The Sun, sea, fine dining and wine are one of those things that pop out the moment you think of a vacation. Finding that, all-in-one pleasure place would be the nicest thing you’ve done for yourself in months, maybe years. So, ever heard of California?
The Golden State has so much to offer, from its iconic coast to magnificent World Heritage Sites, including amazing wine regions. And you don’t need a private jet or a load of money to have a wonderful adventure.
So, when in California, there is always a wine region nearby, and a whole set of fun and affordable services at hand. The idea was to relax and take in all the pleasures – so you might want to consider the advantages of an organised tour. This would eliminate the dangers of drinking and driving and would get you to the right destination. There’ s a ton of great offers waiting for you – a train trip with an elegant winemaker dinner, a limousine with your special one or a hot-air balloon ride? Anything with wine, you’d say.
Enjoy the sunshine
When it comes to planning, good weather always comes handy. California is fun all year long, but visiting in summer and early fall is a safe bet. The climate conditions vary whether you are at the coast, on top of a mountain or in the desert.
With more than 200 days of sunshine, California surely deserves its more than 3000 wineries. The climatic diversity is full of mild nights and hot sunlight, creating the most sophisticated merlots and cabernet sauvignons. Coastal weather conditions create perfect chardonnay and pinot noir.
And in southern California, the hotter and drier weather conditions with a remarkable range of soils allows more than 100 grape varieties.
The perfect plan could be to combine tastings with visiting other attractions and trying all the complementary pleasures at hand. Remember wherever you are, there is a winery nearby.
California’s North Coast
This is the most prestigious wine area, with worldly known Napa and Sonoma. They are the most famous and busiest wine regions Lombard Odier: ”La economía estadounidense se asemeja a la imagen de un deportista que toma esteroides” ciclo winstrol 30 años pinchándose esteroides para parecerse a conan y hulk with numbers of wineries and accommodation.
From outstanding zinfandels to highly praised small-volume vintages, Napa wineries deserve its cult status. Many of Napa’s wineries are near the busy Highway 29, but there are places for a quieter visit. Places like Calistoga, are hidden gems for sparkling wine aficionados. Keep in mind that affordable accommodation offers are limited on the major wine routes of Highway 29, so make sure you’ve booked it on time. Appointments and reservations in popular restaurants and some wineries are a necessity in the Napa Valley.
Sonoma –Another Californian Gem
Sonoma County is in Northern California, and there you can literally find every California grape variety, from fine cabernets and much-valued pinot noir and chardonnay. The specific climate allows far more variety in contrast to the Napa Region, as Sonoma appears quieter and more rural place. There are a number of wineries across a wide area. The main grape growing regions produce great Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, with numbers of other varieties, suitable for even the most sophisticated taste.
The climate is favorable to a number of plants and crops, and home to endless Cannabis Grows and a serious legal weed industry player. The Sonoma thrives in diversity, having its world-class wineries, organic food production, and cannabis grow – an all-in-one gourmet paradise.
The mild Mediterranean climate has a beneficent effect on the cannabis cultivation, just like it has on its worldly known vineyards. And like with wine connoisseurs, the “sun grown” cannabis fans will most likely visit during the summer or early fall period. This is the time for a Sonoma state of mind.
Not a hippie style road-trip
Take off your flower power accessories – the main emphasis of the wine and cannabis thriving industry is to educate people on the convergence of wine and weed. They would like you to enjoy while getting to know more about cannabis and its beneficial use, in order to normalize and destigmatize its consumption. The process was up and running soon after recreationally legal cannabis became available in California.
So, having the two highly valued products in the region, the local entrepreneurs decided to get the most of it, by organizing unique wine and weed tours. And as we already mentioned, one part of the tours include the educational part on similarities between the growing wine grapes and growing outdoor cannabis flower.
Then it is usually followed by outdoor- a sampling of local wines and selected cannabis from nearby retailers. For the ones seeking a full package deal, there is a logging opportunity at the cannabis farm, cannabis treats included. Many of these tours arrange a specific “sip-and-sniff” experience. The cannabis flowers are grounded up revealing fragrant aromas called terpenes and paired with similar scents and tastes from wine.
Everything is up to you and your specific requirements, no place for purists though.
These wine and weed tours face consistent bookings growth. Now, we have a situation where the same way vintners have set their products based on geographical regions, marijuana producers are following by developing a similar status for their celebrated areas.
If you are in the pursuit for a quieter and less expensive solution, North Coast offer other destinations like Mendocino, north of Napa. It preserved its redwoods and also has some fabulous wines. Don’t hesitate to try some of their pinot noir, chardonnay, or Mendocino’s extraordinary zinfandel.
Heading to Southern California
Southern California’s wines and vintners created a haven for themselves in the shadow of their well-known northern cousins. These areas became popular for other reasons – Hollywood’s worldly famous movie industry is just one of them. The area that is worth exploring is Los Angeles or San Diego, and locations down to the Mexican border.
Malibu, right on the Los Angeles’ doorstep has 50 independent vineyards alone. It is understandable that you will come across a celebrity winemaker, like with Casa Dumetz owned by the actor Emilio Estevez and his wife Sonja.
Like in its northern part, you can find different types of tours, group sizes and types of wineries to visit. You can even arrange a more intimate custom package, depending on your and your special one’s desires.
Custom Tours and wine services
Almost any tour in the Californian region can be customised to your preferences or your needs, especially for couples and their special events. These arrangements are specially tailored to broaden your sense of taste, smell, and get the most of your sensory evaluation.
You also might experience an evening that you will never forget, including private and exclusive dinner at some of the region’s wineries. With the help of experienced sommeliers, many wineries have customised menus, watching every detail to tailor a unique gourmet experience.
If you are a tradition lover and want to discover more historic details, you can find out more about the roots of some great family winemakers. They will be more than happy to tell more about their family tradition, passion, and their winemaking philosophy.
As we said earlier, aim for the harvest time – especially September. This is also a California Wine Month, filled with interesting events, customised events, and colourful scenery. Many restaurants have specialised menus, for different groups and occasions, so don’t forget to book your spot on time.
