4 wineries in Napa and 4 wineries in Sonoma

[krystle920]

Going to Napa/Sonoma this memorial day weekend and trying to pick 4 wineries each in Napa and Sonoma to visit. We primarily like reds so we'd like to stay away from those focusing on whites/sparkling. We'd also like to stay away from touristy ones or just ones with gimmicky structures but not so good wine. So I guess the wine quality is the primary concern. Although it would be great if we don't spend more than $15-20 per person for the tasting. From what I've read in these boards, here is my list so far.

Sonoma: (Sunday, May 24)
-Coppola (sort of a personal favorite)
-Silver Oak (hoping they still make excellent cabs)

Napa: (Monday, May 25)
-Frog's Leap
-Pride
-Joseph Phelps

I would appreciate it if you can give me any other suggestions. Also, I checked and it seems like a few wineries would be closed on Memorial Day (Frog's Leap seems to be closed on Sundays and holidays and Silver Oak is closed on Sundays). Do you think it's worth it to go to Napa on a Saturday instead of Memorial Day? Our initial plan was to go down to Monterey that Saturday., May 23, but we could switch the schedule around so that we go to Napa on Saturday, and then Monterey or Sonoma on Sunday and Monday. Would you recommend putting Monterey in the middle so that it's not 2-days straight of wine tasting? How would traffic conditions be that weekend? We are staying in San Rafael. Thanks!

[Bill Greenberg]

The Del Dotto cave tour in St. Helena is about $55.00 but includes a large number of wines tasted out of the barrels in the caves and some ports at the conclusion of the tour. When I first read about this tour a few years ago, I wondered how the price could be justified. The tour and wines are well worth the money.

The folks at Silver Oak could not have been any less interested. My two one ounce pours for $10.00 were over in five minutes.

Domaine Carneros at the south end of Napa is an informative tour, explaining the process of making sparkling wine. It has to be one of the prettiest spots to take a tour in the wine country.

[krystle920]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have added Domaine Carneros and Benziger to my list. Here it is so far:

Napa:
-Pride
-Joseph Phelps
-Domaine Carneros

Sonoma:
-Benziger
-Coppola -is this still worth going to given they're not in the now Rubicon estate anymore?

Also, any thoughts on Gundlach Bundschu or Honig? For Gundlach, we were thinking of getting picnic food from Oakville Grocery and just having lunch outdoors. Another option is perhaps Buena Vista.

[VenerableBede]

Are you married on the thought of going to wineries in and around the city of Sonoma? I ask because there are, in my opinion, far better and more interesting wineries on the other side of the county- see Russian Rivery Valley and Dry Creek Valley, for example. Russian River is known for the Pinots and Dry Creek for their Zins.

For Russian River, I'd suggest Merry Edwards and Hartford; for Dry Creek, I like Ridge, Quivira and Preston. I'm sure others have suggestions as well. I just don't know if the City of Sonoma and its surroundings offer the best of Sonoma.

As for Napa- that's alot of driving for 3 places.

[krystle920]

Thanks for your input on the Napa itinerary. How would you recommend ordering the Napa wineries to make the most of the day ? Right now, the Napa list is as follows:

Napa wineries:
-Pride
-Joseph Phelps
-Domaine Carneros
-Artesa
-Vincent Arroyo

Given that we are planning to get dinner at Ubuntu that day and probably lunch at Taylor's Refresher or a picnic at Pride, which wineries would I be able to do and what times should I make my appointments?

I am not totally tied to Sonoma. =) But preferably not too much driving because we are planning to go to Muir Woods in the late afternoon. Right now, the plan is to have a picnic possibly at Gundlach Bundschu.

Thanks!

[VenerableBede]

Domaine Carneros and Artesa are right near each other, and due to their location relative to the rest of the valley, those should be hit either at the beginning of the day or the end of the day. Since Ubuntu is in Napa, it's up to you when to do those two wineries. Also, I trust you've made reservations already with Pride, Vincent Arroyo and Phelps? What times do they have available? With the amount of time to get to Pride and Arroyo, I would probably recommend dropping Arroyo- especially considering 1) the probable length in tasting at Pride and Phelps, and 2) the driving distance to get to Arroyo in Calistoga. If you really want to go to Arroyo, Phelps might the be one to drop.

