Spring 2015

For over 20 years, Touring & Tasting has been the Premier Guide to Wine Country. You can always rely on us to show you the way in both our magazine and our website.

Contents

20 Great Wines that Say Cheers from Sonoma County

In honor of Touring & Tasting’s 20th anniversary, we asked wineries across beautiful Sonoma County to join us in a toast with their finest celebration wines. Here's how they're saying “Cheers!”

20 Insider Tips from the San Francisco Bay Area

Beyond cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge, the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area is full of intriguing and sometimes offbeat things to do. In honor of our 20th Anniversary Platinum Year, we pooled our favorite insider resources and came up with 20 tips to use as you plan your next visit.

A Foodie Tour Through Beautiful Santa Ynez Valley

Over the foothills just north of Santa Barbara lies Santa Ynez Valley, a wine country replete with natural beauty, distinctive wines, and— as I’ve recently discovered—many fabulous eateries.

Adventuring in Southwest Idaho

Spanning far more real estate than any valley, county, or region, Southwest Idaho encompasses 30,000 miles of rugged mountains, rushing rivers, silent deserts, stately forests, friendly towns, and the culture-driven capitol city of Boise.

Behind the Bar in the Sierra Foothills

One of the many pleasures of wine touring in the Sierra Foothills is the relaxed, convival attitude we find in its tasting rooms.

Celebrating in Classic California

This Classic California beach town sits halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco along the legendary Pacific Coast Highway 1 and Highway 101. It’s easy to reach and easy to love. The people are friendly, the prices are affordable, and the scenery is absolutely awesome.

Cheers & Bon Appétit from Santa Barbara County

Often reffered to as one of the most beautiful communities in the world, California's Santa Barbara County is noted for many things: excellent wines, innovative cuisines, Spanish-style architecture, lush foliage, a termperate climate, and spectacular beaches.http://www.touringandtasting.com/recipes/desserts/Rideau-bread-pudding/

Creative Juices in Paso Robles

Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the once sleepy farming community of Paso Robles, California has awakened over the past 20 years. It is now widely known as an innovative region where creativity flows as freely as the wine.

Dry Creek Valley Passport Weekend

Touring & Tasting's Editor in Chief, Wendy van Diver, highlights the Dry Creek Valley's annual Passport Weekend in this lively Tour Journal feature. 

Faces Behind Willamette Valley Wine

In the relatively short 40 years that Oregon’s stunning Willamette Valley has been growing winegrapes, it has emerged as one of the nation’s most highly regarded viticultural areas, particularly for its Pinot Noir, broadly described as elegant, cellar worthy, and full of finesse.

For the Love of Trains, Cuisine, and the Napa Valley

In the quarter century that the Napa Valley Wine Train has been operating, it has found a place in the hearts of thousands who have climbed aboard to dine in its authentic, beautiful cars.

Kentucky Beckons

If you don’t already know this, it’s time you do: The beautiful state of Kentucky is home to America’s first successful commercial vineyard and winery.

Mount Konocti: Lake County's Mighty Treasure

On the western shore of California’s massive Clear Lake, a magnificent 4,300-foot volcano casts a majestic presence against the sky.

Napa Valley's Standout Tasting Rooms, Part Two

In our last issue, we introduced you to 15 of the Napa Valley’s more than 500 wineries offering outstanding tasting experiences. We only tapped the surface! Here are 15 more.

New Tastes from Traverse City

Traverse City, Michigan has long been known for its natural beauty and agricultural bounty.

Perfect Pairings from Washington State

When it comes to pairing food with wine, our basic rule is to extend the flavors you find in a food with the flavors you find in a wine, or vice versa. Here are some wonderful wines from Washington with perfect pairing ideas to get you started.

Renaissance in Livermore Valley

There’s a modern day movement underway in Livermore Valley wine country. After centuries upon centuries of making significant contributions to America’s wine industry, this resilient wine region in the heart of San Francisco’s Tri-Valley is getting the respect it deserves— and it’s going for more.

SLO Winemakers Going Coastal

There’ s an incomparable place along California’s Central Coast known as San Luis Obispo (SLO) Wine Country , where mountains, valleys, and ocean converge. Here, the coastal influence provides one of the longest grape-growing seasons in the world. It also provides a boundless resource for outdoor coastal recreation.

The Wonders of Woodinville Wine Country

Just 20 miles Northeast of downtown Seattle, Woodinville Wine Country greets visitors with open arms. The Woodinville wine region is currently home to more than 90 wineries and tasting rooms (a number that’s increasing rapidly), but that’s only the beginning.

Touring the World in Lodi

Lying at the edge of the Sacramento River Delta, just two hours east of San Francisco, Lodi, California enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate, ideal for growing wine grapes.

Trending Now in San Francisco's Tri-Valley

Just 30 miles east of Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco’s Tri-Valley is a milieu for anyone eager to discover and explore. This beautiful confluence of three valleys holds five cities: Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon, Dublin, and the town of Danville.