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Soave Wine Country – Italy’s Hidden Gem

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Last evening a friend invited us over for a glass of wine that she said would be a surprise wine for us. The white wine she served was a Soave wine. When we told our host that we had visited Soave a few years ago she became very excited and wanted to learn more. With that in mind I have reposted this article on our visit to the land of Soave wine.

Soave Wine Country and about Soave wine

The Soave wine area is probably not on many wine traveler’s destinations when they visit Italy. Why go to Soave when there are the beautiful Tuscan hills, the land of Chianti and Brunello wines or the amazing Piemonte region, where Barolo and Barbaresco wines reign. We are very happy that we decided to travel to Soave; it is as spectacular and interesting as any wine country we have visited. The best part is that there are hardly any tourists around. We practically had all of Soave to ourselves.

Castello Scaligero

We were contacted by the Soave Wine Consortium and asked if we could visit following our European Wine Bloggers post conference to Chianti Classico. We left our Brescia hotel and drove for 75 minutes to the east. Soave is just east of Verona in the region of Veneto. The Soave Castle and surrounding hillside vineyards are the central identifying characteristic or landmark in this wonderful wine country. The Soave Consortium put us up in the Hotel Roxie Plaza, a four-star hotel, recently renovated and conveniently located. It is according to all accounts where most tourists stay when visiting Soave. It is located within walking distance of the medieval walls built in the 13th century that form the city center. Inside these walls are many wine bars, gourmet restaurants and the Soave Castle, Castello Scaligero.

Cantina Balestri Valda

If you are a long-time wine drinker, you probably remember the days when Soave wine meant something very cheap in a 1.5 liter bottle, and it was very bad wine. Well, that has all changed in recent times. The Soave wines are excellent both in quality and in price. The main grape in Soave is Garganega. We visited a couple of wineries as well as stopping in to sample wines at several of the wine bars along the city center. These wines are crisp, refreshing, delightful and full of fruity flavors. The best Soave wines come from the steep hillside vineyards. They cost between $10 to $15 and are terrific values .

We took off from the hotel and drove directly to the hills above Soave. The roads are narrow and switchback among the vineyards. It is truly one of the most beautiful areas we have visited in all wine country. On a clear and beautiful day, the views are jaw dropping.

Soave wine country

Soave – the land of white wine – hillside vineyards of the Garganega grape

On the second morning of our stay, we took a 40-minute walk from the Hotel up to the beautiful Soave Castle. The Castle dates back to 1379. The views are once again incredible from the top sections of the castle. After our exhilarating walk it was time to stop at one of the many café’s and have our lunch and of course enjoy a glass of the delightful Soave wine.

Quenching our thirst after hiking to the Soave Castle

Ten Tips For the California Wine Country Traveler

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about wine country getaways

Joe and Janelle in St. Helena , September 2015. St Clement winery on the hill.

We have been traveling the wine country for many years. We travel year round to visit wineries and tasting rooms. Each season and month bring its own rewards in wine country.  We are seasoned wine country tourists and we have some travel tips for you.

Ten Tips For the California Wine Country Traveler

Tasting room fees can quickly add up

Walk into any tasting room these days and more than likely you will be paying a fee to taste wine. In the Napa Valley the average is in the $10 to $20 range, with the high-end wineries charging much more. To save on tasting fees, share a single tasting with your partner or friend. Stop off at the local Chamber of Commerce office and pick up any discount or two-for-one coupons for tasting. If you stay at a local B&B or hotel, they usually offer a few coupons.

Tasting rooms in town save driving but you miss the experience

Napa, Yountville, Healdsburg, Sutter Creek, Murphys, you name it, they all have tasting rooms where you can walk outside your hotel or B&B and never get into a car to taste a plethora of wines. The one thing these tasting rooms lack is wine country. You came to see vineyards, wine barrels, fermenting tanks, and bottling lines. Go to a working winery and take in the sounds and smells of the wine country.

The Designated Driver

The Highway Patrol is increasing their patrols everywhere in wine country. Small towns have the local sheriff on the prowl. DUI related costs can add up to $10,000. Hire a limo, take Platypus, or have a driver that will not drink a drop.

Put the wine club on hold

Just about every winery has a wine club and joining one is always a temptation, especially when you have imbided just a tad too much. Take the brochure home with you and think about it. Wine clubs are a big source of income for the wineries. You pay top dollar for the wine even though you may get a so-called 10 to 20 percent discount. Wineries sell their wine at the top retail price, plus you always have shipping costs.

