Wine tasting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10-17-2011, 09:50 PM
#1
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Wine tasting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking to go on the 29th, need any and all help finding the right places to go.
Some people are saying Sonoma, some are saying Napa, others are suggesting 2 places in St. Helena/Oakville.
Crushpad - Sonoma, CA
Robert Mondavi Winery - Oakville, CA
V. Sattui Winery - Saint Helena, CA
Other people are suggesting renting a bike and then biking to each one, probably going to try and hit 3 that day on Saturday.
Not looking for anything snobby, just a fun and informative time. The Crushpad one teaches you how to blend wines which people are saying is pretty cool.
But yea total newb needing all the help I can get and my gf is really getting on me about getting this all set up in the next day since we need to book rooms now. I have Marriott points so if there is a Marriott nearby to any that you have gone to that would be awesome but I am looking and there doesn't seem to be any near Oakville.
Any suggestions appreciated!
Some people are saying Sonoma, some are saying Napa, others are suggesting 2 places in St. Helena/Oakville.
Crushpad - Sonoma, CA
Robert Mondavi Winery - Oakville, CA
V. Sattui Winery - Saint Helena, CA
Other people are suggesting renting a bike and then biking to each one, probably going to try and hit 3 that day on Saturday.
Not looking for anything snobby, just a fun and informative time. The Crushpad one teaches you how to blend wines which people are saying is pretty cool.
But yea total newb needing all the help I can get and my gf is really getting on me about getting this all set up in the next day since we need to book rooms now. I have Marriott points so if there is a Marriott nearby to any that you have gone to that would be awesome but I am looking and there doesn't seem to be any near Oakville.
Any suggestions appreciated!
10-17-2011, 10:13 PM
#2
Artesa in the carneros region, southern area right between napa and sonoma. Has some amazing views and very good wine. tastings either $10 or $15 per. Its an ideal place to start, its also right by boon fly cafe, which is a great breakfast/brunch place.
10-17-2011, 11:54 PM
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Ugh. I'm said to say that these people are leading you astray. If you want the "real" experience stay away from the likes of Domaine Chandon. The service isn't great because every tourist from around the world and their mom goes there.
Most of my favorite wineries are on Silverado Trail. Please note that when wine tasting you must bring $$ and it's always good to have a DD. Check out Darioush, Pine Ridge, Duckhorn, and Joseph Phelps. Also, Crushpad is on the trail.
If you're going to stay on the 12, make sure to hit Hall Winery.
As for food, I suggest that you end up in St. Helena and eat at Farmstead. They just hosted a James Beard dinner there a month ago and the food is AWESOME yet reasonably priced without having to be extremely dressed up. Jeans and button up are enough for guys for dinner. The pork chop, meat ***** and burger are my recommendations.
Most of my favorite wineries are on Silverado Trail. Please note that when wine tasting you must bring $$ and it's always good to have a DD. Check out Darioush, Pine Ridge, Duckhorn, and Joseph Phelps. Also, Crushpad is on the trail.
If you're going to stay on the 12, make sure to hit Hall Winery.
As for food, I suggest that you end up in St. Helena and eat at Farmstead. They just hosted a James Beard dinner there a month ago and the food is AWESOME yet reasonably priced without having to be extremely dressed up. Jeans and button up are enough for guys for dinner. The pork chop, meat ***** and burger are my recommendations.
10-18-2011, 07:28 AM
#5
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If you want a real experience stay away from Napa in general, so commercialized. If I were to have to pick some; Sterling is very nice, good wine, free winery tour, and you take a gondola up to the tasting room, Ceja if you can get in, mostly reservation only for tasting, Mumm if your looking to get tipsy cause its sparkling wine tasting the whole flight~
For a real experience I'd suggest Livermore, older then Napa, more wineries, just as many award wining wines and big names without the $$$ of Napa's commercialism.
For a real experience I'd suggest Livermore, older then Napa, more wineries, just as many award wining wines and big names without the $$$ of Napa's commercialism.
10-18-2011, 08:21 AM
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Not looking for anything snobby, just a fun and informative time. The Crushpad one teaches you how to blend wines which people are saying is pretty cool.
But yea total newb needing all the help I can get and my gf is really getting on me about getting this all set up in the next day since we need to book rooms now.
But yea total newb needing all the help I can get and my gf is really getting on me about getting this all set up in the next day since we need to book rooms now.
If you want a real experience stay away from Napa in general, so commercialized. If I were to have to pick some; Sterling is very nice, good wine, free winery tour, and you take a gondola up to the tasting room, Ceja if you can get in, mostly reservation only for tasting, Mumm if your looking to get tipsy cause its sparkling wine tasting the whole flight~
For a real experience I'd suggest Livermore, older then Napa, more wineries, just as many award wining wines and big names without the $$$ of Napa's commercialism.
