This town of Yountville is super upscale and everyone would be so fortunate to visit this beautiful…read moretown!! I absolutely love being here and feel so lucky to be here! Fly up here on JSX and make a reservation and check out the chic town

This little town has oh-so-much to offer. It's a little pricey, but to be honest, everything in…read morethis area has lots of delicious restaurants, beautiful views, the wineries, the tastings, what more would you need? I go there at least four or five times a year, and if you're from out of town, it's definitely worth a trip. You might see me there. Cheers, my friends SYOY 11/19/25

The city of Sonoma is a perfect place for a getaway and a place that I personally love for so many…read morereasons. I personally prefer Sonoma County more than Napa Valley because it is so charming and has a small town feel that I love. It feels less crowded and more laid back, which I also love. The Sonoma Plaza is in the heart of town and this area is very quaint and charming. This is a perfect area to sip and stroll, shop, enjoy the amazing restaurants, and/or to enjoy a picnic. The city of Sonoma is also great for both foodies and wine lovers. The vineyard views in this town are also absolutely gorgeous. There are lots of amazing wineries if you enjoy wine tasting. There are lots of farm to table restaurants that are amazing as well as events throughout the year that are fun to partake in. You can also take a hot air balloon ride and soar above the vineyards. There are spas if you are looking to relax and this is an excellent spot for a girls getaway. If you enjoy hiking, there are lots of places to enjoy within a short drive. There is also the Sonoma Overlook Trail which is an easy loop that offers panaramic views of the town and the valley below.

I love this small town for a quick getaway. I like it much better than neighboring Napa which is…read morejust a short drive from here. Napa has evolved into a much more commercial and bougie destination that I can see the glaring changes each decade brings. I mean I will still visit the Napa area, but if given the choice, I will take Sonoma any day. I've been preferring this wine valley over on Hwy 12 versus the one on Hwy 29. The actual town of Sonoma is very quaint with good California history in its tow. And I don't find it as pretentious as Napa and their neighboring appellations like Yountville and Calistoga. I have stayed in small hotels, camped, hiked, wine tasted and dined at many places in or nearby Sonoma. And on every visit, I always make an effort on spending some time near their main square where there are several beautiful parks with shady mature trees, beautiful rustic buildings, lots of great places to eat/drink and just people watch. A great local gem for a getaway where I don't have to significantly travel. Been in my back pocket since the early 90s. And still madly in love with it. Trust.

I'm impressed someone bothered to make a Yelp page for this room at Castello Di Amorosa... then…read morenever bothered to check in or write a review for the place. Well, I don't like wasting a perfectly good page, so allow me to put some life into it. The Castle Torture Chamber is an underground room inside the winery castle known as Castello Di Amorosa in Calistoga. It cannot be accessed with general admission - you must take a tour of the castle to gain access. With good reason... can you imagine if some of the kids tried playing hide and seek in the Iron Maiden? Tours are $20 for wine club members, otherwise $40 for adults. Minors are also allowed to go on the tour, but I believe there is a minimum age. So why is there a torture chamber in the winery castle? Because back then, all castles had one. Dario Sattui wasn't going for a Disneyland castle... nope, he wanted it to be authentic as it could be (w/ indoor plumbing and electricity). In fact, he spent decades sneaking into castles in Europe to investigate their inner walls. Thus, we have the torture chamber with all the tools used for interrogating and punishing misbehaved men, treacherous wives, traitors, etc. While he went for authenticity, most of the torture chamber props are high quality replicas - Sattui had them hand crafted in Europe. While not as sharp, they're still likely to cause pain. The only authentic piece is the Iron Maiden, a coffin like piece that has spikes inside. The spikes were strategically placed not to kill anyone but still cause an immense amount of pain. I guess there's no point in torture if the person you torture dies quickly? I also wonder how one manages to purchase an authentic Iron Maiden from the medieval times, but I shouldn't question a man who had the money to build a castle in Napa. ;) Again, pretty neat space to be in, albeit a little creepy. Props to Mr. Sattui for getting his castle down to the nitty gritty.

