Syrah

Syrah

Smith Vineyard

Try the 2008 Primativo - spicy, black pepper,complexity, a real treat. On Saturdays they have live music to go along with great wine tasting. Gary and Christina Smith continue the fine art of winemaking and vineyard tending that Gary’s father began with his three sons. Now with three sons of their own, the Smiths handcraft small lots of classic varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Primitivo, Syrah and Chardonnay from their 10 acre certified organic vineyard near Grass Valley, CA.

John Anthony Vineyards

Quiet, nice little place by our hotel (Andaz Napa). Good place to go for a quick bite and maybe a little wine, nice since it's open late and convenient. Nice ambiance. Wine is spectacular. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Definitely check this place out if you are wondering around downtown Napa.

West Wind Wines & Caves

West Wind Wines has the only wine cave in Marin County. It took two years to get the permits and two months to build the cave. It is kept at 55 degrees year around to keep the wine in the barrels cool and humid. Inside the cave at an “aroma table”, owner and winemaker Cynthia Klock encourages guests to sniff a hand full of cloves, sniff the wine and then take a sip. The scent will bring out the distinctive essences of cloves in the wine. She also has separate glasses with bits of chocolate, oak, herbs, leather, vanilla and pepper to illustrate the different characteristics in other wines. For example, a sniff of vanilla brings out that unique nature in the Muscat Canelli.

Lewis Cellars

In 1992 Debbie and Randy Lewis established a small family winery in Napa Valley and were later joined by their son Dennis in 1999. Total production is approximately 9,000 cases annually of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Lewis Celllars has no tasting room at this time but you can purchase via their website.

Yribarren Family Vineyards

Yribarren Family Vineyards logo

The Yribarren family produces pocket-friendly and enjoyable wines. Yribarren Family Vineyards produces several very palate-pleasing wines that include: Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Malbec (2015 took a Gold at SF wine) and San Joaquin River Syrah and a few more. All the wines are easy on the pocketbook and very enjoyable. Their tasting venue varies at this time so best to call for an appointment. Ask for Wendy at Yribarren Family Vineyards and tell both her and her husband Jeff that the folks at California Corks send their greetings.~

Hours:

Call for an appointment.  Yribarren Family Vineyards is a working farm, as well as a winery, so hours can vary.

Monticello Vineyards

The winery is located in the middle of the valley, not too far off of Highway 29, but just enough away from the beaten path to allow you to enjoy the beauty of the wine country. The property features a beautiful bulding modeled after Jefferson's Monticello and has picnic tables to taste outside. The tasting room was not overly crowded like others we have visited. When you visit, ask for Robin Williams. She is an incredible hostess! She makes you feel welcome and made our visit special They offer a nice selection of reds and whites. The best wines are priced under $40 a bottle, which is bargain for quality wine in the Napa Valley. Monticello is definitely worth a visit.

Freemark Abbey

Stopped by in the Fall to do a little tasting on our way up to the hot springs. I first went to this winery about 13 years ago and was a member for years. They have excellent red wines and fun harvest parties - complete with grape stomping! It's a quaint winery away from the crowds in Napa and couple of my favorites were the 2003 Cabernet Bosche and Zinfandel.

Berthoud Vineyards and Winery

Berthoud Wines (Berthoud is pronounced: BEAR2) are produced and estate bottled in the barn depicted on the label from vines that are meticulously managed to yield less than two tons of small, concentrated grapes per acre. The grapes are punched down by hand several times each day in traditional open-top redwood vats during fermentation to maximize color and flavor extraction in the gentlest mannerTasting and purchasing Berthoud Wines is available at
Mayo Family Winery 13101 Arnold Dr., Glen Ellen, CA

Twisted Oak Winery

The people were friendly and even though they didn't have a lot of white wine to taste their red wines were plentiful. The tasting room in Murphys is nice but you have to experience the winery and the trip to the winery to fully appreciate this twisted place. Of course, not everyone is into rubber chickens...

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