Hello West Coast Yelpers and thanks in advance for your help.

I can't believe it but my wife and I won a "wine country getaway" trip. We live in Rhode Island.

The trip has to be between October 15 and November 15 of this year.

We will fly into San Francisco and rent a car (flights and car rental are included). The company that we won it through is a wonderful restaurant group here in RI. They will also be taking care of accommodations and settinh up some wine tastings and tours.

By the way, I searched the talk forums before I posted but did not seem to come up with much.

So, the questions are:

1. Given those parameters what is the best time to visit?

2. What are absolute must see's?

3. Any particular winery that is off the beaten path that you suggest?

Again, thank you for you help and recommendations.

Unfortunately, in that timeframe you will have beautiful weather and most of the crowds will have gone. I am sorry to disappoint you.

In all seriousness, choose your favorite winemakers. If you don't have one in California yet, go to a local wine merchant or bar and have them help you find some favorites. It will make your trip more meaningful. Nearly all Napa wineries require appointments for their tasting rooms so plan ahead if you intend to go off on your own. Schramsberg has an excellent tour providing education about the traditional method for making champagne. Hess has a wonderful modern art gallery free to the public and their library tasting has some very good cabernets. Mayacamus is nearby, open only on weekdays.

There are many good places to visit, a shorter list is places to avoid if you can help it. V Sattui, Mondavi, Beaulieu and Beringer in particular. Grocery store quality wines, tour buses and a very impersonal experience.

Chris, where are the accomodations, and how many days is the total stay? I would recomend Failla for Pinot Noir, Domaine Carneros or Chandon for sparkling, Honig for Sauvignon Blanc, Rombauer for Couger Juice, Frank Family can be fun. Also Artesa in Carneros has a nice view and some interesting art on display. For dining Bouchon in yountville, Martini House in St. Helena, JoLe or Solbar in Calistoga.

Thanks Vy and Adam! We do not yet have accommodations. The trip is "scheduled" for 4 days / 3 nights but we are pretty much settled on extending and staying in the area for at least a week. Thoughts?

"1. Given those parameters what is the best time to visit?"

Between October 15 and November 15, I'd go with the sooner. Odds are you'll get better weather (rainy season starts the end of October and the chance of rain gets steadily higher until January).  

"2. What are absolute must see's?"

Depends on your interests. But the general consensus whenever I've had guests is that Muir Woods and Golden Gate Park are not to be missed.

"3. Any particular winery that is off the beaten path that you suggest?"

The Sonoma corridor is my usual spot. Roche, Jacuzzi and Cline are all great and have free tastings. Arroyo up near Calistoga is another good one

Adam, I had to google the "Rombauer for Couger Juice" - LOL. thanks!

No reservations have been made yet.

Thank you all for your input. I have always found that local knowledge absolutely kills what you can read in a Fodors, etc.

You folks are great.

Typically I prefer to go to places that you won't be able to find at your normal wine store, because it's the only way you will be able to try their wine. Stick to the wineries on the Silverado Trail, its off route 29 so you won't have the same amount of crowds and canned group tours that are so annoying.

Try Truchard on the south side of Napa they have excellent wine and their story is interesting, Schramberg for excellent sparkling wine and a great tour. Frank Family in Calistoga has good wine and tastings are comped if you buy a bottle. Hartwell Vineyards is excellent, it's a small family run business so it's a more personal experience. Lastly, I would recomment Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, the wine is well known and while you can find it at any wine store, it's worth it.

Also, if you have time check out the Bouchon Bakery in Yountville, if you love pastry this is a good place to indulge. For picnic supplies, try Oakville Grocery or Napa General Store.

Good time(s) to visit.  Most tourists are gone and weather is usually warm in October.  You're pushing it by November.

Stay in Yountville.  Good mother ship location to venture any direction plus five award winning places to eat.  Bouchon, Redd's, Ad Hoc, Bottega and Domain Chandon.  Can't go wrong.

Wineries:  those off the beaten path will probably require a reservation.  I've always favored the Silverado Trail.  Not as crowded plus stunning scenery.  Chimney Rock is always nice and Signorello is great place to end the day by their pool watching the sunset.  Just drive and stop in one of the many wineries.

