2 Days in Napa - Wineries Not to be Missed?
 

First time to Napa this fall with only two days to see the area and hopefully sample some wine.
First of all don't want to drink and drive. Any thoughts on a tour, limo etc. that would work to see the area and go to some good wineries. Any wineries that are just a must see.
Red - White - Not picky!

If you do choose a tour or a driver, pick one who does smaller boutique wineries instead of the heavily touristed, crowded mainstream wineries. My favorite Napa Winery is Hess. The grounds are incredible, the drive is beautiful (not bumper to bumper) and the art gallery is not to miss. Fascinating. Wines are good and affordable. Off the path favorites for me include William Harrison, Dutch Henry, Zahtila and Vincent Arroyo. Had dome Stelzner the other dat which was good...also Cuvaison is a good stop.

We really enjoyed paying ~$30 each and going on the Beringer tour. They take you around the grounds, and then you go into their caves to taste wine from the barrels at various stages in its development. Really educational for a wine newbie like myself, and even my fiance enjoyed it (she doesnt drink wine at all).

Domaine Carneros is very nice in Napa, we will be stopping at Artesa this year on our way up to Healdsburg. In Yountville, Domaine Chandon is a favorite of ours! Enjoy your time in the wine country. ***kim*** ((f))

We have used Platypus Tours (www.platypustours.com) and really like them. They take very small groups to some special, smaller wineries and also include a picnic lunch.
I like the views at Artesa winery (not so much the wines), the scenery on the drive to Hess (but the view from Mont LaSalle Conference Center next door is even better).

Favorite winery for FUN and lovely grounds is Peju Winery in Rutherford and I absolutely love their cabs and sav. blanc, also zin.
Casa Nuestra Winery is the real deal (on Silverado Trail) - No pretentions here, nice picnic area, and a wine called Tinto that has a wonderful story.

Absolutely come to Napa to sample the fine wines of the valley. All of the wineries are fantastic.

I'm surprised that LLindaC is not pushing Sonoma??

One of my favorite tours was the Schramsburg tour. You will need a reservation and there is a small charge for a tasting. It is a sparkling wine tour, so the info will be different than the tours you may do for still wines. Schramsburg has been served at a number of state dinners and they have the menus/photos displayed. Nixon also used it to toast the opening of relations with China.

The Platypus Tour idea looks like just what we want. Thanks elnap29.

If you are Mondavi (which I doubt) I had a lovely conversation with Peter Mondavi at the EPCOT Wine Festival. "All the wineries are fantastic" you said. Are you kidding? VSattui comes to mind....yuck. Or you can spend 25 bucks to park and drink cheap Coppolla wines. Lots of winery fees and wines in Napa are overhyped and overpriced.Same for some places in Sonoma, too. Seems FF Coppolla wants is invading totally.
Why am I not pushing Sonoma? Because she's a newbie! Plenty of great places in Napa and next time she returns, she'll have a better experience in Sonoma! ;-)
Hey, I prefer Lodi and Anderson Valley over Napa, btw.

btw Kathleen, I do think you'd enjoy one tour.