Visiting Wineries
Something For Everyone
Visiting
wineries is the main reason for visiting the Wine Country.
There are literally hundreds of wineries with regular hours for
tasting, and dozens more that are open by appointment only.
Winery tasting hours are generally from around 10:00 AM to
around 5:00 PM, but hours vary winery to winery, so be sure to
check our listings for tasting hours at the specific wineries
you plan to visit. Strange as it may seem, it is also a good
idea to have a goal or strategy in mind when planning your wine
tasting excursions. There are practical limits to what can be
accomplished in a single day of tasting given the large number
of wineries to choose from, the time required to fully
appreciate a winery's wines and amenities, travel time between
wineries or regions on your itinerary, and other
considerations. Giving some advance thought to the types of
wines and wineries that are of interest to you, the regions
that are most consistent with your preferences, and other
things you may want to do while you are in the Wine Country
will help you plan your trip to get the most enjoyment from
each day.
Tasting Tips
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Plan Ahead. Know where in the Wine Country you want to go and plan each day to minimize travel times between stops on your itinerary.
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Be Realistic. Plan to visit no more than four wineries on each day of tasting. Wine tasting is about relaxing, learning, and appreciating at each stop on your itinerary. More than four makes for a rushed day.
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Pace Yourself. It's called wine tasting for a reason. The idea is to explore several wines to identify the few you like the best. Don't drink all of every wine that's poured. Instead, use the dump buckets that will be available on every winery tasting bar. Dumping isn't wasteful, it's smart.
Spotlight on Ledson Winery and Vineyards
Ledson
Winery & Vineyards is a destination winery located in the
beautiful Sonoma Valley, less than an hour's drive north of San
Francisco. Emerging like a gothic blast from the past out of
acres of rolling vineyards and pastoral calm, the 16,000
square-foot French Normandy winery is known as "the castle" by
locals. Originally designed as the Ledson family home, it
quickly became clear that the architectural showpiece was much
better suited to house the Ledson's planned winery. Ledson
specializes in small varietal lots that reflect the genuine
diversity of the family's select vineyards and
appellations.
