California Wine Country in the fall is full of good sipping and hearty laughter. It’s the region’s harvest season when the grapes are picked and prepared for fermentation and throngs of revelers head to the wineries to celebrate the season. When winter rolls around, the crowds thin out and the vines go dormant but the festive feeling remains.
Mustard Season gets underway in the Napa Valley beginning in January and ending in March. While the wine is fermenting the vineyards are exploding in a hue of deep yellow as the fields fill up with the blooming mustard flower. Winery tours, tastings and events such as the Napa Valley Mustard Festival, featuring the Mustard, Mud & Music: A Calistoga Jazz Festival, all help to bring Mustard Season to life.
If you’re thinking about a wine country getaway this winter, you might want to check out a Napa Valley bed and breakfast. You can spend the day tasting your way through the local wine trails before heading back to your room for a relaxing massage or cozying up in front of the fireplace with a glass of your newfound varietal. Overlooking the tranquil Napa River and sitting on three acres of lush green, The Milliken Creek Inn has romance on the mind. They combine a luxury wine tour with cave and barrel tastings, not to mention a turn down service that will lavish your room with chocolate-dipped strawberries, rose petals and a split of champagne. Hop on board the Napa Valley Wine Train and take your sipping to go courtesy of the Hennessey House. A gourmet lunch featuring regional selections paired with world-class wines will be served as you take in the breathtaking views along the 25-mile track through Napa Valley.
While fall gets all the attention, winter in Napa Valley holds its own. The long lines and crowded streets give way to a more relaxed, serene setting during the off-season while the vineyards showcase a canopy of rich yellow. This season really cuts the mustard!
