Postcard from Wine Country - Fall Edition
Early last week Scott and I retreated to wine country in Sonoma to celebrate his birthday. It was just a quick two-day getaway and a much-needed change of pace. Wine country is beautiful in the fall, with autumnal colors, and a crisp, woodsy chill in the air. We seem to make it to wine country for a fall visit every year. Last year we stayed at Sonoma Mission Inn for a surprise birthday getaway.
Postcard from Wine Country - Fall Edition
Early last week Scott and I retreated to wine country in Sonoma to celebrate his birthday. It was just a quick two-day getaway and a much-needed change of pace. Wine country is beautiful in the fall, with autumnal colors, and a crisp, woodsy chill in the air. We seem to make it to wine country for a fall visit every year. Last year we stayed at Sonoma Mission Inn for a surprise birthday getaway.
Where to Stay.Dine.Taste in Wine Country
This visit we chose to stay at the El Dorado Hotel on the edge of Sonoma Square. We've eaten at El Dorado Kitchen several times but this was our first stay at the charming inn on the top floor. As you can imagine, it is wonderfully convenient to stay right in the heart of historic Sonoma. We dined at the hotel for Scott's birthday dinner and had brunch the next day at the Sunflower Caffe next door. We also got a jump on our holiday shopping by visiting the charming boutiques lining the square. For more on shopping in Sonoma Valley.
Winetasting in Wine Country
We spent an afternoon at one of Scott's favorite wineries in Dry Creek Valley, Wilson Winery, from our earlier trip here. Another favorite winery is in Kenwood at Mayo. We enjoyed a private tasting a couple of years ago at Mayo here.
Update on the Wild Fires
Despite the beauty of fall in wine country, it does not go unnoticed that the October wildfires caused tremendous devastation, yet only in specific areas. Parts of Glen Ellen, Kenwood and Santa Rosa were especially hard hit, but most of wine country feels completely untouched by fire.
During Scott's birthday dinner we ended up chatting with a lovely couple at the table next to us. They eventually shared that their Bennet Valley home had burned to the ground, in a matter of a few minutes, on that terrifying night in October. While they are making the best of an abrupt life change, they also shared how devastating this kind of loss can be. Rebuilding your life from the ground up takes tremendous effort, patience, resolve and finding moments of humor whenever possible. I was especially touched by my new friend showing me her beautiful black boots. She said she had owned a pair of the same brand in brown. When the fire took everything but the clothes on their backs, she started to rebuild a wardrobe and was thrilled to find a pair of the same boots online, though in a different color this time. These boots represent just a small block in the rebuilding a life.
How to Support Wine Country?
The best way to support wine country is to visit--and often! Take your cash or credit card and stay, dine, shop, taste, tip and purchase wine to take home. Share your appreciation and your well wishes with the locals who are truly #sonomastrong.
Contact me at Curated Travel for wonderful deals in wine country.
Curated Hotel: The Sonoma Mission Inn + the Surprising Power of a Surprise!
We seem to have a number of family birthdays mixed in among the holidays. Though Scott’s birthday was a couple of days after Thanksgiving he suggested we celebrate on the holiday since we had a family dinner planned. While that was a great idea, I wanted to surprise him with a little something extra this year. On Thanksgiving I had him open a box with his upcoming surprise that read, “Pack a Bag, Birthday Boy!”.
We had a day to clean up from Thanksgiving and pack for our weekend getaway so it was a leisurely schedule. I was tempted to spill the beans on our destination, but I kept it a secret. Seeing his excitement for this adventure reminded me of the power of a surprise.
A Holiday Getaway
We seem to have a number of family birthdays mixed in among the holidays. Though Scott's birthday was a couple of days after Thanksgiving he suggested we celebrate on the holiday since we had a family dinner planned. While that was a great idea, I wanted to surprise him with a little something extra this year. On Thanksgiving I had him open a box with his upcoming surprise that read, "Pack a Bag, Birthday Boy!".
We had a day to clean up from Thanksgiving and pack for our weekend getaway so it was a leisurely schedule. I was tempted to spill the beans on our destination, but I kept it a secret. Seeing his excitement for this adventure reminded me of the power of a surprise.
We had a mixture of showers and sun on our drive over to wine country. With the early rains here in Northern California we were pleasantly surprised to see how beautifully green the fields were already. Our first stop was at St. Anne's Crossing Winery in Kenwood. This picture perfect spot is a member of the Wine Club we belong to. We had a delicious tasting with a number of award-winning wines. Next off, it was just a short drive to the famed Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. I could see that my birthday boy was very pleased with his surprise!
For dinner we headed out to OSO, the brainchild of famed chef David Bush on the historic Sonoma Plaza. Oso was recently rated one of the top restaurants in Sonoma and I had a feeling Scott would appreciate the rustic modern feel and the foodie style menu. The small plate selection was amazing and the service was friendly, yet impeccable. We had the pleasure of complimenting Chef Bush on his success and the outstanding dining experience.
After a leisurely morning strolling the grounds and an indulgent breakfast at Sante, we headed through the countryside into Sonoma for some shopping and a Mediterranean-style lunch at La Salette.
