San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
6 WINERY EXPERIENCES FOR KIDS.
Leisurely winery hopping in the Napa Valley is a great way to spend a romantic weekend, but it’s also a fun place to bring the kids. In the days of old-school Napa, my parents dragged my sister and me to plenty of wineries when we were young, and we alternated between being bored out of our minds in tasting rooms and finding fun things to do with extra corks, counting wild rabbits, and stomping in puddles in the vineyards.
Things are different now. More and more wineries understand that you can’t always leave the kids at home, and sometimes bringing them along is more educational — letting them see what agriculture is all about. And while winery experiences for children haven’t quite gotten to the level of including flights of juice paired with mac and cheese, there are plenty of activities and snacks that get the attention of the little ones.
From juice and coloring supplies to farm animals and tram rides, there are plenty of family-friendly highlights to hit in Napa Valley. There’s even a castle with a moat and towers, and a ranch on which to roam and learn more about farm life. No kidding — pinky promise.
Connolly Ranch
While there are a handful of wineries that have kidfriendly features or services, sometimes adults want to visit other spots that the junior humans consider boring. What’s not boring: farms and animals. Second Saturday Farm Camp at Connolly Ranch gives children three solid hours of barns, gardens, pastures and trails at the 12-acre ranch, complete with hands-on activities and projects that help them learn about farm animals, gardening, and other elements of nature and farm life. The drop-off program costs $40 and runs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for ages 4-12. 3141 Browns Valley Road, Napa; 707-224-1894; www.con nollyranch.org
Castello di Amarosa
Children’s hearts are aflutter when approaching this storybook winery with all the elements of a medieval castle: moat, drawbridge, towers, defensive ramparts, courtyards and loggias, chapel, stables, armory and torture chamber. General admission and wine tasting include roaming access to two levels of the winery, and the child’s admission ticket includes coloring pages and grape juice, so they can “taste” along with you. Don’t skip a visit to the farm animals, from emus to peacocks and chickens to goats. General admission: $30 for adults, $20 for children ages 5-20. 4045 St. Helena Highway, Calistoga; 707-967-6272; www.castellodiamarosa.com
Frog’s Leap
It’s amazing how farm animals can hold kids spellbound, and the chickens at Frog’s Leap are a main attraction. Let the kids shake off the monotony of the car ride when you arrive by immersing themselves in all things chicken, and the necessary chill vibe may be achieved in time for tasting (no guarantees, though). Adults can bring children along on a Signature Seated Tasting ($35 per person) or Garden/Cellar Tasting ($25 per person), and juice boxes and coloring pages with crayons are provided while the parents enjoy the wines. 8815 Conn Creek Road, Rutherford; 707-9634704; www.frogsleap.com
Honig Vineyard & Winery
Budding child artists love to show you their version of the world, and at this winery, visiting kids are given coloring supplies (plus chalk for the sidewalk) to depict their favorite scene. Sign up for a Classic Tasting ($30 per person) or Eco Tour + Tasting Experience ($45 per person), and kids get apple juice and goldfish crackers just for tagging along. The Eco Tour is educational, where participants view the actions the winery takes to care for the environment, including incorporating the Honig bees in the winemaking process. 850 Rutherford Road, Rutherford; 800-929-2217; www. honigwine.com
Sterling Vineyards
It’s not exactly a carnival ride — it’s better. The aerial tram ride from the parking lot to Sterling’s hilltop winery will have children excited about the incredible views of the surrounding hills and valley, but mostly they’ll be thrilled at the mode of transportation. It’s like riding a ski resort gondola without the snow and cold. The spectacular scenery doesn’t end when you get there, and while parents are enjoying wine sampling, the kids can compare their tram views with the linear designs of the valley’s vineyards on all four sides. 1111 Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga; 800-726-6136; www.sterlingvineyards.com
V. Sattui Winery
Picnics are fun for the entire family, especially when you find a sweet spot where you can set out your meal. This winery has 2.5 acres of shaded picnic grounds surrounded by flowers, vineyards and oak trees. On rainy days, tables for your picnic are in the old-world, underground Barrel Room. Adding to your meal is easy with the on-site Artisan Deli, or maybe you just want to get everything there. With sandwiches, panini, salads, pastas and other picnic treats, it’s the ideal spot to source your wine-country meal. 1111 White Lane, St. Helena; 707963-7774; www.vsattui.com