BIZ TRAVELER

NAPA AND SONOMA WINE COUNTRY

CASEY STRINGER

Chief winemaker, Stringer Cellars

In 2011, the Stringer family began making wine in their garage in Mequon. The passion project grew into a business – still based in the Milwaukee area today – and production was relocated to California in 2017. Prior to permanently moving there two years later, Casey Stringer would voyage out to wine country once, sometimes twice, a month from Milwaukee. He offers these suggestions when making the trek. n

TRANSPORTATION:

“I always found it easiest to fly into Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport instead of San Francisco. It is a small airport that is right in the heart of Sonoma wine country. Plus, you avoid the potential for horrible San Francisco traffic, and it’s only a half-hour drive over the mountain into Napa Valley.”

EXCURSIONS:

“You’re coming for wine, right? I recommend hiring a driver for a few days to take you around to your winery visits. Not only does a driver get you around safely, but they have ins at smaller, off-the-beaten-path wineries that others don’t even know about. Keep in mind that Sonoma wineries often have more varied wines, including Pinot Noir and Zinfandel – and in Napa, Cabernet is king! I would also recommend taking an afternoon off wine to check out the Sonoma Coast.” ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD:

“Where to even start? Napa/Sonoma is arguably the food and hospitality capital of America, so you really can’t go too wrong. My favorite town to make my home base for a trip is Calistoga, at the very north end of Napa Valley. You can easily get over to Sonoma from there and explore all of the Napa Valley to the south. I recommend staying at the Indian Springs Resort, grabbing one of the provided bikes for the day and exploring the countless wineries right around town. I would then hit the pool before eating dinner at Sol Bar, my favorite restaurant in the whole valley.”

TRAVEL TIP:

“Don’t try to pack too many things into one day. It is a really big area and often the distances between wineries and restaurants are a bit of a drive. I would also recommend visiting in March or April. It’s a quiet time around here, so reservations are easier to come by and I think it’s the most beautiful.”

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