Lucky you Chris! The fall is the best time to visit Napa imo. Chris is right, the earlier the better chance of avoiding rain (although I love going when it rains too).  I'd add to Vy's places to avoid Castello di Amorosa and Sterling (unless you just go for the view and not the wine).  My opinion differs on Frank Family Winery (sorry just don't think their wines are very drinkable) and Beringer has a wide range of wines...some really good ones at the mid-range and above.

I 2nd Martini House and JoLe for places to eat. See also my Napa Valley and St. Helena lists for a wider range of eats and other things.

I agree with the other comments that the earlier in that time period, the better.  

As for wineries to visit, there are lots of good places to stop and taste standing up at a tasting bar for only $5-10, but I think it is well worth making advance reservations to some more involved seated tasting and tours.  In Napa Valley, I have had fabuilous experiences at:
- Far Niente:  expensive tour & tasting ($50 per person), but worth every penny.  Small group tour (ours was 6 people), your name on the welcome board when you arrive, seated tasting following the tour with cheese pairings, fantastic wine
- Del Dotto:  Do the barrel tasting tour; good wine, and lots of it, and your guide will take the wine straight from the barrels with a wine thief to pour into your glasses.  Once again, expensive at $40-50 per person or so.    
- Newton:  beautiful Spring Mountain views, great tour, seated tasting, fantastic wines, $40 per person.

For sparkling wine, stop in to Domaine Carneros.  Don't bother going anywhere else for sparking wine (unless it is Schramsberg, which has a nice cave tour that has to be scheduled well in advance).  This place has a beautiful setting to sit and refresh with a nice glass of bubbly!  Try the rosé!

Two of my favorite places for dinner that are not over the top expensive are Mustards and Go Fish, and you have to try the Ahi Tuna Burger at Taylor's refresher for lunch!

Have a great trip!

If you have favorite wines you drink, go vist the winery.  Not often you can go to the actual winery if you live in R.I. otherwise silverado trail would be my choice in Napa.  Make a day trip to Sonoma County for the best Pinot Noirs and visit the coast out by Bodega Bay, stop at Armstrong park to see the redwoods and go to Healdsburg for dinner.  Book a reservation at Cyrus - it will surpass French Laundry one of these days.  go experience it for 1/2 the price you would pay in Napa.
Be careful with yelpers.  I don't always think they're the best source for planning a trip.  For example Mustard, hmm way past their prime days.  Go Fish is ok but not where I would go if visiting wine country. Bottega, Bouchon, Ad Hoc all good choices.  If you won a trip to Napa, spend a little coin and make it memorable instead of going cheap. IMHO. Ahi tuna burger at Taylor Refresher is where all the tourists go, definitley overrated, but go if you wish. Btw, most if not all wineries comp your tasting if you purchase a bottle. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you're going to have a great time!

Oct or Nov would be perfect! We are right in the middle of CRUSH..that great wine fermantation smell and everything is green! if you can take a HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE with BALLOONS ABOVE THE VALLEY..ask for BRENDA BRENDA!

Wineries: Best Tour , THE CASTLE , Castello Di Amorosa, STERLING, take a gondolla to the top of Mt...best CAVE tour: DEL DOTTO and SCHRAMSBERG...GREAT WINE: ROMBAUER, FRANK FAMILY, BLACK STALLION...FREE TASTING WITH GREAT WINE: JESSUP in Yountville...

Off the beaten track: POPE VALLEY WINERY- great ma-pop winery still with good wine...

TO EAT: Bottega, Tra Vigne, GO Fish (sushi), Rutherford Grill, Calistoga Inn and Don Giovanni's

When Charlie is out cutting the lawn.

There are some fantastic recommendations here so far.  Even if the winery does not require reservations, it's a good idea to call ahead anyway.  Here are a few of my favorites that I don't think have been mentioned yet:

Duckhorn, Cakebread, Darioush, Robert Sinsky.  

Always pay the extra amount for the library tastings.  If you're only here for a few days, why not drink the very best the winery has to offer?

It's been said but I'll repeat it. Take the time to drive to Yountville and eat. Do it or you'll regret it for life!