I'm impressed someone created a Yelp page for it, and that they advertise it in the actual Chamber…read more Now just to get cell service to check in while I'm in the actual castle. It was both neat and odd to be in this room, which was included in the Wine Train tour we booked. All in all, which I will go into more detail in the actual winery review, I wasn't the biggest fan of this tour. I found it too long and while the air quality was better than expected, the torture chamber added an extra squick factor to the fact we were underground (this is California) and many of these items are high quality replicas of items that were actually built back in the middle ages. Which, why build a room of replicas? I honestly didn't get it and don't think I was the target audience for the tour. The chamber could have been much better utilized or sold, especially since a few minutes after we left the chamber we were then "locked" into small cells for the wine tasting. They could have built a bar into the iron maiden and had 'blood wine.' or used the room to sell a specific brand of the wine 'Torture Red.' Instead all the attempts to make it authentic just rang hollow. Either the space could be a fantastic museum where art, history, and literature of the age could be shown because it's attempting to replicate the time period, or it can be what it is, a highway attraction that hosts a winery and puts a lot of effort into making it "authentic." It just came off poorly and I don't think I would come back for another tour.

Healdsburg: Pricey, Quiet, and Not Worth the Hype…read more I wanted to like Healdsburg, but it fell flat. On a Wednesday morning, the town wasn't "peacefully quiet" -- it was just empty. Barely any foot traffic in shops, restaurants, or on the plaza. Prices were high, yet nothing felt unique enough to justify them. The exception: Quail & Condor bakery, which The New York Times ranked among the best in the U.S.. That part of the hype is real. Healdsburg does have well-reviewed restaurants too, but on a slow weekday they weren't enough to give the town energy. I walked the main strip, grabbed a pastry, and left for Calistoga -- much better call. Unless you're coming specifically for the bakery, I'd skip it.

This is a charming and quaint town that is great to visit for so many reasons. The downtown area is…read morefilled with boutiques, hotels, restaurants, wine tasting rooms, art gallaries, etc. Everything is laid out well with a green space in the center of it all with benches and redwood trees and everything else is surrounding it. For this reason, it's very walkable and is a great place to explore. It also has plenty of parking, which is very convenient. Many people come to Healdsburg for wine tasting since it's in the heart of wine country and has so many amazing options. Outside of the downtown area, you will find wineries in Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley. Many of these wineries have stunning vineyard views in both of these valleys. You will want to spend a few days soaking in the views and all the amazing wine in this area. I love the restaurants in downtown Healdsburg. Due to their popularity, it is recommended to make reservations in advance. It's recommended if you are visiting to spend at least a few days exploring this wine country town because you will fall in love with its charm and all it has to offer!

******************************* 977 *******************************…read more The 3rd annual Flavor! Napa Valley will be held November 20-24, 2013 at the Silverado Resort and Spa, and The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Meritage Resort and Spa, Beringer Vineyards, and many other locations throughout the beautiful Napa Valley. I got the chance to attend this year and what was an amazing food and wine event. The best in America if you are a wine lover. You are in treat for the best of the best. A TASTING TO HONOR THE LIFE OF ROBERT MONDAVI - WINE TASTING WITH WINEMAKER GENEVIEVE JANSSENS - Moderator Peter Marks. Iconic vintner Robert Mondavi was an inspirational advocate for the Napa Valley, building the first winery after Prohibition and quickly producing wines that stand in the company of the world's finest. In honor of his 100th birthday, enjoy a retrospective tasting with Director of Winemaking Genevieve Janssens, who will unlock Robert Mondavi Winery's treasured library of older vintages to showcase more than forty years of unparalleled winemaking history. We got to taste 1976 JUDGEMENT OF PARIS Cabernet Sauvignon that won the blind tasting that year. 2 bottles of Chateau Margeaux 1995 and 2006, I was SPOILED. TOP TASTERTM BLIND WINE TASTING COMPETITION - Host: Andrea Robinson Panelists: Gillian Ballance, Bob Bath, Alder Yarrow and 10 Master Sommeliers around the US. I wrote this event so much, I got 5 wines out of 6, so much fun, so much to learn, and the beautiful resort Meritage. THE APPELLATION TRAIL: TASTING NAPA VALLEY - Take a journey to the epicenter of abundant Napa Valley as you taste wines from its 16 sub-appellations at this grandest of Grand Tastings. Gather your friends for an indulgent night of sipping and feasting from nearly 100 wineries and 25 restaurants - all under one roof of the majestic Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Throughout the evening, you'll be saying hello to the winemakers and chefs who make Napa Valley the premier wine and food destination in America. And you'll discover how the various terroirs and micro-climates of the region make each Cabernet--along with other varietals--unique expressions of where they were grown. Over 100 wineries and 25 restaurants participated in this event. We had so much fun, so much wines, so much food, so many awesome chefs, so little time! ABOUT: Flavor! Napa Valley® Celebration of Wine, Food & Fun is an annual event that features world‐class Napa Valley wines alongside the Napa Valley's master chefs and graduates of The Culinary Institute of America's culinary education programs. Net proceeds from the event support programs and scholarships at The Culinary Institute of America's Greystone Campus in St. Helena, CA. The event is hosted by founding sponsors Silverado Resort and Spa and Dolce Hotels in partnership with VisitNapaValley.com, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, and the Napa Valley Vintners, and is produced by Karlitz & Company. DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT NEXT YEAR IF YOU ARE TRULY NAPA VALLEY WINE LOVERS!

