Gourmet California
San Francisco, Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley
based on 10 nights inc. flights & selected experiences
Price Guide:
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JanLow
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FebLow
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MarLow
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AprLow
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MayMid
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JunMid
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JulHigh
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AugHigh
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SepHigh
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OctHigh
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NovLow
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DecLow
* Pricing is a guideline only and excludes special offers. Travel over peak periods (e.g. Christmas, New Year and other public holidays) can affect prices considerably, as can exchange rates, flight class and room type.
Price includes:
International economy flights and taxes from the UK
Accommodation
Car rental
Exclusive small-group cooking class in the Napa Valley
Napa wine train experience with tastings
Private Food Tour in San Francisco
Gourmet breakfast included at Farmhouse Inn
Based on 2 people sharing.
At a Glance
Possible year-long but best May through November with Autumn being wine harvest
Indulge in chef-led cooking classes in San Francisco and the Napa Valley
Reservations secured for you in advance at the best restaurants
Stay in luxurious, intimate hotels in the heart of world-famous wine country
Fine wines, spectacular food, indulgent spas and outdoor adventure
Small, interesting towns to explore from laid-back Healdsburg to chic Yountville
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
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.
Insider's View
"The best wine is most transparent of where it comes from" - i.e. drinking wine among the vineyards it comes from when on holiday always tastes so much better!
If you prefer not to self drive, we can organise a driver to transfer you into wine country and then one of our wine-experts can pre-organise chauffeur driven wine tours tailored to your interests! Bikes are also a fun way to get around the Napa Valley...
Work off all the culinary indulgence of San Francisco with Cavallo Point's morning hikes and historical tours!
We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you. Call us on 020 3993 8245 to start planning your holiday.
Itinerary
This 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.
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Days 1-5: 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)
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Days 5-8: 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)
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Days 8-11: 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)
Experiences
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Fly High above the Napa Valley
Soar 2000 ft above the sun-dappled valley during a sunrise hot air balloon ride. After a wake-up coffee and pastries, board your colourful balloon for a guided tour with a difference - your pilot will point out Napa's best vineyards and places to visit.
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Napa Valley Sip and Cycle Experiences
The Napa Valley Sip & Cycle tour is a fun and unique way to experience the beautiful wine country. Each tour can be customised to include a hike into the hills, a stop or two at various wineries and accommodate varying degrees of difficulty.
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Napa Wine Train
Guests aboard the Wine Train enjoy a freshly prepared lunch or dinner inside a fully restored 1915-1917 Pullman Dining Car or 1952 Vista Dome car on a three-hour, 36 mile round trip through the sun-dappled vineyards of the Napa Valley.
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Wine Tasting In Napa
Napa produces some of the world’s most notable new world wines, and spending time in the Napa Valley, the Russian River Valley and Sonoma is very rewarding for enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
Location
San Francisco, Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley
- 100% financial protection
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- Firsthand knowledge
- Renowned service
- Award-winning tour operator
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