Big crowds at popular tasting rooms – avoid them

On weekends all the popular wineries are going to be crowded, often layers deep with people anxious to taste. Hit the tasting rooms before noon and you will likely find them sparse. Get off the beaten path for the afternoon and there will be fewer crowds to contend with. The best way to avoid the big crowds is to travel to wine country during the week.

Make your reservations for lodging and restaurants well in advance

This is especially true for the popular holidays, the summer season, and harvest time. Book as early as possible, you can always cancel at most lodging establishments a few days before without a penalty fee.

Experience a mix of wineries

There are many types and styles of wineries ranging from the small, single family-owned wineries to huge multi-owned wineries like Constellation, Jackson Wines, Treasure Wine Estates, and Gallo. Get a feel for both. Some have elaborate tasting rooms filled with merchandise, while the very small winery might have a tasting bar set up in their barrel room. You can search for different styles of wineries on the Winery Finder/Trip Planner.

Pace yourself

Enjoy the wine country lifestyle. We recommend visiting three wineries max in one day. Mesh in a picnic lunch at a winery and relax for an hour or more and take in the beauty of wine country.

Avoid driving to restaurants

Find lodging within walking distance of good restaurants or check with the hotel for taxi service. This way all can enjoy, without worries, the wonderful wine produced in the wine country you are visiting.

Direct your Limo driver

If you hire a Limo driver, be sure to hand the driver your itinerary. In many cases Limo drivers will try and steer you to their favorite wineries. Many wineries require reservations for Limo groups, so make sure they know your group is coming.
It’s a good idea to bring plastic spit cups with you to remind that you don’t have to drink the whole amount poured into your glass.

Plan you trip with Wine Country Getaways

Use our handy Trip Planner to find and map wineries. Consult our lodging, restaurant, picnic and deli pages to find our top recommendations.  Pick one of our wine trails.

Plan Now for Thanksgiving Weekend in the Napa Valley

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napa valley thanksgiving

Trinchero in the Napa Valley – Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving Weekend in the Napa Valley

One of the busiest weekends the entire year in the Napa Valley is Thanksgiving weekend. Family and friends visiting on Thanksgiving are likely to be staying through the weekend. One of the many things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area is to take family and friends to visit the Napa Valley wine country. Because of the popularity of this time of the year, it is best that you begin making your plans now. You want to be sure to book your lodging and make dinner reservations at one of your favorite restaurants.

Another nice option is a well-planned day trip. Head out early in the day and book a good restaurant for lunch. Better yet, if the weather is terrific, prepare a lavish and gourmet picnic lunch. Sitting in the fall- colored vineyards and enjoying lunch with a glass of chilled white wine has to make a lasting impression on your guests. Here is a list of Napa Valley wineries with picnic facilities.

The more planning you put into this trip the more likely your guests will have a memorable experience. You can watch our video on Napa Valley Travel Tips to get a good start. If your guests are wine newbies, a good tour on winemaking is in order. Book a tour at a winery where they have scheduled tours limited to a small number of people. Rubicon or Schramsberg would fit that bill but there are many others.

Try to visit some of the smaller wineries that are open only by appointment and are off the beaten path. If you hit the more popular wineries, you are likely to have a Disneyland experience and have to line up at the tasting room bar and wait your turn to taste. We have a great list of hidden wineries that you can view and select one or two to visit. Be prepared for all types of weather conditions. One day can be balmy and beautiful at 70 degrees and the next day could be cold and wet.

Be safe if you are the driver and use a spit cup when you taste or just bring your water bottle and enjoy the pure beauty of this wonderful wine country. If you stay in Calistoga, Yountville, or Napa you don’t really need a car for dinner. There are many great restaurants within easy walking distance from lodging.

In Search of the Perfect Fig Pizza

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This is fig season so why not try making a perfect fig pizza in your oven or on the BBQ grill. I got this recipe for fig pizza thanks to Chef Matt Paille, who created this pizza during his stint at the Manzinata Restaurant in Healdsburg. It really is a fabulous and delicious pizza even though I am still trying to perfect the exact taste of that pizza I had in September of 2009 at the restaurant. Chef Matt sent me the recipe but unfortunately it did not include his recipe for the pistachio pesto that is the base of this pizza. Maybe some of you out there can suggest your favorite recipe for pistachio pesto. I did a search on the Web and found several recipes for the pesto, and from them I concocted my own version included below.

oat cheese and pistachio pesto.

