San Francisco, U.S.A. — You, friends and family, a convertible and the wide open California road. What could be a better combination? Pairing it with California wine country, of course. Because there are so many choices, California’s Wine Institute has developed five big road trip ideas to inspire wine lovers, giving them options to pick their favorites and set their pace. And speaking of pace, don’t forget to pace yourself when wine tasting (spitting is more than polite in wine country!) and have a designated driver.

From California’s iconic coast to dramatic deserts and the magnificent High Sierras, the great California road trip is on just about everyone’s bucket list. With a little planning, you can include amazing wine regions in your adventures, from hidden gem off-the-beaten path regions like the Sierra Foothills and Temecula to the most well-traveled, such as Sonoma, Napa and Paso Robles.

Here are five of California’s great wine country road trips that can be done in five days, starting from either San Francisco or Los Angeles. Don’t forget to check out other amenities offered at many wineries, from picnics, bocce ball and concerts to hiking, biking, horseback riding and garden tours. For more information on visiting California wine country go to www.discovercaliforniawines.com. And to help get you inspired, you can also check out this new California Wine Road Trip video:

1) North Coast

There’s nothing like a drive on California’s scenic North Coast to show you not only the Pacific Ocean’s dramatic beauty but also how profoundly it affects the region’s climate. That coastal influence gives us San Francisco’s famous fog, towering redwood trees, and a perfect home for cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and others —so let’s explore! This scenic five-day round trip from San Francisco takes you wine tasting, shopping, dining, kayaking and more: visit Sausalito; Muir Woods national park; quaint, coastal Mendocino; and Sonoma County’s diverse wine regions.

2) San Francisco Bay Area

This five-day round-trip itinerary is a foodie’s paradise, with stops from San Francisco’s Chinatown and Little Italy to Berkeley, the legendary birthplace of California cuisine. It also takes you from mountains to the sea: you’ll take in the thrilling scenery and wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Livermore Valley and Half Moon Bay.

 3) Napa Valley to the High Sierras

This adventurous round-trip itinerary starts in Napa Valley, any wine lover’s dream destination, where exquisite Cabernet Sauvignons await alongside pampering hot springs and bike tours. Then it heads for the hills, exploring Gold Country and the Sierra Foothills for gondola rides, panoramic views and off-the-beaten-path wineries before winding back down to earth in Lodi, home to some of California’s oldest Zinfandel vines. Your wine adventure starts here.

4) Central Coast – Highway 1

What says California more than driving a convertible with the top down, traveling up Highway 1? With the ocean in view, wind in your hair and wine on your mind, this trip takes you from Santa Barbara’s Sideways movie territory to the cool-climate wines of San Luis Obispo and red-wine mecca Paso Robles, then swings back to the ocean and beautiful Monterey before ending in San Francisco. Besides wining and dining, there’s a zip line, hiking, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to interest you.

 5) Southern California Adventure: Hollywood and Grapevine

Oh yeah, you’re going to Hollywood! And for a wine lover, there’s more to Southern California than blue skies, surf and sunshine—it’s full of surprising wine regions, where winemaking has been taking place since the late 1700s. On this five-day round trip, you’ll hit hot spots like Malibu and Palm Springs while also exploring wineries in Temecula, Cucamonga and even San Diego and

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On April 26, 2012, the VH1 Save the Music Foundation will launch the 2012 Songwriters Music Series in Chicago, IL with an acoustic performance by Award-winning, soul singer-songwriter Robin Thicke.

This marks the first stop in the series, sponsored by Swiss watch company Raymond Weil and William Hill Estate Wines, which will then travel to New York City in June and close out at the breathtaking William Hill Estate in Napa Valley in September.

Last year’s Songwriters Music Series featured performances by Glee star Matthew Morrison in New York, ACM Award-winning sibling trio The Band Perry in Nashville, Tennessee and Grammy Award winning musician Colbie Caillat as well as Billboard Magazine 2011 Artist To Watch Andy Grammer in Los Angeles.

Songwriters Music Series benefits the VH1 Save the Music Foundation in their mission to provide children with access to a complete education that includes music. These intimate evenings serve as a platform for energized, informed and socially conscious individuals to network amidst great music.

Each event will also feature today’s emerging musicians and most celebrated artists/bands performing hit songs in support of the cause. In total, the 2011 Songwriters Music Series raised over $358,000, which was enough to restore 11 music education programs nationwide. This year, the Foundation hopes to raise even more so that a greater number of students are provided the tools they need to create, innovate and become the next great leaders in an increasingly competitive world.

