Mondavi, Stag’s Leap – are always worthy of a vis- it, a poke around the Lake Hennessey area will reveal smaller, family-run boutique wineries where experi- mentation in varietals may prove more prevalent. If your tummy is rumbling, know that Napa Valley boasts more Michelin Stars per capita than any other wine region in the world. Continuing north west, Sonoma Valley welcomes with open arms and 17 different American Viticultural Areas. Don’t forget to pace yourself with breaks to take in some of the local art or a trip to Lake Sonoma itself or the Russian River. We recommend parking the car, stretching your legs and being humbled with a walk through the enormous Redwoods that call the region home. Continuing on towards the coast, don’t be lured too quickly by the promise of crashing surf. Route 128 winds its way through the “Petit Tetons” of Yorkville and down into the Anderson Valley where you can witness the geological transformation from mountain to valley to coast before meeting California’s storied Highway 1.
Wine to Waves (Route 128) – California California wine country is world renowned for its Michelin rated restaurants, stunning scenery and, of course, its wines. Route 128 – better known as the Wine to Waves Route – is a winding ribbon of as- phalt that takes you from the Sacramento Valley to coastal Mendocino. This road really should be some- where near the top of everyone’s list. And let’s face it, the fact that the route begins in a place named Yolo County kind of seals the deal, right? If you time it right (late August), your journey can begin with a celebration at The Earthquake Festival in Winters. The annual party is held to celebrate the town’s rise after a doublet of quakes hit the area in 1892. From Winters, your drive will take you around the southern end of Lake Berryessa before entering the Napa Valley. With more than 400 wineries calling the region home, you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to reasons to stop and perhaps spend the night. While the heavy hitters in the region – Robert
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