Best Winery in NAPA ??
Apr 20th, 2006, 04:55 PM
#21
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WOW...we just opened a bottle of Cuvaison Zin Larkmead Lane and now remembered why we bought a case of it (plus 2 of their Cabs) This wine is absolutely delicious, kind of makes you cry. It was only 28 a bottle, it tastes like a $90 bottle...my notes say there are only 4 cases left so LOOK and ASK for this! Cuvaison had really, really splendid wines.
Apr 20th, 2006, 05:32 PM
#22
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Go to the town of Oakville just outside of Napa.
Stop at the Oakville grocery to get some picnic food.
There are lots of great wineries, our favorites are:
Cakebread
Robert Mondavi (take the tour)
Plumpjack
Francis Ford Coppala
Opus One (don't taste just look - it's $35 a taste, not worth it but the winery is beautiful).
On the way home stop in the quaint town of Sonoma for some shopping.
Stop at the Oakville grocery to get some picnic food.
There are lots of great wineries, our favorites are:
Cakebread
Robert Mondavi (take the tour)
Plumpjack
Francis Ford Coppala
Opus One (don't taste just look - it's $35 a taste, not worth it but the winery is beautiful).
On the way home stop in the quaint town of Sonoma for some shopping.
Apr 21st, 2006, 05:39 AM
#28
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One of my all-time favorite tours was Schramsburg. They make sparkling, so it will be different than a still-wine tour. They have been around forever and claim that Chinese labor helped build the caves in the early part of the century. Schramsburg has been served at a number of state dinners and it is the wine Nixon used to toast when he began diplomatic ties with China.
Anyway, it is a great tour and delicious wine. I seem to remember there was a $10 or so charge for a vertical tasting.
Anyway, it is a great tour and delicious wine. I seem to remember there was a $10 or so charge for a vertical tasting.
Apr 21st, 2006, 04:00 PM
#30
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Our favorites so far:
Hess for good wine at a fair price and an Art Museum
Coppola-Niebaum just because it's beautiful and has a Coppola film museum upstairs
Frogs Leap for the wine...my favorite Napa wine. It's small and you may need reservations; call first.
Hess for good wine at a fair price and an Art Museum
Coppola-Niebaum just because it's beautiful and has a Coppola film museum upstairs
Frogs Leap for the wine...my favorite Napa wine. It's small and you may need reservations; call first.
Apr 22nd, 2006, 02:47 PM
#31
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We went for the first time a few years ago and really enjoyed Sterling - the tram car ride up to the top of the hill is amazing. We also really liked Coppola, Luna, and Turnbull. The tour at Mondavi is very good - we didn't feel the need to go on any others after that. Have fun!
Apr 22nd, 2006, 03:18 PM
#32
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OK, On more time...
Niebaum-Coppola
NO LONGER EXISTS IN THE NAPA VALLEY, therefore it CANNOT be recommended as a winery to visit there.
In the same location where Niebaum-Coppola WAS is a winery named Rubicon and they charges $25 a head for tasting.
Niebaum-Coppola has moved to the Dry Creek region of Sonoma County if you must visit it.
Sonoma is a MUST SEE anyway..
R5
Niebaum-Coppola
NO LONGER EXISTS IN THE NAPA VALLEY, therefore it CANNOT be recommended as a winery to visit there.
In the same location where Niebaum-Coppola WAS is a winery named Rubicon and they charges $25 a head for tasting.
Niebaum-Coppola has moved to the Dry Creek region of Sonoma County if you must visit it.
Sonoma is a MUST SEE anyway..
R5
Apr 23rd, 2006, 12:19 AM
#34
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Rubicon Estates in Napa is still OWNED nd OPERATED by the same group that owned Niebaum-Coppola (i.e. Francis Ford Coppola, etc.). It still has one of the most beautiful grounds and chateau in Napa, the same one that Gustave Niebaum built and which the Copolla family bought and maintained. It also includes the same winery and film museums.
Rubicon Estate was renamed after the flagship wine of the Niebaum-Coppola vinters (i.e. Rubicon), which I assume would be their high-end single-estate label.
Rubicon Estate was renamed after the flagship wine of the Niebaum-Coppola vinters (i.e. Rubicon), which I assume would be their high-end single-estate label.
Jun 7th, 2006, 06:19 PM
#35
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Peju Winery (Rutherford) - amazing wine, lovely gardens and a fun, good-time atmosphere (singing, yodeling, rap), also excellent chef and wine pairings.
Casa Nuestra - funky tasting room, the "people's winery", check out Tinto, their historical vineyard planted in the Tinto recipe
Silver Oak
Avoid the corporate places. Mondavi is like a cattle call, little personal attention or acknowledgement
Casa Nuestra - funky tasting room, the "people's winery", check out Tinto, their historical vineyard planted in the Tinto recipe
Silver Oak
Avoid the corporate places. Mondavi is like a cattle call, little personal attention or acknowledgement
Jun 7th, 2006, 07:28 PM
#36
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So many wineries, so little time! 
At the south end of Napa Valley, don't miss Artesa.
WAY over at the north end, don't miss Chateau Montelena and Clos Pegase.
In between, there are just too many to mention: St Supery, Grgich Hills, Trefethen - and these are just along 29 - if you skip over to the Silverado Trail, well, we'll probably not see you for another year or so!
And if you do decide to branch off over to Sonoma Valley - well, we'll probably NEVER see you again.
"It's rumored that JerseySue was imbibing and driving somewhere between the Russian River Valley and the Alexander Valley when last seen..."
Have a great time! Pay little - there's lots of great wines to enjoy without having to pay and arm and a leg for "tasting". Enjoy!
At the south end of Napa Valley, don't miss Artesa.
WAY over at the north end, don't miss Chateau Montelena and Clos Pegase.
In between, there are just too many to mention: St Supery, Grgich Hills, Trefethen - and these are just along 29 - if you skip over to the Silverado Trail, well, we'll probably not see you for another year or so!
And if you do decide to branch off over to Sonoma Valley - well, we'll probably NEVER see you again.
"It's rumored that JerseySue was imbibing and driving somewhere between the Russian River Valley and the Alexander Valley when last seen..."
Have a great time! Pay little - there's lots of great wines to enjoy without having to pay and arm and a leg for "tasting". Enjoy!
Jun 7th, 2006, 11:09 PM
#37
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It's my understanding that Coppola bought Chateau Soverain, which is absolutely gorgeous and had a wonderful restaurant. We took friends there last year for lunch and a tour. The tour started in the vineyard and ended with barrel tasting. We paid for the tour, but it was one of the most interesting we ever took. Have no idea what, if any, changes have been made under the new ownership.
Jun 8th, 2006, 12:41 PM
#38
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Frog's leap is amazing, small organic vineyard with a spicy zin.
schafer is a beautiful stop.
homewood in sonoma is an interesting change, a small tasting room attached to an RV where the winemaker lives, he'll admister the free tasting himself. an interesting view contrary to mondavi.
the tram ride at sterling is a bore for anyone who's ever skied before (my opinion)
schafer is a beautiful stop.
homewood in sonoma is an interesting change, a small tasting room attached to an RV where the winemaker lives, he'll admister the free tasting himself. an interesting view contrary to mondavi.
the tram ride at sterling is a bore for anyone who's ever skied before (my opinion)
