California Wine Country with Food Allergies: Family Friendly, Romantic & Celebration Ready
California Wine Country with Food Allergies: Family Friendly, Romantic & Celebration Ready!
Of course, California Wine Country feels romantic. Vineyards at sunset, candlelit dinners, wine tastings that linger a little too long… but it’s also the PERFECT location for families & friend’s trips with Food Allergies!
Although when you travel with food allergies, even the most beautiful destinations can come with a quiet undercurrent of anxiety.
Will this restaurant really understand my Food Allergies? Finning of the wines with egg or fish? Do they really understand cross contact?”
Food Allergy-Friendly California is a great place for Celebrations & Family trips!
I know these feelings well.
As a food allergy mom for over 23 years now & counting, we have anaphylactic food allergies to:
peanuts
tree nuts
legumes
shellfish
soy & more.
But I also know that California Wine Country can be enjoyed with food allergies as we travel here often!
Of course, I hope that you Followed our Instagram as we show A LOT of Traveling & Real Life with Food Allergies there too!
Alright, 1st up: Grab our Ultimate Packing List, specifically for traveling with Food Allergies, free, here.
Traveling when you have Food Allergies is different. So is what we need to take with us.
Now, we’re ready to plan your California trip!
Food Allergy Friendly Northern California
Dreaming of a Northern California trip filled with beautiful rolling hills, vineyards, delicious dining, spa days & more?
Travelling with food allergies to this gorgeous area of Northern California Wine Country can be a fantastic vacation, with the right planning.
We’re going to cover:
food allergy dining options
hidden gem wineries
best things to see & do in Napa and Sonoma, CA
Especially if this trip is for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or anniversary.
Although, we will sprinkle in some family-friendly options too!
As Northern California is a place our family travels to often since my kids were born over 20 years ago, (my family lives here), we visit often & at all ages.
Really – from baby to being all grown up! There’s so much to do, for all ages!
Come with us to N. CA wine country with food allergies!
California Dreaming: Flight Options
So, as a travel consultant that plans travel for people with food allergies, I have 3 thoughts:
Suggest you start your trip flying into San Francisco for 2 days or
Fly into wonderful Sonoma airport, Charles Schultz (yes, the creator of the wildly popular Snoopy & Charlie Brown cartoon!) Kids love taking photos with the Snoopy characters! And their onsite restaurant is able to accommodate for many food allergies. Bonus!
Could fly into one airport & out of the other (seeing both Northern California Wine Country & beautiful San Francisco!)
Travel Tip: Have you seen our Instagram reels on California & San Francisco with Food Allergies? Follow us on Instagram as we share a lot of food allergy travel tips, recipes & real life! 😎
As a client favorite, California stands out for its farm-to-table fresh food approach to dining, food allergy aware chefs, many options of things to do, and a wonderful variety of accommodations.
LOTS of accommodation choices for traveling with food allergies.
Accommodations in Napa & Sonoma
Of course, there’s all kinds of chatter about location: Napa or Sonoma?
Answer: they’re both wonderful!
While Napa Valley is a little more upscale and California-formal, Sonoma is it’s laid-back sibling!
In fact, we’re going to share options for both locations.
Vinarosa Resort (formerly Vintners Inn & Resort, a John Ash property) – a luxury resort & spa in Sonoma County. Award-winning restaurant uses freshest local ingredients and with advance notice, is able to accommodate for many food allergies. Vineyard views in sumptuous rooms and suites. Romance abounds here! As well as a wonderful wedding and celebration venue.
A 3-bedroom Napa house under $250/pm VRBO – Loved by Guests!
Looking for your own retreat near Calistoga’s famed hot springs & spa’s with your own private pool?
Lastly, a family favorite at Safari West. Of course, my kids loved our Safari Day as did my sister’s 70-year-old in-laws!
So, as you can see, all price points & every option for your trip!
California Wine Country with Food Allergies: Family Friendly, Romantic & Celebration Ready!
