The private opening of San Francisco International Airport's newest terminal, T2, took place last week with true Sir Richard Branson fanfare.  T2, the new home of Virgin America and American Airlines, is a showplace of sleek, modern design and comfort. If  taking a Virgin America flight is like flying in a high-tech nightclub, then visiting T2 is like hanging out in a five-star resort.

Less than an hour south of the frenetic Silicon Valley is a tiny sanctuary tucked away between the rolling hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the lush plains of the San Joaquin Valley. CordeValle, the shortened version of the original name, Corazon de Valle (The Heart of the Valley) is the shining jewel of the area.

It was past 8 pm when we drove up to the grand gates of Landmark Vineyards in Sonoma, California. Expanding before us were acre upon acre of grapevines wrapped around a beautiful Spanish-style winery lit only by the full moon. A solitary light was on in the guest suite that would be our home for the weekend. We slowly opened the gate, took a deep breath, and pretended that this was our private slice of heaven.

Less than two hours north of San Francisco is a tiny town called Hopland. As its name suggests, decades ago it was a bustling community of beer makers.  Those glory days passed and Hopland disappeared into oblivion. But with the rise of organic wines and biodynamic farming, Hopland once again is on the radar for foodies and wine connoisseurs. The area surrounding Hopland is known as Sanel Valley (pending AVA designation) and is ready for its début on the international winemaking scene. The region is a mere speck compared to other wine regions - about 6 miles long and 2 miles wide – but when it comes to biodynamic and organic wine making, this Valley is a giant. Within this relatively small plot of land, there are eleven organic and biodynamic wineries.