Jennifer Paull: Your decision not to drive yourself is a good one—you won't have to worry about getting behind the wheel after sipping. But with just a few days in the area, it might be best to maximize your opportunity and do just what you like, when you like, with a personal tour / driver.

Beau Wine Tours can chauffeur you around in a sedan or limo; you can either put together your own list of places to visit, or pick one of their pre-set tours. They specialize in Napa, so they really know whereof they speak. The Napa Wine Tours company has several prearranged options and group tours, including a bike tour.

For spas, a big splurge would be the Spa at Villagio, which just underwent a revamp. The Health Spa Napa Valley is a good choice if you'd like to incorporate yoga or a workout. Hitting the mud baths in Calistoga is a neat way to tap into Napa's history (although sometimes the peaty smell takes some getting used to). Places like Indian Springs have been here for over a century. A new resort, Solage, just opened a sleek spa complete with a "mud bar."

_______________________

San Clemente, Calif.: The Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County, just west of the town of Healdsburg, seems to be an up-and-coming wine country region. Can you tell us what some of your favorite Dry Creek Valley tasting rooms might be?

Jennifer Paull: Dry Creek Valley is definitely getting more and more attention these days—especially by zinfandel fans. See my note to the reader from Bellevue for a few winery suggestions. Another popular stop is Quivira.

_______________________

New York, N.Y.: What wineries can I visit in Napa/Sonoma that focus on sustainable or organic winemaking?

Jennifer Paull: Sustainable and organic viticulture and winemaking are really taking off. More and more wineries are making special green efforts, and you can get into some complex, fascinating conversations about the merits and definitions of different methods. One great place to start is Frog's Leap in Rutherford. This was the first Napa Valley winery to be certified organic, and the staff can talk at length about everything from cover crops to the use of beneficial insects. And the wines are delicious, too.

De Loach Vineyards, in Sonoma's Russian River Valley, illustrates the principles of biodynamic farming. This method reaches beyond the standard organic techniques, taking a holistic approach. If you've been hearing stories about burying cow horns filled with cow manure in the vineyards and are curious to know what's going on, De Loach is the place to go.

_______________________

Eufaula, Ala.: I'm going to be in Sonoma for a long Valentine's Day weekend. Any recommendations for something romantic, other than a nice dinner?

Jennifer Paull: How about a balloon ride over the vineyards? The soft dawn light and the silence as you glide above the landscape are pretty incredible. (Just don't watch or read "Enduring Love" before you go.) There are a handful of companies that offer flights in both Napa and Sonoma, including Balloons Above the Valley and Napa Valley Balloons. When you touch down you'll be poured a glass of bubbly.

_______________________

Arlington, Tex.: We will be staying in St Helena in mid April. We want to taste and eat. We have 2 days, how can we optimize this brief time? Kendall