Fig Pizza with goat cheese and pistachio pesto. Wow!

This time of year we spend as much time outdoors as we can and that means lots of time on the grill, including barbequing pizzas. This is how to manage a pizza on the grill. Form your pizza dough on a pizza peel and make sure it will slide off the peel onto the grill. Hold it at a 20-degree angle and slide it off by shaking the peel gently. I cook the dough for two minutes at medium heat. At one minute I use a spatula and turn the dough a half turn so it doesn’t get burned grill marks. After two minutes take the dough out and turn it over on the pizza peel. To this cooked side add your toppings. Return to the grill and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, turning the pizza on the grill a quarter to a half turn with the spatula each minute.

For the fig pizza: Spread the pistachio pesto over the dough and add a layer of prosciutto. Add a layer of fresh sliced figs and some goat cheese. When you take the pizza out of the grill, drizzle olive oil over the pizza and add some salt if you like.

For the pesto:

  • one garlic clove
  • 1/3 cup shelled pistachio (plain-not roasted or salted)
  • 2 cups Fresh basil leaves – lightly packed
  • 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

First put the peeled garlic clove in the food processor and chop. Add Basil, pistachio, cheese and process.  While processor is running add olive oil to a spreadable consistency.

I like to make my own dough from scratch. The best dough recipe in my opinion is from Chef Joanne Weir. I cut the dough ball in half and make two 9-inch pizzas from the one ball of dough. As far the wine pairing goes, my preference is for one of those big Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel wines.

For wine pairing I like a red wine with some acidity. I think that cuts goat cheese a bit.  A Tempranillo from the Rioja, a Syrah from Santa Barbara, or perhaps a Merlot. For a white wine, a Viognier feels about right.

 

Quivira Vineyards — A Very Biodynamic Winery

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We have reposted this article that was published a few years back. Our photos were lost in the “Cloud” so we needed to redo the photos and publish again.

This winery has been on West Dry Creek Road since 1986 when just a handful of wineries were located on this beautiful backroad in the Dry Creek Valley. In 2005 the winery became biodynamic, and in 2006 the winery’s original owners sold the winery to Pete Kight who had made it big in the high-tech business. Everyone waited with bated breath to see what changes would take in place at the idyllic winery. Pete Kight has not disappointed the Dry Creek wine community. Since the acquisition, the winery has added a beautiful and extensive vegetable garden of 120 raised beds, goats, a pig, and even a chicken “condominium.” Many of the vines have been replanted and additional acreage has been acquired. The winery has also added an extensive solar panel system atop its winery building. Quivira is one of the pioneer wineries in sustainable farming practices.

quivira-vines

Respected winemaker Hugh Chappelle is currently the head winemaker at Quivira Vineyards.  In an effort to improve quality, the current production of wine has been reduced from over 20,000 cases of wine per year to 13,000 cases. The vines are thinned more, and much more of the crop is dropped to produce more complex wines. If you walk the vineyards you will get an idea of the replanting and see many examples of biodynamic farming. New acreage has been purchased in the western hills of Dry Creek and new vineyards are being planted with mostly Rhone varietal grapes. The best may be yet to come at Quivira.

Biodynamic vineyards at Quivira

Biodynamic vineyards at Quivira

In the tasting room, the staff is friendly and accommodating. When we visited on a busy Sunday, the three Quivira staffers were welcoming a constant flow of visitors with ease while maintaining a festive atmosphere. Until Steven Canter took the realm as winemaker, Quivira flagship wines had been the Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and the Dry Creek Zinfandel. These wines are still good, but the two wines we thought were more impressive were the Sauvignon Blanc Barrel Complete and the Wine Creek Zinfandel. The Sauvignon Blanc has been barrel fermented, and that gives a totally different character to this varietal. It is wine with more structure and it is delicious but on the pricey side at $28. The Wine Creek Zinfandel was the favorite of our tasting, a very delicious and balanced Zinfandel.

