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San Fran & wine country in Sept.

FuckmouthedRube said:
Danville and Alamo are very nice suburbs, but that's about it. Walnut Creek has very good upscale shopping and good restaurants, but SF and the Wine Country are way better. Yountville's the nicest town in Napa County (kinda a Napa version of Healdsburg). Next door neighbor, St Helena, is hardly downscale, but it's a more traditional Wine Country town with a very charming down town. One of the wine splits between Napa and Sonokma os Zin (Sonoma) vs Cab (Napa), Napa has three really good sparkling houses: Domaine Carneros (Napa), Domaine Chandon (Yountville), and Mumm's (Napa).
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Thanks to everyone for the tips. We did Domaine Chandon, and Mumm's, both of which were awesome, and stayed and rancho caymus. Great time.
 
Thanks to all for their tips and thoughts. The Platipus tour through the Russian River Valley took us to 2 very good wineries (Hannah & Martin Ray) and 2 okay wineries (Bagtallini & Porter Bass). We had dinner that night at El Molino Central which was great authentic Mexican reasonably priced. The next day was Benzinger Partner's tour (best of trip) and Flannigan up in the Bennett Valley. The last day was over to Napa & Yountville. We hit Peju, Silver Oak, & Clos Du Val. We went by Plumpjack and Opus 1 but they were just too expensive for my blood even to taste. Opus 1 wanted $45 just to taste. That night we had dinner at Cindy's Backstreet in St Helena and it was excellent. The last day we only had time for Kenwood winery but they let us taste to our hearts content (it was early Sunday) and for a giant winery they have some great offerings.

In a nutshell, well be back sooner rather than later.
 
El Molino Central is a little known gem. The owner is a Gringa who was so obsessed with Mexican food that she went to cooking school in Mexico. She started selling tamales in local farmer's markets at the Ferry Building in SF, Somona, and Berkeley. Branched out from there to a tamale factory, now employing 30+ people. She hires women from different parts of Mexico so she can offer a wide variety of Mexican regional cuisine. Restaurant is just West of Sonoma on Highway 12 in Aqua Caliente/Boyes Hot Springs. Looks like a bomb shelter, but has great food (exceptional house made guacamole). Beer and wine only and picnic tables out back. Mateo's Cocina Latina in Healdsburg is a little foo foo for a Mexican place, but they also have excellent food made from fresh local ingredients. They also specialize in artisan Tequila cocktails.

Friends of friends were in Napa last week. They've eaten at French Laundry before and called the usual two months in advance. They did get through, but were told that the restaurant would be closed for renovations. Did get a call back on the last day of their vacation and had dinner there. Said it was awesome again, but they preferred the restaurant at Meadowood, which just received its third Michelin star.
 
tiltdeac said:
Thanks to everyone for the tips. We did Domaine Chandon, and Mumm's, both of which were awesome, and stayed and rancho caymus. Great time.
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Friend of a friend works at Mumm. Apparently the SF Giants approached them about a special private label cuvee for last night's victory celebration, but Mumm turned them down.
 
Has anyone done the pairing at St. Francis? It is listed on Open Table as the #1 "restaurant" in the U.S. Headed to Sonoma the end of January with 4 other couples. Staying at the Vintner's Inn.
 
I've been to wine dinners at St Francis and they were very good, but I wouldn't characterize them as the best dinners in Sonoma County, let alone the US. I really like their wines and it's located in an awesome location.
 
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