Romance knows no season, but fall is unquestionably a romantic season in wine country, especially on this trip through the Napa Valley and into the golden country of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Wineries, yes. Glorious foliage, yes. Chic restaurants and inns, yes. Romance? How could there not be?
Trip Time: 5 to 7 days
Few places are more romantic than the Napa Valley. Start at the valley’s northern tip in the quaint town of Calistoga, famous for its hot springs. Search out the recently opened Solage Calistoga Resort. The spa features soaking pools that tap into the area’s geothermal springs. Dine at Branna's Grill, adjacent to the famed Calistoga spa, that offers an award winning wine list featuring rare selections from Napa Valley Wineries.
Is California feeling a bit too casual for you? Then drop by Calistoga’s newly opened English Garden Tea Rooms, serving tea, petits fours, and finger sandwiches in traditional English fashion. It’s not a vacation without some shopping. Browse Calistoga’s boutique stores.
Meander south through the Napa Valley to St. Helena. Check out the high-end boutiques (window shopping is romantic). Head next for the Clos Du Val Winery to taste wines, wander through the rose garden, and engage in pétanque (a French lawn-bowling game). Stay the night on a private estate at Meadowood Napa Valley and don't forget to make a reservation for two at Go Fish, a classic West Coast fish restaurant complete with a San Francisco-inspired raw bar. Then head south again, but don’t neglect to stop in Oakville, at the Oakville Grocery, to pick up the fixings for a picnic lunch. Picnic in Napa at Artesa Vineyards & Winery—the view is astonishing, as are the Pinot Noirs.
Time for Gold Country, but before you wander the Sierra foothills, stop in Sacramento for romance of the mind. California’s capital is filled with great museums (www.Sacmuseums.org has an extensive listing). The Crocker Art Museum, in a beautiful old mansion near the State Capitol, is a fine place to start. Stay at the stylish Inn & Spa at Parkside, which is within walking distance of the Crocker, the State Capitol, and Old Town Sacramento. Book ahead, as the inn has only a handful of its highly sought rooms. While there, enjoy a couple’s massage and then a soak in their hot tub to get you relaxed and rejuvenated for the next stop on your trip.
Fully rejuvenated, head for the hills. Though lovely in any season, the Sierra foothills shine in autumn, with the reds and russets of grapevines coloring the gentle slopes. Head six miles east of Plymouth, you’ll find Sobon Estate, a 150-year-old winery with a charming museum. Don’t miss a stroll down Plymouth’s old-fashioned Main Street, followed by dinner at Taste, featuring a fresh seasonal menu, from steak to vegetarian dishes. Stay the night at the charmed Hanford House, a Sutter Creek bed and breakfast Inn nestled in the heart of Sutter Creek.
Drive south to Murphys, where you’ll find plenty of wineries. The largest, Ironstone Vineyards, has landscaped gardens, man-made caves you can tour, and a Gold Country museum. The winery hosts outdoor music events year-round at the Ironstone Amphitheatre. If you’ve gotten an early jump on fall, time your visit for the annual September Concours d’Elegance, where more than 300 classic automobiles are displayed on Ironstone’s lovely grounds.
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