The next day we drove into an area called the Anderson Valley - and at a Mexican food place, saw that there was a three winery tasting store next door. We had driven by wineries, but I had never heard of them, so assumed they were small potatoes, and we're headed for Sonoma/Napa anyways. The lady at the tasting store says "You're into wines and you've just driven through the Anderson Valley? Go back 20 miles and go here, here and here!" On top of the three wineries we sampled at her store, we went back to GoldenEye - which is Duckhorn's Pinot Noir label (who knew?) and went to Roederer - which makes Cristal Champagne - and also a white wine maker called Navarro - sort of a US Blue Mountain, where they only sell to restaurants, but have won all sorts of awards - ended up with a Chardonnay and a Gewurtztraminer from there - the lady had told us about camping down the road, so we stayed there in awesome 90 degree heat in the midst of the trees. The winding road I mentioned earlier is the one that takes you through all the Redwoods, btw, and we camped in the area where the biggest one of them all is. I have a pic of a stump, that is way higher than my girlfriend, standing up!

Carried on down to Santa Rosa, the beginning of the Sonoma Valley - actually we passed all sorts of Russian River wineries on the freeway, but wanted to get to Sonoma. Went to St. Francis - bought some Pinot Noir, also Kenwood - bought a bottle of Cab - and what sells in Canada for 50-60 bucks is about 15-20 bucks in US - great prices! Also visited Benziger,but didn't get to do their famous tour - not enough time! Went to B. R. Cohn - got a great pic in front of all the Doobie Brothers gold albums - he manages them too.

Last minute dash up the Napa Valley to try and find Caymus, very disappointed when we couldn't, and it was 5 o'clock - most wineries are closed by then - on a whim I drove past Freemark Abbey - open till 6!