My husband and I truly enjoy attending this wonderful event!!! My husband is a professional chef,…read moreso food is his passion. I love to bake, and because my husband is passionate about food, so am I. We love watching the demos, touring the CIA facility, picking up things in the bookstore, participating in events, and meeting the chefs! This is a great event for anyone who's interested in wine, cheese, good food, baking, and/or fun! This year, I attended a cake decorating session with Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes. The event was held at Beringer VIneyards in the Hudson House, which was lovely. We were able to get hands-on assistance and guidance from Duff and his staff, and our cakes turned out great! This was my first time airbrushing a cake, and working with fondant - not my favorite cake decorating item, but it was so much fun; I even had my cake box autographed by him. :-) Next,I headed to CIA to watch an Iron Chef Morimoto demonstration. Last year, we watched him break down a monkfish and create 5 spectacular dishes. This year, it was a yellowtail and 6 dishes! He is always entertaining and of course, the room smells terrific as he cooks! His knife skills are amazing! The other event I attended was an interactive demo with Rocco Dispirito. He demoed the gnudi we would be making, but also made pork saltimbocca as well. He is definitely passionate about altering traditional dishes to be healthier - he was more than happy to share some of his tips and tricks for healthier eating. I got to cook in the CIA kitchen, which was a lot of fun, too! Students were there to help anyone who needed assistance. Participants were able to enjoy 3 wines with our meal - Beringer, Stag's Leap, and Etude. I must say, my entire table enjoyed the Beringer cabernet sauvignon the most. In fact, I bought a bottle for our Thanksgiving meal this past weekend! The gnudi was tasty, the saltimbocca was great, and we had a dessert as well. It was a great experience - Rocco made a point of going around in the kitchen when we were cooking and checking up on everyone, as well as visiting every table during the meal. I bought his book and got it signed afterwards - picked one up for my boss, as well! I would have loved to attend a few more events, but scheduling conflicts prevented it, and a couple of the events sold out quickly. I highly recommend attending this event if you're in the business or if you're just interested!!! It's a lot of fun, the scenery is beautiful, and you'll have a great time!!!

So excited every time I Czech my Northbay Elite page and see a new event added by Kevin "The…read moreMothership," CM, and this event was one I've been excited about for some time! I make it down to Petaluma often for shopping and a few select restaurants, but I don't visit as much as I'd like, so the Social Club has been on my list since I read about it's opening in the Press Democrat (thank you Heather Irwin!). First star is for free parking. FREE MOTHER FATHERING PARKING, YO! I can't tell you how excited I get about free parking. Srsly, it's the little things in life that makes the biggest difference. Ample parking everywhere, on the street, in the lot, in the garage, in the sky, it's everywhere. So great. Alix loves it. Second star is for my freaking amazing new yelp swag. I don't know about you, but when I get yelpy swag, I actually use it. The stunna shades go with me to many events, the wristbands have accompanied me to quite a few lunches, and the pins are versatile and compliment literally (figuratively) every outfit. My new yelp fingerless gloves will be a fabulous new addition to my yelp-obsession; you're warned. Third star is for my amazing peeps. Kevin, you're the coolest ever. I think that's the first time I've ever seen you without a hat, tres chic. John and Lilia, you guys are the epitome of elite status, and Lilia you always make me smile when I see you, with your incredible hair, looking all badass. Issy, my heart is breaking to hear you're attempting to leave us for Sacramento Yelp, we're going to formulate a kidnapping plot to keep you forever, just you see. New friend Tracey, with your impressive amount of reviews, hot damn girl, incredible, and your new haircut is fierce. And everyone else who I met/saw and can't mention... Fourth star is for the food, which I really enjoyed. My favorite was surprisingly not the bacon mac and cheese, but the eggplant with cherry tomato (and a hint of curry?). I was not really about the trout offering though, which was the only fail I saw, just personal preference. Last star was for Social Club for hosting us on their newly built beer garden. The day was a little chilly, but I can imagine in my way too creative mind a warm summer evening with a perfectly poured cocktail, and savoring the beauty and greatness that is Petaluma. Will be returning...also, $3 Fernet shots?!? Yissss

