De la bahía al viñedo: de San Francisco a la región vitivinícola de California

Heading to San Francisco? Let us help you plan your trip!

It’s easy to see why Tony Bennett left his heart in San Francisco. The compact downtown area — sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay on California’s central coast — bustles with excitement day and night. Most of its popular sites are within easy reach of one another, making it easy to explore in short order. That leaves you plenty of time to head north to taste some of the country’s best wine. We’ll show you how to enjoy a rich sampling of San Francisco and wine country offerings in one week.

Days 1 – 3: Touring San Francisco

Start your stay in San Francisco with a visit to the city’s most iconic site: the Golden Gate Bridge. Spanning the nearly 5-kilometer-wide Golden Gate Strait between downtown San Francisco and Marin County, this suspension bridge is heralded as one of the most impressive construction achievements of the 20th century.

Start your day watching the sun rise from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s historic Cliff House. Then walk 14 kilometers of the California Coastal Trail past some of the city’s most scenic places, including Lands End and the Seacliff area, to the Golden Gate Bridge.

For a different vantage point of the area, board a ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf or the Ferry Building to ride out to Alcatraz Island. Known as “The Rock,” Alcatraz was one of the most famous prisons in U.S. history. If you’re brave, sign up for the nighttime tour, which comes complete with ghost stories. Afterward, both Fisherman’s Wharf and the Ferry Building are great places to grab a bite to eat or shop for souvenirs.

If you’re looking for a more unique shopping experience, head to Union Street, which runs through the Cow Hollow neighborhood just south of the Marina District in the northern part of the city. The stores showcase everything from art and antiques to unique clothing and jewelry. Meanwhile, the funky Fillmore District south of Union Street is a great place to shop, sample cuisines from around the world and enjoy live jazz music at venues like Yoshis.

Day 4: Sampling Sonoma Valley Wines

After three busy days in San Francisco, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge about 70 kilometers to Sonoma Valley.

One of the best ways to get a taste of the Sonoma Valley is to ride the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, which transports wine aficionados to four of the region’s most popular wineries to let them sample some of the area’s tastiest vino. Trolley seating is limited, so reserve your spot in advance.

There are several wineries located within biking distance of the town of Sonoma, including the Ravenswood Winery and the Buena Vista Winery. The valley’s other notable towns, including Healdsburg and Santa Rosa, also make great starting points for vineyard walking tours. At the end of the day, kick up your feet and relax with a bottle of locally made wine and a farm-to-table meal at one of the family-owned restaurants located in and around Sonoma Square.

Days 5 – 6: Exploring Napa Valley

After a day or two exploring Sonoma, drive about 23 kilometers east to Napa, California’s best-known wine region that is home to castle-like wineries, gourmet restaurants and quaint bed-and-breakfasts.

Leave your car and your worries behind and climb aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train. This three-hour historic rail tour includes a gourmet onboard meal. There are many add-ons and packages that include private group winery tours, tastings and lodging.

Before hopping aboard the train, make a pit stop at the Oxbow Public Market, located next to the depot in downtown Napa. The market, which is open daily, is filled with eateries and local merchants selling everything from fresh produce to handmade cheeses and meats to locally roasted coffees and artisanal chocolates.

But the best way to see the Napa Valley may be to take to the skies. Numerous companies offer hot air balloon tours, allowing you panoramic views of the verdant vineyards. You’ll find tour companies operating out of Napa and Calistoga, a charming village located about 25 kilometers northwest of Napa.

Después de pasar tres largos días recorriendo San Francisco, conduce al otro lado del Puente Golden Gate, unos 70 km, para llegar a Sonoma Valley.

Una de las mejores maneras de conocer el Sonoma Valley es con el trolebús Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley, que transporta a los aficionados del vino a cuatro de las bodegas más populares de la región para que prueben los mejores vinos de la zona. Los asientos en el trolebús son limitados, por lo que es aconsejable que reserves tu lugar con anticipación.

También hay varias bodegas cercanas a las que puedes llegar en bicicleta desde la ciudad de Sonoma, como Ravenswood Winery y Buena Vista Winery. Desde otras ciudades destacadas del valle, como Healdsburg y Santa Rosa, también se pueden iniciar excursiones a pie a distintas bodegas. Al final del día, siéntate y relájate con una botella de vino local y una comida hecha con productos de campo frescos en uno de los numerosos restaurantes de familias de la zona que hay en Sonoma Square y sus alrededores.

Después de dedicar uno o dos días a explorar Sonoma, conduce unos 23 km al este hacia Napa, la región vitivinícola más conocida de California, que cuenta con bodegas que parecen castillos, restaurantes gourmet y pintorescos hoteles con desayuno.

Deja el automóvil y las preocupaciones, y toma el tren Napa Valley Wine Train. Este recorrido histórico de tres horas en tren incluye una comida gourmet a bordo. Además, si lo deseas, puedes contratar diferentes complementos y paquetes, que incluyen recorridos grupales privados a bodegas, catas y alojamiento.

Antes de subir al tren, puedes visitar el mercado Oxbow Public Market, que se encuentra junto a la estación, en el centro de Napa. El mercado está abierto todos los días y ofrece una gran variedad de restaurantes y comercios locales que venden de todo: productos frescos, queso artesanal, carnes, cafés tostados locales y chocolates artesanales.

Pero posiblemente la mejor manera de conocer Napa Valley es por los cielos. Hay numerosas empresas que ofrecen recorridos en globo aerostático, lo que te permite tener una vista panorámica de los verdes viñedos. Encontrarás empresas de turismo fuera de Napa y Calistoga, un pueblo encantador que se encuentra a unos 25 km al noroeste de Napa.