North of the San Francisco Bay, the land seems to exhale. The surge of Bay Area traffic disappears, giving way to what surfers call the “outside set”: creamy waves of golden hills as legendarily tranquil as a double dose of Xanax. Taken together, Napa and Sonoma offer a glorious in-state option to Tuscany, Bordeaux, or Cork. Yet choosing one over the other for a getaway can be a Rorschach test of likes and dislikes...
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Where the grapes will be depends on when you visit. Here, a farmer’s almanac
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Chefs Thomas Keller, Josiah Citrin, and David Myers name their favorite wine country destinations
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Ryan Sweeney, owner of L.A.’s Surly Goat bar, taps his top vineland brews
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What makes Napa mud so special?
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You have the wine covered. Now you need some cheese for that picnic. Norbert Wabnig, proprietor of The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, recommends a few local celebrities
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Where to visit? Osteria Mozza wine director Jeff Porter and Cut beverage director Dana Farner help you choose
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Exploring Napa and Sonoma one stop a time, plus four shady spots away from the vineyards where you can plan a picnic
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