Tour Vin – Exploring The Barlow

Published on: June 29th, 2023

Sonoma County is an amazing place as it has excellent restaurants, wineries, places to stay and many nature-oriented outdoor activities to enjoy.

We recently visited The Barlow in Sebastopol and were very impressed with the array of restaurants: Acre Pizza, Blue Ridge Kitchen, The Farmers Wife, Kosho Sushi and Bakers Wife (great sandwiches). We stopped in the Two Dog Night Creamery as well – wow!

If shopping is your thing, you will love this place! Shops include: Acorn for household items, Dickinson Glass, Lori Austin Gallery, Rust Boutique, a women’s fashion and gift boutique, and many more!

If you are wondering about wine tastings, we recommend Kosta Browne Winery and Region – they offer a variety of wines and truly have something for everyone. The Barlow is a great place for a quick lunch in between wine tastings, and is a wonderful place to peruse and just shop! Check out our pics to get an idea of the area.

The high season in Wine Country is upon us, which means reservations at wineries and restaurants become difficult to secure. Contact Tour Vin sooner than later to plan your next trip to Sonoma or Napa!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Experiencing the Luxury of Blair Spangler Resorts

Published on: May 29th, 2023

Tour Vin is always looking for new and exciting places for our clients to stay in the Wine Country. Accommodation choices abound throughout Napa and Sonoma, and include luxury and small boutique hotels, B&Bs and inns, as well as private residences. We recently came across a company that offers a collection of micro-resorts focused on the guests’ in-residence experience.

Blair Spangler Resorts cater to luxury travelers, intimate family or friend gatherings, or corporate off-site retreats. Their attention to design and service is extraordinary! The three distinct estates, located in Calistoga, St. Helena and Kenwood, feature a blending of their natural surroundings with amazing indoor design.

We know the importance of a home base while enjoying all the wine country has to offer. If you would like more information on this one-of-a-kind property experience, give us a call!

Summer and fall are a great time to visit Napa and Sonoma. We’re ready to help plan your next Wine Country vacation!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Enjoy Lunch at Oxbow Public Market

Published on: April 26th, 2023

There are many unique places in the Wine Country to enjoy a wonderful lunch in-between wine tastings. But, if you are in the town of Napa and squeezed for time, we recommend the Oxbow Public Market!

Mentioned in Travel and Leisure magazine, this public market offers food vendors, cafes and produce from local farmers. Our clients rave about the various food and drink offerings, which allow them to get in and out quickly to assure they make their next wine tasting appointment on time.

Here are a few food and drink venues you may want to try on your next visit:

Loveski Deli: A family-owner Jewish deli offering cured smoked meats, sourdough bagels and fresh vegetables.

Gott’s Roadside: An amazing menu, including burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, seafood and much more!

Hog Island Oyster Co.: These folks offer oysters, clams, mussels and fresh local seafood.

Eiko’s at Oxbow: Modern Japanese cuisine, including sushi, Hawaiian Poke bowls and fresh fish.

C CASA (reimagined Mexican food): The menu is endless offering dishes like lamb street tacos, vegetarian quesadillas, an Ahi tuna plate, C Casa wings, rotisserie chicken and cheese taquitos, to name a few.

Kara’s Cupcakes: A great way to finish off a lunch with cupcakes prepared by Executive Pastry chef Kara Haspel Lind.

Hudson Napa Valley: If you would like a glass of wine with any of the above, enjoy this venue’s self-serve wine stations!

High season is approaching, so don’t wait to book your next Wine Country vacation! Whether its Napa Valley or Sonoma, we can plan your wine country experience.

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Revisiting Raford Inn B&B

Published on: March 28th, 2023

During Tour Vin’s last trip to Sonoma, we opted to re-visit a bed and breakfast we thought our clients would enjoy. After a long day of wine tasting, Healdsburg’s Raford Inn B&B was a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the vineyard views. The sweeping vistas from their wonderful porch with a glass of their family wine in hand was a perfect way to end the day.

