We are visiting Napa Valley this summer for four days and nights. Since we are first timers, does anyone have a recommendation as to have many wineries we should visit and how many per day? We would also like to do some hiking - any suggestions? Any other recommendations for the area? Thanks

I hope you know they charge about $10 or more per person. Sutter Home didn't for lesser wine and it has abeautiful rose garden. Some of their more expensive wine was very good (Surprise us).

Just returned from 4 days in Napa- how I wish I were still there!
It is true that most of the wineries charge for tasting- but if you purcase any wines they waive the fee.
Our most fun was Del Dotto - They do wine tasting/tour in the cave and actually give you tastes out of the barrels- It was the most interesting and our tour guide was "tasting" right along with us- made for a really fun afternoon. We managed to visit around 3 per day- then were not interested in ordering wine with our dinners...(too much of a good thing, huh)
Silverado Trail has alot of good wineries- Robert Sinskey was great, as was Clos Du Val. We enjoyed Domaine Chandon and Coppola. Cakebread left us a little disappointed though. And we had to try Opus One- ($25- per taste)
But they have a great wine we purchased "overture".

Anyway- whatever you - have a great time and let me know how your trip went.

I will second Robert Sinskey. We also liked MUMM,just a great spot. We tried a sampler,which was about 7 half glasses. I think it was
$15 but it was very good and relaking.

try some wineries in Sonoma as well. Cline was good,and others along the way.

Message: Wine country report

Do?s:

Winery tours: To experience the best of the best you MUST book tours/tastings in advance! The better tours/tastings primarily do not allow you to just walk up and jump in! Buy a book on Wine country, read about the wineries and what they offer and then book a month or two in advance. I had two appointments each day I was in wine country and it really paid off for me!

Best tour: Schramsberg: This winery in Napa (near Calistoga) produces champagne that is fantastic, their bottles have been served at the White House since 1972! The appointment only tour explains the champagne making process, the history of the Schramsberg?s and you walk deep into ancient caves that store the wine at 58 degrees! I have never seen so many bottles of champagne stacked up, imagine a subway train tunnel filled with champagne from head to toe for hundreds of yards and you?ll have an idea about these wine caves. Many wine caves in wine country are newer versions, they just don?t have the feel of the Shcramsberg caves, I could imagine Count Dracula stepping from behind the bottles at any moment! The tour ends with a tasting either inside a tasting room or if you are lucky you taste in the cave by candlelight! We tasted 5 to 6 different champagnes and I asked the tour person if he could explain sabering (method of opening a bottle of champagne by taking a saber and cutting off the bottle top ? very exciting) instead of explaining sabering he actually took a thin blunt piece of metal and lopped of the bottle top and served us right from the beheaded bottle ? quite cool! Great wine, great tour ? a must see!

Best wine: I confess I did not get to every winery and I missed many excellent wines, but some of the best product I tasted are the following: Schafer Zin Port, Prager White Port ?Aria?, Gloria Ferrer Champagne, Schramsberg ?Cremant? Champagne, Ravenswood barrel tastings ( all 11 different zins), Zingaro Zins,

Best view: Napa = Silverado Trail ? Silverado Vineyards, great patio to sip and look!

Most fun winery: Coppola Niebaum ? if you love the movie the Godfather you will love this place, movie artifacts from all Francis Fords Coppolla?s movies, castlelike visitors center, excellent reserve wines, relaxing atmosphere ? must stop and see!

Most informative tour: 1) S Anderson ? great overview won why Stagg Leap district is so unique, great tasting of champagne in their caves! 2) Chateau Montelena ? 1:30 pm tour (25 great overview of wine making ? from soil to climate all conducted in an ornate tasting room that looks like Rockefellers library, you also tour outside and view the ponds and gardens and vines!

Don?ts:

Lodging: Don?t stay in South Napa, it?s a strip mall city and resembles anywhere USA, stay up in Yountville, St Helena, Calsitoga ? all are very cute and close to wineries!

Wineries: All the following wineries offer boring wine and boring experiences: Charles Krug, Cline Cellars, Beuna Vista

Conclusion:

I had a great time in Napa/Sonoma, highly recommend this are for people who really love wine, If you don?t drink wine and are not inte4rsted in learning about wine, it may disappoint you! I think three nights of wine and food is enough for most people , I could not see staying there longer than that! Good luck w/ your trip planning!