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Napa Valley Late August

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We are spending the last week of August in the beautiful Napa Valley. The vines are looking spectacular throughout the Valley from Napa all the way to Calistoga. We are renting a house with family in the Oak Knoll AVA. Five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon surround the house. The owner sells these grapes to a winery he would not name. He says it is the last year of the contract. From my knowledge, Cabernet Sauvignon does not do well in the Oak Knoll area. Too much of a loamy soil along with clay. Perhaps I am wrong on this, but rarely do I see a bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet listed as Oak Knoll.

The temperatures are in the low 80’s, but in the afternoon the winds kick in off San Pablo Bay. It’s nature’s way of cooling down the vines. In the late evening the temps drop into the 50’s. This is another factor in what makes the Napa Valley a great place for making wine.

Luna Vineyards

On our first day here we visited the nearby Luna Vineyards. It is one of the first wineries you come to as you head north on the Silverado Trail. The tasting fee is $15 for four wines. I guess by today’s standards that is not too much for a tasting fee in the Napa Valley. Tasting fees continue to increase here, but by all accounts visitors seem willing to cough up the dollars needed to taste in the Napa Valley. We enjoyed a quick visit at Luna. The view from their tower is spectacular and should not be missed if you visit. The best wine at Luna was the least expensive, the Pinot Grigio. It is delicious and priced at $18 a bottle. Luna also has a very nice picnic area but it must be reserved. Call ahead and enjoy a lunch and tasting at Luna.

View from the Luna tower

View from the Luna tower

Monticello Vineyards

We stopped here with our deli lunch and since no wine club members were using the picnic facilities we were able to enjoy our lunch at one of the large picnic tables. The best wine here was the Sauvignon Blanc, but at $30 a pop we thought it was way too pricey. By the way, you can purchase wine by the glass here. I will skip this winery next time around. I cannot give you a specific reason why; it was just a general feeling that something here was off kilter.

Monticello Vineyards

Monticello Vineyards

Mystery Winery

Sorry, but I cannot mention the name of this winery. Why? Because the owner does not have a license to sell wine or take in visitors at his property. Word of mouth is what brings visitors to his home, mostly by limousine companies and through family and friend references. The owner lives on the property and sells most of his grapes. Syrah is his best grape. He makes about 1000 cases of wine per year. The best wine by far was the Rosé Syrah. The owner told us he is not the only one in this type of under-the-radar operation. He told us that there are a few others who operate as he does.

Napa Valley Taste of Victory

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americascup wine

Official wine bottle of America’s Cup

Napa Valley is official wine region of the 34th America’s Cup

The 34th America’s Cup is currently underway in San Francisco until September 7th. You’ve probably heard that the Napa Valley was declared the official wine country region of the America’s Cup. I’m not sure why an official wine region is needed, but nonetheless that is how it is. The benefit for the Napa Valley wineries and related industries is plenty of PR, and the only wines poured at all the official venues for America’s Cup are from the Napa Valley.

Napa Valley “Taste of Victory” aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien

On Thursday we were invited to an America’s Cup and Napa Valley event, a trade and media tasting, “Taste of Victory,” aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. This World War II Liberty ship is docked permanently at Pier 45 in San Francisco. The deck of the ship served as the tasting area and provided spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay and a chance to see a couple of the America’s Cup racing yachts in action.

Expensive yachts mean expensive tastes, including wine. At the “Taste of Victory” there were many expensive wines to try. For us it was a chance to try wines we normally would not purchase, being too high in price for our budget. It was also a chance to meet and chat with winery owners and winemakers and discover some new wineries, as well as reacquaint ourselves with some old favorites.

Round Pond 2010 Cabernet from the Rutherford AVA is quite is a delicious wine, and I see it in my local wine shop for $40. I think that is a steal when you compare this wine to others selling well above $60. Round Pond is on my list of wineries to visit soon. They offer a variety of tours and tastings, as well as food pairing experiences. I have not seen a winery in the Napa Valley that offers as many choices for the wine country visitor to experience.

Perry Cellars

Sue Parry, Parry Cellars

Another impressive Cabernet came from Parry Cellars. Owner Sue Parry poured her two Cabernets, 2008 and 2009, with enthusiasm. She and her husband Stephen make only 200 cases of wine, all Cabernet, from their estate vineyards and they sell for $60. Too bad it is out of my price range. Celia Welch is the winemaker, and I always seem to like her wines.

