Hi again! I mapquested some distances and agree that we need to stay no further than Calistoga. Is Santa Rosa nice? I found a nice cottage there. The Meritage is all booked, but it does look wonderful! I'm scared of crowds because practically every hotel and B&B I've been interested in is booked!
Are tastings included in tours? I'm thoroughly confused by the different options I'm seeing on all of these winery websites. We will probably do one tour and then maybe just explore the grounds of one more on our own. I don't think she will be able to be on her feet for hours. The hot air balloon ride sounds like an amazing idea, I'm going to check that out!
Santa Rosa is alright-it's not wine country, it's a city that is allot of subdivisions filled with commuters to the bay area. if you're considering staying there, it will be like staying in a city in any part of the California and then still traveling to and from wine country. 'yes' you may see some vineyards on the outskirts, but it's gotten to the point where any available dirt in the vicinity of Napa and Sonoma have grape vines planted on them-but it doesn't have the look and feel of what your mil is dreaming of. you'll find rentals that identify themselves as 'wine country' or 'the gateway to wine country'-these will include places like Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, American Canyon, and even Fairfield. the reason their rent is lower as compared to the other places people have suggested is because they aren't in wine country, and often entail allot of driving (and you don't want to have to drive to a winery, back to rest/change clothes, back for a restaurant reservation....it gets to be allot of driving and depending on the time/day-allot of heavy commuter traffic).
if you're going September on you will encounter some crowds because those are the most popular months. it won't be like wdw crowds, but the traffic gets heavier and slows down, reservations are a must (esp. at lodging and restaurants).
I really encourage you to phone their convention and visitor's bureau-they can let you know if there are any events going on particular weeks/weekends that are drawing huge crowds.