If you visit Quivira, ask the staff if you can take a walk to view Wine Creek. Quivira Vineyards, along with other agencies and neighbors, has been involved in the restoration of this creek and the return of Steelhead trout and Coho Salmon. The winery has taken several steps to provide the correct environment for these fish to travel from the Pacifica Ocean up the Russian River to Dry Creek, and then to spawn in the pools of Wine Creek. What a wonderful endeavor.

More on West Dry Creek Road

Ann Kraemer, Master Vineyard Manager and Yorba Wines

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Yorba Wine Tasting

Yorba Tasting Room – 51 Hanford Street in Sutter Creek

Ann Kraemer – Shake Ridge Ranch and Yorba Wines

This is an update to an article I wrote five years ago about our tour through what is now regarded as one of the top vineyards in California, Ann Kraemer’s Shake Ridge Vineyards. Fast forward five years, and Ann Kraemer now has a successful tasting room in Sutter Creek. The Yorba wine tasting room is at 51 Hanford Street. We stopped in Thursday while visiting the Amador wine area and found the tasting room alive and well with a throng of folks tasting Yorba wines, along with catered food from Lucy’s Spice Box. Ann Kraemer sells 80% of her Shake Ridge fruit to various winemakers in California. She keeps 20% for the Yorba label. These wines are held from release at least two years or longer than the average release time for most wineries. The idea behind Ann’s late release is to showcase to winemakers the amazing quality and complexity that is possible from the grapes grown at Shake Ridge Ranch. Not only are these wines excellent in quality, the prices are very reasonable. The tasting room is open Thursday 12-7, Friday to Monday 12-5. If you are in the quaint town of Sutter Creek, stop in at the Yorba tasting room.

Originally posted in March of 2010

A few weeks back we had the chance to visit Ann Kraemer at her beautiful hillside vineyards on Shake Ridge Ranch in Amador County. What a pleasure it was to be with one of the most respected vineyard managers in the world of wine. Ann has been at the business of vineyard management for 19 years. Most of that has been working for others, and now that she’s at Shake Ridge she has fulfilled a dream to run her vineyards and reap the rewards of her vast experience.

Ann took us on a wonderful one-hour vineyard walk through the Shake Ridge Vineyards. Ann and her family purchased the ranch in 2001. It took Ann over a year to plan the vineyard. Soil was analyzed from six-foot deep pits dug at various locations. Which grapes would grow best and exactly where on the ranch would favor the growing conditions for a particular grape? For example, Barbera loves heat, so the orientation for those vines is on west-facing slopes. Petite Sirah was planted in the lower spots of the vineyard where the soil is more fertile and cooler. At the same time, Ann wanted to make sure she preserved the beauty of the ranch. As you can see from the photo, the oak trees have been preserved and add a wonderful attractiveness to the hillside vineyards.

ann kraemer shake ridge

Shake Ridge Ranch in the hills above Sutter Creek

There are 34 acres planted on the 185-acre ranch, with Zinfandel and Syrah making up the largest plots and Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Monvedre, Granache and Viognier making up the smaller plots. Thirty percent of the vines are used for Ann’s Yorba label; the rest of the grapes are sold to ten different winemakers. Each winemaker has a specific plot and Ann works closely with each winemaker to make critical vineyard management decisions. In a week or so after our meeting with Ann, she was to meet with each winemaker to discuss pruning strategies. Pruning was scheduled for roughly two weeks after our visit. That is a bit late in the year but Ann points out that the longer she can delay pruning the longer she can delay bud break, giving her an added protection against frost. There is no frost protection that Ann uses, just good old Mother Nature. “Cold air runs downhill like water, so at the low spots we don’t plant vines.”

Ann Kraemer

Ann Kraemer – our walk included wine tasting stations

Before purchasing Shake Ridge she did vineyard management for Cuvaison, Clos Pegase, Swanson, Domain Chandon and others. She has consulted for some of the biggest names, such as Stagecoach and Shafer. She is a master at her craft and you really get a sense of her passion and commitment to grow the best grapes for the soil and the land that she cherishes.

Her Yorba wines are made by Ken Bernards of Ancien fame. From our walking tour we are sure that Ken Bernards loves making wine for Ann. The old adage “wine is made in the vineyards”could not be more true is this case. The wines are absolutely delicious, elegant, and nicely priced for the quality of the wines.

Additional Sutter Creek Information

Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen without Cindy

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Note: Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen closed in 2018. Cindy is still operating Mustard’s Grill in Yountville.

