Gourmet California
San Francisco, Napa Valley and Sonoma ValleyThis luxury culinary road trip through Northern California includes cooking classes at Cavallo Point, meet-the-wine-maker experiences in Sonoma and Michelin-star restaurant reservations in the renowned Napa Valley.
Journey highlights
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Possible year-long but best May through November with Autumn being wine harvest
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Indulge in chef-led cooking classes in San Francisco and the Napa Valley
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Reservations secured for you in advance at the best restaurants
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Stay in luxurious, intimate hotels in the heart of world-famous wine country
- Culinary itinerary:A gastronomic delight, our Culinary Journeys take you on a cultural voyage, sampling everything from traditional bites to fine dining delicacies
Our tailor made journeys include:
- Your dedicated Travel Consultant who will take care of arrangements
- Private international airport transfers in destination
- Your own private, English-speaking local guides
- Unique experiences, hand-picked by our Journeys team
- Entrance to must-see local sites
- Dedicated 24/7 team providing in-country support and guidance
- Complimentary access to My Scott Dunn – industry-leading travel app providing pre-departure information and in-journey support
When to visit
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Like most California destinations, you can’t go wrong when picking a time of year to visit. San Francisco is warmest from May through to October although does experience some cool fogs during the summer months that usually clear fairly quickly but can bring a chill to the air for a while.
Being inland, Sonoma and Napa Valley benefit from much higher summer temperatures than the cool coast, and is a year-round destination but best from April to October.
At the vineyards, September is typically the harvest month, although some varieties may be picked through October and November. Vineyards will be bare from December through February, with new buds returning in March and coming into full bloom by June. Summer temperatures reach up to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit / 26 degrees Celsius during the day, and cool off to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit / 26 degrees Celsius in the evenings, so you’ll want to bring a variety of clothes and dress in layers. The region averages around 200 days of sunshine per year, so you should have plenty of good weather to enjoy the outdoors.
Price Guide: (per person based on double occupancy and excludes international flights)
| Departing |
Price from*
|
Deposit from * | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | GBP £5,800 | GBP £900 | plan your trip |
| February | GBP £5,800 | GBP £900 | plan your trip |
| March | GBP £5,800 | GBP £900 | plan your trip |
| April | GBP £5,800 | GBP £900 | plan your trip |
| May | GBP £6,600 | GBP £1,000 | plan your trip |
| June | GBP £6,600 | GBP £1,000 | plan your trip |
| July | GBP £7,400 | GBP £1,100 | plan your trip |
| August | GBP £7,400 | GBP £1,100 | plan your trip |
| September | GBP £7,400 | GBP £1,100 | plan your trip |
| October | GBP £7,400 | GBP £1,100 | plan your trip |
| November | GBP £5,800 | GBP £900 | plan your trip |
| December | GBP £5,800 | GBP £900 | plan your trip |
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January
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £5,800
Deposit from*GBP £900
-
February
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £5,800
Deposit from*GBP £900
-
March
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £5,800
Deposit from*GBP £900
-
April
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £5,800
Deposit from*GBP £900
-
May
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £6,600
Deposit from*GBP £1,000
-
June
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £6,600
Deposit from*GBP £1,000
-
July
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £7,400
Deposit from*GBP £1,100
-
August
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £7,400
Deposit from*GBP £1,100
-
September
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £7,400
Deposit from*GBP £1,100
-
October
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £7,400
Deposit from*GBP £1,100
-
November
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £5,800
Deposit from*GBP £900
-
December
Price from *
- Pricing is a guideline only, is based on two people sharing and excludes special offers.
- Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year, festivals and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
- Solo traveller pricing is available upon request.
GBP £5,800
Deposit from*GBP £900
- plan your trip
Itinerary
San Francisco
Your journey starts in San Francisco. Instead of staying in the heart of this vibrant city, head North across the Golden Gate Bridge to Cavallo Point. Nestled almost underneath the famous bridge, Cavallo Point offers a historic feel and a peaceful atmosphere, yet is still within easy reach of the city, either by road or by ferry from neighbouring Sausalito.
During your stay at the hotel we have included a private food tour in San Francisco where you can explore and taste your way around the different culinary neighbourhoods of the city. Once back at your hotel you can visit the Murray Circle Restaurant, one of the Bay Area's top dining destinations, where you can enjoy delicious dishes on the historic porch with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Just across the bridge, Gourmands will delight at Michelin-starred restaurants Saison or Benu, or simply enjoy all the artisan food merchants at the Ferry Building from delicious ice-creams to fresh oysters or clam chowder and sour dough at Fisherman's Wharf.
Accommodation: Cavallo Point Lodge ( 4 nights )Napa Valley
Next stop is Napa Valley. This famous wine growing region boasts the finest farm-to-fork restaurants and a veritable feast of culinary delights to wow enthusiasts. Stay at North Block Hotel in Yountville and it is a 5-minute walk to the infamous Michelin-starred French Laundry, where we can assist you with getting a much sought after reservation. With multiple tasting rooms, the V Marketplace and indulgent eateries such as Bouchon Bakery all right on your doorstep, this really is an ideal location. North Block's own Italian restaurant is run by James Beard Award nominee chef Richard Reddington and features daily changing seasonal menus.
Whilst in Napa you can visit the Culinary Institute of America or explore the gourmet markets at Oxbow and St Helena. We have included a cooking class in Napa and a trip on the "Napa Wine Train" on a tasting journey through the valley.
Accommodation: North Block Hotel ( 3 nights )Sonoma
The final stop on this gourmet extravaganza is the stunning Sonoma Valley. The valley boasts famous wineries and rising newcomers off the country roads, many of which are still small enough that the owners themselves will show you around. We can arrange a day with our expert wine-buff where you'll rendezvous at Farmhouse Inn before heading to The Barlow to meet a beer sommelier and taste local produce. Next stop is a meeting with a local bio-dynamic producer at Littorai where they produce award-winning vintages for the worlds best restaurants, before tasting the different wines at swanky MacRostie vineyard with a stunning vineyard view, just in time for sunset.
The Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, in addition to offering romantic accommodations, has a Michelin starred chef & restaurant, world class maitre d' and master sommelier to ensure the ultimate in gastronomic delight. Each morning your day will start decadently with a three course breakfast served farm-to-table, that is an experience in itself.
Return to San Francisco, your senses enriched and bags filled with fine wines to take home to reminisce on a wondrous trip to this beautiful area.
Accommodation: Farmhouse Inn ( 3 nights )Call us on 020 3993 8245 to start planning your holiday.
Why Scott Dunn?
At Scott Dunn, we live and breathe travel. An insatiable appetite to discover the world runs through everything we do. We relish the planning and revel in the detail. We know it’s the smallest touches that make the biggest difference, and we stop at nothing to make every trip not only exceptional but totally unique.
- Every itinerary is crafted from scratch, based around exactly what’s important to you
- Packed full of unique experiences, hand-picked by our journeys team
- Expert local guides enrich your experience in every destination
- Your own dedicated Travel Specialist who will take care of every detail of your trip
- We have a 24/7 team providing in-country support and guidance
- We offer flexibility and financial protection to give you total peace of mind