Things to Do in Wine Country: Wine & More
OK, the obvious: wineries with food allergies!
We chatted with hidden gem winery, Amphora’s winemaker Rick who said of his award-winning wines:
I haven’t fined a wine in about 20 years! No egg or fish fining for our wines.”
Amphora Winery is in lovely Healdsburg and a wonderful place for bringing your own safe for you picnic to sample along with Amphora’s wines.
And their dog Birdie is absolutely adorable, & sure to stop by and say “hi”.
Another fantastic winery is Williamson. With a very well-known chef, food and wines here are delicious! And they have a concierge to assist you with planning a wedding, special occasion or more! Only using the freshest local ingredients, they are well aware of the foods they serve.
You must make a reservation in advance listing all of your food allergies and again, speak to the chef/manager day of your visit.
Kendall Jackson winery & gardens is French Chateau gorgeous & is food allergy friendly for many people – always check for your food allergies!
A gorgeous French Chateau with beautiful gardens, my kids love this winery, even before they could drink!
This was one of the 1st places over 20 years ago, where the chef came out and spoke to us and came back with a special dessert of safe for us, caramel popcorn she whipped up!
Since then, KJ has a special place in this food allergy mom’s heart! As always, you must vet for your specific food allergies.
Please see their FAQ where they talk about food allergies. Always make an advance reservation noting your food allergies.
Because our family lives in N. CA, & we love wine, we can go on & on about California wineries!
Maybe this is a place we should consider for our Small Group Trips, so we can meet up then!
I think you may see why California Wine Country with Food Allergies: Family Friendly, Romantic & Celebration Ready!
Think you can’t have dessert if you have food allergies? With advance notice you may be able to!
Dining Out with Food Allergies in Northern California
Northern California is a place that has lots of fresh food markets, farm-to-table cooking and a true desire to offer food allergy-friendly food.
Our restaurant list works for people with all kinds of food allergies but may not be good for your specific food allergies. Always email restaurant in advance and reconfirm with chef/manager on arrival. When in doubt, don’t eat there.
Francis Ford Coppola’s restaurants are fantastic for our food allergies! Both a lovely sit-down dining area (both indoors & outside tables) and a pool side cafe. Reserve the pool cabanas/pool passes in advance! As a side note, we have had a birthday pool party at Coppola & everyone had a blast! From lounging poolside, sipping Coppola’s wines to playing bocce or splashing in their large pool. GREAT family friendly or couples’ day! I think Francis is proud of this:
“I wanted family‑friendly venues… a wine wonderland of sorts. To be a park of pleasure where everyone can enjoy the best things in life. Enjoy food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming, performances of all types. A place to celebrate the love of life.”
– Francis Ford Coppola
Awesome couple or family food allergy-friendly afternoon at Coppola’s pool & restaurants!
Italian restaurant Stella was PHENOMENAL about food allergies (1st question waiter asked was about understanding our food allergies). As a very good Italian cook, Italian is tough for me to give outstanding reviews, but Stella is the Real Deal!! In the charming wine country town of Kenwood.
Now you may be a little surprised by our suggestion of Fogbelt Brewery here in Wine Country, but this is a seriously food allergy friendly place to eat/have a brew (over 21/don’t drink & drive!).
“Fogbelt Station can accommodate groups for meetings, functions or parties. Check out their spaces and banquet menus for ideas.”
As young adults, my daughter Katie and her husband Liam, really enjoy stopping at Fogbelt Brewery for a bite & brew! They have a lot of bar food kind of options, including a delicious homemade pizza (#glutenfree option too!). It’s a place where you can just relax and enjoy the lovely CA weather! Fun, inexpensive and food allergy friendly!
Arguably 1 of Sonoma County’s best restaurants, Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Kitchen is a scrumptious & #foodallergyfriendly treat! For those who aren’t familiar, this is Charlie Palmer’s award winning (Michelin star?) restaurant in the charming Old West town square (walkable from my Mom’s house!). Not only for a special occasion, but Dry Creek Kitchen also has a weekly local’s dinner at a set price menu & fantastic Jazz Bar! It is attached to the hotel & spa, which my sister tells me is amazing!
