Napa

Napa

Sterling Vineyards

The brilliant white stucco stands out dramatically against the rugged Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges that flank each side of Napa Valley. Mount Saint Helena makes a lovely distant backdrop. The tour is self guided so it's at your own pace and the gondola ride is unique for the area. It's also one of only wineries that's on a hill in the middle of Napa Valley so the views are to die for.
My only suggestion would be (if you enjoy wine clubs) to join the wine club before you go. You can get on the gondola for free for up to 4 people and the tour is included as well. That pays for one of your months of wine right there.
Then, you get access to the VIP tasting room which is fantastic.

Storybook Mountain Vineyards

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!

Morlet Family Vineyards

We tasted three pinot's a syrah and two cabs. The three pinot's were from the same vineyard in Sonoma but from three different blocks. Three distinctly different wines. All very Burgundian in crafting but with that amazing Sonoma Coast fruit. My favorite style...French winemaking but with CA fruit!
The Syrah was amazing. Once again, very French. Northern Rhone in crafting but with Bennet Valley fruit.
The Cabs...well, they were quite simply amazing. Two totally different wines from two different AVA's.

Kelham Vineyards

So, you're in Napa for a long weekend or maybe even a wallet-draining week. There's plenty of choices to feed your wine fix. This charming little vineyard absolutely, positively needs to make your "must visit" list. No tasting room. No walk ins. No boutique to purchase a variety of goods while visiting. You need to call, make an appointment, and then prepare yourself for a truly personal wine experience given where the family that grows it presents their five or six well-done sophisticated wines.

Adastra Wines

Painting, women enjoying wine

Adastra Winery is organic with a great history, and Chris is happy to walk you through it. He'll introduce you to the property -- which he and his wife live off of -- and the business as well. The property is wonderful, and you can tell a lot of love has built the place up. He'll share with you the old barn and his herb garden. You'll become familiar with the origins of the name and finally, with the wines themselves while sitting around his dining room table. The reds are excellent, absolutely top-notch. On our trip, my wife and I only joined two wine clubs, and Adastra Winery is one of them. The tasting and tour can be expensive, $25 per person but that fee is waived if you join the wine club. Honestly, even if you don't join the club, it's worth the fee for the experience.~ Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery 

Sherwin Family Vineyards

Steve and Linda Sherwin yearned for a quieter, more relaxed setting to raise their three children. A series of weekend visits to the Napa Valley in 1996 finally uncovered a thirty acre property near the top of Spring Mountain. The property featured a beautiful home and a serene lake but the real prize was the three acres of mixed old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. These three acres are in the same location that was originally part of a 500 acre estate producing sought-after grapes in the late 1800's through Prohibition.

With a a successful career in construction development behind him and a true hands-on approach, Steve began clearing and planting vineyards around the three original acres virtually by himself. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot and finished thirteen acres later. The new acreage is actually broken up into three vineyards named after the children: Jenny, Lindsey and Matthew.
I had heard it was one of the most beautiful settings to taste wine and we were not disappointed. The tasting room is very relaxed and comfy. I felt like Donna had invited us into her luxury rustic open area kitchen. We sipped our first glass inside and moved out to the patio. We all agreed the weather couldn't have been more beautiful. A perfect day for a perfect taste.

Oakville Ranch Winery

Oakville Ranch is the original mountain vineyard of the sub-appellation that produces the New World's most celebrated Cabernets. Covering just two square miles at the heart of Napa Valley, the Oakville district may be small, but its wines play a very big role in the connoisseur's collection. At 1,400 feet above the valley floor, the Oakville Ranch vineyards produce fruit that speaks from the appellation's signature red volcanic soil with a mountain accent.

In the two decades since Bob and Mary Miner purchased the 350-acre ranch, plantings have slowly increased from an initial 55 acres to today's 75 acres of predominantly Bordeaux varietals.
It's definitely a trek up the mountain, but well worth it. Kristin led our tasting in the greenhouse--the grounds are amazing and the wines are especially good (Cab Franc). They are only open by appt. M - F, but it you will be on the Silverado Trail on a weekday call and make an appt.

Mount Veeder Winery

The thin rocky soils and rugged terrain on Mount Veeder make farming the vineyard a challenge. Cultivation and harvesting are done entirely by hand. Water is scarce and drains quickly through the volcanic mountain soil. The vines grow slowly and produce small clusters and intensely concentrated berries resulting in extremely low yields; as little as half that of vineyards on the valley floor.

Farming on the mountain is definitely demanding. But were rewarded with wines that show intensity and depth, with rich, earthy tannins and bold, dark fruit flavor.

Palmaz Vineyards

Palmaz is one winery that you absolutely MUST visit! This family owned and operated winery will blow you away. The high tech gravity flow processes, extreme commitment to quality, and overall tasting experience are all top notch.

My experience with Florencia was amazing, compared to other tours and tastings at the same price point, $60/person with small bite pairings, I would recommend Palmaz over many others. The wines were delicious and the perfect pick for a special occasion. This tour is perfect for wine enthusiasts at all levels, the family is approachable and open to discussing any questions you have about the winery and wine making processes.

Villa Mt. Eden

Coming upon the Rutherford crossroad you'll see the fresh new face of a venerable name on the Trail. Founded in 1881, Villa Mt. Eden is one of the few producers from the early era in Napa Valley history that continues to make world class wines today.

Now located on Conn Creek, there is a stylish new tasting room and winery, where not so long ago bears, deer and raccoon came down from the mountain to quench their thirst .

In the days of the rancho, 'Mission' grape vines filled the vineyards, however, by the time Villa Mt. Eden produced it's first vintage, new viticultural specimens imported from Europe were providing winemakers with quality grapes showing nice varietal flavors.
Today, Winemaker Mike McGrath bases his success on the excellent quality of those grapes.

Pages

Subscribe to Napa