When You Think California Wine Country...

Do you think - Temecula?  Probably not.  Napa, Sonoma, even Paso Robles or Santa Barbara but Temecula may not even be on your radar yet it's Southern California Wine Country.  Great wines - lot's to do - and easy to get to.  No flying.  No long car rides. 

Temecula is about an hour north of San Diego and an hour and 1/2 from LA.  There are so many things to do - don't take my work for it - watch this video.

Now - is Temecula on your next Wine Country itinerary?  It should be.

Visit a French Chateau in Sonoma?

Sitting high on hill just north of Healdsburg is a French Chateau.  It's reached by a winding private road that ascends through olive groves and huge trees.  As you arrive at the top you marvel at the vine covered structure that awaits.  It's simply breathtaking!  And now - it's open to the public.  Have you been?

After four decades of hosting tours and tastings by appointment at its iconic chateau, Jordan Vineyard & Winery is launching its first Estate Tour & Tasting experience. Guests will journey to remote corners of the nearly 1,200-acre Jordan Estate to enjoy a farm-to-table, wine-and-food-tasting excursion showcasing foods grown on the property with a backdrop of stunning vistas 

Jordan Estate is one of the few properties in Northern California wine country with more than 1,000 acres of contiguous land that is navigable by vehicle, owned by a private individual and available to be explored by consumers. More than three-quarters of the estate is dedicated to natural habitat— an oasis where craggy oak trees surround the vineyards, herons and geese swim the lakes, and rabbits and deer roam the rolling hills that define Sonoma County’s southern Alexander Valley. The property includes 110 acres of grapevines, 18 acres of olive trees, gardens, lakes, pastures and endless woods. Under the direction of second-generation vintner John Jordan, Jordan Vineyard & Winery has evolved into a working ranch with chickens for eggs, cattle for beef, bees for honey and even a cutting garden for floral arrangements.

“After having spent countless weekends fishing and driving around the Jordan property, I wanted to share the beauty of Sonoma with an experience that is truly singular in California,” says John Jordan.

Each 3 hour tour is limited to a few guests so reservation for the Thurday-Monday tours are critical.  Harvest is currently under way - here's a video of the process at Jordan. 

Did you know? Is it on your itinerary?  Cheers?

ordan Estate is one of the few properties in Northern California wine country with more than 1,000 acres of contiguous land that is navigable by vehicle, owned by a private individual and available to be explored by consumers. More than three-quarters of the estate is dedicated to natural habitat— an oasis where craggy oak trees surround the vineyards, herons and geese swim the lakes, and rabbits and deer roam the rolling hills that define Sonoma County’s southern Alexander Valley. The property includes 110 acres of grapevines, 18 acres of olive trees, gardens, lakes, pastures and endless woods. Under the direction of second-generation vintner John Jordan, Jordan Vineyard & Winery has evolved into a working ranch with chickens for eggs, cattle for beef, bees for honey and even a cutting garden for floral arrangements. - See more at: http://blog.jordanwinery.com/2013/06/jordan-winery-estate-now-open-to-the-public-through-estate-tour-tasting-experience/?utm_content=31438&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Estate%20Tour%20%26%20Tasting&utm_campaign=New%20estate%20tour%20and%20wines%20for%20your%20backyard%20barbecuecontent#sthash.e0yrV6E8.dpuf

After four decades of hosting tours and tastings by appointment at its iconic chateau, Jordan Vineyard & Winery is launching our first Estate Tour & Tasting experience. Guests will journey to remote corners of the nearly 1,200-acre Jordan Estate to enjoy a farm-to-table, wine-and-food-tasting excursion showcasing foods grown on the property with a backdrop of stunning vistas - See more at: http://blog.jordanwinery.com/2013/06/jordan-winery-estate-now-open-to-the-public-through-estate-tour-tasting-experience/?utm_content=31438&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Estate%20Tour%20%26%20Tasting&utm_campaign=New%20estate%20tour%20and%20wines%20for%20your%20backyard%20barbecuecontent#sthash.e0yrV6E8.dpuf

Travel Time

You've arrived at San Francisco International Airport!  You have your luggage and you just signed the papers for your rental car.  So how long will it take you to get to California Wine Country?  Well.....   That all depends.

On what you ask? "I've got the Google map directions and it says it will take 67 minutes to get to Napa" (the city).  Ah, yes, but you arrived on a Friday afternoon and it's 2pm now right?  Try more like 2-3 hours to get there!

 

Part of any trip is getting to - and from - your arrival point and just like at home that varies based on the day of the week and the time of the day.  Whether it's Napa, Sonoma, Anderson, Livermore, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, Temecula or any of the other wine valleys you need to plan the time into your schedule.  California's freeways are notorious for heavy traffic volumes.

What we suggest of course is to let us here at Vineyard Visits plan your itinerary.  Your travel time is just one of the things that we take into account.  But, if you want to plan for this on your own, just know that from 1pm on the traffic leaving the cities starts to build and it can be well after 7pm before it starts to abate.  And that's on a good day with few accidents.

Is travel time part of your itinerary?  Cheers!