Jonathan and Susan Pey, veterans in the wine world, were on hand to pour their Textbook wines. I like their Textbook Napa Valley Cabernet. I think it is very nicely priced and I have seen it for about $22 a bottle.

Another winery serving up some delicious wines was Keever Vineyards. They poured a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc ($32) and an outstanding Cabernet ($95). We liked both of these wines and guess who the winemaker is. Celia Welch!

Two old standbys we also enjoyed. The mother and daughter team of Herta and Lisa Peju were pouring Peju wines. They seem to be having a lot of fun with with the tasters. The Tess wine is a blend and is served chilled. It is very much a refreshing and tasty summer wine. Grgich Hills Estate was also present and was pouring their tasty Cabernet, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines.

Peju ladies

Lisa and Herta Peju

It certainly was one of the more enjoyable tastings we have been to. The Fisherman’s Wharf area was bustling with activity, including tourists, party fishing boats, and many others. They say that America’s Cup has been very disappointing in bringing folks to San Francisco. You could not tell that by the crowds and activities on the Wharf. A very memorable day, indeed!

americascupyacht

Santa Barbara wine country will host wine bloggers in 2014

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At the conclusion of the 2013 Wine Bloggers Conference in Penticton, British Columbia, on Saturday, June 8th, it was announced that Santa Barbara wine country has been selected to host the 7th annual North American Wine Bloggers Conference for 2014. The conference will be held at the Santa Ynez Marriott Hotel in Buellton from July 11 to 13th.

Bloggers a larger impact than the “Sideways” movie?

Until the movie “Sideways” came out in 2004, this area of Santa Barbara had been best known for the Anderson Split Pea Soup factory and for the Danish town of Solvang. How fitting that the Santa Barbara Wine Bloggers Conference will be held on the tenth anniversary of the movie. The movie featured the Santa Barbara wine country as the characters of Miles and Jack moved from winery to winery in search of Pinot Noir. The movie had such a following that it had an enormous effect on Pinot Noir. Because it was so esteemed in the movie, Pinot Noir sales were carried to new heights and higher prices followed. A negative mention of Merlot in the movie did just the opposite for that varietal, with popularity of the grape plummeting. When the movie was released there were five tasting rooms in Los Olivos, the center of this wine country. Today, there are 27 tasting rooms alone in the town. “Sideways” had a huge effect on the popularity of this area. Now comes perhaps an even greater influence, the 2014 North American Wine Bloggers Conference.

There are expected to be 350 attendees at this conference. Most of these attendees not only blog, but tweet copiously, post to Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest. They won’t be doing this just during the conference, but also for months before and long after the conference. As we write this post, the Tweeter feeds and Facebook posts are making their way throughout the digital wine community. This is an absolute bonanza for the Santa Barbara Wine Country Association. It will bring more attention to wine lovers around the globe to the many varietals and styles of wine that are produced in this area of the four separate AVA’s of Santa Barbara.

Watch this two-minute video to gain a perspective of the San Barbara wine country and what it has to offer to wine lovers around the globe.

Five Fun Things to Do in the Napa Valley in June

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Don’t just have a great time in the Napa Valley, have a phenomenal time! We suggest these five fun things to do in the Napa Valley in June. Enjoy!

Do a different type of wine tasting
Wine tasting is of course the main tourist activity in the Napa Valley, so why not break from the norm and do a different type of wine tasting? For example, at Round Pond winery there is a selection of three different extended tour and tasting sessions. Try the Il Pranzo Lunch or the Barrel Tour and Tasting. Check the Round Pond Website for specifics of the event, including fees and reservations. Robert Sinskey Vineyards and Peju Winery also have special tastings along with tours and food pairings.

Watch the Geyser go off on Tubbs Lane in Calistoga
Why not combine wine tasting and one of nature’s amazing displays? The Old Faithful Geyser goes off every 30 minutes without a hitch. It is located on Tubbs Lane just north of Calistoga. Near Old Faithful and on Tubbs Lane are the tasting rooms of Chateau Montelena, Summers Estate Winery and Envy Wines. Old Faithful Geyser of California is open to visitors 7 days a week, including holidays. Hours are 9 AM – 5 PM in the winter and 9 AM – 6 PM in the summer.