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is the quintessential wine country resort. I have stayed here several times over the years but this stay was by far my favorite. I highly recommend their large menu of spa services if you have the time. The resort has recently been updated and I appreciated the extra amenities of luxurious linens and Le Labo bath products. Our getaway, and the destination, was such a fun surprise to my husband. If you are looking for a way to delight someone you love I recommend the surprising power of a surprise getaway.
To Stay: Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
To Sip: St. Anne's Crossing Winery
To Savor: Oso, Sante, La Salette
For more on travel to Wine Country
Are you finding any places especially festive this time of year? I'm booking travel for clients and I love to hear your recommendations for holiday cheer.
All Images Heather Lindstrom
Thank you to the Sonoma Mission Inn for a suite upgrade and welcome bottle of sparkling wine.
Getaway to Sonoma Valley Wine Country
In late October Scott and I stole away to Sonoma Valley wine country for the weekend. We've been keeping ultra busy with our careers, so a relaxing fall getaway was much anticipated. It's 'crush' season in wine country around this time and you can smell the rich, earthy, tangy scent in the air. Those grapes are giving their all for the cause and we appreciate them.
For this stay we choose a sentimental favorite from one of our early visits to Sonoma, Inn at Sonoma. The Inn is affiliated with our favorite Zen Suites at Gaige House in Glen Ellen. Following our three-hour drive we checked in and were reminded of the cozy charm and homey touches, like the freshly baked cookies stocked in the copper cookie jar.
A fireplace in our suite, and a glass of wine, got us immediately in the mood for relaxation. We had a late evening reservation at Harvest Moon Cafe, on the Sonoma Square, which was an easy walk from our hotel.
In seeking pure relaxation I only had my iPhone but snapped a couple of ambient shots from the heated patio. The dishes were fresh with fall harvest cuisine and the service was friendly. Harvest Moon Cafe had a local gem feel to it and we were pleased with our choice for the evening.
The next morning, following a free, hot breakfast at Inn at Sonoma, we headed out for a stroll around the square. The sun popped out after a night of heavy rain, and the vibrant colors of fall were everywhere.
We had plans to meet friends, Dean and Kathryn, so we messaged them to meet us for a light bite at El Dorado Kitchen, which I have written about in a previous post here. We especially enjoy the patio dining at this spot on a sunny day.
Sonoma Valley in crush
We watched the weather reports and ended up cancelling a garden tour my husband had booked early in the week. Instead, in a lucky roll of the dice, Scott ended up making a reservation at the Mayo Family Reserve Room in Kenwood for the 'ultimate' seven-course food and wine pairing.
Scott's Thoughts:
"Having enjoyed previous tastings at the Mayo Family Winery tasting room in Glen Ellen, we decided it was time to check out the Mayo Reserve Room food and wine pairing in Kenwood. This was one of our first more extravagant tasting experiences, as we usually look for the high quality, low fee tasting rooms, and often share a taste. (Sharing allows us to safely visit more wineries.) Our experience featured a blend of service from our very friendly pouring concierge and Chef Clayton Lewis. While we watched the rain outside, we were served seven wine tastes with seven delectable bites designed to bring out the highlights of each wine. With each pairing, Chef Lewis came to the table to describe the flavors to watch for as we tasted wine, then food, then wine. The Roussanne with a bacon-flavored madeleine was my favorite taste—a very mild yet interesting white with a finish that completely changed with this pairing (think a hint of bacon in the finish)! I could see it paired with morning bacon, spicy sausage gravy, or a BLT for a special brunch. We ended with a Late Harvest Gewurtztraminer and a savory desert, the spices of which beautifully countered the sweetness of the wine. I’ve never been a fan of the Gewurtz, but this was a completely intriguing taste! In the end, we took several bottles home, my favorite of which is their Estate Pinot Noir, a big, full red with hints of spice and dark fruit. The experience was amazing—friendly, educational, a journey of visual and flavor sensations. Try it, and be inspired to step outside your usual wine routine and create your own taste pairing!"
"THE SINGLE BEST DEAL IN WINE COUNTRY... WHAT AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE" — Wall Street Journal
The food and wine pairing at Mayo was a unique culinary and viticulture experience, as well as an excellent value, at just $35.00 per person. The experience lasted 90 minutes and the staff couldn't have been warmer or more approachable. We highly recommend Mayo and you can book online on Open Table. Take a look at the website here. Let the rain fall!
What happened next, for our evening meal, was one of those memorable occasions that deserves it's own post. Suffice it to say, our evening at Olive & Vine was extraordinary and I look forward to sharing part deux of our trip in my next post.
Sunday was a 'lounging with the paper and hot mugs of steaming coffee' kind of morning. We enjoyed another filling breakfast on the patio, at Inn at Sonoma, always a nice touch. Somebody got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, again.
We discovered that Williams-Sonoma has reopened at the original location for the brand. Chuck Williams opened the first Williams-Sonoma here in 1956. The new shop has been designed to match the original space. They have also created a 'rustic luxe' home collection and outdoor living space. For all of us home decor types, it's definitely worth a visit. It's picture perfect.
Williams-Sonoma is back in Sonoma!
I wanted just about everything...
and I think you will too.
I hope you've enjoyed this getaway to Sonoma Valley wine country.
For more on my travels to my old stomping grounds:
Getaway to Wine Country in Healdsburg
