges.

 

Um....is this a bit of match-making?

winechic and some of the other ladies of NAM have discussed a winery tour for MINIacs for a while, now. I'll definitely need a place to COLLAPSE....if you know what I mean...

Clover

 

Well, count us (Stephanie and I) in for the wine country drive. I like the 680/80 meetup spot... Whatever works. Just let me know. JCampos... once everything is confirmed do you want to post it on the GCM boards? I will also send out the info via email to any of the GCM folks that would be interested! Hopefully the weather will be nice!

 

There are many real nice places to stay in both counties, including luxery hotels and Bed & Breakfasts but moderate priced motels are limited to the 101 corridor... many in Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa.

But I know there are a few on 80 near the 680 merge also.

Once a time and a place is set, I'll make sure that Norcal MINs and MOASF are invited.


If people are really going to travel from the far southlands, then maybe a 2 day event is in order.... starting in Santa Rosa both days.

Day 1: Bennett Valley, Sonoma Valley, Carneros, and Napa Valley, heading back to Santa Rosa via Porter Creek Road.

Day 2: Up Chalk Hill Road or Mark West Springs Road to Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill Road area, up 128 to Geyserville, to the Dry Creek Valley, out Westside Road maybe to Korbel if theres time.

I think it would be a good sampling of the "wine country" minus Mendocino and Lake Counties... but maybe a bit aggressive. I think you would need more than a couple of weeks to plan, but could be a future yearly weekend tour of the "Wine Country".

Amanda, maybe this could be a yearly hosted event by Redwood Empire Mini Enthusiasts if membership ever warrants it.

 

Agreed that a large 2 day event may be cutting it close, but if people are interested we could still do it, doesnt matter how many people really go. This could definetely be a good event for the future as well. With a good amount of planning Im sure ALOT of people would show up.

There are plenty of places to stay, depends on if you want to stay up in the napa area or if youd rather make an hour drive back out towards the bay area. Which do you prefer? I would just mapquest the area to see the surrounding cities and then check out travelocity or hotels.com to search for hotels in those cities.

Yountville sounds like a good meeting place for people up north. Why dont we do this:

1. South and East bay folks meet up at Mission Boulevard between 680 and 880 at 9:00 am.

2. Depart at 9:15 up 680 and meet up with the GCM folks and other upper east bay and San Francisco people at the Saturn Dealership at 680 & 80 at 10:00-10:15.

3. Depart up highway 29 for the final meeting point at St.Supery Vineyards in Yountville (or maybe its Rutherford) at around 11:00. I can pick up my wine and those interested can do some tasting.

4. Continue up 29 making stops as reccomended by Winechic and Zied who seem to know the area and wineries best.... maybe you guys could start planning that route soon so we can nail this down.

Tad, I will definetely post this on your forums when we come to a good conclusion.

How do these ideas sound to you guys?

 

If this were a two day event, A person would definitely want to make reservations in Santa Rosa or Healdsburg. The Napa area would be a full hour in the wrong direction and the immediate Bay area at least 1.5-2 hours out of the way.

Rohnert Park cheap rooms as low as $45 per night. Santa Rosa Rooms start in the $75 range.. every chain of cheap motel and inexpensive hotels plus a couple of nicer hotel chains. Healdsburg offers rooms in the $125+ range for 2 or 3 star to around $350 to $500 for rooms in the classy hotel on the square. There are also numerous bed and breakfasts in the $150 to $250 per night range (just guessing on prices). Healdsburg is a real tourist town, if you were to stay there, there are numerous restaurants and winery tasting rooms within walking distance of the downtown area.

If anyone is really interested in staying In Healdsburg, I'll find real numbers.

 

Some things to keep in mind....

-Winery tasting room hours are from 10AM-4PM for the most part. This time frame allows a maiximum of 6 wineries per day. (that is if you go really quickly through.) four is a reasonable number to expect to hit.

-Depending on numbers of people etc... I could set up tours at just about any winery you may want to see the inside of. Any tour take 1 hour minimum so all must be interested, maybe not a great plan for a large group.

-All (pretty much) winerys in Napa charge a fee for tasting. If we are just a few people I can get us all comped, but if it is more then that, which it seems to be it is an average of $10-$20 per winery. That is why we recomend Sonoma.

If you all would state your wine interest (ie. varietal, producers, or just red v. whites) I could produce a two day tasting that would be fun and even educational if you like.

Little background. Both my boyfriend and I make wine here in Sonoma county and I was born and raised in the area so this can be as light or indepth as you all would like.

Please name some wines or winerys you have enjoyed and I will start chatting with Zeid to make a tasting route. ( Zeid makes a mean map!)

 

I will do some looking around once we have a plan of sorts. But lodging sould not be a problem this time of year. The tourist season is at its end so it sould be mellow all around.

 

Thanks for the info winchic... We are not big into wine, but love a good MINI road trip... maybe you can educate us on the differences etc... would love a lesson!

 

I love red wines! And years ago I visited the Sebastiani Winery...very pretty! Are they still in business? What about that cool cheese-making place? (Maybe there are more of them now?)

"Cheese, bread, wine, MINIs, and thou......"

Clover

 

Wasabi guys, looking foward to this run and meeting people I have not met before.

I don't drink, but don't mind enjoying a Stogey while you all taste away.

 

I agree 100%... Sonoma County wineries is where it's at, although most of the well known Kodak moments are in Napa.

We have to determine if this will be a wine drinking event or a drive through the wine country with a couple of stops?

If we ever did this as a two day event, I would encourage everyone to run wild going to the wineries of their choice in each area (we could pre-print some maps and descriptions) and meet up at predetermined locations for lunch and prior to driving to the next appellation (with twelve in Sonoma County we won't run out).

If some people want to do the full wine tour in a few wineries and really sample their wines perhaps we could have two groups.... one with Winechic teaching the rules for wine consumption, and I could lead another group on a scenic drive, with only a few choice winery stops.

If it were a 2 day event we could all meet for Dinner, and prepare to meetup the next day.

 

Sounds like fun...Too bad I'm in San Diego...
Will be up between Christmas and New Years if anyones interested in doing this again!
ep

 

Alas and woe is me. Clo, I know we started talking about this months ago, but now it looks like I'm sidelined. My dogs had to spent last weekend in doggie hospital ($$$$ ). They are better now, but I am beyond broke.
But, I can always look forward to next time.

Shelly

 

I dont think we are going to do THIS trip again in December, but the dates you explained we are going to do another 2am run through the streets of San Francisco. You of course are in invited to join in on the fun.

 

Another 2am? When??? I am so down for that! I just cannot do 90 mph in the broadway tunnel again... I looked down, saw the tach beyond 8,000 RPM... can we say REDLINE!

 

HAHA! We will wait for you at the end then cuz Im addicted tot he sound going through there .

Someone mentioned that they would be in the area during the 26-29th of december. SO, why the hell not? Ill stay on track this time AND print a damn map.

The dates are kind of weird... this would be on a weeknight, tho I know alot of people are going to be on vacation for christmas. Maybe the night of the 26th/Morning of the 27th which is a Sunday Night/Monday morning. This one might be a bit tricky to plan out.

We will figure it all out, we have a month and a half left.