Old Faithful entrance on Tubbs Lane

Old Faithful entrance on Tubbs Lane

Morning walk in Yountville
Start your morning in the Napa Valley with a little exercise and some wonderful views of the mountains and vineyards. You can walk Washington Street in both directions. Going north on Washington takes you past the vegetable garden of the famous French Laundry Restaurant. Now that’s a vegetable garden! We love taking a morning walk or run along Yount Street and Yount Mill Road. This road is lined with vineyards and mountain views. Pick up the walk where Yount Street meets Washington Street in the center of Yountville. Yount Street will eventually become Yount Mill.

French Laundry Vegetable Gardon on Washington St.

French Laundry Vegetable Gardon on Washington St.

Visit a sparkling wine house
Sipping bubbly in June and the rest of the Summer is a delightful way to enjoy a day outdoors. Why not visit one of Napa Valley’s finest sparkling wine makers? Choose among Mumm Napa, Domaine Chandon or Schramsberg. Each of these sparkling houses has tours and tastings. Schramsberg requires reservations. The courtyard at Mumm Napa overlooks the Valley. Just sip and relax!

The Patio at Mumm Napa

The Patio at Mumm Napa

Mondavi Wine Concerts
June 29th is the first concert in the Robert Mondavi series of concerts at the Robert Mondavi Winery. Martina McBride is the featured artist for the first event in this amazing summer concert series that benefits the children of the Napa Valley.

Five Fun Things to Do in the Napa Valley in May

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Don’t just have a great time in the Napa Valley, have a phenomenal time! We suggest these five fun things to do in the Napa Valley in May. Enjoy!

Five Fun Things to Do in the Napa Valley in May

Play a round of Bocce Ball
May is “Bocce Ball in Wine Country” Month. The game is easy to play and people of all ages can have an enjoyable game of Bocce. You don’t need to be a fabulous athlete to play this game. Here is a list of the wineries in the Napa Valley that have one or more Bocce courts. Pack a lunch and play Bocce at a winery in May.

Bocce is fun!

Bocce is fun!

Oxbow Market Public Market
The Oxbow market in downtown Napa is in full swing these days, bustling with locals and tourists as they shop and dine in this wonderful enclave of artisans and purveyors. For lunch or a snack, there are many choices including: Hog Island Oyster, Ca’ Momi, Pica Pica Maize Kitchen and our favorite, C Casa. We love shopping for spices at the Whole Spice Company.

image of hog island at oxbow

Hog Island at Oxbow

Wine Education
There are many ways to get a wine education in the Napa Valley. We like going to wineries that have an educational theme. Try the St. Supery winery, located on Highway 29 in between the towns of Oakville and Rutherford. The winery offers some exhibits and views of the winemaking process, as well as walks in the vineyards. You can also reserve a spot in one of their classes entitled “Vineyard to Glass” at St. Supéry. Check the St. Supery Website and call to reserve your spot.

Visit a 100-year-old winery
One way to get a perspective of the Napa Valley is to visit one of the several 100-year-old wineries. Here is a list of the wineries in the Napa Valley that are over 100 years old. Our favorite is the Inglenook Winery in Rutherford. Francis Ford Coppola has gone to great expense to bring the Chateau back to its former glory. The tour is wonderful here.

Inglenook Winery

Inglenook Winery

Wine Taste around Calistoga
At the north end of the Napa Valley, you will find the “road less traveled.” From our Calistoga Wine Trail, choose at least a couple of wineries to visit. At Summers Estate you can picnic and have a taste of Charbono, a wonderful red wine grape. Calistoga Wine Trail.

Five fun things to do in the Napa Valley in April

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Don’t just have a great time in the Napa Valley, have a phenomenal time! We suggest these five fun things to do in the Napa Valley in April. Enjoy!

View bud break
Bud break is happening at this very moment in the Napa Valley and all of wine country. Vineyard managers and winemakers rejoice as another year of the grape begins. Bud break ranks just below harvest in importance in a vineyard year. The rows of vineyards look wonderful with the tiny bud leaves poking out towards the sky. It is a serene and lovely moment in wine country.

image of bud break Napa Valley

Bud Break in the Napa Valley

Combine art and wine
Robert Mondavi Winery recently introduced “Foodies in Exile,” a new art exhibit on display in the Vineyard Room at the winery. It is a collection of fifty pieces from artist Bryce Vinokurov. The “Foodies in Exile” exhibit aims to capture the local and national sustainable food movement through a series of large and small oil paintings, collages, linocuts and intaglio etchings. The exhibit will last through May 9th and the hours are 10 am to 4 pm for the viewing public. Robert Mondavi Winery is located in Oakville on Highway 29.

