Napa Valley Experts - Best B&Bs, Restaurants, Wineries

**For places to stay we are looking into Vino bello, 1801 first, any others?

Two nights enough? How far away is Sonoma?

**Restaurants - I've gathered Rutherford Grill and Stinking Rose...any other options?

vineyards: stags leap, silver oak, sawyer, sterling, mondavi, coppola...any other suggestions?

I read someone stayed in Sausalito and took the ferry over to SanFran - is there any benefit to staying in Sausalito? Is it a half day thing?
Dad said they have nice restaurants to get lunch there if anything - any lunch recommendaitons?

ps: I've read so many places that French Laundry is a must - but DH did research and said its' CRAZY money for dinner --- anyone ever eat there - how much did dinner for 2 cost? LOL..thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kara

Re: Napa Valley Experts - Best B&Bs, Restaurants, Wineries

we are staying at the vino bello! Whena re you planning on going?

Re: Napa Valley Experts - Best B&Bs, Restaurants, Wineries

I have not been to French Laundry, but know people who have... it's worth the money.

It's decadent and a treat-- but, it just may not be worth it to some people.

According to Zagat, it's $254 (including three courses, one glass of wine and tip) I forget if Zagat is per person.. it must be cause they don;t know how many people you would be dining with... So, it's a $500 meal, which is on par with what I have heard.

Re: Napa Valley Experts - Best B&Bs, Restaurants, Wineries

Frank and I also really enjoyed the Grigich Hills winery...and Mondavi was definitely the best tour we had.

If you love garlic, then the Stinking Rose in San Fran is definitely the place to go...it was soooooooo good!

Re: Napa Valley Experts - Best B&Bs, Restaurants, Wineries

Mondavi has the best tour. Book it ahead of time, because the tours are small and they fill.

Check out Copia, the wine and food museum. It is awesome, they have wine tastings, free cooking classes, and all kinds of exhibits.

We stayed in SF and drove over to Sausilito. It is an adorable town with a great view of SF but I liked staying in the city. We spent an afternoon there, walking the streets, they had a farmer's market which was nice.

Message edited 5/8/2007 7:35:35 PM.