We took a very quick overnight trip to the Napa Valley to view a house that a family relative is considering purchasing. On the way, we stopped in St. Helena for lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen. Several weeks ago we read in the S.F. Chronicle that Cindy Pawlcyn had been in a car accident. The newspaper report indicated that Cindy suffered minor injuries. We asked our server how she was doing. She stated that Cindy’s injuries were extensive. She spent several weeks in the hospital and will not return to her kitchen for perhaps as long as 4 months. Our meal was excellent, but we felt something was amiss at the restaurant. Cindy is obviously missed by all. We wish Cindy a speedy recovery.

piquillo peppers stuffed

Stuffed piquillo peppers

A Visit to V. Sattui

Sign in tasting room

Sign in tasting room

I am always amazed at the number of folks who visit this winery and buy wine in huge amounts. I wonder, as probably winery owners in the Valley do, how it is that Dario Sattui is able sell all his wine out of his tasting room. None of the Sattui wine is distributed. The tasting room is a bevy of activity. Our server was efficient and knowledgeable. He knew each Sattui wine like the back of his hand. Impressive, to say the least. By the way, visitors can try one complimentary taste of wine, otherwise it is $15 to taste a lineup of several wines. We had previously tasted the Sattui wines as well as the wines from Castello di Amorosa, Dario’s newer winery located near Calistoga. The overall quality of the wines is very high. Winemaker Brooks Painter is the winemaker for both wineries. The St. Helena tasting room has a cheese and deli shop where visitors can purchase food items and head outside for a picnic lunch. No outside wine is allowed (understandable) and no outside food. I think that is a bit stiff on the food control, but it seems to work because the expansive picnic area is very busy. I need to do more digging into the tremendous success of Dario Sattui and his wines.

Calistoga Tidbits

In the late afternoon we walked along Lincoln Avenue, the business area of Calistoga. Since our last visit, there are a couple of new tasting rooms in town and one new restaurant. Do you remember Wappo, a restaurant with an eclectic menu? It closed down several years ago, but recently reopened as 1226 Washington. The menu looks great and, at the W.H. Smith Tasting Room, our server highly recommended it. We will give it a try the next time to Calistoga.

At the W.H. Smith tasting room, we shared a tasting of 6 wines for $15. The wines were all delicious but expensive. The Sauvignon Blanc was $28. The lineup of Pinot Noir wines was fantastic, but again expensive. Our favorite from the Sonoma Coast was above $50.

Solbar Restaurant at Solage

This is the top restaurant in Calistoga. The restaurant is situated in the beautiful and luxurious Solage resort. We had a lovely dinner outside in the warm evening air. The food, wine and atmosphere were excellent. Surprisingly, we found the service lacking. Slow, slow, and slower was our experience. For example, our party ordered a second bottle of wine and it took 10 minutes to arrive. The check including tip came to $390 for four.

The Solbar restaurant at Solage Resort

The Solbar restaurant at Solage Resort

Calistoga Cab Hopper

I would like to recommend this little taxi company that serves the Calistoga area. They are pricy at $5 a mile, but Calistoga is a small area. As it states in the brochure, taking the Hopper is more fun than spending a night in jail. We called the Hopper from the Solbar, and within ten minutes they were there to take us to our destination. I previously posted an article about the presence of Uber in the Napa Valley. However, they are not as yet servicing the Calistoga area of the Napa Valley.

TAPAS Society Wine Tasting

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Presidio San Francisco

Presidio San Francisco

TAPAS Society Wine Tasting in the San Francisco Presidio

What a gorgeous setting the Presidio of San Francisco makes for an afternoon of wine tasting! Forty wineries poured a variety of red and white wines of the Spanish grape varieties. Most of the wineries were from California, several other were from Oregon, and two from Arizona. We have been attending the TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates, Producers, and Amigos Society) Tastings for the last five years. In our view, this was the most impressive of the annual TAPAS tastings, now in its 7th year. We have seen a big increase in the number of Spanish varietals and, more importantly, a big improvement in the quality of the wines.

We only had 2 hours to taste, so we did not stop by all the wineries that were present. Our intent was to try new wineries and their Spanish wines. We skipped ones that we know and love, and that included Abacela, Kenneth Volk and Twisted Oak.

