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→ Wineries to visit: Donum, Hudson Napa Valley, Cline Family Cellars, Artesa, Kivelstadt Cellars & WineGarden → Where to eat: Bloom Carneros or Boon Fly Cafe Living in San Francisco, I’ve spent plenty of weekends exploring Sonoma and Napa—sometimes as day trips, sometimes overnight. But lately I’ve been wondering why I haven’t spent more time in Carneros. It’s one of the easiest wine regions to visit, just about an hour north of the Bay. Plus: it straddles Sonoma and Napa, so it’s a rare chance to see a bit of both in one day. For a perfect day trip, I’d start at Donum, a winery that also offers daily tours of their seriously impressive sculpture garden (see my video tour). Then, I’d grab lunch at Boon Fly Café at Carneros Resort and has a menu with approachable, brunchy dishes like chicken and waffles and corned beef hash. Or, get a bit closer to your next stop, Cline, with a meal at Bloom Carneros, which has a lovely garden area and more fresh, Californian fare. End with a leisurely afternoon at Cline Family Cellars. Their most basic wine tastings start at $25 but since one of the highlights is their beautiful ranch property, it’s worth spending a little extra to sit outside or book a pond-side cabana. Little Cline Family fun fact: One of the family’s daughters, Emma Cline, authored a novel based on the Manson murders called The Girls. also built a small writer’s retreat on the winery’s expansive property as part of a college assignment. It’s not open to the public but here’s a BTS glimpse:
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