Napa

Napa

Rutherford Wine Company

grape cluster - Pixabay

We visited many wineries during our stay in Napa and thought that this was one of the best tours for the money. The location was beautiful and if you have nice weather, pack a picnic and plan to eat your lunch in their picnic area. Its located in an olive grove high on the hillside. Bring a camera.

Twenty Bench

glass of wine - Pixabay

The Nine North Wine Company is a unique portfolio of small handcrafted wines from Napa Valley as well as California's North Coast appellation that specialize in offering exceptional quality, worth and value. The portfolio can usually be found in fine wine shops and restaurants around the country. Twenty Bench Cabinet is one of the wines in The Nine North Wine Company portfolio.

Pope Valley Winery

glass of red wine - Pixabay

This hidden gem of a winery boasts a no-frills approach to great wine. Their taste is a bit different -- fruity & light merlots, light cabs, amazing port. The true gem here is Petra. She's a great conversationist and has remembered me and my friends every time we come. This one is WAY out of the way, but a completely unique experience in Napa. The basic tasting was free, and the reserve tasting was $15. The wine was pretty good and the bocce court outside was a nice distraction. The place is like a deserted farm with dogs wandering around and unfinished road through the vineyard. It is NOT fancy, but it is often deserted and gives you the feel that you are in your own country vineyard.

Screaming Eagle Winery & Vineyards

bottle of wine, glasses of wine with a chateau in the background - Pixabay

The most sought after California CultWine in the World! This small operation is located just below the Dalla Valle vineyard near the Oakville Cross. Screaming Eagle's Cabernet Sauvignons are going to create quite a stir among lovers of that varietal - if they are able to latch onto a bottle or two. The estate is owned by Tony Bowden and Jean Phillips, one of Napa Valley's leading real estate agents. With the help of Heidi Barrett and Gustav Dalla Valle, this operation's debut vintage is the extraordinary 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the greatest young Cabernets I have ever tasted. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered, and aged in 60% new oak.

Great Bear Vineyards

Woman with dog enjoying trip to brach

Our passion at Great Bear Vineyards is to grow the highest quality grapes and to make superb wines. We are a family-run vineyard and winery.

Great Bear Vineyards is the culmination of the Meadows-Smith family’s dream to create world-class wines to share with friends, family and our community.

We proudly tend our vines by hand using sustainable farming practices, working in harmony with nature. Our winemakers, Jenny and Marcus, craft small lots of award-winning wines from our premium grape

Reverie Vineyards

wine pouring into a glass - Pixaby

Reverie Winery, located near Calistoga, California, is one of Napa Valley’s smallest estate wineries. The vineyard is nestled on a steep, 40 acre parcel high up in the Diamond Mountain appellation. It was once part of the Bonsell Property that is now divided into three vineyards – Reverie, Diamond Creek, and Von Strasser. Norman Kiken, a New Jersey guy, is the owner and winemaker. He purchased the property in 1993 and specializes in producing ultra-premium Bordeaux style varietal blends that reflect the uniqueness of the terroir. 5 star family winery, old-fashioned style. You feel their passion for the wine. The property is magnificent; you must walk around. The tour is informative, interesting and fun. I've done it a couple of times, and I look forward to a repeat. Their cab franc is sooo good.

Storybook Mountain Vineyards

glass of wine - Pixabay

Storybook Mountain was originally founded by Jacob Grim, as a reference to the Grimm fairy tales. Finding the black wrought iron gate and stepping into this winery on a misty, gray day was very akin to what I can only imagine as stepping into a fairy tale. But a fairy tale finishing with the aroma of a 97 point Zin type of ending, not a Grimm ending. Storybook Mountain's sought-after estate wines are carefully hand-crafted from choice grapes grown in certified organic estate vineyards surrounding the winery. A winery out in the thick of a California redwood forest, and also the makers of the world's first 97pt Zin. If you suspect that this means they are serious wine makers, you're absolutely right. Storybook has a rich history and blue collar vibe. It's totally worth going!

Promise Wine

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Crafted from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grown in a unique microclimate in Napa’s Rutherford Bench, this fine red wine possesses great depth of flavor and a richness that could be matched only by a great amarone. Smoke scents and flavors of dark plum, bitter chocolate, and dried herbs dominate the latest release of this ultrarich wine.

PROMISE has, and always will, represent promising yourself to pursue your passions and setting the intention to live a life well-lived; Facing your fears and challenges while finding gratitude, joy and love everyday – especially during the tough times. It’s about remembering the simplest things in life are the only ones that matter: sharing moments with the ones you love and who love you – with a great bottle of wine of course!

It has been a wonderful ride thus far. On behalf of everyone in the PROMISE Family, we are deeply grateful to all those who have helped us on the journey. We feel like we are just getting started.

Staglin Family Vineyard

wine with chateau in the background - Pixabay

Located in Rutherford, west of Hwy 29 off Bella Oaks Lane. The tour/tasting appointment here will last about 60-90 minutes, depending on the group dynamic. Standard cave tour and sit-down tasting. You pay for what you get - pricer than other wineries, but the wines are excellent, full-bodied and rich. Family owned and run, committed to the environment. Great tasting experience.

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