Built in 1880, the restored Victorian property is hosted by Rita, and offered a very comfortable stay, as well as fresh, homemade breakfasts to start the day. Rita was very accommodating as we had an early wine tasting appointment, so breakfast for us was served early.

Reservations are a must since Spring and Summer are a busy time in the Wine Country! Did I mention the rooms are also reasonably priced? The comfortable atmosphere and welcoming nature made it feel like a home away from home.

Want to know more about Raford Inn or other accommodations in Napa and Sonoma? Contact us to help plan your next trip – we’ve got you covered!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – A Guide to Planning Your Trip to Napa or Sonoma

Published on: March 2nd, 2023

There are many things to consider when planning a trip to the wine country. We have created a list of important questions we ask all our clients before we create a preliminary itinerary. This helps us help you plan the best experience possible.

Here are some thoughts to consider for your next wine country vacation:

• When during the year would you like to plan your visit? High season is usually summer and fall (Harvest usually occurs late summer, early fall), while visiting during winter and spring you will encounter less crowds and the overall trips tends to be less expensive.
• What type of accommodations are important to you? Choices include: Full-service Hotels, B&Bs and Inns that offer complimentary breakfast, or an Airbnb rental that offers a “homey” experience that can be shared with multiple couples.
• What are your favorite styles of wine and what is your preferred tasting experience? Since there are numerous wineries to choose from, it is best to choose those wineries who offer the varietals you enjoy. In addition, many wineries offer food and wine pairings that enhance the tasting experience. There is much to choose from!
• What is your favorite cuisine? There are so many great restaurants in the valley, that in most cases, there is something for everyone!
• Are there other outdoor activities you would like to consider that can enhance your wine country experience? Consider an early morning hot air balloon ride, 18 holes of golf, kayaking or going on a hike.
• How do you prefer to travel between wineries? Transportation options are also important to consider since wine tasting all day can be overwhelming. Car services are usually a good option, as is a driving services that will drive your car on the tour. Uber and Lyft are usually not a good option because drivers are not always familiar with the wineries and they could delay you from getting to your tastings on time.
• Last but not least, what is your budget for this trip? This is important since the cost of wine tastings, car service and certain accommodations can be very expensive.

Tour Vin has been planning wine country trips for our clients for more than 10 years. Let us help plan your next Napa/Sonoma vacation!

Cheers!
Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Exploring Yountville

Published on: January 27th, 2023

There are many towns in Napa Valley that offer a wide range of unique wine tasting and dining experiences. Each town also offers varied accommodations such as B&Bs, hotels and inns, so there is much to choose from!

This month, we are featuring the small town of Yountville, just north of Napa. This village offers a variety of shops, restaurants, galleries and wineries, which are all within walking distance of each other. Here are a few venues you should consider exploring when staying in Yountville:

Accommodations:
North Block Hotel
Napa Valley Lodge
Bardessono
Hotel Villagio
Hotel Yountville
Maison Fleurie
Vintage House

Wine Tastings:
Chandon
Handwritten Wines
Hill Family Estate
Jessup Cellars
RH Vine Vault
Stewart Cellars
JCB Tasting Salon

Dining:
AD HOC Restaurant
Bistro Jeanty
Bottega Napa Valley
Bouchon Bistro
Coqueta Napa Valley
La Calenda
Lucy Restaurant & Bar
R&D Kitchen
Regiis Ova Caviar & Champagne Lounge
RH Yountville
The French Laundry
Bouchon Bakery
Mini Model Bakery (6am-12pm)

Don’t forget that Napa Valley Aloft launches their hot air balloon rides from the center of town, too!

The entire Valley is in bloom with mustard seed and other cover crops, and our clients are beginning to plan their upcoming trip to the Wine Country. Give us a call and we can help you navigate the abundance of choices Napa and Sonoma have to offer!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Explore the Winters With the Wineries Passport

Published on: January 5th, 2023

We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and a happy start to the new year!

We wanted to let you know about an amazing opportunity in Napa Valley. The town of Calistoga is offering their Winter With the Wineries Passport through February 5, 2023. This special opportunity allows passport holders to enjoy complimentary wine tastings at 16 Calistoga wineries, plus discounts at select Calistoga lodgings, spas and retail stores.

