Trip Coach: March 20, 2007

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Fairbanks, AK: What would you recommend as an excellent Cabernia Savignon from Napa Valley for under $30 that is good to drink right now? Kathy

Avital Binshtock: There are some excellent cabernet sauvignons coming out of Napa nowadays at a lower price point. Keep in mind that the Stags Leap District is really Napa's area known for cabernet, so wineries like Clos du Val, and Baldacci (in particular, ITS 2003 IV Sons Cabernet Sauvignon) and have superb cabernet sauvignons for $30 or less per bottle.
From other Napa regions, I also recommend Robert Mondavi's 2004 Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a fruity, versatile blend that's, stunningly, only $11. To be fair, the grapes in this one were grown primarily on the Central Coast (i.e., not Napa), but Mondavi is indeed a Napa-based winery. You'll have to dole out a bit more cash -- $28 -- for Franciscan Oakville Estate's 2003 cab, but it's definitely a wine to savor.
You'd do well to consider Sonoma wines as well: Chateau St. Jean has a 2003 offering that's complex, deep and lingers satisfyingly -- and it's only $27. And Ravenswood's 2003 vintage is, if you like strength in wine, another excellent and affordable choice, at just $18.

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Indianapolis, IN: Hello, I have a group of 5 girls (median age 30 years old) who are going to the Napa valley for the first time. We are flying into SFO on 3/29/07 and will be there for 3 nights. We are staying at the Vino Bello Resort in Napa. We have many questions. First...what is the best route of transportation to take us from the airport to our hotel... or should we just rent a car? Next, what wineries??!! Should we hire a driver? We will be there Thurs. afternoon, Friday, and Saturday. Anything else to do besides drink wine?? We like to go dancing and drink wine too. Thank you for any reccomendations.

Avital Binshtock: What fun! I'm right around that age category too, so you're asking the right gal. To address your first question, in my opinion, you should rent a car and drive into wine country from the airport. Since there's barely any useful public transportation in Napa, it's almost impossible to explore the region without wheels. So you might as well rent right at the airport -- if you book online via rental-car company websites before you travel, you're likely to get better rates. If you need to, though, for $29, you can ride to Napa Valley from SFO with Evans Transportation (707-255-1559).

 
To answer your questions about which wineries, I'm going to assume that this is your first visit to wine country and refer you to my answer to the Angeleno's question above ("Which wineries would you recommend for someone who is not a wine expert, but wants to learn more about wine?"). My book would be a great tool, though, to help the five of you pick out which winery sounds most collectively appealing; see Chapter 7.

As for whether your group should hire a driver, I'd go with yes, but only on the days that you're planning to go winery to winery. I doubt that any of you would be happy abstaining during this fun time for all of you, and wine-tasting and driving go together just about as well as oil and water -- not a good idea. See my recommendations (above) for the other Angeleno who asked for the best way to get around safely.

 
Anything else to do besides drink wine? Um, yeah, there are a few more things to do in wine country besides drink wine. Only about a million other things. Ever gone hot-air ballooning? Soaked in mineral hot springs or taken a therapeutic mud bath? Dined at what's often called America's best restaurant? (That's French Laundry, for those who didn't get the reference.) Canoed down the Russian River? Strolled amidst millennia-old redwoods? Driven windswept down fabled Highway 1 to a restaurant overlooking the sea? Come face to face with a wildebeest at a safari wildlife preserve? Gotten the spa treatment of your life? Watched Old Faithful Geyser erupt? Visited the Culinary Institute of America? Wandered a lively farmer's market? Checked out a museum about Snoopy? Toured an apple or rose ranch? Sampled cheese to your heart's content? Seen California's 21st and last mission? Paid tribute at author Jack London's onetime home? Biked past countless rows of vineyards fanning by? You get the point.

As far as nightlife goes, sadly, there's not much to speak of in wine country. Hurley's in Yountville stays open until midnight for cocktails, and River Rock Casino is open 24/7, but it's in Geyserville, which is a drive from Napa. Have you considered spending a night in San Francisco? The after-dark scene there is world-class.

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Napa: Can you please recommend good bed and breakfasts?