Glen Ellen is the Best of Wine Country
Many people of a certain age know Glen Ellen as a jug wine label without necessarily knowing that it is a very pretty valley in Sonoma County about twenty minutes north of the historic Sonoma Plaza. It was also the home of the writer Lack London, of White Fang fame, who described the struggles of the Alaskan gold miners so well.
Jack lived up on Sonoma Mountain, which towers over the Valley of the Moon to the west as you drive north from downtown Sonoma. He grew grapes up there, annoyed his neighbors with his raucous ways and built a mansion that burned down before he could move into it. When he needed wine he would ride his horse a little ways down the hill to his neighbors.
His neighbor’s property is now the home of the Benziger Family Winery, Glen Ellen’s biggest winery. These beautiful Biodynamic, trellised vineyards are tucked into one of the most bucolic valleys you’ll ever see half way up Sonoma Mountain. It seems that the only flat land in the whole place is the patch where the winery and building sits, and a little bit around the two ponds.
Not only are the Benziger’s devoted to the Biodynamic method, but they are great advocates of the system through their wonderful educational tours that go up into the vineyards and inside the caves. Hint: Bring a picnic; they have nice tables up the hill from the winery building. You can pick up lunch at the Glen Ellen market at the foot of the road that brings you up to the winery.
There are no big hotels in Glen Ellen; it’s not that kind of place. But there are Inns and B&B’s, two of my favorites are Gaige House and the Glenelly B&B. There are several wonderful restaurants along the winding part of Arnold Avenue that serves as the town’s main street, Saffron, the Fig Café and the Glen Ellen Inn.
I enjoy the feeling that Glen Ellen is tucked away, in its own little, special space. Travelers on Highway Twelve heading up the Sonoma Valley often pass it by in favor of the larger wineries there. It is remarkable that such a charming, private place is so convenient to San Francisco, which may be why it is a favorite for those seeking a romantic escape.
Ralph & Lahni de Amicis are authors of the Amicis Winery Guides (Find them on Amazon), and owners of Amicis Tours that takes people on tours of the wineries of Napa and Sonoma. They are authors of over twenty books on health, design, business and travel. Their iPhone Apps, The Napa Valley Wine Tour, and The Sonoma Winery Tour are a tour guides approach to these beautiful area, complete with 1000’s of photos and insights. Their articles and products can be found on the sites http://www.amicistours.com and http://www.spaceandtime.com
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