“The VH1 Save the Music Foundation does so much work to ensure that future generations will have the instruction and instruments to help them pursue their dreams,” said Robin Thicke. “I’m just honored to be able to help the cause and put on a show for the amazing city of Chicago.”

Multi-platinum superstar Robin Thicke will kick off the 2012 Songwriters Music Series with a special performance for a select group of ticketholders. Robin’s fifth studio album, Love After War was released on December 6, 2011.

Love After War is an album born out of a desire to be the uncompromising, idealistic artist he was as a boy, married with the weight of being a man with responsibilities and the scars of the past. . The album follows Robin’s past hits A Beautiful World, The Evolution of Robin Thicke, Something Else and Sex Therapy.

The Chicago event will take place at an, as yet, undisclosed location from 6:30 PM-10:00 PM and will include opening performances by local sponsors Sing4′s YouTube Contest Winner and Houlihan’s Restaurants employee musicians contest winners.

This year, beginning with the first installment, the Foundation will also present an exclusive social media initiative, “Songwriters Moments In Time with Raymond Weil,” which will give audiences everywhere a behind the scenes look at each Songwriters event, with special talent interviews and more.

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Welcome to one of the world’s premier location for wine lovers. Napa Valley , a 35 miles long stretch from American Canyon up to Calistoga, has approximately 400 wineries (with about 100 opened to public) where visitors can sample world class wines, as well as learning about their production. Locating just 50 miles northeast of San Francisco, this wine getaway couldn’t be more accessible. Since Napa is a valley, temperatures can significantly vary from day tonight. For this reason, it is a good idea to schedule a vineyard tour before noon, and save the afternoon time for tastings.

After visiting the area and speaking to a few locals, here’s what they recommend:

Best for Education: Robert Mondavi

Right, the name could not be more familiar. This mega-production winery features a total of five winery/tasting programs and four wine and food pairing sessions. For beginners, the signature tour and tasting gives you an overview of the vineyard history, its culture, and a seated wine tasting. When asked which vineyard is best for tasting some good quality wine, Barb Chrismin, a Napa local said “Robert Mondavi’s Reserved Collections are actually pretty good”. Going for that and limited edition wines? The exclusive cellar tasting might be an option.

Best for Sparkling Wine and Arts: Mumm Napa and Hess Collection

Other than being known as a sparkling wine property, what these two have in common is they’re all about arts. Aside from having a beautiful vineyard view where visitors can enjoy while sampling each glass of wine at the patio, Mumm is home to a fine art photography gallery where many local and international photographers showcase their works on a rotating basis. On the other side of Napa, Hess Collection features some seriously great contemporary art in all forms, may it be paintings, sculptures, objects and so forth.

Best for Architecture: Castello di Amorosa

When it comes to being a picturesque wine estate, Castello di Amorosa certainly doesn’t come up short. Moreover, they produce some great quality wines. All tours offered by this Tuscan-style castle winery include a guided walk through the castle and its winery followed by barrel tasting, and ends with a private tasting at the castle’s bar.

Hidden Gem: Quixote and Round Pond Winery

These are a pair of wineries whose philosophy equals sustainability/organic farming with an emphasis on making quality wine in small quantity. Quixote, for example, devotes itself to only producing two types of wine: Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Syrah. The winery also differentiates itself very well from the rest by occupying a fun, contemporary design created by Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Sure they both share similarities on the farming idea, but Round Pond, when it comes to vineyard atmosphere, is completely different. Round Pond focuses on simplicity, with the hint of industrial and rustic chic design. Known for lush garden, Round Pond grows not only grapes, but also olives. So, other than wines, they produce artisanal oils, vinegars, and syrups.

The Place that puts Napa on the map: Chateau Montelena

Thanks to the 1976 Paris Tasting, where Chateau Montelena’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay beat out the French wines in this blind tasting competition, Napa became known in the wine world.  Stop by the winery to sample excellent wines while learning about the chateau’s glorious history in a peaceful setting.

Other wineries worth visiting: Sterling Vineyard for nice view of Napa Valley, St. Supery for nice summer wines, and Domaine Canneros (another picturesque estate).

No matter which vineyard you choose to visit. Keep in mind that driving under influence is always something one should avoid. So, if your plan includes hopping around several vineyards, hire a driver. Otherwise, keep on raisin’ the glass and enjoy some awesome wines.

Please note that Quixote, as of press time, is only available for visitors through appointments.

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