Winery advice?

[Karabee]

Hi! Heading out to San Fran and the Sonoma/Napa area in early October. I'm hoping to get some advice on the good wineries in that area. I don't want to deal with the tour bus type wineries, and hope to find some good ones that are a little less known. Any ideas? Thanks!

[deej696]

We just returned from Napa, and did 3 days of nothing but wineries, and not on a bus tour

We had a fun half day up in Geyserville, and there's several tasting rooms there for some smaller wineries. One happens to be Meeker, which is served in several places at WDW and they come to F&W every year.

We also did a bike tour in the Yountville area...a place called Round Pond was awesome, as was Goosecross. If you're up for doing a bike, I really suggest it..It was so fun riding amongst the vineyards, etc.

[Karabee]

Thanks for your reply! Which bike tour did you go with? That's something that sounds perfect

[pixiewings71]

I live 20 minutes from Napa, we spend many a wonderful weekend day in the area trying new wines.

What you will like will depend on what types of wine you like to drink. My favorite wineries are~

Sutter Home (free tastings to everyone, this is the only wine club I belong to), good wines, many varieties and all have been good.
V Sattui (my fave here is the Gamay Rouge and they Moscato is also very good!)
Goosecross (I like the Chenin Blanc)
Castello di Amarosa (owned by the Sattui family, great wines and an amazing castle but more expensive tastings)
Hegafan
Peju
Domaine Carneros (we like to share a tasting here and get a small plate to go with it, the cheese plate is so good!)
Domaine Chandon (just like the sparkling wines here but they also have good small plates and who can argue with oysters and bubbles? lol

Let me know if you have questions on things like where to eat, I really enjoy our day trips to the Napa/Sonoma area.

I use an app called winery finder, it was free and it gives me discounts on tastings.

[deej696]

Originally Posted by Karabee

Thanks for your reply! Which bike tour did you go with? That's something that sounds perfect

We did Napa Valley Bike Tours in Yountville. Our route was about 16 miles and we stopped at Cakebread, Roundpond, Caymus, and Goosecross. The route we took also had Opus One and several other wineries. Our legs were spent by the end of the day, but I'm in pretty lousy shape It was probably our best day in Napa for sure...

[ncc1701]

We liked the Coppola Winery . It was right off of the 101. Had a good restaurant plus the desk from the Godfather movie.. The wine is good too
The Korbel winery gave free tastings for 4 samples.It is west of Santa Rosa.
We stayed in Santa Rosa and both were about 30 or so minutes away.
The town of Healdsburg had some tasting rooms and a good brewpub (Bear Republic)

[Karabee]

deej696 - I looked up the Bike Tour and it looks as though they have bike rentals as well - this looks perfect for us. Thanks!! I also will be looking at your blog for some San Fran ideas

pixiewings71 - Thank you so much for the list! I also downloaded that app and it looks great As I put plans together I'll PM you for some more insight into places to eat - thanks!

ncc1701 - You had me at "brewpub" - seriously, I might need a cold beer after so much wine - thanks!

I'm so pleased that I can find more than just Disney info on the Disboards

[BryANDJessMom]

Here is some info I had put together when my brother was here..hope this helps...

Here is the info on Napa...

You can pick up gourmet foods (wonderful local cheeses!!!) at Oakville grocer. They are right on 12. The address is 7856 St. Helena Hwy in Oakville. (Oakville is after Yountville and before St. Helena.) this is the most flexible option. There are wineries that have picnic tables that you can use. I know V. Sattui does have a large area...wine is not great there... Anyway, I would bring a cooler if you decide to go with this option.

I would usually go down 12 cut over to Silverado trail at Sterling and go back up. (it runs parallel).

Here are a list of some of the better wineries. They ones with phone numbers require a "reservation" but often you can call from the road and still get in.

The link to the map of wineries is below.

The order I am listing is the ones that you will hit first until you get to Sterling (has a cool tram and really pretty) and then cut over to the Silverado Trail.

Chandon
Cakebread 800-588-0298
Peju
Heitz
Merryvale
St. Clement

On the Silverado trail--
Cuvasion 707-942-2468 (I never had to make a reservation here before...)
Rombauer (wine from our wedding)
Duckhorn
Mumm

http://napavalley.com/maps/Napa_Valley_Winery_Map.pdf

Enjoy!!

