39552 Tue Sep 13 09:54:12 -0700 2005 24 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 188183 I need to make winery tour reservations for our trip and I fear I have waited too long... arriving on 9/26/05. Tell me which ones to take tours, and which ones to just visit. I'd like a really great educational tour, a really mom & pop kind of place to visit, and just some beautiful architecture plus great wine. If any of these places are a waste of time, I'd love to hear it. Day 1- Opus Cakebread Domaine Chandon Mondavi Schramsberg Frank Family Day 2- Darrioush Paraduxx ZD Mumm Duckhorn Etude Day 3 in Sonoma, t.b.d. PS- We are staying at the Napa River Terrace Inn 1600 Soscol Ave. if it matters... Tue Sep 13 09:54:12 -0700 2005 0 JGarvey 1 188188 Also, I know we need to narrow day each day to 4-5 wineries. Please tell me which ones to skip. Many thanks, Jennifer Tue Sep 13 11:00:47 -0700 2005 188183 0 JGarvey 2 188205 Why so many wineries? I find wine tasting to be far more enjoyable if I schedule three wineries with a couple held in reserve in case there's time and inclination. Five seems like an awful lot to me. When I was at Gary Farrell last month I was offered fourteen different wines to try. Tue Sep 13 11:44:31 -0700 2005 188188 0 Poot 1 188189 I would pass on Opus 1, just not worth it. Unless you want to take the tour, I would also pass on Mondavi. It appears you must like the bubbly since you have 3 champagne houses. I would elimanate one of them on day 1 although both are nice. Frank Family is a real winner, be sure to go there and they also produce bubbly as well as still wines. I think the wines at Cakebread have gone downhill over the past few years. There are any number of other really good wineries you might consider. Miner Family, Cliff Lede, Elyse, Bremer Family. Have a great time. Tue Sep 13 11:14:23 -0700 2005 188183 0 Monty 1 188202 Ditto dropping Opus One. Also, Duckhorn covers Paraduxx in tastings, so that drops one from your list. (By the way, keep Duckhorn; it's wonderful. Especially recommend doing the "reserve" tasting if available.) Tue Sep 13 11:34:29 -0700 2005 188183 0 DC in DC 1 188204 YES to frank family NO to mondavi ADD frogs leap ADD chateau montelena Tue Sep 13 11:44:15 -0700 2005 188183 0 niccole 1 188237 The ultimate mom & pop has to be Paloma. Barb & Jim are gracious and make spectacular wine, their 02 Merlot has received massive accolades. If you can get in, it's a memory for a lifetime. A reservation is a must, the visit is to their home, not a winery. Unbelievable. Link: http://www.palomavineyard.com/home.asp Tue Sep 13 14:16:09 -0700 2005 188183 0 Reuel 2 188263 Yes, the tasting room is their kitchen counter. Just keep in mind that it takes a little longer than you think to get there. Give yourself an additional 15 minutes of travel time as the roads are winding. They are really great people too. I believe they just released their 2003 Merlot. Tue Sep 13 15:31:28 -0700 2005 188237 0 Steve Lowery 2 188307 If you're going there, you might want to make a Spring Mountain tour of wineries. It's a great road with several smaller and interesting wineries along it, most available for visiting only by appointment. I've visited several, starting with Pride Mountain (near the top of Spring Mountain), and found all to them worth visiting and very different from the usual Napa Valley experience. Ths photo was taken at Pride Mountain Vineyards. Link: http://www.springmountaindistrict.com Image: http://ruthvenphotos.com/winecountry/pride/crw_1617-crw_1623_960w_std.jpg Tue Sep 13 18:56:39 -0700 2005 188237 0 Mick Ruthven 1 188242 Consider Chimney Rock/Mumms (which you already have) and Stags Leap on the Silverado Trail. Drop Mondavi. The tour at OPUS One is the best tour that I've ever been on. Consider Duckhorn's Decoy for a less expensive wine and again, Paraduxx is by Duckhorn. They have food pairing w/ wine there as well. For educational, go to St. Supery