Considering the passport is only $75 per person, this winter event allows guests to experience all Calistoga has to offer at a very reasonable price. Advance reservations are required, and Tour Vin can help you navigate through all of the wine country venues to assure your visit is a memorable one.

Contact us at your earliest convenience – cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Wine Country Holiday Happenings

Published on: November 29th, 2022

The holiday season is upon us, and Napa Valley has gone all out in creating festive activities for the whole family. We would like to share some of these special events with you so you can begin to plan your wine country vacation!

December and early-January activities to get on your calendar include:

Santa Train Jolly Journeys: During the month of December, Napa Valley Wine Train rides include a special holiday menu, snacks for the kids and, of course, wine!

Nickel & Nickel Winery Holiday Group Tour and Tasting: Available during December, go behind the scenes of the winemaking journey during this festive holiday walking tour, and be treated to single vineyard wines paired with cheese and accoutrements.

Breakfast with Santa: Here, the youngsters can enjoy a great breakfast with Santa at the Silverado Resort & Spa. Available Saturday, December 3, 10 and 17.

Merryvale Vineyards Annual Holiday Dinner: On December 10, a special sit-down dinner crafted by Chef Nash of Tre Posti will be paired with Merryvale library wines throughout the evening. Dinner will end with a live band to dance the night away!

Carneros Resort and Spa New Years Eve Celebration: Guests can enjoy special chef station cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Jeffrey Jake and complemented by an open bar. After a wonderful dinner, dancing will go on until midnight to ring in the new year!

There are many other holiday activities over the next couple of months so contact us for more details.

Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season – cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Fine Dining at La Toque

Published on: October 28th, 2022

When it comes to dining, the wine country offers many incredible options from which to choose. Our clients have different cuisine preferences, so we at Tour Vin help them choose the best the wine country has to offer based on their individual tastes.

Whether its Italian, French, American, Mexican or Mediterranean, we make sure our clients’ dining experience is memorable. One of the things we pride ourselves on is that we have eaten at each and every restaurant we recommend, so we can properly communicate the dining experience to our clients.

Most recently our clients were in Napa celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary and were looking for that “special place.” We offered them three different options and they chose La Toque for their final night in the wine country. As always, La Toque didn’t disappoint!

With more and more wineries offering wine tastings paired with small bites, it is essential for us to consider the clients’ favorite foods and dietary considerations. Here again, we visit these wineries personally so we can accurately explain the tasting experience.

Autumn is a great time to visit the wine country. Smaller crowds and lower hotel/B&B rates makes the visit more affordable. Contact us to help plan your next wine country visit – Napa and Sonoma are waiting!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge

Tour Vin – Tasting All There Is to Enjoy at Costeaux French Bakery

Published on: September 29th, 2022

While walking through Healdsburg, we came upon the famous Costeaux French Bakery. The popularity of this wonderful establishment is evident by the huge crowd that forms early in the morning.

Established in 1923, these folks offer breakfast, lunch, cakes and boxed lunches. They open at 7:30 a.m., so we advise getting there as early as possible. Also, if you are wine tasting in the area, we recommend ordering a boxed lunch (order two days in advance) that can be enjoyed in between wine tastings! If you are stopping in at the Santa Rosa location, they suggest ordering lunch three days in advance.

Here is a sample of the menu:

Breakfast:

• French toast
• Eggs and bacon
• Costeaux deep dish quiche
• Costeaux

Lunch:

• French onion soup
• Grilled chicken, breakfast or Costeaux salad
• Chicken panino, Monte Cristo, French dip and cranberry turkey sandwiches

Boxed lunches include a sandwich of your choice with a sweet treat, seasonal fruit salad and kettle chips.

If you are planning a trip to the wine country in the next few months, we suggest making reservations as soon as possible. Fall is a popular time to visit Napa and Sonoma, so contact us to help plan your next wine country vacation!

Cheers!

Ed Pollard
Tour Vin
Wine Country Concierge