Food Traveler Magazine Summer 2013 | Page 44

Wine Country “Historic downtowns with locally own boutiques and shops offer unique shopping experiences.” Preservation The Napa Valley continues to be a thriving agricultural area, a unique characteristic within the San Francisco Bay Area. This is thanks to a group of concerned citizens who in 1968 had the foresight to create the first Agricultural Preserve in the United States. A land zoning ordinance voted on by a majority of the county’s citizens established agriculture and open space as the “best use” for the land within Napa County. The “Ag Preserve” designates more than 438,000 acres (177,300 hectares) within Napa County as agricultural preserve or watershed protection lands. Your private guide to the epicurean delights of Napa and Sonoma Down Time | From cooking classes to cave tours. From charcuterie to cabernet. | Pickups in San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma and the SF Bay Area. or › nf o sca re inf mo (415)754-9463 | [email protected] 42 FOOD TRAVELER | SUMMER 2013 2013SUMMER_FoodTraveler_BloomWineTours_QrtPg_0514.indd 1 November through April is Napa Valley Cabernet Season - a time when the pace slows, the wines are aging in cellars, and the local community shares in the celebration of the Valley’s natural beauty, wine, food, arts and wellness activities. Historic downtowns with locally own boutiques and shops offer unique shopping experiences. Natural geothermal springs and volcanic mud baths provide a foundation for Napa Valley’s famed spas and special regionally-inspired spa treatments. Approximately 120 wineries are open to the public (walk-in or by appointment) and offer engaging and educational tasting experiences. Outdoor activities include hot air ballooning, biking, hiking and horse riding. Culinary activities include classes at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and other venues, and the Napa Valley Wine Train. Seven golf courses are surrounded by rolling vineyards and forested nature preserves. Cultural & heritage institutions include the Napa Valley Opera House and Uptown Theater in Napa, the Napa Valley Museum in Yountville, the Cameo Cinema in St. Helena, and the Sharpsteen Museum in Calistoga. 5/17/13 1:32 PM