The 916
Day Tripper: Tri-Valley VINEYARDS, BREWERIES, PARKS AND SEVERAL SWEET DOWNTOWNS ARE ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THIS EAST BAY REGION, A COMPILATION OF THREE VALLEYS. —KRISTA MINARD See the word Tri-Valley, and the next question comes quickly: What three valleys? Answer: Amador, San Ramon and Livermore. This area is about 90 minutes from Sacramento and includes several towns off highways 580 and 680. We’ve all driven past Danville, Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin on our way to other Bay Area destinations, but have you ever stopped? We did, and we discovered all kinds of treasures, including lovely downtown districts, a sprawling wine country tucked into California’s golden hills, lots of breweries, parks with trails, and plenty more. Some highlights: DOWNTOWN LIVERMORE —About a dozen murals decorate the walls of downtown Livermore, a walkable district with plenty of Main Street charm— in this case on First Street. A prime gathering spot is the First Street Fountain, where an inviting array of market umbrellas sit outside a wine bar and several restaurants. Down the street, pop into Bar Quiote for mezcal, hot dogs and jukebox tunes (what a combo!) or pop into The Cheese Parlor for a little tasting. Off the main drag, Towne Center Books is tucked into a walkway adjacent to Bankhead Theater. Grab a coffee at Panama Bay or Story Coffee Co. A few blocks over, admire the Carnegie Building and the Centennial Park Totem Pole.
Retzlaff
Wente
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The Cheese Parlor
LIVERMORE WINE COUNTRY— Some 55 wineries line the roads not far from Livermore’s downtown. Two of the largest—and oldest—are Wente and Concannon, in operation since the 1880s. Visitors to either will learn all about Livermore’s viticultural history, including the story of Charles Wetmore, one of the California wine industry’s founding fathers. Livermore Valley is where the state’s cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay varietals were born. At Concannon, taste in the brick-and-wood tasting room or reserve a weekend spot at a library tasting, held in Concannon’s Historic Wine Library. At Wente, enjoy the sprawling compound, which includes beautiful indoor and outdoor tasting areas and an 18-hole golf course. The area is home to lots of boutique, small-batch wineries, and once S. Livermore Avenue turns into Tesla Road, you’re in the thick of it. Some notable wineries in the valley include Retzlaff (the only organic winery in the area), Las Positas, Garré, Darcie Kent and Fenestra, but the fun is in hitting the backroads and discovering some gems of your own.
TRI-VALLEY BEER TRAIL —The TriValley tourism folks have teamed up with some 20 local craft breweries and alehouses to create a mobile-friendly passport for beer lovers. It’s a great way to get introduced to some wonderful taprooms and receive discounts, plus if you hit 10 or more, you can pick up a prize. (You don’t have to do all 10 in one day!) Some favorite stops include Beer Baron Whiskey Bar & Kitchen (Pleasanton); First Street Alehouse, Pennyweight and Shadow Puppet (Livermore); Three Sheets (Dublin); and Danville Brewing Co.
Danville Brewing Co.
SPEND THE NIGHT The Purple Orchid Resort & Spa bed-and-breakfast inn sits among a rose garden, olive orchards and vineyards in the Livermore Valley, with 10 countrystyle suites, each with a fireplace. On-site spa services: facials, massage and other body treatments. Room rates include a full breakfast, and wine and olive oil tasting each evening.
SACRAMENTO MAGAZINE November 2022
10/19/22 10:19 AM