California Wine Country Vacation

Well not exactly stomp, but stroll, saunter, maybe even run, on a self-guided tour through four different wineries. Every wanted to walk among the vines and learn about what it takes to get those puppies growing and producing the grapes.  Right now there are four participating wineries, Mantanzas Creek, Paradise Ridge, Balletto Vineyards and Mauritson Winery each route is less than a mile long and the self-guided tours emphasize sustainable farming.  Just show up at the tasting room, ask for a laminated vineyard guide and away you go. Make it a long slow informative jaunt or whip through it and end in the tasting room. With the weather being so agreeable now, there’s no better time to be outside and get your share of vitamin D, exercise and education . www.sonomavineyardadventures.com or 522-5860

For those of you who didn’t know, the Lagunitas IPA you’ve been drinking is manufactured in our little town of Petaluma. Yep, right here just down from our Quality Inn about a block or so. And they’ve just opened  their TapRoom and Beer Sanctuary, closed Monday and Tuesday, with live music. So forget about winetasting too foo foo, come check-out the brewskis, take a tour, have a bite to eat. Yo ho ho and a bottle of Pale Ale. . .

www.lagunitas.com

Lagunitas Brewing Company

Graton Ridge Cellars has been a familiar Russian River Valley entity since 1945. The Paul family started their business in apples and fresh apple juice. Today, Graton Ridge Cellars is known for its oak-aged chardonnays and pinot noirs.

Hook & Ladder Winery is small, family-owned and operated winery with nearly four decades of winemaking experience. Hook & Ladder Winery produces a variety of Russian River Valley wines including pinot noir, zinfandel, merlot, and chardonnay.