At Mumm Napa winery in Rutherford there is a wonderful exhibit by photographer Jeffrey A. Davis. The exhibit is “Serenity, Wonder, and Spirit.” Photographer Davis in this exhibit captures memorable moments from wilderness regions, sacred sites and diverse cultures all over the world. Visitor center and fine art photography gallery hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Mumm Napa is located at 8445 Silverado Trail, Rutherford, CA 94573.

image of art gallery at Mumm Napa

Art Gallery at Mumm Napa

Enjoy a picnic lunch among the vineyards
April is one of the prettiest months for a picnic in wine country. The climate is ideal and the vines are in a lovely state of growth. Pick up your picnic lunch on the way at one of these delightful delis in the Napa Valley and choose one of these Napa Valley wineries for a picnic in wine country.

Get a mud bath
In Calistoga, the mud bath is king among the spa treatments. At good old Dr. Wilkinson’s, they are celebrating 60 years of mud bath treatments. Dr. Wilkinson designed a recipe of Calistoga’s volcanic ash and mineral hot springs water to cleanse the skin and relax the body. It is the most popular mud bath in Calistoga.

Visit five fun Napa Valley wineries
Of course the main reason for traveling to the Napa Valley is wine tasting and touring. In this video see why these five wineries are fun and exciting and offer the tourist a special experience. Choose one or more for a great time in the Napa Valley.

Train Napa: To ride or not to ride the Napa Valley Wine Train

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train napa

To ride or not the train Napa

Some call it the train Napa but we know it as the Wine Train. Every now and then a WCG reader will shoot us an email asking us for advice on taking a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train that runs through the Valley. I’m sorry to reply to these emails that I have never been on the Wine Train and therefore cannot make a recommendation. I have had friends who have taken the wine train, and for the most part we have heard a mixed bag of reviews. Some think it is an awesome time, while others thought the money would have been better spent on visiting wineries or buying wine.

As far as I can see, the Napa Valley Wine Train is more like a restaurant than anything else. It is really not a wine tour. Sure, the scenery is very pretty along the route from Napa to St. Helena, but the problem is that you cannot get off and on along the way and spend some time at any wineries. When the wine train got the okay in 1989 to take passengers along the Valley, plenty of restrictions were placed on what the wine train could do and not do. Letting passengers on and off at wineries was a big “no.”

I can think of a few reasons why folks might want to take the Napa Valley Wine Train.

  • They love riding trains
  • What better way to enjoy the scenery of the Napa Valley by having fine wine and food without any traffic worries
  • It is a good introduction to the Napa Valley
  • It is a fun and relaxing time
  • It’s a party
image of the wine train ticket at Costco

Costco Wine Train Package

The cost of riding the wine train varies because they have optional tours at a few wineries either before or after the train ride. My local Costco Store has the Napa Valley Wine Train tickets on sale for $84.99 for one ticket. That represents up to a 22% savings according to the print on the package. There is a train for lunch and another for dinner. Beware, if you take the dinner train and it’s the dead of winter, you are not going see much scenery.

There are other options for visiting the Napa Valley other than riding the wine train. There are private limos that can be hired. Platypus is a company that picks up tourists at their hotels and drives them to a set of wineries with a picnic lunch included. You can certainly drive on your own, but make sure you have a designated driver. For good reason, the authorities heavily patrol the Valley.

The wine train is certainly not my cup of tea. When I travel to the Napa Valley, a big part of what I like to do is get out my car and explore the vineyards and compose photographs. I like searching the crossroads finding beautiful vineyard scenes and, oh yes, stopping in at any winery that looks interesting. If I’m driving while visiting, I make sure I bring in my wine spit cup so I can taste but not swallow the wine. I do like the wine train in one respect. I like watching the wine train as it goes by; the cars are old and look very pretty against the vineyards and the mountains.

In case you are planning a trip to the Napa Valley, here is a little video to help you plan a wonderful trip to the wine country: Napa Valley Travel Tips.

