California's Wine Country

Q: My husband, my almost one year old and myself will be visiting California in June and desperately want to experience the wine country. Can you give me some advice on which area to book accommodation in and any wine farms that stand out in your mind? Smaller, more unique and off-the-beaten track is more our style than the larger commercial farms. Any inns or lodges you also recommend? - Brooke Irving

A; You visit should include the Napa and Ponoma counties, where you will get an authentic feel of the old wine country. There are plenty of small lodges and inns that would suit your requirements and more than enough information on which breweries to visit once you get there. Here are some fun hotels to get your trip off to an entertaining start. The Old Crocker Inn was once the summer home of Charles Crocker, one of the founders of the Central Pacific Railroad. Now it is a charming inn, with eight rooms named after historical figures and events. Try out the Crocker Suite, which has a treehouse feel, with carved four-poster bed and a view of the pond. The inn is only a 30-minute drive from Healdsburg (www.oldcrockerinn, from $145). The town of Boonville is regarded as one of the most isolated towns in the region, located 120kms from Sonoma. But it has survived, partly thanks to the management of the Boonville Hotel. With only 10 rooms it has an uncluttered feel and is very eco-friendly. In this area you can visit Navarro Vineyards, Roederer Estate and Anderson Valley Brewing Company. (www.boonvillehotel.com, from $125) In the Napa Valley, you can try out the Calistoga Inn. The town is refreshingly undeveloped. The inn manages to create a great nightlife with its riverside dining patio and English-style pub (www.calistogainn.com; from $75). Finally, stay in a converted train named the Napa Valley Railway Inn/ WIth nine rooms housed in individual carriages, it is the pride of tiny Yountville. Don't expect service, you collect your keys at a gym, but you can watch hot-air balloons being launched from the carpark outside. (www.napavalleyrailwayinn.com; from $140).