First time in Cali

Just to clarify: You are driving from San Diego up to San Francisco and beyond? Because that opens a whole can of worms of possibilities.

 

California is a big place. San Diego and Sonoma (Russian River) are at least 8 hours apart.

Sonoma and Napa, on the other hand, are less than an hour apart. So if you go to RR I'd still be sure to hit up wineries in both places. Also hit up Lagunitas in Petaluma after you cross the Golden Gate heading up that way from SF.

Tons and tons of places in SD, I'd just do a search, lots of threads on that topic.

Cheers and enjoy your trip!

 

With so many places to choose from you need to decide what you are absolutely determined to see and what you are okay with missing.

If you are genuinely going up the coast (Sequoia and Death Valley are on the other side of the state and visiting them is not conducive to a coastal drive), Sante Adairius is probably a must visit in Capitola. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is also along that way.

Pick up a stone and toss it. You'll hit a winery in the Sonoma/Napa/etc. area. Again, probably want to pick what you are dying to see. Or just take a ride through Napa. I prefer the Silverado Trail, if in that area. Less traffic. Vine Cliff was nice, by "appointment only." Which sometimes means getting to the gate and asking if they have an "appointment" available in 3 minutes. People like Duckhorn, though it's a bit dry on design. I think it's a nice one though and all the vines you drive through looks cool.

You could hit up Death Valley, Sequoia, and Yosemite on the same stretch/drive over several days. Muir is easy access heading out of San Francisco and frankly, the easiest of all those you mentioned. All the others take more effort and commitment to see.

I have never come across a brewery or winery selling shippers or giving them away, though who knows what wineries are doing these days. I never really purchased huge amounts of wine when I lived there, so I can't say for certain. Wineries will have something though; just can't say for sure what that might be. Depends on the winery, I guess. BevMo seemed to always have shippers available when I lived in CA both times. No options besides that or checking baggage.


Also. A post-trip report is always nice to see on these posts. I don't think I have read/seen one yet of all the times I have taken the time to think things out and post.

 

After you are finished getting your SD fix, here are some highlights I would hit up the coast. I'm assuming based on your wanting to hit Firestone that you'll be doing the scenic route up the 101.....

(from South to North)
Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Long Beach
Firestone, Buellton
Santa Adarius Rustic Ales, Capitola/Santa Cruz (+1)
Lagunitas, Petaluma
Russian River, Santa Rosa

About 15 minutes North of Russian River is Bear Republic in Healdsburg. *If pressed for time* my word of advice is to avoid it. Their brewpub isn't that interesting, and every time I've been there their taplist has been so-so. They do have a lot of experimental or pub-only type stuff on, but it's always to me been very english-style heavy.

-Definitely do the absolute bulk of your time in both SD and Somona area.
-If you have to stop in Santa Barbara there is actually a really good brewery called Hollister. It's not a destination brewery but it's fantastic if you happen to be there.
-I'll be the first to add (Before 50 other people do), go to Societe Brewing in SD.
-If you are going to The Bruery, you may wanna check the Angels schedule as the tasting room gets very packed a little before and after the game.

 

Definitely go to wineries in both Sonoma and Napa. The tastings are often cheaper and more laid back in Sonoma, which is why I prefer it, but they're both great. Also may as well hit Lagunitas if you're going to Russian River.

Also want to second Sante Adairius as a "must hit" and a night in Santa Cruz might be in order. Dont forget to ride the Giant Dipper!!!

Also be aware that Rare Barrel is only open Friday and Saturday for the time being.

 

If you are going to wineries and don't want crowds skip Napa and Sonoma and hit up the Central Coast region around FW BarrelWorks.

 

Be aware that Barrelworks is Friday–Sunday only.

Societe is a must. Also if you don’t know, there’s a Toronado in SD too. Get a bottle of PNC if you can – make some friends at the bar and split it.

I’d add Cellarmaker and Faction to the norcal list. IMO, those two plus Rare Barrel are the most exciting breweries in the bay area right now.

If you’re staying in Sonoma County, I’d highly recommend Lagunitas – best vibe of any brewery I’ve been to. Do a tour if you can.

Look up traffic patterns for SD and the bay area (in LA, you’re pretty much always screwed no matter where you’re trying to go and what time it is). Use Classic Google Maps, turn on the traffic widget, and drag the timer thing to 8:30 am and 5:30 pm.

 

I'm a little biased because I liver neraby, but Sequoia Nat'l Park is not to be missed.

 

What are you looking for in wine? And in wine touring?

I'll go ahead and say it. I do not like Napa. At all. Crowded uberexpensive yuppie foreigner tourist traffic hell.

I love Sonoma, but can still be a little crowdy and pricey. If you don't want to wander the countryside (which is gorgeous and fun, but can be troublesome with a ton of wine) you can walk around Healdsburg, which is possibly my favorite town in California to send travelers.

Three incredible alternatives are the Santa Maria, Paso Robles wine country (both are where Firestone Walker is) and the Gold Country (you mentioned nature and big trees and such). Gold Country is our big secret, inexpensive wines and a shitload of great wineries in beautiful rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Amador County in particular. Santa Maria is where they filmed Sideways. Paso is just outstanding with a huge variety and quite lovely, especially the coast.

Don't go to Death Valley in July, are you insane? There's a reason for that name.

Uh, did you see where that lavender farm is? Waaaaaaaaaaay in the middle of BFE shithole California. Don't do it. This one is near Firestone Barrel Room: http://www.clairmontfarms.com/

Sequoias are redwoods. Good Spots are Santa Cruz. Sequoia National Park (not much around there, through, that's a bit of a drive) and Calaveras County (Gold Country I mentioned above). Otherwise, you'll need to haul ass waaaay up the coast into Mendocino... Montgomery Woods State Park might be the closest spot of value.

 

Embarrassed that I just learned about the Google map traffic widget! The number of times I could have used this for planning, thanks!

 

Sorry - this is so big it is beyond my comprehension. How long will you be in San Diego specifically, and do you know which days you will be driving north (to address Sage's point)?

The coastal drive is a great idea, IMHO. Especially in July.

 

Oops, sorry, scratch that. I was looking at a different pin on my map, that farm isn't very far from where you are going.

 

There are Redwoods that are fairly easy to access. Just a few Miles from Santa Cruz is Big Basin
http://www.bigbasin.org/
Muir Woods in Marin
http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm
And quite a few others
http://www.redwoodhikes.com/BayArea.html

 

Definitely stop in paso robles. Great wines in the 20-40 range. Check herman story, barrel 27 (taste mcprice meyers and bodegas de edgar there as well) sextant and tablas creek to name a few.

 

Go to Yosemite, check out the Mariposa Grove Redwoods and the main Yosemite valley. There's not much beer around Yosemite & I know you said beer was priority #1, but if you skip a trip to Yosemite to drink yet another CA IPA in an industrial park, you are a moron.

I'll second Clairemont Farms for the Lavender farm, I've been there and it's nothing too special, but if the wife wants to see it, take her. It's right in the heart of Santa Barabara wine country, and near Firestone Walker Barrelworks..

 

I only do wine tastings on Sunday for this reason and most places in Sonoma and even Napa are rarely busy then. I'm sure they're even better on weekdays.

 

indeed Sequoias are a species of Redwood. I love the coastal redwoods and spent many years living amongst them, they're beautiful. But nothing truly compares to the giant sequoias you see in the park. Definitely out of the way if you're doing the coastal route though.