California, here I come... That's what you'll say, if you want to go to the best wine country in the United States. What could be more relaxing and romantic than to spend time in the country - walking through vineyards - with your someone special?

There are many areas in California which you can choose to visit. From the Napa Valley to the Sonoma Valley to the South Central Coast - they all have much to offer. The trick to a good week - or weekend, if that's all you have to spare - is planning.

Map Your Course

Knowing where you are going will be important. You should invest in a good map, and consider planning exactly what wineries you'll visit along the way.

There are many Internet resources upon which you can draw. For example, if you're planning a Napa Valley excursion, you may want to visit NapaValley.com for helpful suggestions about the region and to learn more about the areas principal wineries.

Also, you might want to invest in a really good travel book about the region from Amazon.com, like The California Directory of Fine Wineries.

If you do your homework, you'll be pleasantly surprised how seamless this trip will be.

Take Your Time

Don't try to do too much in one day. You want to pick a couple of wineries and enjoy your time at each one. Take a picnic lunch with you, if possible, so you can enjoy some wine from the mid-day winery with your meal.

Try to Visit During the "Crush"

You want to be able to sample the fresh "crushed" grapes, if possible. The grape harvest generally ranges from late August through October, so call various wineries to find out about their harvest schedule so you can plan ahead.

If you want to get your hands "dirty", you can even harvest your own grapes. At Camp Schramsberg, you get to pick your own grapes and learn to blend them. This is a perfect romantic outing for outdoorsy types who don't mind getting a little bit "sticky"!

Drink in Moderation

You will be tasting a lot of wines throughout the day. You don't want to taste so many that the differences among them disappear, and everything tastes the same. So limit how many wines you drink at each winery.

If you can just taste rather than drink, that's to be preferred. They do provide spit-buckets for a reason, and if you and your date are both spitting, it won't seem so strange...

Consider a Train Ride

There are luxury trains that serve gourmet meals and have wine tastings on-board. Plus some of them stop to let people off at various wineries to sample the local fare. Consider, for example, the Champagne Vista Dome Car operated by the Napa Valley Wine Train. That's a three-hour train ride that can really set the mood for the rest of your time together.

Don't Drink and Drive

If you're going to consume alcohol, it goes without saying: Choose a designated driver. Maybe you can make this a double- or triple-date with friends, making it easier to share the burden of driving while the others are enjoying the vino!

Or consider chartering a limo. There are companies like Beau Wine Tours that will take all the worry out of driving by hooking you up with a limo and a driver. That is not only easy, but it can be very romantic, too!