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Written by Mark
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Thursday, 20 August 2009 15:09 |
 First of all you need the right vehicle to properly tour any wine region, so get a real honeymoon upgrade instead of settling for a generic economy subcompact. If you fly into a major airport like LAX, for example, it is possible to rent cars such as a muscular Ford Shelby Mustang convertible. Try to top that for a romantic
California
By all means consider starting your wine tour in Los Angeles, at Wally’s Wine and Spirits store at 2107 Westwood Blvd. The CEO of the Robb Report refers to it as his “go-to” store, and it is known to locals as the best wine store in L.A. Better yet, call Wally’s and get tickets to attend their Annual Grande Marque Champagne Tasting in early June – even if you have to move up your wedding to May in order to make it to the event. In 2009 over 50 Champagnes were poured, including Dom Perignon and Cristal, along with caviar and signature dishes from the city’s top restaurants. For more information call 310-475-0606 or visit WallyWine.com.
Then put the top down and blaze a scenic trail along famous Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, toward San Francisco. The drive is considered one of the most beautiful and breathtaking in America – complete with sea cliffs, pounding surf, and wildlife preserves.
The Golden Gate City is the golden gateway into California’s wine region, and the best sommelier in the entire USA – Michael Engelmann – is at your service at Gary Danko Restaurant on San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Warf. He took top honors in the equivalent of America’s own wine Olympics, competing against the country’s most recognized experts, so take his advice with confidence as you dine there.
Leaving Frisco you will dive into wine heaven when you enter Napa or Sonoma Valleys. Here you can cruise to hundreds of wineries, many are open to the public (some by appointment only). No matter your taste, you can find several wineries to explore some favorites include: Robert Mondavi, Silver Oak, Cakebread and Chandon. No matter what time of year you choose to visit, you will find the wine flowing.
While in Napa, if you need a break from the wine drinking be sure to hit the famous local brewery Calistoga Inn. The Inn was the first establishment to brew beer commercially in Napa County since the days of prohibition. It brews four principle beers: Calistoga Wheat Ale, Pilsner, Red Ale & Porter.
Napa is well known for its excellent restaurants with delicious, fresh dishes and great service. Uva Trattoria & Bar is a local favorite and the hottest nightspot for live jazz and great, authentic Italian cuisine. Or try cuisine of French and Mediterranean influence at REDD, the first venture from acclaimed Northern California chef Richard Reddington. REDD’S menu showcases regionally inspired seasonal selections with ethnic influences. A daily five-course chef’s tasting menu is also available in addition to the regular menu. Napa Valley brings wine country to you with cuisine made with the finest ingredients, complemented by an excellent selection of premium California wines.
Map out your tour using free itineraries at sites like NapaValleyVineyards.org and follow those or use them to create your own custom trip. Then again, why not park the Shelby and let Preferred Limousine be your designated driver in an SUV, stretch limo, or Hummer limo. They offer special tours of popular Napa and Sonoma, plus the lesser-known wine growing areas of Livermore Valley, Alexander Valley, and Russian River. For information call 800-701-4077.
Washington State
Begin the trip in Seattle. Take the ferry to the Inn at Langley in Seattle to enjoy watching one of the top chefs in the world do his magic while you enjoy the island ambience and sample Washington State’s top local wines. Reserve a night at the Inn and share after dinner dessert in the privacy of your own room. (The Inn at Langley 400 1st Street, telephone 360-221-3033)
Or step off the main drag and slip into Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar, hidden inside the building at 1916 Pike Place. Do as the locals do and enter Suite #16 for oysters (a well known aphrodisiac) and other fresh shellfish served with ice-cold beer. There is absolutely no ambience, but the seafood served in this legendary eatery easily outranks that served by many 5-star establishments.
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Several top-rated Washington State reds come from a single source – Andrew Will Cellars in Vashon, Washington (12526 SW Bank Rd, Telephone 206-463-3290), which is just below Seattle, about halfway to Tacoma. Travel 100 miles due south from Vashon and you’ll find the rugged town of Morton. Get there during the second weekend in August and you can join America’s real men at the Loggers Jubilee, the world’s best logging exposition, where professional loggers showcase Paul Bunyan skills as they compete with axes, bucksaws, and chainsaws.
Leaving Morton, head through Yakima, stopping there for a glass of vino at The Tasting Room, a circa 1900 farmhouse with wines from three boutique wineries. Then continue west through Kennewick to Walla Walla, which is located in the far southeastern corner of the state.
Seven Hills Winery, Tamarack Cellars, Charles Smith Wines, Five Star Cellars, and Whitman Cellars are all conveniently located in and around Walla Walla. Drive yourself or take a honeymoon wine tour of the Walla Walla Valley by calling or emailing Tony, who operates Black Tie Limos. (Telephone 509.525.8585 or E-mail
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But be sure to buy some Walla Walla wines that pair well with seafood dishes, and then book a fishing guide along the nearby Columbia or Snake River. In spring and fall the Columbia offers up 40-50 pound salmon, and in colder months Snake River at the gates of Hell’s Canyon is the place locals fish for 10-20-pound steelhead. Along the way you’ll likely see wildlife including mule deer, big horn sheep, and large herds of elk.
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