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RESOURCES

  • WHY NAPA VALLEY?

  • DISCOVER SONOMA WINE COUNTRY

  • SELECT LODGING PARTNERS

  • EVENT CALENDARS

  • VIDEOS & READING

  • TOUR GUIDE TIPS BOOKLET / MAPS

SONOMA & NAPA VALLEY

Sonoma and Napa Valley are two of the most renowned and celebrated wine regions in the world. Knight Tours & Travel, with thirty years in the region, offers travelers a selection of resources to help you experience the best of these scenic and diverse destinations. From personalized wine tours with private tastings to ideal lodging, exquisite dining, local artisan galleries, events and activities, our tour and event planning services ensure that you get the most out of your visit.

We will provide you with a personalized experience, tailored to your individual needs, whether you're looking for a romantic getaway, educational wine-tasting tour, first time overview and more, Knight Tours & Travels has something for everyone. We also specialize in special events and outings for business groups. We are your certified TripAdvisor Destination Experts in Napa Valley and Sonoma. Contact us.

Grapes

WHY NAPA VALLEY ?

"It's expensive!" - A qualified tour service can build a visit that fits your budget.

"It's overwhelming!" - A qualified tour service is your key to the best choices.

 

Napa Valley is now California's #1 vacation destination!

Offering the BEST of:

  • World-class wine - Winning the 1976 Judgement of Paris & gold medals worldwide

  • Hospitality - Lodging choices and expert hospitality

  • Cuisine - Variety & quality, Culinary Institute of America, Michelin stars, cooking classes

  • Geography - Convenient, compact size, scenic roads, everything within a short drive

  • Easy access - Inbound flights as close a 30-minutes away (Sonoma County STS), or 1-hour via convenient Sacramento International (SMF) or Oakland (OAK).

  • Gorgeous scenery - Green and beautiful, only 1-hour from San Francisco

  • Artisanship - Craftsmen, builders, designers, artists, writers, architects, photographers, chefs, farmers - and artisans making of the world's finest wine

  • Recreation - Hot air balloons, bicycling, hiking, fishing, gliders, golf, tennis

  • Health & Wellness - Top spas, natural thermal springs, body care

  • Peace & Spirit Places - Ask for our list and locator map

  • Walkable quaint towns - Indoor markets, original shops, sidewalk cafes, galleries, antiques, farmers markets

  • Community-spirit - Civic-minded, welcoming people who care for the Valley

  • Year-round events - Harvest festivals, film festival, music festivals, open art studios, concerts, Napa Valley Marathon & 10Ks, vintage cars, parades, bike rides, porch-fest, farmers markets, Wine Train, museums

  • Environmentalism - Valley-wide Ag preserve, hillside protections, Napa Land Trust, Napa River restoration and protection, organic farming, ecology-minded people, solar-powered wineries, smart growth, sustainable tourism

  • Philanthropy - Many charities and non-profits, community support services, Napa Valley Vintners charity auctions

  • Visitor services - Professional guides, event planners, winery programs, transportation options, concierges

  • Photographer's dream - Scenery, people scenes, light, farm life, quaint towns, architecture, gardens

  • Weather - Mild year-round, Mediterranean climate, indoor-outdoor people-friendly spaces

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DISCOVER SONOMA - DIVERSE, SCENIC, CONVENIENT

Much larger than Napa Valley, Sonoma County lies between Napa and the Pacific Ocean. A diverse wine region, it consists of several distinct appellations - home to 400 small, welcoming wineries, famous brand wineries, world class wines, fine dining, scenic geography, superior hospitality and a laid-back atmosphere.

 

Sonoma Valley - anchored by the historic Sonoma Town Square with dozens of unique wineries along the scenic landscape. 

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Alexander Valley - home of Coppola Wine Center, rolling vineyards, top cabernet, surrounded by mountain scenery

 

Dry Creek Valley - microcosm of Napa, home of zinfandel and petite family-owned wineries

 

Russian River Valley - world-class pinot noir, redwoods, funky towns, charming wineries with great views

 

Healdsburg Square - Delightful hub of the three valleys. Walkable, galleries, excellent cuisine, lodging options, redwood shaded town square with music and events.

WHY NAPA VALLEY ?

"It's expensive!" - A qualified tour service can build a visit that fits your budget

"It's overwhelming!" - A qualified tour service is your key to the best choices

 

Napa Valley is California's #1 destination choice !

Here's why:

  • Best Wine - Since Winning the 1976 Judgement of Paris

  • Best hotels and hospitality

  • Best Culinary scene - Home of Culinary Institute of America and Michelin stars

  • Best access - Inbound flights as close a 30-minutes away (Sonoma County STS)

  • Best scenery - green and beautiful, only 1-hour from San Francisco

  • Best land of makers - craftsmen, builders, designers, artists, writers, architects, photographers, chefs, farmers - and the artists of the world's finest wine

  • Best recreation - hot air balloons, bicycling, hiking, fishing, gliders, golf, tennis

  • Best health & wellness - top spas, natural thermal springs, spirit and body care

  • Best walkable towns - full of original shops, sidewalk cafes, galleries

  • Best civics - community-minded, welcoming people who care for the Valley

  • Best events - harvest festivals, film festival, music festivals, open art studios, concerts, marathon, vintage cars, parades

  • Best environmental practices - protected Valley and wildlands, river protection, organic farming, ecology-minded people focused on smart growth

  • Best philanthropy - hundreds of non-profits and charitable people

  • Best visitor experiences - professional guides, event planners, winery programs

  • Best photography - scenery, people scenes, light, farm life, urban scenes

  • Best weather - mild year-round, Mediterranean indoor-outdoor climate

WHY NAPA VALLEY ?

