Sonoma/Napa Trip Report
 

Got back from our Sonoma Trip last week and LOVED IT!!! We learned so much about wine-- came there as amatuers, left one step up from amatuer

We stayed at the Doubletree in Rohner Park. Not bad centrally located place. Next time I want to stay near Healdsburg.

Spa:
MacArther Place, Somoma
(707) 938-2929
29 E Macarthur St
Sonoma, CA
http://macarthurplace.com/
BEAUTIFUL gardens! Great spa services!

Hiking:
Armstrong Redwood Forest
707-869-2015
17020 Armstrong Woods Road
Guerneville, CA 95446
Fantastic Hike! Highly recommend it!


Wineries

SONOMA: May 18, 19, 20
We loved Sonoma County, especially the Dry Creek/Alexander Valley areas. It was great to drive around the small country roads lined with grapes and roses. Much more low key; not as touristy as Napa.

FERRARI-CARANO VINEYARDS & WINERY
8761 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707.433.6700
www.ferrari-carano.com
Open 10a-5p
Established: 1982
Production: 150000 cases
Winemaker(s): George Bursick
Region: Sonoma County
Beautiful grounds, formal gardens, special estate tasting room

EVERETT RIDGE
435 West Dry Creek Rd
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Phone: (707) 433-1637
www.everettridge.com
Established: 1996
Production: 6000 cases
Winemaker(s): Dan Cederquist
Region: Sonoma County - Dry Creek Valley
Fantastic views, take time to sit down and enjoy the atmosphere, located in a barn

GALLO
3387 Dry Creek Rd
Healdsburg, CA 95448
Phone: 707-431-5500 Fax:
Parent Company: E & J GALLO WINERY
Region: Sonoma County - Sonoma Valley
Tasting room is in downtown Healdsburg, great upper scale wines, wonderful philosophy of company—hard working, gives back to the land (50/50), family owned and run.


CLOS DU BOIS
P O Box 940
Geyserville, CA 95441
707.867.3100
www.closdubois.com
Parent Company: Fortune Brands, Inc.
Established: 1974
Production: 1600000 cases
Winemaker(s): Margaret Davenport
Region: Sonoma County - Alexander Valley
Beautiful area, some free tastings

GLORIA FERRER
23555 Highway 121
Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 996-7256
www.gloriaferrer.com
Established: 1985
Production: 120000 cases
Winemaker(s): Bob Iantosca
Region: Sonoma County - Los Carneros
Fantastic views, Italian villa, great tours, only sells by the glass, known for sparkling wines, carbonation is produces though a second fermentation process not added CO2


BUENA VISTA
27000 Ramal Road
Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 252-7117 Fax:
www.buenavistacarneros.com
Parent Company: Fortune Brands, Inc.
Established: 1857
Production: 200000 cases
Winemaker(s): Judy Matulich-Weitz
Region: Sonoma County - Sonoma Valley
Quant home for tasting; very first place we went to.

SCHUG
602 Bonneau Road
Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 939-9363 Fax:
www.schugwinery.com
Established: 1980
Production: 30000 cases
Winemaker(s): Walter Schug
Region: Sonoma County - Carnero
cute little home, very local

NAPA May 21
The land of Napa is beautiful; however the wineries are much more touristy. Tasting rooms were built not for the wine, but for the crowds. It is one strip of wineries. Great towns to go shopping in.

FRANK FAMILY
210 The Alameda
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Phone: 415-516-2499
www.frankfamilyvineyards.com
Down-to-earth tasting room, free tasting, fun atmosphere from employees

BERINGER
2000 Main Street
Saint Helena, CA 94574
Phone: (707) 963-7115 Fax:
Parent Co.: Beringer Blass Wine Estates
Established: 1876
Production: 5000000 cases
Winemaker(s): Ed Sbragia
Region: Napa Valley
Beautiful mansion, very touristy, estate wines were great but over priced.

FRANCISCAN OAKVILLE ESTATE
1178 Galleron Road
Rutherford, CA 94573
Phone: (707) 963-7111 Fax:
www.franciscan.com
Parent Company: ICON Estates
Established: 1973
Production: 130000 cases
Winemaker(s): Gregory Upton
Region: Napa Valley - Rutherford
Great wines, helpful staff

GRGICH HILLS CELLAR
1829 St. Helena Hwy.
Rutherford, CA 94573
Phone: (707) 963-2784
www.grgich.com
Established: 1977
Production: 80000 cases
Winemaker(s): Miljenko Grgich
Region: Napa Valley - Rutherford
Cute place, staff was not very helpful

ST. SUPERY
8440 St. Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
Phone: (707) 963-4507
www.stsupery.com
Established: 1989
Production: 125000 cases
Winemaker(s): Bob Broman
Region: Napa Valley - St Helena
Great wines, fun staff


ARTESA
1345 Henry Road
Napa, CA 94559
www.artesawinery.com
Production: 80000 cases
Region: Napa Valley - Los Carneros
Fun very modern winery

DOMAINE CARNEROS
1240 Duhig Road
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 257-0101
www.domaine.com
Established: 1986
Production: 55000 cases
Winemaker(s): Eileen Crane
Region: Napa Valley - Los Carnero
Know for their sparking wines; beautiful estates, serves pairing cheeses.

What a great report and the links are wonderful. Many planning wine country trips will be thrilled to find your detailed report. Thanks LMF

Excellent, ee!!!
Love the paragraphs/breakdown, too!
While I love fellow Fod's detailed TRs my eyes go crossed after 3-4 lines if they don't use a paragraph. 8-}

You hit 8 of our fave wines.
Just curious as to the Grgrich's staff not being helpful?

We've been trying to plan a Sonoma/Healdsburg trip soon but haven't found the "umphhh" to do it...maybe now!!!
Cheers!

PS...you listening r5?

Hey eeliadis~
Sounds like you had a fine time. You did a lot of the mega-corporate wineries so now you have to come back
and do the some of the little guys !

Let me add a little change to your Frank Family listing-their winery &
and tasting room is a tad south of Calistoga, on Larkmead Lane,between Hwy 29 & Silverado Trail-your address
for them in San Anselmo (an hour south in Marin County) might only lead new visitors to a PO Box(??) I do love their wines !

We enjoy Grgrich and have always had
enjoyable tastings there, so I hope your experience was a blip !

Now Kal, if you are coming here for a visit, let me know plenty in advance so I can warn the neighbors !
:-D

R5

Hi, we're going to be in Napa/Sonoma in mid July and would be interested in visiting the "smaller guy" wineries. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Merus Winery.

They do all their winemaking in their garage in the city of Napa. It's hard to find any "smaller guys" winery than this.

I heard of garage bands but.....;)

I think the boys at Noah started out that way. Some good Zins/Merlots now.

r5...but of course!!!!:-X
Will give the Orig Wine Os plenny o' notice.
Ditto Grgrich but I've never been to the winery...only at tasting events.

WE JUST RETURNED FROM WINE COUNTRY, AND SOME OF THE PLACES WE ENJOYED WERE: FROGS LEAP VINEYARD-RUTHERFORD
OAKVILLE GROCERY-OAKVILLE
NAPA VALLEY RAILWAY INN-YOUNTVILLE
BOONFLY CAFE-CANEROS INN-NAPA
DOMAINE CANEROS-NAPA-
THE TOWN OF YOUNTVILLE IN GENERAL-JUST ADORABLE. WE HAD QUITE A LOVELY TIME!

dolphin, why are you SHOUTING?!?!?!

eeliadis, love the report. I am glad you enjoyed St. Supery. It remains one of my favorites.

Can't wait to add Cakebread to my list on next trip.

Topping for BT