For a real experience I'd suggest Livermore, older then Napa, more wineries, just as many award wining wines and big names without the $$$ of Napa's commercialism.
Last edited by Giibo; 10-18-2011 at 08:24 AM.
10-18-2011, 09:11 AM
#9
^Did not know that.
For Napa, we took the Platypus Wine Bus tour. I vaguely remember it being 4hrs, hitting about 6 wineries. Mostly small ones that only had our group as customers.
For Napa, we took the Platypus Wine Bus tour. I vaguely remember it being 4hrs, hitting about 6 wineries. Mostly small ones that only had our group as customers.
10-18-2011, 09:17 AM
#10
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I will second Artesa and add Mount St. John (Madonna Estate) also, which is very close to it. Mount St. John is my favorite winery period. Napa IS commercialized, which is exactly why you need these recommendations - I go to the small, family owned ones because 1) the wine tends to be better and 2) less people. I have been to literally hundreds of wineries all over the west coast.
http://madonnaestate.ewinerysolutions.com/index.cfm
In Sonoma there are plenty of good small ones too, but my favorite is Ravenswood.
http://www.ravenswoodwinery.com/
Yes, Livermore has some solid wine too, but it isn't the same experience as going to Napa or Sonoma, IMHO.
Another excellent one right here in the bay area is http://www.chouinard.com/ On Palomares Rd. Excellent drive, excellent wine, really nice people. Skip the other winery that is up there.
http://madonnaestate.ewinerysolutions.com/index.cfm
In Sonoma there are plenty of good small ones too, but my favorite is Ravenswood.
http://www.ravenswoodwinery.com/
Yes, Livermore has some solid wine too, but it isn't the same experience as going to Napa or Sonoma, IMHO.
Another excellent one right here in the bay area is http://www.chouinard.com/ On Palomares Rd. Excellent drive, excellent wine, really nice people. Skip the other winery that is up there.
Last edited by 04GG; 10-18-2011 at 09:21 AM.
10-18-2011, 09:42 AM
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I wouldn't recommend biking if you plan on buying any wine. Wine bottles are pretty heavy. We tried this once and ended up going back to get the car after the first stop that we made.
10-18-2011, 01:58 PM
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2 cents from someone who does a decent amount of wine tasting.
napa has some serious wines but are also seriously priced and the pretentiousness is a bit much for me. i try to dissuade friends from going there especially if they are relatively new to wine/wine tasting.
sonoma is genrally more laid back than napa. some of my fav's in that area are gloria ferrer, cline (free tastings ftw!), gundlach bundtschu, imagery, kunde, and cheateau st. jean.
northern sonoma is probably on par with a lot of the wines in napa in terms of taste / quality. if you like zinfandels, the dry creek region is where its at! iron horse, wilson, mozzoco, and family wineries are some spots that really agree with my palate.
for a fun factor, you might want to check out some santa rosa wineries. hook & ladder and sunce are two i would definitely go back to if i found myself in that area again. sunce let us taste over a dozen different wines during their barrel tasting event! most of the tastings in that area are still free and while the wines aren't always stellar, there are a few gems that can be had for a really good price.
napa has some serious wines but are also seriously priced and the pretentiousness is a bit much for me. i try to dissuade friends from going there especially if they are relatively new to wine/wine tasting.
sonoma is genrally more laid back than napa. some of my fav's in that area are gloria ferrer, cline (free tastings ftw!), gundlach bundtschu, imagery, kunde, and cheateau st. jean.
northern sonoma is probably on par with a lot of the wines in napa in terms of taste / quality. if you like zinfandels, the dry creek region is where its at! iron horse, wilson, mozzoco, and family wineries are some spots that really agree with my palate.
for a fun factor, you might want to check out some santa rosa wineries. hook & ladder and sunce are two i would definitely go back to if i found myself in that area again. sunce let us taste over a dozen different wines during their barrel tasting event! most of the tastings in that area are still free and while the wines aren't always stellar, there are a few gems that can be had for a really good price.
Last edited by turfshark; 10-18-2011 at 02:02 PM.
10-18-2011, 02:23 PM
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If you're looking to stay at a Marriot, there is one at the corner of Trancas and Solano in Napa. Minus well stay in Napa in that case and not go over to Sonoma. O'brien is right around the corner and Hess is up the hill. Go up the trail and check out Robert Sinskey and Plumpjack (gotta give props to our lt. gov.). As much as everyone hates on Napa and how it's commercialized, it's also the most picturesque. If you want to take the car out, go up to St. Helena and take Oakville Grade out into Glen Ellen, go north to the Calistoga pass and come back down.