and either go on the tour or, take the self-guided tour....has smells, color, etc. on wines I'd drop Darrioush. Place is nicely decorated but not my style of wine. Clos Pegas Winery is nice for it's art works. Pls. ask if you want recommendations on Sonoma side...pls. ask. Tue Sep 13 14:30:04 -0700 2005 188183 0 Huntingdog 2 188244 Some recommendations I have gotten for Sonoma (but don't know anything about yet) are: Jordan Ledson A. Rafanelli Domaine Carneros Vianasa Gloria Ferrer Who is worht the trip, who isn't? Any other suggestions are appreciated!!! Tue Sep 13 14:36:06 -0700 2005 188242 0 JGarvey 3 188253 I wouldn't go to any of those. What kind of wine do you prefer? Cab, zin, pinot, whites, small off the beaten path places, etc. Tue Sep 13 14:53:24 -0700 2005 188244 0 Tom Hall 4 188261 We love wine and are willing to try anything. However, are faves tend to be the reds- Cabs, Merlots, Meritage Blends, Syrah etc... I love a good Chardonnay or Sauvignon, though we don't drink it as much. Also, I adore sparkling wine/champagne.... though I have toured many in Paris so I'm willing to narrow my scope on this trip if it is suggested. I just don't want to fall into too many tourist traps. With that said, if a place has a great view/grounds/building I wouldn't mind if the wine wasn't the best of the best. We are just out to have one last hurrah as we celebrate our first wedding anniversary right before we begin trying to start a family... Tue Sep 13 15:27:40 -0700 2005 188253 0 JGarvey 5 188439 Since you love champagne and are interested in great view/grounds/buildings... -Chandon has great architecture -Domaine Carneros is a magnificent chateau -Viansa has some of the loveliest grounds in all of wine country, an OK deli, a huge selection of sauces, relishes, etc. The wines are not to my liking, but sipping one as you hold hands, listen to live jazz and gaze over the wetlands makes for a great stop. I especially enjoy the cabs & blends at Flora Springs tasting room next door to Dean & Delucca on Hwy 29. I also like Raymond (the wine, not the insipid TV show.) If you're dining at Tra Vigne you may hit one last tasting room. Merryvale next door is open a bit later than most. Someone suggested driving the Oakville Grade road connecting Napa & Sonoma. It's a beautiful but treacherous drive, safe only if you've had very little or no alcohol. Happy anniversary. Happy procreating, too. Wed Sep 14 14:12:40 -0700 2005 188261 0 R.B. 6 188950 I second Merryvale. Their whites are highly underrated. Their reds exemplary. Skip Cakebread. That place just doesn't measure up to others. Fri Sep 16 21:48:38 -0700 2005 188439 0 blackjack 3 188254 Skip Viansa. The wine is fairly terrible, although the grounds are lovely. Gloria Ferrer is really pretty: atop a mountain, great views, a huge outdoor deck. The people are nice, and I personally much prefer their bubbly to Domaine Chandon's (too rough, IMO). I'm personally a fan of Benziger: great wine, medium-to-high price range, laid back atmosphere, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable as heck, and they're the biggest grower of biodynamic wine in California--there's your educational tie-in! Benziger is a good place for big-tasting California reds (cabs, pinots, merlots are all wonderful there), but they also put out a shockingly good Sauvignon Blanc (I've never tried another one worth drinking). The port is also something to write home about. Caveat: I've only tried their estate and reserve wines, never their lower end bottles. Skip Opus One: the main building feels like an empty, hollow museum. You can hear every click of everyone's shoes. The staff is snobby, and they charge $25 for 2 ounces of their cheapest wine. Tue Sep 13 14:54:42 -0700 2005 188244 0 nooodles 3 188280 I think three or four wineries a day is the most to attempt. That way you can spend a good amount of time tasting and putting away the flavors in memory, have