These are the wineries that we thought were making impressive Spanish-style wines:

Baiocchi Wines and Vineyards

The Baiocchi winery is located in the Fair Play region of El Dorado County. The owners do not have a tasting room in Fair Play, but have set up a tasting room in Sutter Creek in Amador County.  There are eight tasting rooms in this lovely gold mining town of the Sierra Foothills. Baiocchi poured three wines, all delicious and well made. We loved the Grenache Sharon’s Vineyard priced at $39.

Bokisch Vineyards

This Lodi winery was very impressive overall in all the white wines. I’m sorry to say we ran out of time to swing by and try their reds. Marcus Bokisch, the owner and winemaker, grew up in Spain and found a spot in Lodi to successfully grow many types of Spanish grapes. The Albariño, Granacha Blanca, and the Verdejo were all superb and priced at $18. We learned from Liz Bokisch, Marcus’s wife, that it is becoming increasingly clear that Lodi has the ideal climate and soil for growing Spanish varietals. So many Lodi wineries are producing Spanish varietal wines that some have nicknamed Lodi “Lodiberia.”

Harney Lane

This is another terrific Lodi winery producing two outstanding Spanish wines. The Albariño is very delicious and I have seen this wine at Whole Foods for $15. The Tempranillo is also excellent at $25.

HillCrestVineyards & Winery

Dyson Demara

Dyson Demara

This was perhaps the star of the show for us at the TAPAS tasting. Owner and winemaker Dyson Demara made the trek down from Roseburg, Oregon, to pour his fantastic wines. Hillcrest Vineyards is the oldest winery in Oregon and said to be the first winery in Oregon to produce a Pinot Noir. Unfortunately, none of the HillCrest wines are distributed in California. Use the online wine shop at the HillCrest Website to order wines.

Tangent Winery

We have had the Tangent Albariño from the Edna Valley in San Luis Obispo several times. It is a tasty wine sold for around $10 and is widely distributed. Perhaps even more enjoyable was the Grenache Blanc, also from the Edna Valley. This is a new wine for Tangent. 1500 cases and the suggested retail price is $17.

Turkovich Family Wines

Luciana Moreno Turkovich

Luciana Moreno Turkovich

We are putting the Turkovich winery on our “must visit” list for the Spring season. Luciana Moreno Turkovich is a young winemaker from Argentina. She grew up in Mendoza where winemaking was a part of her daily life. Luciana and her husband Christopher are the winemakers at Turkovich. They poured four wines all from vineyards in Yolo County. The Albariño may have been the best of the Albariños at the conference. The Tempranillo and the red blend we tried were terrific wines. The Turkovich tasting room is located in Winters, CA.

To learn more about the TAPAS Society, head to their Website: http://www.tapasociety.org/

Napa Valley Travel Tibits

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Travel season in the Napa Valley is in full swing. Vineyards are green and trimmed, and wildflowers are still in bloom. The weather is clean and bright, so head to the Napa Valley and take in the Spring season in all its glory. Here are a few travel tidbits for the Napa Valley in the coming weeks.

Napa Valley Travel

Third Annual Summer Solstice Concert – Clif Family Winery

June 21st at Velo Vino, The Grove Valve Orchestra plays up a storm. The band features funk, rock, and soul. Bring your dancing shoes. Wine and food will be provided. The Clif Family winery and its Velo Vino tasting room are located in St. Helena. Tickets are limited for this event. To purchase tickets:
Note: due to the high demand of tickets, we encourage all who are interested in attending the evening’s event to book tickets now. The concert sells out within days of this announcement.

clifconcert

Artist René Romero Schuler at Chimney Rock Winery

Artist René Romero Schuler will make her Napa Valley debut with an exhibit at the Chimney Rock Winery on the Silverado Trail. The exhibit is entitled “Cameo,” which is in reference to the abstract figures showcased in Romero Schuler’s oil paintings. The exhibit comes to Napa through A Partnership Between Artist and Artisan, a collaboration between Romero Schuler and Terlato Family Vineyards that includes limited hand-painted wine bottles. The exhibit runs Thursday, May 1 to Thursday, Nov. 13 at the Chimney Rock Winery located at 5350 Silverado Trail.

art-chimneyrock

Hall Winery celebrates Sauvignon Blanc Day

On May 16, it’s international Sauvignon Blanc Day. In celebration of this social media event, Hall will be announcing the release of its 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. Guests, upon asking, will receive a complimentary glass of Hall Sauvignon Blanc. If you are in the area, why not stop in at the Hall tasting room and give the newly released wine a try!

