Cheryl Shops

One of my favorite parts of living in San Francisco is that it's so close to wine country. If you time it right, you can be in Sonoma County in under an hour, or a little longer for Napa County, but not by much. While wine tasting is obviously a big part of the experience, for me, the best parts is getting outside, breathing in some fresh country air, and enjoying the weather, which is usually 10–20 degrees warmer than in the city. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I go to wine country quite a bit (I call my outings #SundayWineChurch), so I feel like I've perfected dressing for the nuances in weather. Here's what I recommend wearing in wine country in late spring. 

As I mentioned in last week's post, San Francisco is in lockdown 2.0, but Napa County isn't yet, so we headed up there on Saturday to pick up wine and enjoy one last meal in a restaurant before the holidays. Things have only been shut down for a week in the city, but it felt glorious to be outdoors in the sunshine, sipping wine and savoring the finer things. Winter tends to be when we get our only rain of the year here in the Bay Area, but if you play your cards right, you can get a gloriously clear, sunny day. It can definitely be on the chillier side, but with some careful layering, you can enjoy a full day of outdoor wine tasting. Here's what to wear in Napa in winter. 

I just came back from an amazing weekend with friends in Healdsburg, which is a town in the northern part of Sonoma County. I love the whole vibe of that region—it’s a little more laid back and less touristy than Napa and Sonoma (the town), but it’s home to some of my favorite wineries and some amazing restaurants too. We rented a house just outside of town, along the Russian River, and it was so incredibly peaceful. I walked Zuni down to the river every morning, then we spent the afternoons enjoying the unseasonably warm and sunny weather, often with a glass of wine in hand. It was so relaxing and rejuvenating, I can’t wait to go back. But until then, here’s what I wore over the weekend.

This post could also be titled "how to wear a sundress in fall." As I've noted in the last few posts, fall in the Bay Area is one of the most beautiful, temperate times of year, and most visitors are surprised by how warm it is. Wine country—Sonoma and Napa counties especially—tends to be much warmer in the summer, but by fall, it's just right, with highs in the upper 70s. It's the perfect weather for a sundress...but as with weather year-round in the Bay Area, layers are key. I recently went up to Sonoma and Napa for the day, and here's what I wore.

It's been cold in San Francisco. Really cold. Like, record-breaking, close-to-freezing cold. I know those of you who don't live in California may be playing the world's tiniest violin right now, but considering we're used to pretty consistent temperatures that take a slight dip in the winter, the weather lately has been a bit alarming. Case in point: it's usually about 10 degrees warmer in Napa than in the city (and even more in the summer), so I when I left my house last weekend in a thick, long sweater and scarf, I thought I'd be nice and cozy up in wine country. And while it was rather sunny—the weird thing about California is that the skies are oddly crystal clear when it's this cold—it was windy, and I spent most of the day wrapped in blankets, fighting off the chill. So before I get into my outfit, I should add a disclaimer that if you are going to Napa in the winter, you should add a warm coat to a look like this. But if the weather were totally ideal...

The wildfires are finally out in Napa and Sonoma, and so we decided to make a long-overdue trip up north for Sunday Wine Church, which is basically what I call going to wine country on a Sunday. There were a few blips—we were both hung over, we got a bit of a late start, and I had originally intended to wear a skirt, but all of a sudden it's fall in the Bay Area (and I am not complaining about that!), and so a last-minute improvisation was made.

Whenever I wear this top, I get a gazillion compliments. It's really soft and cozy, and it's pretty much the perfect thing to wear with skinny jeans or leggings. It's long enough to provide appropriate bum coverage, but the asymmetrical cut keeps things interesting. You can also wear it off the shoulder, or  higher up with a little bra-strap peekage. Layering it can be a little challenging—I want to try it next with a maxi-length cardigan—but overall, it's a great (and reasonable) three-season top.



Yes, I am wearing white jeans after Labor Day! And yes, that is an antiquated rule that you should ignore! (It's also something the department stores made up a long time ago to get people shopping in the fall, before the weather was really cool enough.) These are pretty stretchy, so they're ideal for wearing under a billowy top like this.



