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The question is, would you really go all the way to the Napa Valley wine country and not taste wine?
Doubtful.
However, Mimi Sheraton thinks that Napa has enough of a gourmet food offering - farms, cheesemakers and restaurants - that one could skip the vineyards, particularly during the September harvest season.
Her reasoning is multi-fold. The region benefits from the lingering after-effects of culinary giants like Alice Waters, Jonathan Waxman and Jeremiah Tower. There is also a branch of the CIA, Greystone, in the town of St. Helena, where Sheraton recommends appetizers (rather than a full meal). In the town of Napa, Copia, the American Center for wine, offers classes, demonstrations and tastings. There are farms thar provide the local restaurants with fresh ingredients, and the restaurants themselves are notable: La Toque, Mustards Grill, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen, Terra, and of course, Thomas Keller's Bouchon and French Laundry.
Still, I think I'd want to squeeze in at least one vineyard.
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8-23-2006 @12:31AM Marc said... When I go to Napa, the last thing I want to do is taste wine. Most tasting rooms are too crowded, too expensive, and too haughty. Try Sonoma County, Livermore (Alameda County), Lake County or El Dorado County instead for friendly people who are actually happy to see you.
Over to the West in Sonoma County, there are plenty of foodie things to see, as detailed in the Farm Trails guide ( http://www.farmtrails.org/ ).
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8-23-2006 @10:27AM BobMac said... I live in Napa and can tell you there's more to do here than just drink wine. My wife and I can taste wine for free (one of the perks of living here), yet we still find many other things to do. Sure, everything's centered around wine and wine making, but that's just the hook.
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8-23-2006 @11:10PM Cynthia said... I live about 30 minutes south of Napa and I have to agree - there is so much great gastronomy to experience in Napa! I would also agree that Sonoma County (or even Livermore) is a better place for wine tasting. If you want the best food and wine in Northern California, go to the town of Sonoma and eat at The Girl and The Fig. Heaven on earth!
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8-24-2006 @3:33AM Gabriella said... well I was just in sonoma and I am have to say there are tons of things to do without going to a winery. I of course went to some wineries. actually. only two and and would have gone to more more but time was cut short by all the other things to do.
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