So I'm really diggin' Petaluma! It seems every time I find my way up here, I find 1 more reason to…read morecome back. & thanks to this YEE, I found out about Social Club & Restaurant. The 1st impression was fantastic. Actually, the impression before the 1st impression was a key factor. Location. Social Club & Restaurant is right next to a parking structure with free parking + EV charging stations. Score! Social Club & Restaurant is a great looking venue with clean lines & lots of weathered wood. It was the ideal setting on a cool Summer day to relax with Yelp friends, gratis bites & Redd's Apple Ale. All while my EV got some free juice. Thanks Kevin B. for, yet again, another fun YEE. Seriously, Yelp's Summer Break at Social Club & Restaurant was North Bay's 4th awesome YEE in 5 weeks. That has got to be some kind of record-setting pace. Thanks also to Social Club & Restaurant. You've got a great space in a great location with tasty bites that perfectly complement your full bar. &, naturally, thanks to North Bay Elite friends who came out & made it all a lot of fun.

When tickets go up, this event sells out in a couple of hour. Once you attend this event you'll see…read morewhy. The weather is perfect, you're on the river, and on both sides surrounding you are tons (literally) of BBQ to be eaten and kegs of beer to be emptied. There's music, revelry and a lot of satisfied bellies all around you. It's definitely an experience to take in. We had a bit of a logistical hiccup getting in, and unfortunately I wasn't able to try the Mad Scientist BBQ (winner from last year) but there's always next year. And with that being said, I sampled at least 8-10 other very legitimate BBQ teams serving some of the best ribs and chicken I've ever had. If you are fortunate enough to secure a ticket for this event next year I recommend a couple things: -Get a beer lanyard for $5 (they are super helpful) -Come with an empty stomach -Eat first, then drink. The food runs out before the beer. -Bathroom lines can be tough, try to go to the less obvious Porto locations That's it, see you next year Stumptown!

I've been to a lot of Brewfest's...this one is my favorite! Not because it's only 7 min. from home,…read morebut it's a BBQ competition with about 30 competitors, with all the different varieties of Ribs and Chicken wings you can eat. Awesome!!! Also... yer right on the Russian River with great views in the background. Not to mention all of the bikini wearing, and fer you girls, lots of shirtless dudes runnin' round. Great selection of breweries from up and down the coast. Live music is playing all day long, and after the Fest...all night long up above at Stumptown Brewery with Impossible Elvis. Big thanks to Peter fer Putin' all this together. Cheers!

Calistoga is located in the northern part of Napa Valley and is an excellent place to stay or visit…read morefor so many reasons. This city/town in the northernmost part of Napa Valley is known for their geothermal hot springs and mud baths. For this reason, it's an excellent place for a spa getaway with friends or a romantic getaway. It's a great place to pamper yourself with spa treatments, amazing wine, and delicious food. It has a small-town charm to it and the downtown has lots of shops, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms. This town is very walkable, which I love. There are lots of hotels, cottages, and bed and breakfasts within walking distance of downtown area so the town is laid out well in my opinion. They have amazing restaurants. I personally love Lovina restaurant in their downtown area. They have lots of wineries all around you can take the Vine Trail and ride a bike and view the vineyards. If you don't ride a bike, it's a great place to walk and take in the vineyard views. There is lots of hiking. I personally love Oat Hill Mine Trail there and the views are stunning. This trail is open so if you go during the sunny time of year, go early as there is not much shade, bring hiking shoes, and lots of water. There are benches along the way if you want to stop and soak in the views.

This is a cute, old style town in the "cul de sac" of the Napa Valley... at the top, sort of where…read morethe mountains come together. Definitely worth visiting. Plenty of store fronts, eateries, wine tasting, etc to see and do there. Not quite as "upscale" at St Helena, but very nice.