Views of Napa Valley

A trip to Northern California is incomplete without a stop in the infamous Napa Valley. Though our long weekend in San Francisco was brief, we made sure to schedule in a day trip to wine country with Tower Tours. Aside from the obviously amazing wine, this area is worth the visit for its sheer beauty. With sweeping vineyard views and not a high-rise in sight, the Napa Valley is the perfect destination for a serene getaway. On this tour we visited three lovely wineries, all of which I'm sharing below (as promised in my last post).

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Madonna Estate

Our first stop was to Madonna Estate, a small winery run through several generations by the Bartolucci family. We were initially taken into the cellar to learn tasting etiquette before heading out to the vineyards to enjoy some glasses. To no surprise, the rosé was my favorite.

Sutter Home Winery

Sutter Home is no stranger to grocery and liquor stores around the country, so it was a nice stop on this tour to experience the wine behind-the-scenes. The winery is situated along with a lovely garden for a pleasant tasting experience. Shortly after this tour we stopped by Sonoma Plaza for lunch -- I highly recommend  spending more time in this area if you have time, as there is a variety of unique shops and restaurants.

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards

This was by far my favorite visit on the tour, largely for the classically stunning vineyard views. As a vineyard focusing on champagnes, Gloria Ferrer offers a wonderful experience between refreshing tastings and a gorgeous setting. If I do return to Napa Valley (and I'm sure I will), I will absolutely be visiting more vineyards like this one.