1. Napa Valley Train

Leaving from Napa and arriving in St. Helena, or vice versa, you can avoid the traffic and partake of a gourmet meal complemented by local wines. The trip takes 3 hours each way and the train features a 1915 Pullman dining car.

• 1275 McKinstry St, Napa
• (707) 253-2111
• The Napa Valley train costs $35.00 each way, but for the gourmet meal the cost rises to $105.00

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2. Sonoma

This appealing town, nestled in the Valley of the Moon, is filled with high-end restaurants, small hotels, and shops. The town also features a State Historic Park with a mission building and structures from the early to mid-1800s.

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3. Clos Pegase

Housed in an award-winning Postmodern structure, this beguiling winery offers free tours and features an extensive collection of modern art. The wine is memorable, too - specialties include Cabernet, Merlot, and Petite Syrah port.

• 1060 Dunaweal Lane
• (707) 942-4981
• www.clospegase.com

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4. Sterling Vineyard

These whitewashed buildings perched on top of a mountain can be seen for miles around. The self-guided tour is well marked. Noted wines include Cabernet Sauvignon.

• 1111 Dunaweal Lane
• (800) 726-6136
• www.sterlingvineyards.com

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5. Opus One

Legendary winemaker Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild have put their skills together to produce Bordeaux-style reds in their state-of-the-art facilities, modeled on the Château Mouton Rothschild winery in France.

• 7900 St Helena Hwy
• (707) 944-9442
• www.opusonewinery.com

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6. Domaine Chandon

Lovely gardens, a fine restaurant, and sweeping views complement the sparkling, champagne-style wines of this Moët Hennessy showcase. The winery produces 500,000 cases every year.

• 1 California Drive, Yountville
• (707) 944-8844
• www.chandon.com

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7. Hess Collection

The tours here are a pleasure, including not only wine-making facilities but also the owner's private art gallery of contemporary European and American artists. The Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay are especially good.

• 4411 Redwood Rd, Napa
• (707) 255-1144
• www.hesscollection.com

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8. V Sattui

Extensive gardens and a gourmet deli make this the ideal place along the main Napa Valley road to stop for a picnic. Also on offer are wine-tastings of lesser products free of charge - you have to pay for reserve tastings.

• 1111 White Lane, St Helena
• (707) 963-7774

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9. Beringer Vineyards

The oldest Napa Valley winery, established in 1876, and the most beautiful. Tours include a visit to the 1,000-ft (300-m) wine tunnels, which Chinese laborers carved out of volcanic stone.

• 2000 Main St, St Helena
• (707) 963-4812

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10. "Old Faithful" Geyser

One of only three known geysers in the world that erupt with near-perfect regularity. Every 40 minutes, it spews boiling water 60 ft (18 m) into the air.

• 1299 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga
• (707) 942-6463
• Adm $8.00

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