A Solo Guide to 2 days in Napa Valley & Sonoma County California

Day 1:

After a quick drive up from San Francisco, be sure to stop at VJB Vineyards & Cellars La Cucina for a quick caprese salad on the beautiful piazza. Then, it’s just a quick drive up the road to visit the Kunde Family Winery where you can treat yourself to the hilltop tour & tasting. It’s so worth it! This one-of-a-kind journey takes you to the top of the mountain overlooking Sonoma Valley at 1,400 feet. There, you will enjoy the finest wines paired with locally sourced artisan cheeses and charcuterie. From there, you will learn more about the history of the winery as you journey to the wine caves to enjoy a little more vino.

As you continue your trip, make a quick stop at St. Francis Winery & Vineyard. St. Francis is one of many of the 100% certified sustainable producers in the region.

Beautiful vineyards are just steps away! Grab a glass of wine and soak in the view, or enjoy a farm-to-table experience wine pairing.

Next, travel up to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. The property is filled with movie memorabilia, history and a garden with incredible views. There is a great restaurant onsite, pools and cabins for quick changing. You could definitely make a day of it! I would have definitely stayed longer, but I was headed to dinner at Healdsburg resort Montage. This is the perfect way to end the day, with dinner on the patio overlooking the vineyards.

Day 2:

You will be covering a lot of territory today, but it will be worth every minute! The Korbel Winery is a fantastic place to visit and the first stop of the day. It’s a beautiful drive through the California redwoods to the winery. Enjoy a complimentary tour of the history of Korbel and tastings of the different kinds of champagnes. You’ll learn so much about the early days of the winery and how champagne is made!

Next, head to Napa Valley for the day. The drive over the mountains to the valley has incredible views. Make sure to stop at the V.Sattui Winery. The winery was started in the late 1800s and is rich in history. After a quick lunch and a bit of shopping, you’re off to the next stop! Travel up towards Calistoga, while making a few stops along the way. First, stop at the Napa Valley sign. Yeah, it’s touristy but why not, right!?

A must-stop is to visit Castello di Amorosa. The grounds and the castle are one-of-a-kind in Napa Valley and the winery is the sister vineyard to V. Sattui. It even has a dungeon! You will need to make a reservation for this vineyard, otherwise you will not be able to see it.

Just before the four-way stop entering Calistoga, there is a little house for Lola wines. Their wine is served at Healdsburg resort Montage. The owner's roots are actually based in New Orleans, but relocated to the area and started the vineyard. They offer several lovely wines, so be sure to purchase a bottle to savor the experience after your trip.

The Chateau Montelena Winery castle awaits! The story of this winery is unique. It was created during the California Gold Rush, and then sold to a Chinese family, who created a garden in the style of their homeland, dotted with picturesque pergolas and walking trails. The castle is breathtaking, and the gardens are beautiful. This winery is best known for having won the “Judgement of Paris” in 1976 for one of its Chardonnay.

Whew, that was a busy day! It’s time to head back to Santa Rosa and Jackson’s Bar & Oven for the brick-oven prosciutto pizza.

It’s the next day and time to check out. On your way back to San Fransisco, make sure you save a little time to visit Vista Point for some awesome views of the Golden Gate Bridge.