a nice lunch, and not end up DUI. Anyway, I think Chandon does a very good educational tour but I prefer Mumm for the bubbly and for sitting out on the deck. You need an appt. for Schramsberg. I would second Miner Family and I've also enjoyed Hall recently. If you do make it out to Rafanelli, which you need an appt. for and even then I have seen people with appts. nastily turned away (the wine is great if you don't mind being treated like dirt!), be sure to also visit Preston (good olive oil and bread too)and Ridge on Lytton Springs Rd. Link: http://www.prestonvineyards.com Tue Sep 13 17:03:19 -0700 2005 188244 0 Junie D 4 188281 Rafanelli use to be so nice many years ago. Now I wouldn't even bother to call for an appointment. They are just downright nasty. There are plenty of great zins in Sonoma, especially along Dry Creed, so I avoid buying Rafanelli even when I do find it. Tue Sep 13 17:05:35 -0700 2005 188280 0 Monty 3 188284 Stay away from Viansa...it's all "Hollywood"...wines are terrible. Depending on what part of Sonoma County you want to visit, If I had to choose my favorites...on West Side of Hwy 101: 1) J Vineyard & Winery: (they have food & wine pairings) 2) Right across the way & w/in walking distance from JJ Winery is the Rodney Strong Winery 3) Davis Bynum - a really small quaint winery On the West Side of Hwy 101, consider: 1) Sausal winery (good Zins) 2) BR Cohn (olive oil too!) 3) Gundlach Bundschu 4) St. Francis For a short cut from Napa (Hwy 29) to Sonoma (Hwy 12), drive OVER the Oakville Grade/Trinity Grade....approx 45 min drive...nice, but slow. Most wineries on the East side of 101, not incl. R. Strong & J Vineyard & Winery, do not charge for tastings. Finally, if you belong to CSAA or AAA, get the map entitled, "Northern California Wineries"...It has them all w/ maps. Have fun! Tue Sep 13 17:42:55 -0700 2005 188244 0 Huntingdog 3 188285 Stay away from Viansa...it's all "Hollywood"...wines are terrible. Depending on what part of Sonoma County you want to visit, If I had to choose my favorites...on West Side of Hwy 101: 1) J Vineyard & Winery: (they have food & wine pairings) 2) Right across the way & w/in walking distance from JJ Winery is the Rodney Strong Winery 3) Davis Bynum - a really small quaint winery On the West Side of Hwy 101, consider: 1) Sausal winery (good Zins) 2) BR Cohn (olive oil too!) 3) Gundlach Bundschu 4) St. Francis For a short cut from Napa (Hwy 29) to Sonoma (Hwy 12), drive OVER the Oakville Grade/Trinity Grade....approx 45 min drive...nice, but slow. Most wineries on the East side of 101, not incl. R. Strong & J Vineyard & Winery, do not charge for tastings. Finally, if you belong to CSAA or AAA, get the map entitled, "Northern California Wineries"...It has them all w/ maps. Have fun! Tue Sep 13 17:43:02 -0700 2005 188244 0 Huntingdog 4 188286 Since this is your 1st Anniv., see if you can get dinner reservations at a restaurant called Cyrus in Healdsburg, CA (Sonoma side). It will be "memorable" to say the least. sorry for the double post. Link: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/15/CMGCCB4N761.DTL&type=food Tue Sep 13 17:49:33 -0700 2005 188285 0 Huntingdog 3 188325 I would skip Ledson. It feels amusement park-y. My fave up in Healdsburg is Unti. The wine is great (especially the syrah), and they are so nice! It's a small place, so it's best to call to let them know that you're coming. Link: http://www.untivineyards.com/aboutus/ Tue Sep 13 19:59:26 -0700 2005 188244 0 ilovehawaii 1 188333 Yes, you may have waited too long, but being here in wine country on the weekdays will help. If we get any heat between now and your visit, it could be really nuts with harvest (it's been slow thus far). Keep in mind with your itinerary that it will be really busy in the valley (extra tourists, extra workers and grape trucks) so allow yourself lots of time. I'd skip Opus, Cakebread, Mondavi & Paraduxx. If I had to pick one