[pixiewings71]

V Sattui does have tables, but they ask that you only use them if you've made a purchase from the winery. They also have a deli, IME it's very good, we've eaten there a few times. And I disagree about their wines not being good, I feel the ones I like are very good. Also, Sattui does a BBQ in warm weather (aka peak season) but I think this will be closed when you go in October.
Personally if a winery requires a reservation for a standard tasting I avoid it, if it's a reservation for something special like a tasting and pairing or a tasting with one on one service then I will do it with no hesitation, but to make a reservation for a simple tasting that isn't private, no thanks.

[Karabee]

Originally Posted by BryANDJessMom

Here are a list of some of the better wineries. They ones with phone numbers require a "reservation" but often you can call from the road and still get in.

The link to the map of wineries is below.

The order I am listing is the ones that you will hit first until you get to Sterling (has a cool tram and really pretty) and then cut over to the Silverado Trail.

http://napavalley.com/maps/Napa_Valley_Winery_Map.pdf

Enjoy!!

Thank you This is perfect to sort it out a bit more and give some sort of organization!

Originally Posted by pixiewings71

Personally if a winery requires a reservation for a standard tasting I avoid it, if it's a reservation for something special like a tasting and pairing or a tasting with one on one service then I will do it with no hesitation, but to make a reservation for a simple tasting that isn't private, no thanks.

This is really good advice. We actually have some decent wineries here on the east coast and there are a few that require reservations yet they are not that good! Others are better and they just allow you to walk in - I always say they are trying to hard to be like a CA winery I'll be sending you a PM soon about restaurants. I want to run a few ideas by you and also ask some advice for the places that are good but wont break the bank

[pixiewings71]

You got it, I'm happy to help!

[AnabellaAnaheim]

And don't forget about the wineries that have a tie to Disney ...

http://www.lasseterfamilywinery.com/index.html

http://www.silveradovineyards.com/

And not in Napa, but north of Santa Barbara is Fess Parker.

Have fun!

[Karabee]

Awesome It's officially on the list for our last night in that area

This weekend is major reviewing of wineries and looking into a few things - ive heard you can zip line through the Redwoods! I'll be posting with questions as soon as I gather all my research I feel like its getting to be last minute planning now but this weekend was 3 days of helping Grandma move out of her condo so this coming is CA planning only!

PixieWings - expect an email with more questions after my research!

[pixiewings71]

I'm excited for you!! You can do a Gondola ride up to a winery in Napa..... I look forward to your next message!

[knewton64]

ok.......


gotta ask a rather Goofy ? & its about wines:

(The below was cut and pasted from my below listed upcoming trip report





NOW ABOUT THAT PESKY TOPIC CALLED "WINES."
From my very first experience in "wines 101" earlier this year, I discovered that I like sweet or semi-sweet wines; be it red or white.

BUT -


In preperation for Pappadeaux's Restaurant in or around Febr 6th area, I am discovering
that there are "sub-sections" of wines!!


Meaning - there are riesling, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, blush (on the white side)..........

THEN
ya have Pinot Noir, Merlot, cabernet Sauvignon,etc of the Red side!!


RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
(what does each mean??)




ME?
I have tried chardonnay white wines before BUT.........
(it was ok.....didn't really grab my attention but was ok)



I am wondering what semi-sweet or sweet wines (RED?) would you suggest for a seafood meal while out in the SO CAL area (ultimately why I am trying to research this). The reason why I am asking this rather Goofy ? is that I have a desire to taste different wines that are local to the area; after all - California is the #1 ranked state in producing wines & I would like to be enjoying local assorted wines with local food.


I mean Gheesh la Weesh, I remember as a kid that whenever our whole family would go out to eat at a local restaurant......
say at a Mexican restaurant........


me?
I would order a CHEESEBURGER while there.



And I rreealllyyy wwaaaannnaaaa BREAK that trend.




Now
while looking at the Pappadeux's menu,
I have looked at (a white chardonnay) 'Cakebread', Napa Valley & (a white wine Riesling) J. Lohr "Bay Mist" ; Monterrey California & they seem to initially grab my attention.
BUT.......


Any others??
-------------------------------------------------



[B]ok......hope the above makes sense. Also, I get a feel that I will be part of a Napa / Sonoma Wine tasting on my last day & wondering what wineries would we be visiting.


Overall, I am just concerned about buying (for example) a dry wine w/my meal and just getting stuck with a bad wine.




Thanks 4 listening as this will be my very first trip into San Fran & wine country.
- (362 more days) -




T.T.F.N.