Inglenook Chateau in December

Late December and into January are the slowest times of the year for the Napa Valley. Few visitors choose to travel to the Napa Valley because of the wintery climate. El Niño poses even more of a concern for travelers this season. However, there is much beauty in the Valley to see and experience. This photo of the Inglenook Chateau is just one of many. The air is crystal clear on sunny days and the bare vines look elegant as they sleep and prepare themselves for another year of bearing fruit. There are many attractions along Highway 29 during the Winter season. We like to visit the wineries of Robert Mondavi, Inglenook, Grgich Hills, Louis Martini, Charles Krug and Beringer. These are all along Highway 29. For restaurants, lunch calls for Mustards Grill or the Rutherford Grill. For dinner we always walk, even in winter, to one of the many wonderful restaurants in Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga. We always look for lodging that is close to restaurants.

Additional activities for a winter in the Napa Valley

Photo shot from the second floor room at the Inglenook Chateau in Rutherford

About Rutherford Dust

The photo above shows a portion of the Rutherford AVA. The immediate vineyards in the photo are Cabernet Sauvignon, the signature varietal of the Napa Valley and the Rutherford AVA. Rutherford Dust refers to legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff who said, “It takes Rutherford dust to grow great Cabernet.” Vineyard and winery owners in the Rutherford AVA have formed the Rutherford Dust Society. Their mission is to promote the highest standards in vineyard cultivation, winemaking, and land preservation. This is a group of committed viticulturists who collaborate with each other to promote the wines of this appellation. The AVA is two miles wide, stretching from Mount St. John on the west to the Vaca Mountains on the east. The AVA begins just to the south of Beaulieu Vineyards and stretches to the north at Zinfandel Lane. If you travel along Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail, the AVA signs are clearly visible. The Rutherford Dust Society members introduced their 2011 Cabernet wines at a special tasting held last Wednesday at the Inglenook Chateau. 2011 was a difficult year for growers with the unusual climate conditions. It was a cooler growing year, and in the first week of October there was heavy rainfall. These Cabernet wines are medium bodied with good acidity. While this vintage is more restrained in style, the wines will age gracefully.

Some of our favorite wineries to visit in the Rutherford AVA are Inglenook, Beaulieu Vineyards, Round Pond, Honig, Conn Creek and Provenance.