If you like wine tasting, you’ll find plenty of posts here about how to do wine country “on the cheap,” including a 40 percent off Wine Country Explorer discount card. I just found a new resource, eConcierges.com, that offers a page full of more than 25 print-and-go wine tasting coupons. Some coupons are good for [...]
The 31st Annual Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch (September 4, 2010) is a favorite of Bay Area wine lovers who enjoy seeing more than 150 wineries and 60 local chefs do their stuff. But the $150 entrance fee can pinch the budget a bit. Quick, check your Visa Card and see if it says [...]
The 2010 free summer concert series called “Live From the Middle Reach” runs on Sundays, June 27 through October 10, 2010 at C. Donatiello Winery, a boutique winery in the Middle Reach of the Russian River in Sonoma County. The music series features 16 acoustic performances by singer/songwriter bands, including returning favorites and new acts. [...]
La Nebbia Winery, in Half Moon Bay, will again host their Wine & Music Series every 2nd and 4th Sunday afternoons, May through September 2010. There is no cover charge for these fun Sunday afternoon gatherings. After a day at the beach, you can stop in for one of these jam sessions featuring local artists. [...]
Of all the beautiful cycling tours in the Bay Area, these Wine Country tours are among the most popular. The emphasis here is on wine country and beauty rather than hardcore cycling, so don’t worry if you’re not fit for the Tour de France. Each of the following Napa Valley bicycle tours provide a relaxing [...]
Napa and Sonoma wine tasting tours aren’t cheap, so even a $10 off per person discount can help reduce a high-priced hangover. Luckily, we have a lead on a half off discount — you save $64.50. The Wine Tasting tours by Extranomical Adventures — a San Francisco company that specializes in tours for people who [...]
Here’s a lofty idea: float across the sky in a big balloon above the vineyards, hills and fields of beautiful California Wine Country. Here’s a hot air balloon deal on a flight that takes off in Santa Rosa, in Sonoma Valley. What I like about this deal, from Above The Wine Country Balloons, is you [...]
Farmer’s Markets are starting up again all around the Bay Area and Napa Valley is no exception. But Napa Valley also has the Downtown Chefs’ Market on Thursday nights, starting May 20, 2010. At the Chef’s Market, you can shop for fresh produce and sample fabulous food from some of the best chefs in the [...]
Keeping up a high-class wine habit isn’t easy in these hard-scrabble times. The secret to successful sipping in San Francisco is in knowing where to find the hidden deals. For wonderful wine at discounted prices, stagger over to San Francisco Wine Trading Co. The friendly staff know their way around all things wine and welcome [...]
Tuesday is locals night in in Napa Valley, with deals all around at Oxbow Market in the heart of downtown Napa. On Tuesdays, the shops at Oxbow Public Market offer locals specials “on the cheap.” Take a tour of the Napa shops, drink wine, listen to music, and take advantage of the discounts. Hog Island [...]
Every Saturday evening, Ceja Vineyards in Napa hosts a hot salsa party with salsa lessons for beginners and intermediate salsa dancers. Both classes are free. And if you show up early you can catch their Happy Hour. Ceja’s tasting salon is open for happy hour specials — wines by the glass and bottle discounts. Then [...]
Starting in January 2010, for the first time, you can take a stroll through the vines at several Sonoma wineries. These complimentary self-guided vineyard tours are about a mile long and are appropriate for all ages. Along the way, you can find out what goes on in a vineyard during the year and learn about [...]
A great way to keep a few more pennies in your pocket is to pack a picnic lunch and head out to wine country. You don’t need to spend lots of money in fancy restaurants to enjoy great food in a beautiful setting. Here are some Wine Country places to pick up cheap gourmet picnic [...]
The Napa Valley Area is a notoriously expensive place to eat. But do a little sleuthing in Calistoga and you can eat a delicious lunch for $10 or less. Here are three for starters: 1.Buster’s Southern BBQ & Bakery. Order the barbeque and Buster may just prepare it for you on site where you can [...]
Visitors to Napa Valley love deals, but they’re not the only ones. Locals love them, too. Many area wineries offer free tastings and other deals just for locals, and Napa Valley Vintners posts a list of their “Napa Neighbor” select offers. All you have to do is show your drivers license. But what if you’re [...]
Among the many Art Walks happening in the Bay Area, one of my favorites is the First Thursday Art Walk in Calistoga. It’s a great opportunity to get out and meet local artists, ask them about their work, and have an appetizer or glass of wine. It’s always fun to stroll around Calistoga’s downtown area, [...]
The Sonoma County Fair (July 27 – August has a clever new theme — “Grape Escape.” Be equally clever and get discounts on Fair tickets and coupons for carnival rides. Take advantage of advance purchase deals, special discount days offered by the fair organizers, ticket discounts for sale at COSTCO, Friedmans and Mary’s Pizza, and [...]
Napa Blues, Brews and BBQ will take place this Saturday (August 28, 2010) with free admission. The event features a winemakers’ Rib Eatin’ Contest and lots of BBQ for the rest of us: ribs, chicken, oysters, corn, pork, and whatever else lands on the grill. The brews: 20 micro-brewed beers will be available tasting, including [...]
[Archived] Who doesn’t love complimentary tastings in California Wine Country? The next complimentary tasting at Hop Kiln Winery, in Healdsburg, takes place on May 9, 2010. This one might be worth a drive North for Mother’s Day. If you can’t make it this weekend, Hop Kiln’s upcoming complimentary tastings sound just as, well, tasty. Although [...]
[Archived] Find out everything you ever wanted to know about lavender … and then some. The 2010 Sonoma Lavender Food & Wine Festival celebrates a 10th anniversary on June 26 – 27, 2010, and admission is free, as always (although parking is $5). For Saturday’s Food & Wine event, you have the option of purchasing [...]
