40 miles north of San Francisco, on Highway 1, the Doughty family vinters (who made vintage wine for the Grateful Dead) give their reds a complexity and richness which stems from the unique Marin micro climate. Drink the 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon then visit Marshalls to eat a dozen oysters on the beach. All set in the unique Point Reyes national seashore.

Point Reyes vineyards, Quail Hill vineyard, Marin County. The Marshalls Store boatyard and Oyster sales(415)663-1339
www.themarshallstore.com

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This very unique little valley, crammed with vineyards and beautiful houses, cannot be discovered in a single day. Following the advice of a girl who had once lived there, a friend and myself decided to start the day off at ARTESA, a discreet modern building surrounded by lovely fountains, overlooking a spectacular view of the rolling hills of Napa.

I am not a wine expert, but what I wanted to share was the warmth of the sun, the friendliness of the locals, the green and golden beauty of the view, along with the wonderful fumes of the wine, some made from vines grown from samples that came all the way from my native country, Spain. I felt as if I had been drinking from the fountain of eternal youth, life in its purest form. It was a glorious, wonderful feeling. I'll toast to that mid-February day, over and over again. Cheers.

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A beautiful winery, off the beaten track in Sonoma Valley, which is a short (2-3 hour) drive from San Francisco. The reason I choose this winery over all the others is that they are the only winery that I know of that pairs hors d'oeuvres with each wine you taste. The taste of the food really brings out the flavours of the wines, making for an enhanced wine-tasting experience. The winery is also near the gorgeous Alexander Valley, famous for its Zinfandels and its stunning scenery, much more rustic and picturesque than commercial Napa Valley.

I suggest either hiring a car in SF and spending a day driving around the area, or booking yourself onto a wine-tasting tour/limousine, obviously allowing you to sample more of the region's produce.

www.jwine.com

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