Jennifer Paull: Yountville is a swell home base in Napa—you could eat at one of Thomas Keller's restaurants for practically every meal! Among the wineries, a trip to Stag's Leap Wine Cellars would be a good pick. This is the place that put the CA wine industry on the global map when its cabernet sauvignon won the Paris tasting competition of 1976. The winery is no-frills but you'll be tasting history.

Drive up to Stony Hill Vineyard for another taste of history (chardonnay). If you're a fan of cabernet sauvignon, make a beeline for the Rutherford area, a short drive north from Yountville. The wineries here, like Beaulieu, focus on this particular varietal with outstanding results. You also can't escape the massive Francis Ford Coppola enterprise, now called Rubicon Estate. The tour of the property is quite a production, but the flagship blend is notably good.

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Morristown, N.J.: Do you have a favorite wine country destination from which we could explore some vineyards and galleries? We've heard good things about St. Helena—are there any boutique hotels/b&bs you'd recommend? How about restaurants? Thanks you very much.

Jennifer Paull: St. Helena is a neat place to stay (see my reply to the reader from Arlington, above) and its posh resort, Meadowood, is a wonderful getaway. But you mght also want to consider Healdsburg, in Sonoma. A handful of new restaurants, like the stellar Cyrus, hotels, and shops have made this a buzzing new hotspot. It's easy to reach lesser-known but excellent wineries in the Dry Creek and Alexander valleys from Healdsburg. Hotel Les Mars is the most opulent boutique hotel here—some would say over the top. The Honor Mansion is an especially welcoming spot; it's in a 19th century home and the staff is known for its warmth and attention.

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Findlay, Ohio: My wife and I will be visiting the San Franciso area the very last week of May. I would like to spend a day or night visiting some wineries in the area. We do not anticipate spending a lot of money as we usually do not spend more than $10.00 for a bottle of wine. Do you have some suggestions for must visit wineries in the area?

Jennifer Paull: I'm really glad you asked this—the overall impression is that the Wine Country is terribly expensive, but exploring the area on a budget can be done! Here are some tips:

—Your hotel might distribute coupons for free or discounted tastings at nearby wineries, so don't forget to ask.
—If you take the Winetasting 101 intro class at Copia in Napa, the fee is offset by a discount "passport" you'll get for local wineries.
—The wineries in the Carneros region (closest to SF) sometimes have less-expensive fees than the tasting rooms of the big players up in Napa Valley.
—There are still free tastings out there! A few include Frog's Leap and Kenwood Vineyards.
—Hit the amazing local farmers' markets or casual bakeries / grocery stores for picnic fixings. Many wineries have beautiful outdoor picnic areas where you can have lunch. (Although etiquette means you should buy a bottle of wine from them.)

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Redmond, Wash.: Hi, My husband, sister and her husband will be visiting the wine country of California on leap day weekend. We are staying in the town of Healdsburg and are interested in some advice on wineries to vist in the area that are unusual and fun. We've visited many of the well-known wineries in Napa Valley previously, so are interested in exploring some areas that are a little bit off the beaten track. Also would appreciate advice on restaurants and interesting sites. My brother-in-law is a fabulous amateur photographer so we are always on the look out for beautiful or unusual photo ops. Thanks!

Jennifer Paull: Hi Redmond, have you ever been up to the Anderson Valley? Talk about an out-of-the-way place—it was so isolated that its main town, Boonville, once had a special lingo called Boontling! The towns you'll drive through are barely wide spots in the road, but you'll also find impressive wineries like Roederer Estate (for sparkling wines) and Navarro Vineyards, with a wide range of choices including gewurztraminer and pinot noir.

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Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: We're planning to visit Sonoma/Napa from April 21-27--is that too long? Which B&B's would you recommend our staying at?

Jennifer Paull: Well, that sounds heavenly to me—but I'm hardly objective! With a solid week, you can really explore the back roads, the farmers' markets, the local cheese shops, spend a few hours blissing out at a spa or picnicking, maybe catch a movie at the historic Sebastiani Theatre and then kick back with a Glariffee at the Swiss Hotel... whoops, I'm daydreaming.

Besides the main drags down Napa and Sonoma valleys, take a couple of afternoons to drive along the Russian River or into the Alexander or Anderson valleys. You could split your time between Sonoma and Napa counties for the overnights. Besides the hotels and B&Bs I've recommended in other postings, check out the Gaige House Inn in Glen Ellen. This is an understated yet very elegant, relaxing B&B.

But it's understandable that even wine buffs might not want to sip all the time. Take a look at my reply to the reader from Louisville for some other activity ideas. You could sign up with Napa Valley Bike Tours to pedal from vineyard to vineyard, or watch a cooking demonstration at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena. Also, check the schedule of the Napa Valley Opera House in case there's a good show during your stay.

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Jennifer Paull: Thanks very much for your questions, everyone. I hope you all have a fantastic time on your trips—have an extra sip for me! And keep an eye out for our upcoming pocket-sized guide, In Focus California Wine Country, 1st edition, which will be in bookstores in April.