Drewish Deli is a local’s hidden gem. And if you go by early, you can watch them make their homemade bagels. Absolutely yummy sandwiches, catered box lunches & a special place for a pop-up event or private gathering. At the time of writing, when we stopped by, Drewish told us,
“There isn’t a nut/peanut in the place!”
Local & amazing place for a meal, especially breakfast & lunch Costeaux Bakery may be surprising for us food allergy people but the staff at Costeaux were amazing with our many food allergies. Now, we did NOT have pastries, cookies, etc…for us, their delicious omelet with organic veggies, carrot salad with faro and fresh fruit was scrumptious and safe! As well as options for #dairyfree coffee, lattes & cappuccino! And they asked us about our #dairyintolerance so that they could give us a good answer as to being able to accommodate for our food allergies. BRAVO Costeaux! Full disclosure, the owners are a local family and my Mom and sister are friends with them, but our review is accurate!
SO much fun at Tisza Restaurant & Beer Garden where everything is homemade & food allergy-friendly.
My family is going to laugh when they see my very favorite & food allergy friendly recommendation: Tiza Bistro & Beer Garden! If you may remember, my Mom’s side of the family is from Germany & a real motivator for us traveling to Europe after my daughter Katie’s food allergy diagnosis. Well, I JUST LOVE GERMAN food!! And Tiza is authentic (owners are Austrian), changes seasonally & the nicest of people! Of course, weather dependent, their outside beer garden is lovely! Reservations a must, noting your food allergies in advance.
🥳 Have a Celebration or Romantic Occasion?
Head over to local Oliver’s Market (grocery store – many locations) & pickup LOTS of fresh, local & food allergy-friendly food! My son-in-law Liam (grilling in photo below) celebrated a birthday when we were in N. CA & with all of our food allergies, all we did was pick up @RubiconBakery cupcakes, @schoolsafe cupcakes, some fresh fruit & our birthday celebration was quite the BASH!!
As you can see, LOTS of food allergy friendly options at all price points, locations & type of meal you are looking for!
Food Allergy friendly for us using @EarthBalance & freshly caught by us in nearby Bodega Bay, grilled fish at our @VRBO house!
Things to Do in Northern California Wine Country: Not Wineries
Over the many years of our travelling with food allergies, we are blessed to be able to share with you MANY things to do in Napa & Sonoma Counties that is NOT wineries!
For kids/families/adults:
Mentioned above, Safari West is AMAZING! Check out their Safari’s, conservation efforts & bring along your fully charged camera/phone – photos with animals/on safari is fun!
Bocce all around this area, many wineries have Bocce courts, reserve in advance. Take a look at Rubino Wineries Bocce
Farmer’s markets – Windsor Farmer’s Market is incredible – live music, food trucks that may be able to accommodate for your food allergies or bring a picnic, movie nights on the Green (dress warmly! one summer, we had to leave the movie night & watch from my sister’s house overlooking the Green with hot chocolate!)
Deep Sea Fishing – Getting up early is ok if you get to bring home over a 100 lbs. of freshly caught Pacific fish! My son Brandon & son-in-law Liam had an incredible day fishing from Bodega Bay with Reel Obsession & yum the fish was delicious!! As a side note, we were able to ship their catch home at a very reasonable cost!
All righty, there is a lot of California Wine Country with Food Allergies: Family Friendly, Romantic & Celebration Ready things to do, eat if you have dietary restrictions/food allergies & stay!
Were you a little surprised by the options & variety of Northern California with Food Allergies?
Let us know – Head over to our Private Facebook Group (over 6.3K members!) who are Positive, Happy to Share their Food Allergy travel experiences & love to ask us questions!
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Author, Travel Consultant & Founder.
Hi it's Cindi. My passion is traveling, cooking, writing and spending time with family and friends. I love to help others accomplish their travel dreams! Start your Journey!
