After a long busy day of Sonoma barrel tastings, our party of four spent the late afternoon on the patio at Domaine Careneros. Nothing beats the spectacular views, friendly service, and a glass or two of Le Reve.

New to the San Fran area my husb and I have done a lot of exploring.
Our favorite way to spend a Sunday is visiting wineries in Napa. We recently ventured to Domaine Carneros and fell in love with the beautiful views from the terrace. Most of Calif you can not light a cigarette even outside. Carneros has lovely tables that cover the terrace, split into outdoor smoking and non-smoking sections. Inside is inviting with the gift shop and more tables. You may have appetizers served to you. Wonderful Napa fare paired with either the Wine or the Champagne tastings. But the best part is the view. The rolling hills with vineyards on the horizon, a breathtaking garden that lines the main staircase. It's a must see!

We visited the winery on an afternoon in early April, just as the grape flowers were emerging. As the two of us were the only ones who had arrived within the past hour or so, we had a more private tour than many folks would have. Our guide was delightful and informative, so much so that our curiosity paid off by being satisfied with access to areas normally off-limits to tours. The champagnes and pinot noirs were delightful, especially their top-of-the-line pinot noir. Overall, it was as enjoyable an afternoon as I could ever wish for with my clothes on.