Q&A: Napa and Sonoma in December

Jim Wilson/The New York Times
 
The Benziger Family Winery, in Glen Ellen, Calif.

Q:

My sister and I are thinking about taking our mom to the wine country for her birthday in December. Is this a good time of year? And how do I even begin to determine where to stay and what vineyards to visit?

Brooke Barrett,
Dallas

A:

There isn’t really a bad time to visit Napa and Sonoma Valleys. By going in December, when the weather is wet and mild, you avoid the heat, crowds and prices of the summer season. As for where to stay and vineyards to visit, you can consult the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley travel guides for archived articles and reviews.

For a first-time visit, you may want to sample tried-and-true picks like the Benziger Family Winery in Glen Ellen in Sonoma and Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, with a new art gallery included in Jaime Gross’s “Fine Art Meets Fine Wine in Napa Valley” (Oct. 4, 2009). But there are noteworthy others, like Green Truck Cellars (www.greentruckcellars.com), described in Chris Colin’s “36 Hours in Napa Valley” (Feb. 10, 2008) which encourages exploring on your own.

For accommodation in Napa, Mr. Conlin recommended the Indian Springs Resort and Spa (www.indianspringscalistoga.com) in Calistoga, River Terrace Inn (www.riverterraceinn.com) in Napa, and Auberge du Soleil (www.aubergedusoleil.com) in Rutherford.