I love this jacket—I saw a girl wearing it on Polk Street in SF and chased her down to find out where she got it—but in retrospect, it's maybe a little too much for this outfit. See, even fashion bloggers make faux pas. Either way, it's one of my favorites, so expect to see it a bit more here.



I've had these boots forever, and thankfully Rag & Bone is still making them. They are really comfy, and the front has a little notch, which makes them more elongating for your legs, especially if you wear them with tights. I also find the shaft height easier to wear with pants—you don't get the ankle bunchiness that sometimes happens with higher boots.



This crossbody converts to a clutch, and I got it in my Zoe Report Box of Style (here's my post about why it's the only box subscription you need). Strangely, it's one of the few crossbody bags I own that doesn't hurt my back; a few weeks ago I took it to a wedding, so it's super versatile too. Speaking of the RZ Box, the sunglasses I'm wearing in all these photos are from last summer's box, and they're still one of my favorite pairs to this day.



When I go wine tasting, I always like to start the day with bubbles, and most of these photos were taken at Korbel Cellars, which is one of the oldest wineries in Sonoma. They do tours and tastings, but they also have a little café where you can order (very reasonable) wine by the glass and sit outside on the patio. We ended the day with friends at Hamel Family Wines, also in Sonoma, which is a newer—and totally gorgeous—spot. After the events of the last month, Sonoma definitely needs as much tourism love as it can get, so please visit as soon as you can!



OUTFIT DETAILS: Free People Grapevine Tunic (also in blush) || Free People military jacket || Rag & Bone frayed white jeans || Gigi New York python bag || Rag & Bone Harrow boots || Ombré scarf from street vendor in Italy (similar here) || YHF Los Angeles Cashton sunglasses 

When I was younger, long weekends meant short trips. I was constantly running off to Miami or Boston or upstate New York, and while I love traveling, I've also learned I need to take it easy. I've discovered something about myself as I get older, and that's the fact that I love to stay in the city on long weekends when everyone else is gone. (Conversely, I still like to take long weekend trips, but I take a day off of work and travel when not everyone else is doing it.) There's plenty of street parking, you can get reservations at hard-to-get-into restaurants, and as I've recently discovered, it's a great time to do a spa day. I have a few favorite spots in the city, but for Labor Day, decided to step it up and, on a friend's recommendation, visit the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn.



In less than an hour door to door, I felt like I was transported to another world. The Fairmont Sonoma is tucked away on a Sonoma side street, and considering it was a three-day weekend, was quiet, serene, and not at all crowded. The grounds are landscaped beautifully, and there are all sorts of spots to plunk down with a glass of wine...or have an impromptu photo shoot.



The star of my spa outfit is this kimono, which I've worn over everything from a dress to a tee and denim shorts. The flow of it disguises a multitude of sins while giving you a boho-exotic vibe that says "I go to day spas regularly." I chose it, however, because it doubles as a pool cover-up. And because you can spin in it.



Speaking of pools, there are many at the Willow Stream Spa—three outdoor, two indoor (plus a steam room, sauna, and cold-water dunk)—and all feature mineral water, since the entire property sits on an ancient thermal mineral spring that flows from 1,100 feet below. Use of these pools is included with your spa treatment, or you can do a day pass. Either way, it makes for an incredibly relaxing day, and I'm with the Native Americans in believing that the waters do have magical healing powers.




OUTFIT DETAILS: Helena Quinn kimono || Everlane tee || Topshop MOTO denim mini || Quay Australia Odin Sunglasses || Cult Gaia Ark bag || Stella & Dot Setta necklace || Sam & Libby sandals (similar here on sale!)

One of my favorite things about San Francisco is that you can get out of it quickly. After living in New York for years—where trains, buses, and even boats were required to take you mere miles away—I love that you can drive for 30 minutes and be in a completely different climate, which is pretty much necessary in August, when the city is constantly blanketed in fog (we call it Fogust). If you follow me on Instagram (and you should!) you know that I make frequent weekend trips to wine country; in less than an hour, I can be outside in the sun with a glass of rosé in my hand, and that is just perfection.

