Escape to Napa Valley Wine Country This Fall

The skies are sunny, the temperatures still pleasant and, most importantly, the crowds are gone. Late fall and early winter are the perfect time to visit the wine country in northern California's Napa Valley. Wineries are eager to greet new customers and, with the crowds and bus tours gone, there's time to linger over a sampling session and enjoy a comfortable chat about the finer points of each wine.

Napa Valley is the home of America's world-class wines and wineries. With a climate and soils to rival France's best, grapes have been grown, crushed and fermented in Napa Valley since the 1800s. When Inglenook wines won gold at the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, the world's wine connoisseurs first took notice of Napa Valley. New techniques and procedures introduced in the 1930s, notably by Brother Timothy of the Christian Brothers winery, ushered in the modern era of commercial wine production, gaining California wines national recognition.

It was Robert Mondavi, a son of Italian immigrants, who brought the large-scale production improvements and marketing strategies to the Valley in the mid-1960s that truly launched America's wine industry into the world arena. When Napa Valley wines bested several of France's most famous labels in blind taste tests at the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, Napa Valley wines finally garnered the worldwide acclaim they enjoy today.

A visit to California's wine country is most enjoyable when you stay at Shell Vacations Club at Vino Bello Resort. Conveniently located in Napa, California, gateway to the Napa Valley wine region, the richly-appointed Tuscan Style vacation residences feature kitchens with granite countertops, the living areas feature finely-detailed woods, rich textures, and a special bottle of Napa Valley wine waiting just for you upon check-in. After an active day cruising through the Valley, you'll enjoy returning to the rejuvenating relaxation of Shell Vacations Club Vino Bello Resort.

If you enjoy an active lifestyle, Napa Valley offers wonderful bicycle trails through serene countryside. Rent or bring your own wheels for lovely rides between wineries and the valley's charming towns. Or rent horses for an exhilarating ride past vast vineyards. Try an early morning ride or hike when tendrils of fog catch in the valley and dew glistens on the grape vines -- breathtaking. For an impressive aerial view of Napa Valley, the adventurous can take a serene balloon ride or cruise above the valley with Wine Country Helicopters. Whatever you like to do, you'll find plenty of recreational activities in the Napa, California area, including golfing, tennis, fishing, riding and boating.

After an energetic day cycling between wineries, spend a relaxing day being pampered at one of Napa's soothing spas. Spa Terra, an intriguing underground spa cave, just opened this year. Ask for the Solo Vina, an invigorating exfoliating grape seed scrub. Or try a wonderfully relaxing soak at Calistoga's natural hot springs.

If you crave a little culture with your vino, COPIA, the American Center for Food, Wine and the Arts provides copious information on all three in visually stunning displays. Outstanding museums abound in Napa Valley. The amazing 217-acre di Rosa Preserve showcases the unique art of more than 900 artists, but make sure you call ahead for current visiting times. Modern art junkies will want to view the impressive Hess Collection and photo buffs won't want to miss Mumm Napa Valley. For history, head for the excellent Napa Valley Museum.

Up valley, shopaholic heaven can be found in St. Helena. Check out the amazing display of wine accessories at Wine Hardware or drool over to-die-for shoes at Foot Candy. Closer to home, the new Oxbow Public Market is scheduled to open in downtown Napa any day now. The 40,000 square foot marketplace will be a foodie's paradise featuring local food vendors, artisan cafes and organic farm stands. A scenic outdoor deck with seating along the beautiful Napa River will make this a delightful spot for lunch or an early evening supper.

But, of course, the reason people flock to Napa Valley is the wine and food. Among the excellent wineries you won't want to miss are Opus One, Quintessa, Rubicon, Clos Pegase, the Hess Collection, Groth, Bouchaine and Far Niente. Call ahead as some wineries offer tastings by appointment only and many charge a tasting fee. If you want to avoid the worst of the traffic, avoid Highway 29 and take the Silverado Trail that runs north-south along the east side of the valley.

For a memorable meal, sample Bistro Jeanty, La Toque or Julia's Kitchen. The Bounty Hunter wine bar in downtown Napa offers more than 40 wines by the glass but serves up some great down-home cooking too. Don't miss their famous Beer-Can Chicken. If you're looking for something distinctly local and a bit offbeat, Taylor's Automatic Refresher is a charming, old-fashioned, high-quality burger stand offering some of the finest wine and beer in the valley. For the ultimate gastronomic experience, lunch at the French Laundry. Their famous nine-course dinner requires at least a 60-day advance reservation and weighs in at $240 per person, but you can sample the same gourmet excellence at a much more reasonable cost at lunch. Bon appetite!