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2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 25 wineries vying for your taste buds along Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are the signature grapes grown in the valley, but other varieties have been making a strong showing in the last decade. While the majority of visitors go to the big-name wineries such as Robert Mondavi, Beringer and Sterling, those in the know are heading for Coombsville. Located just min- utes from downtown Napa, Coombsville's unusual cool climate results in sensational Cabernets from grower/producers such as Meteor, Sodaro, Caldwell and Farella. Most are open by appointment only, but well worth the effort to call and go. Foodies and wine lovers will want to check out Flavor! Napa Valley, an annual event featuring world class Napa Valley wines alongside food prepared by the master chefs and graduates of The Culinary Institute of America at the Greystone Campus in St. Helena. The Valley's most famous event, Auction Napa Valley is the place to hob-nob with serious wine collec- tors in a weekend of intimate soirees, casual luncheons and grand tastings, cul- minating with the auction, where bids on exclusive wine lots reach the stratosphere for a worthy cause. Prefer something more pastoral? Wind your way up Highway 128 in Mendocino County to Anderson Valley, the premier growing region in Mendocino, and stop in at the The Madrones, a wine-tasting and luxury lodging "suite spot" that showcases local wines from Drew, Bink, Knez and Signal Ridge. The Madrones is also home to Stone & Embers, a casual trattoria featuring wood-stove pizzas, house-made breads and preserves. Anderson Valley hosts two exceptional festivals, the highly regarded Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Fest in May, and the Alsace Fest in February, focusing on Alsace-style white wines including Ries- ling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Muscat. Farther inland, Passport to Hopland, a true locals event, is held twice a year in spring and fall. BERINGER BROTHERS WINERY historic building in Napa Valley, above; California grapes ripen on the vine, top; the wares of Castello di Amorosa, a Tuscan-style castle and winery in Napa Valley, on display, leV.