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Locals Talk
Christine Gaudenzi
Wine Country
- I was born and raised in:
- Born in New Jersey - moved a dozen times throughout United States and Canada, 14 years in SF now
- I currently live:
- Russian Hill, San Francisco
- What do I do to make a buck?:
- Sales and Marketing
- 5 things I love about the San Francisco Bay Area:
- St. Helena - quaint, charming downtown with locally owned businesses - amazing food from tacos to gourmet fare, friendliest people I have ever encountered.
- Wine - finding smaller vineyards without the big marketing hype and long lines for tasting such as Casa Nuestra, ZD Vineyards, and Plumpjack.
- Hot air balloon rides
- Picnic at Plumpjack Winery - bring your own picnic - which you can purchase at the renowned Dean & Deluca - carry it out to the picnic area which is much like your own personal backyard and feel as if you own a vineyard.
- Tra Vigne Restaurant - so many great restaurants but this one always fits the bill whether you are craving a light appetizer and glass of wine outdoors or a full course meal followed by cheese and port for dessert - this restaurant can meet all of your needs.
- My favorite local hidden treasure you shouldn't miss:
- For the shoe shopping addicts like me -Flats shoe store in St. Helena - generally I believe the higher the heel and pointier the toe the better - but these shoes are made in Italy ( apparently the same factory used to make Tod's line ) and are comfortable, colorful and buttery soft leather or suede. I once went with a group of girlfriends and it was a frenzy of shopping similar to chum being tossed into a school of sharks- each person came out with a minimum of three pairs.
- My perfect day spent in the San Francisco Bay Area:
- A relaxing ride up from San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge, preferably in a convertible. Take the beautiful Carneros Highway and visit one or two favorite wineries for a tasting and maybe discover a few new ones on my way to charming St. Helena. Enjoy a long lunch at Auberge de Soleil and take in the wonderful views, or for something a little more casual and local, Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen. I love to stroll through St. Helena for some window shopping and then I am ready to retire to the Harvest Inn (One Main Street St. Helena, CA 94574), where I can sit on my terrace overlooking the vineyards while sipping a glass of wine.
