March and April give us their fair share of rain, and it seems this year we’ve had more than ever !  I get cabin fever when it rains, so whenever the sun peeks through, I love to take long drives down country roads and explore the rural terrain. 

Usually I make my way to downtown Sonoma for a stroll and a day in the park.  Whenever I take a drive, I always bring my camera !  Here’s a few of my favorite photos of a country drive to Sonoma.

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I’m sitting here at my laptop completely exhausted from having started and half finished five different projects today.  Thank goodness for a good glass of red wine at day’s end.  I’ll be featuring some of these projects this week, but first I must share with you the final stop we made on our weekend getaway to Napa over the Labor Day holiday. 

I was fortunate enough (in my pre-baby lifetime) to have traveled to several different European countries.  Upon return, I always said that one of the nicest things about living in the Wine Country is how reminiscent it is of many of those European regions I’ve toured. In winter, Sonoma’s hills are so green, it’s like Ireland and Northern France.  In summer, the dry hills, vineyards, and countless wineries of Napa remind one of southern France or Tuscany. 

One such place that is sure to transport one to Italy is Castello di Amorosa in the Napa Valley. 

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One of my favorite books, A Tale of Two Valleys, humorously chronicles the history of the two most prominent Northern California Wine Country counties, Napa and Sonoma.  From a visitor’s point of view, the book fuels the ongoing fiery debate as to which county has more to offer its residents and visitors.  Mr. CG and I are Sonoma County residents, so naturally, we’re biased towards our own home turf.  But every now and then, we wander over the hills to visit Napa, and for good reason.  A weekend in Napa County is simply divine.

Graeser Winery vineyard

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This afternoon, Mr. CG and I needed to get away.  So we hired a sitter and traveled just over the hills for an afternoon jaunt to the Carneros appellation for some sipping and savory cuisine.  The Carneros region crosses over both Sonoma and Napa counties in the California wine country.  It is a cooler climate, known for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and sparkling wines. 

First stop, Domaine Carneros, a world renowned artisanal winery, famous for its sparkling wines. 

Image via Domaine Carneros website 

Located on the border of Napa county, the tasting room sits atop a knoll surrounded by vineyard and formal gardens, like a chateau transported right from Europe.  My pictures do not do this place justice.  Check out their site to see it’s true beauty.  Sometimes I need to pinch myself in places like this.     

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For Father’s Day, Mr. CG wanted to go wine tasting and have a picnic at some of our favorite wineries along the Highway 12 corridor that connects Kenwood to Glen Ellen in Sonoma.  Ah, June.  The sunshine could not have been more perfect today. 

Our first stop was Ledson Winery, known to the locals as ‘The Castle’.  This Gothic French-Normandy structure

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