Looking to buy a vacation home in the Napa Valley?

Just a little bit out of my price range, but there are two quite luxurious houses currently for sale in the Napa Valley. The first is Robin Williams’ Napa retreat. Robin Williams recently listed his 640-acre Napa Valley ranch for $29.9 million. The property is in the Mayacamas Mountains between Napa and Sonoma. For you interested buyers, here is a link to a Forbes article on the house.

A second Napa Valley home is also for sale by an unknown seller. The property is to be sold on May 22 by Concierge Auctions. Concierge Auctions is a luxury real estate auction firm serving high-net-worth individuals worldwide. The property is known as Villa de Montaña. The property, originally offered for $22.5 million, will be auctioned without reserve on May 22nd in cooperation with Daniel DerVartanian of Sotheby’s International Realty and Steven Gregory of Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley.

The 20-acre, 32-room Spanish-Mediterranean estate is spread across a spectacular main house, guest cottage, and separate staff quarters. The property offers panoramic views of St. Helena village and Napa Valley. View property

Auction Napa Valley June 5-7

This is another Napa Valley activity for those with deep pockets, and for a great cause. Proceeds from the auction go to a variety of charities in the Napa area. Last year the auction raised $16.9 million.

To attend this year’s Welcome Party, Barrel Auction, and the Friday Vintner Dinner, the cost is $3000 per ticket. Ticket and event information

Uber in the Napa Valley: Good for tourists?

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Uber in Napa and Yountville

Dining at Angele

Uber in the Napa Valley

Wine country travelers to the Napa Valley will be happy to learn this news. Uber has invaded the Napa Valley. Taxi cab drivers may not like this, but certainly tourists will find Uber to be an added convenience for hopping around the Napa Valley. If you don’t already know, Uber is a company that sends drivers for hire at your beck and call. All you need is the Uber App on your smartphone to hire a driver.

Currently, there are three different taxicab companies that service the Napa Valley: Yellow Cab, Black Tie Cab, and Napa Valley Cab. Cabs have, in a sense, a monopoly because there are so many hotels and lodging and so few cabs. Rates can change on the fly. We once took a cab from the Marriott hotel in Napa to Don Giovanni restaurant. On the way back we hired a cab from the same company and the fare was much higher.

Uber started their service in Napa on April 3rd, so it is just beginning to test the waters in the Napa Valley. Looking at the Uber blog, the new service for now looks like it is just between Napa and Yountville. I spoke with Michael Palmer, the General Manager at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa. He welcomes Uber. “We have a shortage of cabs currently and sometimes it can be an hour wait for a cab. Right now my Uber App tells me a driver is just ten minutes away.” He also expects that once Uber takes hold in the Napa Valley it will improve taxicab service. “A little competition is good for all.”

The Taxi companies are based in Napa, so their rates are going to be less for travelers staying in the town of Napa. If you are in Yountville or St. Helena, the cost of a cab increases greatly. The concierge at the Hotel Yountville mentioned that a cab right out the door begins at around $20. On my Uber App, I entered a trip from the Hotel Yountville to Mustard’s Grill, just about three miles up the road. The fees would be $7 to $10 for the uberX, $17 to $20 for UberBLACK, and $27 – $32 for the UberSUV. Uber drivers are not allowed to take tips because the tip is figured into the cost of the trip. Black Tie Taxi tells me that they would charge $20 for the same trip, plus tip. If you have a group of six, the SUV Uber would be the way to go with the party members splitting the fare.

Another convenience factor in Uber’s favor is that your trip is automatically charged to your credit card. To sign up for Uber, one downloads the App to their smartphone and enters a credit card number and other pertinent data. As I mentioned above, the tip is included in the total cost of the ride. If Uber is successful, and they should be in the very touristy Napa Valley, I would expect Uber’s competition, Lyft and Sidecar, to also make their way to the Napa Valley.

I do think that hotels and B&B’s should promote safe driving as much as possible. The Napa Valley is all about fine food and wine. Drinking and driving is never a good idea, and hotels should encourage their guests to hire a taxi or an Uber driver. The old adage, “Better safe than sorry,” is never more appropriate than for visitors to the Napa Valley.

The Uber folks are offering up to $15 off for the first two rides. Valid from 4/3 to 4/30/14. Uber coupon

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