Wine touring 60 miles north of San Francisco, just off the beaten track

Sunset, Oct, 1984

Wine touring 60 miles north of San Francisco, just off the beaten track

It's no wonder that wine tasters and picnickers flock to the wine country this month: a lazy afternoon picnic with views of golden hills and brilliant blue skies is one of the best ways to celebrate the days of Indian summer. As the fall grape crush also brings a crush of drivers to Napa Valley, you might want to sample a lessvisited section of the wine country: northern Sonoma County.

Russian River Wine Road, a new version of an attractive two-color map with line drawings, can help you plan day or weekend outings. It locates 43 wineries, from Windsor and Forestville north to Cloverdale, that offer sales, tastings, and some tours. The map also lists restaurants and 20 places to stay overnight (including bed-and-breakfast inns). To get a copy, send $1 to Russian River Wine Road, Box 127, Geyserville, Calif. 95441.

For other ideas on wine country visits, turn to page 42 for our article on touring Napa Valley without your car.