Experience
The Seasons
Winter
In Wine Country
When wild mustard carpets vineyards and valleys with gold, winter is an especially invigorating time of year. Rows of dormant grapevines punctuate the golden froth, gathering nourishment for their arduous journey to harvest. Their ultimate task – to fill our glasses with wonderous wine.
When rain falls and fog blankets valley floors, wrapping softly around hilltops, snuggle up to your cozy hearth. Indulge in candlelit dinners. Fill the house with song. Soak in the steaming spa tantalized by icy rain drops. Visit tasting rooms, restaurants, shops and galleries free from the crowds and the heat of summer. Shop around Sonoma Plaza and find unique offerings throughout wine country communities with distinct personalities.
Fill your holidays with wine country warmth. Festive restaurants, tasting rooms and shops welcome guests. Sparkling décor lights up streets and town centers. Sonoma Plaza and the community of Yountville are dazzling. Your home away from home offers a perfect setting for intimate dinners with family and friends. Salute!
With The New Year comes Wellness in Winter in Sonoma Valley. Visit sonomavalley.com to find spa and fitness specials to support your New Year’s resolutions.
The air in winter is fresh and crisp, creeks roar following the rains, spectacular sunsets paint the sky. Toyon berries turn red, ferns unfurl, and mushroom caps pop, accenting the lush, forested landscape. which wraps around the hills where Summers House and Haywood Vineyards Manor House nestle. On clear days view the sparkling San Francisco Bay, the city skyline and the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge towers from the Summers House deck. Capture glimpses in early morning of hot air balloons rising. Gaze over vineyards to the rolling hills with majestic Mr. Tamalpais as the sculptural backdrop. Behold breathtaking sunsets. Gather in evenings around the firepit and delight in lights that dance across the valley floor. Listen for the haunting hoots of owls, the winemaker’s ally, as they become more active during their late winter mating season. Revel in the starry sky.
Spring
In Wine Country
As dormancy retreats, vineyards vibrate with bud break. Wildflowers splash brilliant green hillsides with a kaleidoscope of color. Gardens and fruit trees burst into bloom. Birds cluster in tree branches, swooping off when intruders approach, their chirps and twitters filling the air. Hawks, ravens, turkey vultures, an occasional golden eagle, swoop and soar above valleys, vineyards and forests. The melodic voices of croaking frogs call to their mates. Watch for does and fawns crossing the road. Go slow. Wildlife abounds.
Renewal sets the stage for blissful culinary and tasting adventures. Picnics, gatherings, events, farmers markets, emerge. Taste new releases, explore fresh menus, discover art in wineries, galleries and museums, immerse yourself in film and music. Hike, bike, horseback ride, float above the valley in a hot air balloon during this time of rejuvenation. Pools are warming, spas inviting, masseuses awaiting. Take of advantage of spring before stepping into summer’s high season.
Renewal sets the stage for blissful culinary and tasting adventures. Picnics, gatherings, events, farmers markets, emerge. Taste new releases, explore fresh menus, discover art in wineries, galleries and museums, immerse yourself in film and music. Hike, bike, horseback ride, float above the valley in a hot air balloon during this time of rejuvenation. Pools are warming, spas inviting, masseuses awaiting. Take of advantage of spring before stepping into summer’s high season.
As dormancy retreats, vineyards vibrate with bud break. Wildflowers splash brilliant green hillsides with a kaleidoscope of color. Gardens and fruit trees burst into bloom. Birds cluster in tree branches, swooping off when intruders approach, their chirps and twitters filling the air. Hawks, ravens, turkey vultures, an occasional golden eagle, swoop and soar above valleys, vineyards and forests. The melodic voices of croaking frogs call to their mates. Watch for does and fawns crossing the road. Go slow. Wildlife abounds.
Summer
In Wine Country
Vines laden with ripening grapes, is the time to think ahead. Make reservations in advance for tours and tastings, restaurants, private chef dinners. Events, shows, performances, farmers markets, are at their prime. Pools are warm and welcoming. Reserve time in your schedule to relax and enjoy the kiss of sunshine, the blessing of the water. The sweet scent of jasmine, whir of hummingbirds, buzz of honey bees, dazzle of dragonflies enchant.
Dining alfresco is for most, a highlight. Many restaurants feature outdoor seating. Friends and families often cook together in the home of their choice. Grilling is for many a must. Private chefs can be a special treat. As one recent Summers House guest puts it, “We have the best view and the best table in town.”
As the end of summer approaches, Harvest Season launches. Vigilant vineyard managers and workers watch for the grapes to ripen and grow soft, testing sugar content (Brix) and acidity levels. When the time comes it is time, and there is no time to waste! The harvest is off and running.
Dining alfresco is for most, a highlight. Many restaurants feature outdoor seating. Friends and families often cook together in the home of their choice. Grilling is for many a must. Private chefs can be a special treat. As one recent Summers House guest puts it, “We have the best view and the best table in town.”
As the end of summer approaches, Harvest Season launches. Vigilant vineyard managers and workers watch for the grapes to ripen and grow soft, testing sugar content (Brix) and acidity levels. When the time comes it is time, and there is no time to waste! The harvest is off and running.
Autumn
In Wine Country
With Harvest in full swing, Autumn is the optimum time for many wine lovers to visit. Gondolas of grapes dot roadways on their way to crush. Harvest parties, harvest dinners, harvest events celebrate the season. It is the time to fully embrace this magnificent place on earth and all that it has to offer.
When harvest is hushed in October the air and light take on a mesmerizing quality. The days shorten, temperatures cool, and all things seem to be tinged with gold. The vineyards begin their journey towards winter’s rest, changing color, giving the famous fall colors of the east coast a run for their money. Deciduous trees ranging from gold to brilliant, breathtaking red, line community streets. People walking, marveling, smiling, fill streets and country roads on autumn crisp mornings. It is a beautiful time of the year in wine country. Aromas of roasting turkey and pumpkin pie waft through the air as Thanksgiving Day unfolds. Often blessed with sunshine between refreshing showers, November days can sparkle. Trees and vines begin to drop their foliage, green grass emerges, wild mustard peaks its head between the resting vines. Chilly evenings and rainfall herald the coming of winter. A new year is soon begin.