sparkling wine producer to visit, it would be Schramsberg, hands down. Their tour & tasting experience is excellent. I've heard mixed reviews about Darioush but their building is incredible, especially if you know anythign about Persian history. Keep in mind with Etude that they are way in the south of Carneros, in the opposite direction from anyplace else you've expressed interest in visiting. Some suggestions for smaller spots for tastings include Ehlers Estate, Salvestrin Vineyards, William Harrison and Casa Nuestra. Link: http://www.titusvineyards.com/ Tue Sep 13 20:33:27 -0700 2005 188183 0 Jennie Sheeks 1 188342 We just returned from a Napa trip and acted on a hound's tip to do the Del Dotto cave tour. It is costly at $40 but well worth it. The entire tour is in the caves and consists of samplings directly from the barrels, except for teh port samplings at teh end of the cave tour. I do not believe that any one of the eight of us on the tour that afternoon drank all the wine offered. One could have easily consumed an entire bottle; and all the wines were first rate. The tour focused on the different tastes imparted to the wines based upon the wood used, the amount of toasting and other characteristics of the individual barrels. You can access Del Dotto's website for more information. Tue Sep 13 21:49:58 -0700 2005 188183 0 Bill 1 188670 Just a bit about my impression of Darrioush. I went wine tasting with a friend who lives in Napa and we went to this place first. Mostly because it looks like some Romanesque-Persian Stonehenge Ziggurat type thing and we were dragged in by the gravitational pull of its massiveness. My friend says it is brand new and already the grounds are extensively and impeccably landscaped—like it just came down from the sky and parked itself in a Napa field. We left her small economy car next to a couple of limousine rentals (we were there on a Wednesday afternoon) and headed up the grand colonnade entry crowned with double-headed horse capitals past some abstract metal dancing people sculptures (hippy-ish, I daresay). (A pond with water lilies blooming on the right of the entry were really cool.) Now the inside is another something else; I got a concentrated Ikea flavor (particularly from the lighting) with a hefty dose of dot-com Power-Conference-Room and topnotes of Bauhaus and Danish Modern. The bar is sleek and spare with a shattered glass countertop and the barstools are sleek and boingy. Persian sculpture and cast moldings, and the ever-present columns, are scattered here and there and the gift shop section sells Riedel decanters alongside frilly decorative Persian platters. A large waterwall with drips of water flowing down individual clear plastic tubes (all lit up) was at the end of the bar near the ornate wrought-iron stairwell. There were more than a few people there tasting even on Wednesday. I sort of don't remember the wines all that well due to the distraction from a group of youngish businessy looking men near us who seemed to have upped the conversation volume for our benefit: "Well, the Voigner's okay but I'm disappointed they were out of the Chard. I would have liked to compare it that one we tried at Beringer’s upstairs tasting room." (Yeahs all around, nods.) "Did you try that Reserve that was like $8 a taste? Man that shit was amazing." (Whispered joke here) "HAW HAW HAW..." "Well, I never buy Merlots so it'll be interesting to try that Cab..." Tasting was somewhat pricey but we got a discount because of the Napa Neighbors thing. Wines are a bit out of my normal price range as well, from $34 to around $70/bottle. If I had to sum up the whole experience in one word, it would be "schizophrenic." This isn't to say we didn't enjoy ourselves and I don't necessarily NOT recommend it. PS – Mumm's has a really nice outdoor tasting area but can be packed at the end of the day. (Have a good time!) Thu Sep 15 13:27:09 -0700 2005 188183 0 cheyenne