These top wine growing districts are found in beautiful Californian valleys to the north of San Francisco.

Napa, is the best known not only for its 300 wineries, but its top restaurants, its luxury resorts, charming inns and range of activities, plus gorgeous wildflowers in the spring. As well as wining and dining, you can pamper yourself in top spas, play golf on beautifully manicured fairways and take a balloon ride over the vines.

The pretty Sonoma Valley not only offers an even broader range of wines from its 40 odd vineyards but, being further from the city, it is altogether less crowded with more the feel of small town rural living than a prime tourist destination. It’s also less expensive.