When the London Observer named Manresa one of the 50 best restaurants in the world and Michelin then bestowed upon it a laudable two stars in September, the sleepy town of Los Gatos was thrust onto the map. Some San Franciscans had wondered why David Kinch chose to locate his haute cuisine restaurant in the town of 28,592 set against the Santa Cruz Mountains. But true food lovers and Silicon Valley execs knew why—they had discovered this terrain long ago. Bookended by the quaint downtowns of Saratoga and Los Gatos along a three-mile stretch of Highway 9, these foothills are built for a weekend of vista-filled hiking, tasting wines rivaling Napa and Burgundy’s finest, exceptional dining, and concerts at two of the Bay Area’s best venues: Villa Montalvo and the Mountain Winery. The high-end boutiques littering the streets and the Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, and Aston-Martin dealerships peppered throughout are clues that you’re not in Kansas. But the homey, tucked-away vibe reminds you that you’re not in San Jose, either.

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When Paul Masson arrived from Burgundy, France, in 1878, he surveyed the entire Bay Area and decided that the land of ridges and hillsides from Woodside to Saratoga was the chaîne d’or for pinots and chardonnays. Since then, local wineries like Ridge and Testarossa have become legendary: Ridge beat out France in the 1976 Judgment of Paris with its Monte Bello Cabernet—and 30 years later won the competition again. The best way to see the wineries, some of which can be tricky to find, is to link up with South Bay Wine Tours. One of the tour organizers’ favorite lunch spots is the Mountain Winery, where Masson started making sparkling wines. The front of the winery is the original facade from San Jose’s St. Patrick’s Church and serves as the stage for the prestigious summer concert series. South Bay Wine Tours, 408-867-9661, www.southbaywinetours.com. Ridge Vineyards, 17100 Monte Bello Rd., Cupertino, 408-867-3233, www.ridgewine.com. Testarossa, 300-A College Ave., Los Gatos, 408-354-6150, www.testarossa.com. Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Rd., Saratoga, 408-741-2822, www.mountainwinery.com.

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You might recognize the bamboo gardens, koi ponds, and authentic samurai houses in Saratoga’s Hakone Gardens from the movie Memoirs of a Geisha—parts of it were filmed here. The gardens date back to 1915 and are the oldest Japanese-style residential gardens in the Western hemisphere. The grounds were modeled after those of country villas built by warlords and the upper class in the foothills surrounding Kyoto. Like those villas, it has ponds, garden plateaus, tiered fountains, and stones placed in patterns of spiritual significance. Walk the meandering pathways lined with century-old lanterns, or meditate on the Zen garden’s raked stones and striking black pine tree while soaking up the views of the valley. 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, 408-741-4994, www.hakone.com.

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Downtown Saratoga is stacked with biking shops and running stores, reflecting the locals’ love of the surrounding hills. The favorite run (or walk) is the “Dammit Run” which follows part of the Los Gatos Creek Trail, passing behind Old Town Los Gatos and ascending to the Lexington Reservoir. Another great place to hike in Saratoga is Villa Montalvo, which has 175 acres of hiking trails surrounding the giant white mansion with a sweeping front lawn and concert basin. The Lookout Trail winds past redwoods, creeks, and a stone gazebo with marble goblins lapping from a fountain. It ends with a stunning view of the whole valley. In addition to big-name musical acts in warmer months, there are regular family theater events—the kids will love this month’s performance of A Christmas Carol. 15400 Montalvo Rd., Saratoga, 408-961-5800, www.villamontalvo.org.

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A trip to Manresa, to try dishes like John Dory a la plancha with gem lettuce or figs with chicken confit, is worth a long drive all by itself. But if you’ve dulled your palate with too much wine, then hit up the Los Gatos Brewing Company. The popular watering hole makes over a half-dozen beers right behind the bar and serves up fine versions of ribs and pizza. A great midrange dining option is the Basin. Its wine list features locals like Kathryn Kennedy and Mount Eden, and the menu offers dishes like wild mushroom rigatoni and thick-cut short rib. Manresa, 320 Village Ln., Los Gatos, 408-354-4330. The Basin, 14572 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, 408-867-1906. Los Gatos Brewing Company, 130-G N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, 408-395-9929.

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Reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa, Joie de Vivre’s Hotel Los Gatos and Spa lies within walking distance of everything you’d want to visit in downtown Los Gatos. It contains an outpost of the Preston Wynne Spa (with another location nearby in Saratoga), which offers treatments like warm stone foot release, blueberry smoothie exfoliation, and the Girls’ Night Out décolleté facial. For those who prefer their getaway surrounded by nature, the elegant Inn at Saratoga, in the spirit of a country manor, has windows that face out on Saratoga Creek to provide a perfect daydreaming hideaway. Hotel Los Gatos and Spa, 210 E. Main St., Los Gatos, 408-335-1700. Preston Wynne, 14567 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, 408-741-5525, www.prestonwynne.com. The Inn at Saratoga, 20645 Fourth St., Saratoga, 408-867-5020.