Why Visit St. Helena in the California Wine Country?

My last trip to this quaint little town was during the fall wedding of my cousin Sandy. She got married in the charming Catholic Church in town. They have several weddings all day Saturday and Sunday and each bridal couple has exactly 30 minutes for their "people" to go in and decorate the church. Their priest joked this is a "byop" church because every couple has to "bring your own priest. "

St. Helena, about 60 or 70 miles north of San Francisco, is a very busy little town going right through the wine country so on weekends it's very crowded. There is much to do in this picturesque little town - unique and fun shops, art galleries, entertainment, adorable B & B's to stay in, numerous eateries and most of the area wineries do not charge for tasting.

Following Sandy and Kevin's wedding we proceeded to the Culinary Institute of America where we enjoyed a wonderful reception. We were in what is probably considered a wine "cave," upstairs in a grey, stone building. The room we were in was very long with high, high ceilings and rather dim during the cocktail hour (for some reason they didn't turn on all the lights until we sat down to dinner). It had beautiful, narrow windows overlooking the grounds, parts of St. Helena and the surrounding area. Because it was a stone building, it was very cool in the room. The food and service was excellent and there is a gift shop and public restaurant on the ground floor. I would heartily recommend it for a wedding reception or other private function.

Main Street is the first place you'll want to head when you get into town. In only three short blocks, you'll find yummy and locally made gourmet chocolates, unique fur fashions, foot candy (that's shoes to you and I), hand crafted items, casual and elegant restaurants and more. You might check out Lolo's - it's an upscale consignment shop that is a lot of fun. A visit to the Napa Soap Company will prove interesting and you'll find wonderful hand-crafted soaps, gift baskets, natural cleansers for your kitchen and other gift items.

In addition to sampling wine and visiting the area wineries, and dining in great restaurants and shopping, there is still much more to do in the area. You can bicycle, or even take a bicycle tour of the area, go hot air ballooning, go horseback riding, enjoy the wine train, and other activities. Visit sthelenacyclery.com for further information on renting bicycles. There is also the River Rock Casino is you're interested in casino gaming. It's in Geyserville and can be a fairly long drive through traffic when it's crowded with tourists during the summer, the crush and on many weekends. (Check out riverrockcasino.com for details.)

If you enjoy having superb wine paired with marvelous foods, you might check into the various "wine and dine" tours that are available in the area. Wine and Dine Events not only does events and tours in the California Wine Country, they are an international company, with tours in Europe, South America and Australia. Located right in St. Helena, it was founded in 1990 as a unique tour and event planning company by former Napa Valley Chef, David Mitchel. (Visit wineanddinetours.com for more information.

If you're there on Friday afternoons between 2pm - 4pm, be sure to visit Grgich Vineyards to enjoy their barrel tasting. Family-owned since 1977, they're best known for their Cabernet, Chardonnay, Fumé Blanc, Merlot, and Zinfandel. Their tasting room is open daily and is just north of Rutherford on Hwy. 29.

And, Merryvale Vineyard's tasting cellar is right on Main Street near Tra Vigne Restaurant. Enjoy wine tasting daily, weekend seminars with a tour included, wine and food pairings on the 4th weekend of every month, and barrel tastings the 2nd Saturday and Sunday every month. (merryvale.com has details.)

Nestled into a beautiful, secluded parcel of land in St. Helena is Meadowood, a spectacular resort celebrating over 40 years of hospitality and tradition. Originally built as a private club in 1964, 25 years later it became the place to stay for visitors to this area. Today its classic architecture and a large variety of amenities and resort activities serve the area very well. Where else will you find a golf pro, croquet pro, a tennis pro, and a cultural affairs director on staff?

Scattered over the 250 acres of forested hillside, you'll find their suites, lodges and cottages all tastefully decorated with modern amenities. The Hillside Terrace boasts a wood burning fireplace, king bed, bathroom with soaking tub, a private balcony and magnificent views of the wooded hillside. And, there are at least five other styles of rooms plus suites at Meadowood. When you do leave your comfy room or cottage, there is plenty to do. On the premises you'll find a spa, a fitness center with certified trainers and weekly aerobic classes, an adult whirlpool, family and adult swimming pools, a nine hole golf course, two croquet lawns, tennis courts and ball machines, and, finally, a hiking trail called "The Meadowood Loop," a 4.5 mile trail which meandering through the mountains encircling the property.

The Wine Country Inn is a charming European-style and Breakfast perched on a knoll overlooking manicured vineyards in St. Helena. Offering 24 beautifully appointed rooms and 5 luxury cottages, you'll find many amenities to make your stay very hospitable. Their antiques, family-made quilts, balconies and fireplaces create an ambience of luxurious comfort. Each morning you'll receive a complimentary gourmet breakfast, and each afternoon you'll be treated to a complimentary evening wine social, complete with appetizers. There is also a spa on the property. There are many other motels and hotels in the area but please book early as this is a very popular tourist area.

Have a grape time.