Over my four (!!!) years living here, I've gotten my wine country outfit down to a science. It involves the following:
1. A cute dress
2. A light jacket or sweater to keep you warm on the drive out of the city
3. A hat and sunglasses (must shield one's pale office-dwelling skin from the sun)
4. Low-heeled sandals for rocky and/or hilly terrain; bonus if they slip off for picnics


I'm wearing several of my favorite pieces of the moment. This sweater (sadly sold out!) is from Modern Citizen—a store so great, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming post on them—and I've been wearing it nonstop. I love this dress because you can eat (or drink) as much as you want, and it's loose enough that you can't tell; it also has a really flattering hemline that's lower in back and not scandalously short in front.


As for the bag, I impulse-bought it a few weeks ago, and I don't think I've ever received more compliments on a purse, especially from men. It's really lightweight; I got the small size because the large felt a bit too large, like I was carrying a picnic basket.


Nearly every design magazine has covered them recently, but Scribe is the first winery I joined as a member, and I hate to refer anyone else there since it's always a madhouse, but it's one of the most magical places in Sonoma (it's where I conceived #sundaywinechurch) and their wines are delicious. I also recommend Larson Family Winery—it's a completely different experience, but their wines are tasty and reasonable, everyone who works there is incredibly friendly, and it's a great place to hang out for a few hours or all day.


OUTFIT DETAILS: Sole Society Panama Hat || Modern Citizen Ofelia sweater (sold out, sadly!) || Topshop T-shirt dress || Cult Gaia Ark bag || Raen Durante sunglasses || Madewell Greer sandals (sold out; similar here) || Rachel Zoe tassel bracelet (similar here) || Hermes Clic H bracelet || HappyWay Jewelry X-ring



Right down the road from Scribe is Domaine Carneros, which is where I like to go when I want to feel fancy. A wise woman taught me, too, that a proper way to start a day in wine country is with bubbles. Also, I'd like to note that temperatures in Napa reached 107 degrees on the day these photos were taken; I was wearing a denim jacket that I shed by 10 a.m. because it was already that hot (and yes, we like to start drinking that early). And when it's hot, we drink rosé.



This dress, sadly, is from last year. I bought it in Nice, France, from the most typically chic French woman you can imagine. It's incredibly lightweight and comfy, but chic too, and I always feel like I'm on vacation when I wear it.



There are a gazillion amazing restaurants in Napa, but our latest find is The Charter Oak, which had catered the fancy party I was at last weekend. It's by the same team behind The Restaurant at Meadowood, which has three Michelin stars (and like five dollar signs), but it's much more casual and the perfect stopping point for a midday refueling. Also, it has this very Instagram-friendly spiral staircase.


OUTFIT DETAILS: Etoile Isabel Marant dress (similar here)  || Raen Durante sunglasses || Cult Gaia Ark bag || Minnetonka Savona Sandals || Rachel Zoe tassel bracelet (similar here) || Hermes Clic H bracelet || Stella & Dot arc pendant, Signet ring || Chanel scarf (similar here)

I've gone to wine country the last three weekends in a row--it's one of my favorite things about living in San Francisco, and considering how much I freaking love it here, that's a bold statement. Anyway, dressing for wine country is almost as challenging as dressing for San Francisco weather (an art/science that probably warrants its own post), but after so many trips, I think I finally have it down. Here's my wine country uniform:


The centerpiece of this look, of course, is the red-hot Splendid maxi dress, which just so happens to be on sale at Vente Privee now through Friday at 9 a.m. EST. (For those of you who aren't familiar with the site, Vente Privee is the o.g. private flash sale site--it started in 2001 in France and now counts 21 million members across eight countries, including the U.S., where it debuted in 2011. I'm a fan because it has a lot of hard-to-find brands, their customer service is impeccable, and American Express cardholders get free shipping!) Splendid's knits are so soft, you'll never want to take them off (this dress is no exception), and while we're at it, here are more of my picks from the sale--prices are 50%-70% off retail!


As for my wine-country outfit pictured above, stay tuned to my Instagram feed to see it in action in Mendocino this weekend. Yep, back to wine country I go!