If you really want to go to Gundlach Bundschu, then stick to places near Sonoma Square. Alternatively, Sonoma Square isn't really all that far from Carneros, so you could do Artesa and Domaine Carneros then (but don't go to Oakville Grocery if you want a picnic lunch in Sonoma Square, since their stores are in Healdsburg and Oakville- going back to Sonoma Square doesn't make much sense). I think you need to be clear what you mean by "Sonoma." Gundlach is near the City of Sonoma (Sonoma Square), and there's really not that much there, compared to other parts of the county, such as Healdsburg (although, for historians, Sonoma Square is where the California was declared an independent republic).

[Melanie Wong]

"-Coppola -is this still worth going to given they're not in the now Rubicon estate anymore?"

I fear I've confused you. Coppola has more than one property that you can visit, including the one I mentioned above in Alexander Valley. Rubicon Estate is Coppola's flagship vineyard, he hasn't abandoned it.

[nancy2]

IMO Phelps and Silver Oak act like they are doing you a favor to let you taste their wine. I love the wine but they are over the top snooty.

[rworange]

Search the board for lots of posts with a similar question. Here's three good posts I've added to my favorites list.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/601337
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/599457
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/548499

At any rate, whatever you do DON'T put Monterrey in the middle. That is one honking long ride from San Rafael and on a Sunday on Memorial Day weekend the likelihood of hitting gruelling traffic is really good. The drive back might wipe you out for the next day. Spend two consecutive days in Napa/Sonoma and Monterrey either Saturday or Monday ... though Sat might be the eaisier commute.

Not a winery, but since your profile says you are from NY, you might be interested in dropping in on the San Rafael Sunday Farmers Market on Sunday morning. It starts at 8 am and has lots of really interesting food and produce.

Also, you can plug the winery name into the Places database and usually come up with the website and a few reports. That should give you info on what days the winery is open or who to email to confirm
http://www.chow.com/places/regions/1

[krystle920]

Thanks for the advice. I think we'll just stick to the current plan then and go to Monterey on Saturday and just miss Frog's Leap and Silver Oak.

[sonomajom]

Silver Oak an Coppola are in Napa not Sonoma. For Sonoma I'd recommend
Benziger - it can get busy as theyhave a great tour of biodynamic production but it's very interesting. You can do a premium tasting which is $10 and not as busy and their premium wines are amazing.
Loxton which is near there is great - Syrah, Zin Cab and Ithink a chard. Winemaker himself is often there
Ty Caton/Michael Muscardini is great for reds - just a tasting room right on highway 12 in Kenwood so not in a winery
Lot of the better known wineries in Sonoma are up in Dry Crreka nd Russian River and Alexander Valley
- Pellegrini is good for reds, Preston,
but that's another 30-40mins drive north

[Melanie Wong]

Silver Oak and Coppola do have properties in Napa, but they also have tasting rooms and estates in Sonoma County in Alexander Valley.

-----
Rosso & Bianco Restaurant
300 Souverain Rd, Geyserville, CA

Silver Oak Cellars
24625 Chianti Rd, Geyserville, CA

[rworange]

Don't know the route you are taking or how early you are leaving, but I'd suggest taking the shore route - route 1 on the way down which has some really pretty coastline views. In Pescadero there's Duarte's Tavern where you can get a bowl of the 1/2 and 1/2 chili and artichoke soup. The Swanton Berry farm is also an excellent stop that is just beyond Pescadero. I think it is still just in an old barn and honor system. Pick up a basket of some of the greatest strawberries in the Bay Area (I like the chandler variety best) and put your money in a wooden box. They also have some baked goods that include a really delicious strawberry shortcake. Backtrackting to Pescadero, there is also a very nice cheese place, Harley goat farm which would make for a nice picnic lunch or snacking. The store in town makes some good bread and has a nice cheese selection. .

[krystle920]

Thanks for pit stop suggestions! Right now the plan is to eat at Flying Fish Grill in Half Moon Bay for lunch. Seems cheaper and more consistent reviews than Duarte's. We're planning to drive down highway 1 (from our hotel near SFO).