"It's expensive!" - A qualified tour service can build a visit that fits your budget

"It's overwhelming!" - A qualified tour service is your key to the best choices

 

Napa Valley is California's #1 destination choice !

Here's why:

  • Best Wine - Since Winning the 1976 Judgement of Paris

  • Best hotels and hospitality

  • Best Culinary scene - Home of Culinary Institute of America and Michelin stars

  • Best access - Inbound flights as close a 30-minutes away (Sonoma County STS)

  • Best scenery - green and beautiful, only 1-hour from San Francisco

  • Best land of makers - craftsmen, builders, designers, artists, writers, architects, photographers, chefs, farmers - and the artists of the world's finest wine

  • Best recreation - hot air balloons, bicycling, hiking, fishing, gliders, golf, tennis

  • Best health & wellness - top spas, natural thermal springs, spirit and body care

  • Best walkable towns - full of original shops, sidewalk cafes, galleries

  • Best civics - community-minded, welcoming people who care for the Valley

  • Best events - harvest festivals, film festival, music festivals, open art studios, concerts, marathon, vintage cars, parades

  • Best environmental practices - protected Valley and wildlands, river protection, organic farming, ecology-minded people focused on smart growth

  • Best philanthropy - hundreds of non-profits and charitable people

  • Best visitor experiences - professional guides, event planners, winery programs

  • Best photography - scenery, people scenes, light, farm life, urban scenes

  • Best weather - mild year-round, Mediterranean indoor-outdoor climate

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SELECT LODGING PARTNERS

City of Napa: Napa River Inn, Archer Hotel, Napa Valley Marriott, Inn on Randolph
Yountville: The Estate: Villagio/Vintage House, Hotel Yountville, Maison Fleurie
Rutherford: Rancho Caymus Inn, Auberge du Soleil
Saint Helena: Wydown Hotel, Harvest Inn, Wine Country Inn, El Bonita
Calistoga: Calistoga Motor Lodge, Indian Springs Resort, Solage Resort, Bergson Inn
Unique Accommodations: Vineyard farmhouses, Select AirBnBs

"Tour Guide Tips - Your Best Napa Valley Visit" (24-pages) by Stan Knight

Contents

RECOMMENDED READING - - 1

PRE-TRIP PLANNING - - 1

TOUR GUIDES, TRAVEL PLANNERS - - 1

LODGING - - - 2

AIRPORTS - - 2           

GETTING AROUND - - 3

TRAVEL WITH KIDS & UNDER 21 - - 3

DINING / CULINARY / CASUAL - - 3

NON-WINE THINGS TO DO - -4

HISTORIC SITES - - 5

SPORTS / ACTIVITIES - - 5

ATTIRE - - 6

​

ABOUT WINERIES - - 7

SELECTED WINERIES / CATEGORIES - - 8

WINERY ARCHITECTURE & STYLE - - 9

WINERIES IN CONTEXT - - 10                       

ABOUT WINE TASTING - - 12

COMMON TERMINOOGY - - 13

NOTES ON NAPA VALLEY HISTORY - - 14

SUMMARY - - 16

BIO - WINE COUNTRY AMBASSADOR - - 17

MAP - - 18

NAPA VALLEY VARIETALS - - 19

REQUEST A COPY (.pdf format)

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MORE INFORMATION

"Why We Travel" by Rick Steves (You Tube)

RESOURCES - On Amazon or Ask Us  (READING)

  • "Why You Like the Wines You Like," by Tim Hanni MS

  • "Decanted - A Winemakers Journey" DVD with Napa Valley legends

  • "Romantic Napa Valley," by Autumn Milhouse

  • "From Napa With Love," by Alexis Traina

  • "A Vineyard in Napa," Shafer Vineyards and the story of Napa Valley, by Doug Shafer

  • "A Glass Full of Miracles." by Miljenko "Mike" Grgich

  • MAPS:

  • 3-D Color Map of Napa Valley & Appellations, (10"x14"), Napa Valley Vintners

  • Map of Sonoma Valley Wineries

  • Map of the Wine Road - Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River

WE CAN RECOMMEND PLACES FOR:

Fine Dining & Casual Dining
Body Wellness - Sound Immersion, Massage, Thermal Baths, Spas
Recreation - Tennis, Golf, Bicycling, Hiking, Bowling
Culinary classes & experiences
Music 
Art Galleries
Cigars
Hot Air Balloons
Silverado PGA Golf Courses, Chardonnay, Eagle Vines, Vintners 9-hole
Scenic Drives
Redwoods
Peaceful Places
Wine Blending Classes
Special Winery Events & Harvest Parties

       

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