7-day Food & Wine Tour of Northern CaliforniaNorth Coast and Shasta Cascade Regions

7-day Food & Wine Tour of Northern California North Coast and Shasta Cascade Regions A wild coastline, the tallest trees on the planet, volcanic lakes, waterfalls, mountains, pioneer history, steam trains, and frontier towns all provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy the delicious wines, gourmet restaurants and abundant natural bounty of Northern California. There are few destinations where you can find this all together in one region, but Northern California is one of them.

Experience the epicurean side of Northern California with a 7-day tour that encompasses five distinct areas!

DAY 1:

ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO Rest up and enjoy your first night in San Francisco. Take a stroll around Union Square or Fisherman’s Wharf before dinner and a get a good night’s rest. Don’t worry about missing anything at this point - you will be back for a couple of days at the end of the tour.

Overnight San Francisco

DAY 2:

SONOMA COUNTY Your introduction to the gastronomic delights of Northern California begins in Sonoma County, just north of San Francisco. Take US 101 north across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, up into Sonoma County (which consequently covers 1,575 square miles, an area about the size of Rhode Island).

Known as the birthplace of California wine, Sonoma County has more than 260 wineries open to visitors, and is considered one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions, producing an unparalleled range of varietals and wine styles.

Wine is meant to be enjoyed, especially with food, so it should come as no surprise that there is a wealth of fantastic restaurants in Sonoma County. Home to an array of international cuisines, from French to Italian to the ever evolving style known as California Cuisine. Food preparation is an art form with the incredible variety of fresh local products providing inspiration for the many talented world-class chefs of our valley.

Your two day tour will feature stops at several legendary wineries that put California on the map, along with visits to established as well as up-and-coming, cutting edge restaurants.

Overnight in Sonoma County

DAY 3:

MENDOCINO COUNTY From Sonoma County, we’ll continue north on US 101 towards Mendocino County.

Just past Cloverdale we’ll jump on Hwy 128, a picturesque route that wends and winds its way through vineyards, sheep ranches and apple and peach orchards before plunging through the Redwood forest to emerge at the Mendocino coastline.

Mendocino County is America’s Greenest Wine Region—famous for its earthfriendly farming and ranching and for the wines produced in its diverse soils and microclimates. Boasting over 80 wineries and home to the oldest organic vineyards and winery in United States, Mendocino County is one of those rare places where the winemaker himself will most likely lead your tasting, and most tastings are still free! Mendocino County can also claim the nation's first certified organic brew pub as well as the first brew pub to be established in California after prohibition.

Natural bounty, including local vegetables (mushrooms), fruits (ollieberries), sea vegetables (sea palm & nori) and seafood (salmon, Dungeness crab) can be found in abundance in Mendocino County, and the local restaurants showcase these delicacies (and more) with aplomb. They chefs here are big on the whole ―from ground to table‖ concept, so chances are, that beet and arugula salad you’re noshing on came right from the restaurants own organic gardens.

Most Mendocino wineries are smaller, family-owned businesses, so expect to meet the owner or winemaker himself at one of the many wineries we’ll visit, and be prepared to sample a host of items that have been locally grown, locally raised, locally made, or locally harvested, at one of Mendocino County’s many fine restaurants.

Overnight in Mendocino County DAYS 4 & 5: SHASTA CASCADE REGION Begin your day by driving east on Hwy 299 from Eureka to Redding. Stop at Alpen Cellars situated in a picturesque mountain valley in the rugged Trinity Lake region for a tour and tasting of this unique mountain vineyard. Then off to Redding, home to the beautiful Shasta Lake area, and the mighty Sacramento River runs right through the heart of the city. Both the lake and the river provide a lovely backdrop for savoring the local food and wine.

Stop by Whiskeytown National Recreation Area on your way in to town where you can enjoy a number of environmentally friendly activities such as free kayaking or hiking to one of the many beautiful falls in the area.

Continue on to Redding where a stop at the new Rivers Restaurant for a delicious lunch is a must. Savor their classic cuisine of steak, seafood, pasta, prime rib, and more...all while enjoying the panoramic view of the mountains above and the waters below. Rivers Restaurant is located on the bluffs overlooking the majestic Sacramento River, where you can view the geese, ducks and various wildlife throughout the year. Design elements of the building include a 12-foot high and 120-foot long panoramic window that offers a full display of the view from anywhere inside the bar and dining room.

Explore more of Redding’s Sacramento River after lunch by stopping by Turtle Bay Exploration Park for a peek at local wildlife as well as local Native American History.

Don’t miss the opportunity to try out their Segway tours as an environmentally friendly way to see the area as you ride around in style. While you are there, marvel at the beauty of Redding’s Sundial Bridge, the largest Sundial in the world, and take a relaxing stroll down the famous Sacramento River National Recreation Trail.

From there, make your way over to That Kitchen Place, to peruse some of the state of the art kitchen appliances they offer and even try your luck at one of their cooking classes! Finish the day with dinner at award winning CR Gibbs American Grille where you can enjoy the entertainment of watching your meal cooked before your eyes in their full Exhibition Kitchen!

Overnight Redding Begin your day with hand roasted espresso and fresh made pastries in the beautiful and unique atmosphere of local sensation Yak’s Coffee before heading out Hwy 44 toward Shingletown. Visit Anselmo Vineyards at 7 Hills Land & Cattle Co. This 2200 acre ranch is full of things to see and do from horseback riding across the land with stunning views of Mt. Lassen looming in the distance, to wine tasting and even dining in their cozy wine tasting room to tasting their locally raised beef, lamb, honey and other produce.

From there, take Hwy 89 South to Hwy 36 West toward Red Bluff. Stop by Manton to enjoy some delicious wine tasting at their many local vineyards including the certified organic Alger Vineyards and Mt. Tehama Winery as well as Indian Peak Vineyards, Ringtail Vineyards and Shasta Daisy Vineyards, all available for walk in tours. Continue down from Manton to Red Bluff.

As far as libations go, the Shasta Cascade region boasts Northern California’s two newest AVAs (American Viticultural Areas). The region may be considered the new kid on the block, but they are producing some very fine wines. Some of the best are made by a community of Trappist monks! The region is also home to a number of award-winning brewpubs.

This entire region yields a range of interesting produce and food products, from strawberries, honey, wild rice, and lavender to farmhouse cheeses, olive oil, and horseradish (Shasta Cascade grows one third of the world’s horseradish!).

Overnight in Red Bluff.

DAY 6:

RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO Spend your final two days in the city by the Bay. Drop your car back at a downtown depot, as you won’t need it once back in town. This is a city known for its very distinct enclaves -- from Chinatown to North Beach, from the Mission District to Fisherman's Wharf – and there are special foods associated with each area. Enjoy seafood and sourdough bread at Fisherman's Wharf, prosciutto, pastas, and olives in North Beach, dim sum and Peking Duck in Chinatown, and the best burritos north of Mexico in the Mission District. Many restaurants have a wine list that showcases a variety of fine California-grown wines.

Overnight San in Francisco

DAY 7:

DEPART SAN FRANCISCO On your final day in the city, before your flight departs, head over to the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, a people's plaza serving residents and travelers alike. Located within the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, shops large and small celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses to the freshest of local fish. Restaurants and cafés serve cuisine representing the quality and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s best chefs.

For further information, please contact: Karen Whitaker Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association 1699 Hwy. 273 Anderson, CA 96007 530-365-7504 / fax 530-365-1258 www.shastacascade.com Email: karen@shastacascade.com

Scott Schneider North Coast Tourism Council 120 S. Franklin Street Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-9010 www.northcoastca.com Email: info@ northcoastca.com