Napa Valley winter trip

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Napa valley in winter. Trip to tasting roomShould you consider a Napa Valley winter trip in December or January? Napa Valley during these two months is undoubtedly the quietest time in this spectacular wine country. As one long-time Napa Valley resident once mentioned to me, “Winter is how the Valley used to be during the entire year long ago.” If you really want to get away, this is the time to be in the Napa Valley. It’s beautiful, serene, and most of all relaxing. Here are a few things to do in December and January in the Napa Valley.

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Quick Trips to the Napa Valley and Carneros Wine Country

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Carneros wine country getaway

Carneros vineyards

Perhaps you are on a business trip in San Francisco or Oakland. Your schedule gives you an afternoon off and you want to visit the Napa Valley or Carneros wine country. You want something that will make your trip useful and memorable. We have a few quick wine country getaway suggestions that will do just that.

Carneros West – In Sonoma County

First of all, we are going to take you to some very fun and cool wineries, not very touristy or commercial. Head across the Golden Gate Bridge and travel to the Carneros Highway. We are suggesting three small wineries: Schug, Robledo, and Larson Family. At the Schug tasting room we like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, as well as the great little house where the tasting room is located. Robledo is the first Mexican-owned winery in Sonoma County. They make some terrific wines using grapes from their vineyards in Napa and Lake County. Their tasting room is loaded with family memorabilia commemorating the family’s founding of the winery. Larson Family Winery is perhaps best known for its family friendliness. You can bring the kids without having to worry that they will be disturbing others; they are welcome at Larson. You can also play a game of Bocce at Larson while you sip some cool Larson Gewürztraminer wine. From the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge these three wineries are about a 45-minute drive without traffic. Schug and Larson are open daily 10 to 5pm, and Robledo by appointment. Always check the winery’s website for more information and consult our Carneros Wine Country Map for driving details. Want a quick bite to eat? Here is a list of some of the best restaurants in Carneros.

Robledo tasting room

Robledo tasting room

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Girls’ Wine Country Getaway to the Napa Valley

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The kids are back in school and it is time for a well-deserved break in the action of household duties. The best possible getaway in September is a two-night stay in the Napa Valley wine country. We have done this several times and it works wonders on the psyche. Here are some sure-fire ideas for getting this trip off on the right foot and making sure that fun times prevail throughout the stay.

Bouchon bakery in yountville

A morning cup and pastry at Bouchon Bakery

First of all, someone in the group must take the lead in organizing the entire trip. Give the group a name like “Sixth Annual Rejuvenation Wine Country Getaway.” Once the dates are firmed up, make sure you book your Napa lodging and Napa restaurants as soon as possible. September is harvest season and it’s a very popular time of the year in wine country.

Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, and Napa all have many choices of wonderful places to stay and dine. A smart idea is to stay in a hotel where you can walk to a choice of restaurants. Why drive or take a cab and when you can take an easy stroll to a restaurant? See our list of best Napa Valley Restaurants.

Bottega restaurant in Yountville

Bottega restaurant in Yountville

Many B&B’s have a wine reception with appetizers. If that is not the case for your lodging, bring your own wine and goodies for a fun hour before you head out to dinner. Besides some visits to wineries, what other activities will you schedule: golf, spa, massage, mud bath, or boutique shopping?

Plan one day for visiting a set of wineries. Make sure you have a designated driver or hire a limo or van service. One person in the group should take the lead in deciding which wineries to visit. Limo companies can do the planning for you but you will have more fun if you choose which wineries to visit and where to picnic. We have all the planning ideas you need for visiting Napa Valley wineries. You or your driver will need to make reservations for winery tastings if your group is 6 or more. Another consideration is to see if you can arrange for a private tour at one of the wineries. See if you can get an introduction from your local wine shop. A private tour might include a visit with the owner or winemaker, a vineyard walk, a barrel tasting, and a tasting of past vintages of wine.

Napa valley wineries

Silver Oak Winery

Once your trip is planned, make sure everyone gets the itinerary and agrees with all the activities. Then sit back, relax and enjoy the wonders of the Napa Valley wine country.

CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY REGIONS:

Carneros • Livermore • Lodi • Mendocino • Monterey • Napa Valley • Paso Robles • Santa Barbara County • Santa Cruz Mts. • Sierra Foothills • Russian River • Sonoma Valley

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