Wine Without Whine

You read Wine Enthusiast, albeit occasionally. You enjoy the sharp, witty and unpretentious columns of Food & Wine Editor Lettie Teague. You're no wine expert, but you love tasting and learning about wine and would love to tour a vineyard or two. The only problem is, you have young children, and the closest thing to a wine tour you've experienced in recent memory is following a trail of Welch's Grape Juice spattered on the floor by your four-year old.

We're happy to tell you that you don't have to wait until darling Sydney is in college to visit a tasting room. Napa Valley has several child-friendly vineyards that will cheerfully accommodate your little ones as you learn more about their wines. Mind you, they're not running a babysitting service while you stroll through the vineyard becoming one with the terroir - you'll still need to keep an eye on your offspring. But little touches can make the trip feasible and even enjoyable for all ages; you might even be able to learn a thing or two with the younger set engaged for a few minutes.

The following wineries identify themselves as family-friendly places:


Alpha Omega: Releasing their first wine in July 2006, this winery features picnic areas and a pond with ducks and geese to keep little ones entertained. They are open to the public and do not make appointments.
707.963.9999


Dutch Henry: This family-owned and operated winery in Calistoga allows not just children, but also well-behaved dogs, perhaps to romp with the playful canines in residence. Children can also pick vegetables and fruit while visiting. They're open daily from 10:00 to 4:30, but their website suggests calling to set up a visit.
888.224.5879


St. Supery Vineyards & Winery: This winery welcomes children with coloring books and a winery quiz sheet, the answers to which can be found in the boards of the winery's exhibit. No appointments are necessary and they're open seven days a week.
707.963.4507


Tres Abores: Although you'll need to set an appointment to tour this winery, the warm welcome you'll receive is well worth the small effort. Sheep, goats, Golden Retrievers and a cat named Violet are all on hand to play with. And despite our warning above about no babysitting, here you can even inquire about having one of the family's teens watch your youngster should you wish to hike through their vineyards.
707.967.8027

If you're planning to be in Napa for several days, check the Napa Valley Vintners website: this link takes you straight to the page where several other family-friendly wineries are listed.

Roughing It But Not Really - AKA "Glamping"

It's time to plan your next vacation. The children have come up with the brilliant idea of going camping. You, on the other hand, had visions of spas, room service and a general atmosphere of luxury. You are, it would seem, at an impasse.

Au contraire. Welcome to the growing trend of "glamping", which we first read about via Gadling. Coming from the term "glamorous camping", glamping is putting style and pampering into camping. This is something we find to be totally agreeable, and the only question is, what took so long?

It's really not that new of an idea: people have been going on safari like this for years. Now, the concept has come out of Africa, so to speak, and has really taken off with our friends across the pond. England is rife with companies offering "glamping" supplies, from white Indian-style tents made in Pakistan to jute carpets that will protect pedicured feet from the earthy floor. It seems that someone got wind of Kate Moss glamping, and now the world has run amok with copycats who, of course, need to be similarly accoutred.

In the US & Canada, the movement has gone beyond the bespoke tent to offer full-fledged vacations that include pampering previously unheard of while camping. The oft-mentioned Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts & Spa in British Columbia offers camping the way it should be done (see their lovely tents above and below). Especially enticing are the family suite tents, which come with queen-bed, convertible chesterfield with queen mattress, and a lounge area with a game table. Add in luxurious down duvets and area rugs you'd happily grace your floors with, and this really isn't so bad, now is it?

But wait, you say. It's all fine and good to speak of sleeping in luxury, but will I emerge from the woods looking like something out of a horror movie? Have no fear - here you'll find hot water for showers as well as power for hair dryers. Even wireless internet is doable here, should you find the need to be less connected to the outdoors and more connected to, say, this blog. (And yes, they have modern composting toilets that we are sure will not require the use of anything so rustic as a page from the NY Times.)

We have already decided that we must go glamping, if only for the sheer fun of indulging in something with such a ridiculous name. And we must admit, at Clayoquot the activities offered are fun for both us and the children: kayaking, biking, and bear watching are just a few, and how much better to retreat to a downy mattress in a luxurious tent when you're done? Whatever you call it and wherever you do it, camping "in the manner to which we've become accustomed" is an idea whose time has come, and we'll be looking for more places to pursue this new trend in travel.