Wine tasting in California

[GracieC]

Have just finished watching the film Sideways and it got me thinking about wine tasting holidays in California - has anyone ever been on one? Were they pricey? Any recommendations? Thanks in advance

[Pinotage]

Just fly into LA or SFO, rent a car and off you go. They all speak (a form of) English there, so you can understand what they're telling you. The wineries are well set up for receiving visitors.

There's no need to go on an organised tour, but if you want someone else to drive you around for a day, then there are plenty of US companies that will do so when you get there. But a tour bus of necessity goes to big wineries. On your own you can go to small ones.

The wine country seen in Sideways is just north of Los Angeles. Napa Valley and Sonoma are north of San Francisco.

You can print off a map of the area filmed in Sideways, marked with all the wineries visited, at this site http://www.santabarbaraca.com/prof/sideways.php This also has details of US tour operators offering 'Sideways' tours

UK company Arblaster & Clarke specialise in wine tours and have one to California, the cost includes the accompanying guide - http://www.arblasterandclarke.com/newworld-america.htm

The pound is quite high against the USD so its agood time to go

My report of my self-guided tour of northern California wine country is at http://www.winelabels.org/cal2002.htm

[mystress]

Having spent a couple of days in the Napa Valley/Sonoma area a couple of years ago, I can only concur with Pinotage.I think an organised Wine Holiday in California(if there is such a thing) would be expensive and unnecessary.

Just follow Pinotage's hints,and you cannot go wrong!

[GracieC]

Thanks to both of you for your speedy responses. I have checked out the websites - very interesting, especially your report, Pinotage.