wine country

Go Sideways With Author Rex Pickett In Santa Ynez

Filed under: Wine, Books

Novelist Rex Pickett just might have the best book tour ever. The author who brought us Sideways, leading to a popular movie and an epic Merlot kerfuffle, is back with a new novel, Vertical. Vertical brings us the same characters, schlubby and charmingly wine-obsessed Miles and vain but endearing Jack on a new adventure. The fortunes of both the author and his characters have changed quite a bit in the intervening years and the book is a rollicking read.

Of course there's plenty of wine involved and so Pickett has been making the rounds of both book stores and wineries. This coming weekend he's up in Oregon and future events take him to Los Angeles, New York and even London. But for the real Sideways style experience you might want to join Pickett in Santa Ynez, California at Gainey Vineyard on Friday, April 15. The event takes place between 5:30 – 8:30 pm and there is no charge. Wine will be available for sale by the glass and books will be available for purchase.

As long as you are there, why not make a weekend of it. The Sideways wine trail page has great suggestions for places to visit that are connected to the book and movie.

Tags: gainey vineyard, rex pickett, sideways, vertical, wine, wine country

A New "Vintage" at Sonoma's Applewood Inn

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

Wine country can be something of a scene these days, with enthusiasts trying fit in as many wineries as possible, swirling, spitting, purchasing -- realizing they've bought too many bottles to fit in their suitcase, frantically figuring out how to ship wine home, which sometimes requires an alcohol-soaked brain to figure out complicated interstate wine shipment regulations....

Really, it can cause more of a headache than a hangover.

One remedy for all of this is Applewood Inn in Guerneville, California -- which is in the midst of its first season under new ownership.

When you look at Sonoma County, Guerneville isn't really in the middle of it all. This chic-shabby town lies to the west of the where most of the county's wine action is, heading out towards Sonoma's (largely unappreciated) Pacific coast. Applewood is set among young redwood trees, and its award-winning restaurant and its 19 guest rooms are mostly arranged around a peaceful courtyard, complete with a fountain that trickles merrily.

Room décor is also not striving to be in the middle of anything like a current design trend, although there are flat-screen TVs, fireplaces, and so on. Think cozy country motifs, cabbage rose bed spreads, Tuscan stripe upholstered chairs, gleaming wood throughout. Indeed, new owners Carlos Pippa and Sylvia Ranyak envision something of a Tuscan theme for the property.

You'll get to know Carlos and Sylvia as they're gracious on-site managers as well as owners. Running an inn and a restaurant turns out to be their idea of retirement -- Carlos owned a business in Texas that sold parts related to industrial painting. Upon retiring, he and Sylvia loaded up their RV with motorcycles and went on a multiple-month adventure from Mexico to Rio de Janeiro. It was in the rural portions of this journey that they realized they wanted to be in a more bucolic environment than Plano. The Applewood Inn is their next act. Be sure to ask them about their South American sojourn if you go.

Gallery: Applewood Inn, Guerneville, California

Applewood's Peaceful Setting Among Young Redwood Trees

Tags: applewood inn, BedAndBreakfast, california, guerneville, sonoma, sonoma county, wine country, wine tasting, WineCountry

Last Piece of Pegasus Ranch Goes Up For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Pegasus Ranch was once over 800 acres in Northern California. Now the last parcel, around 159 acres, known as Pegasus Ranch and Fairview Vineyards is up for sale. The property is located 30 minutes north of San Francisco and there are 55 acres planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah grapes which are in the Sonoma Coast appellation. The property includes a 5,000 square foot main house, a guest house, pool, spa and barns. This property is for sale for $12 million.

Gallery: Pegasus Ranch

Tags: northern california, NorthernCalifornia, pegasus ranch, PegasusRanch, petaluma, vineyards for sale, VineyardsForSale, wine country, WineCountry

Villa Andrea, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate in California's Sonoma Valley, has a tempting feature for oenophiles, a private wine cave. Villa Andrea is on over 25 acres of land that includes a ten acre terraced Cabernet vineyard. The main house is a furnished seven-bedroom home. The property also concludes a tile pool and spa, sauna, steam room, lighted tennis court, bocce area. Three separate structures include guest accommodations, a home theater and an office. The Robb Report says that the home is available for rent through Beautiful Places for $22,000 a week or you can make it your own for $8.9 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Villa Andrea

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Tags: estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, sonoma county, SonomaCounty, villa andrea, VillaAndrea, wine country, WineCountry

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Christina Vineyards, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

If you've ever visited the wine country of Northern California I don't have to sell you on the lure of Napa. Christina Vineyards is located in the newly created Oak Knoll appellation and has 23 acres planted with Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The land is over 27 acres total and includes a 4,000 square foot main house and a barn. The three-bedroom farmhouse is located in the center of the vineyard for gorgeous views of your domain. It is listed at $8.8 million. After the jump, a lovely corkscrew of a staircase.

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Tags: california, estate of the day, napa, napa valley, oak knoll, vineyard for sale, wine country

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California Wine Hikes

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

Tours through wine country don't need to be a decadent limo tour through the wineries (although that's nice too). A California-based tour company offers wine hikes that tour through some of California's most beautiful spots. A tour that winds up at the Testarossa winery includes a six-mile hike with a 1300 foot elevation gain. The hike takes you along the trails of the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, reaching a ridge top at 2,628 feet with views over the Santa Clara Valley. The hike includes a buffet lunch with wine service at the old Novitiate Winery, where Testarossa Vineyards is located. The tour includes trail snacks, bottled water, tasting fees, gourmet lunch served at the winery, transportation, and guided hike. The hike costs $160.

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Tags: napa, santa clara, sonoma, vacations, wine country, wine tours, WineCountry, wineries