Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc

Green & Red Vineyard

wine and cheese - Pixabay

I'm hesitant to tell anyone about this gem so I can keep this secret to myself but the zins are so outstanding that I suppose I should share. This is a small production winery that definitely focuses on quality over quantity but their price point is still so reasonable! If I were coming to the Napa Valley and only had time for one winery, I would come here, well worth the extra drive (it's sort of in the middle of nowhere). Appointment only and be prepared for the steep one way driveway.

Clif Bar Family Winery

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Wine was suprisingly good, Cliff did have all of the hiking/biking gear all over the place. I am a huge fan of Cliff bars so it was nice to see they are serious about winemaking. The prices are good, it was only $15 to taste a bunch of wines, and it included an expresso drink!

Jean Edwards Cellars

Entrance to Jean Edwards

Karen and John Troisi started Jean Edwards Cellars in 2004 and released their first wine in 2006, which was spectacular. Wine Spectator Magazine named them as one of "20 new cabernet producers to watch that could be the next cult wines". Jean Edwards Cellars is in the good company of well-known producers such as Scarecrow, Kapscandy, Ghost Block, MacAuley, and Oakville East. The fruit for this wine comes from the Stagecoach Vineyard located on Pritchard Hill on the eastern side of the Napa Valley. Their vines (neighboring with Paul Hobbs) have produced a delicious full-bodied, solid and classically styled Napa Cabernet. In the glass deep garnet-purple, with lovely dark cassis, plum, cedar and earth notes, hints of tobacco and vanilla and a delicious hint of dark chocolate on the palate. Aged 24 months in French Oak, the wine is 92% cabernet sauvignon and 8% cabernet franc. Jean Edwards Cellars produces full-bodied and wines yet not at all over the top, this wine has a balance and fineness that so many of the huge framed super expensive Napa Cabs seem to lack. Drinkable now, especially with a decanter, it will continue to gain complexity with additional cellaring for 5-10 years. Production was a mere 250 cases.~

Hours:
Tuesday & Wednesday  - Closed
Thursday - Monday- 11:00 am to 5:00 pm           
 

Trione Vineyards & Winery

wine barrel - Pixabay

Besides a great Sauv Blanc, Syrah and Cab, perfect California weather, comfortable outdoor seating, and peaceful views of the mustard-filled fields that embody the wine country; a great staff awaits you for a tour and tasting. They provided tasting notes on a card for each wine they served - providing us information while the server was helping someone else. I thought this was a very nice touch as it allowed us to take the notes with us and just add our personal comments. Other wineries provide the same info on a sheet of paper, this was just more convenient for us.

Barlow Vineyards

wine by the fireplace - Pixabay

Wow! What a great place to come across. I have been coming up to Napa for the past few years now and I have tasted alot of good wine but Barlow wines might be some of the best wines I have tasted in Napa Valley and not many people know about it! It's a family owned business with a father (Warren) and his son (Barr) who run the tastings at Warren's house on the Silverado trail. They only do two tasting appointments a day, so try and get an appointment ahead of time. There wines are fantastic! They do a Merlot, Zin, Sauvignon Blanc, Curvee blend and Cabernet Sauvignon. My favorite was the Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. They only make around 1,000 cases in total production a year and approaching their goal of 2,000 case a year!

Silver Stone Vineyards

grape cluster

At Silverstone, our winemaker has selected 2-year old American Oak barrels with just a hint of toasty oak influence to enhance the flavors of the wines and highlight the delicate character. Our winemaking regime is attentive with top quality always in mind, starting with vineyard selection, gentle fermentation technique and just the right amount of barrel and bottle aging. Each individual lot of wine is tasted throughout its maturation in the barrel to determine what will be the best blend for the final wine.

Scott Harvey Wines - Sutter Creek

Scott Harvey Wines logo

Scott Harvey Wines has tasting room in Sutter Creek and would love to welcome you to experience their wonderful wines. Scott Harvey and his wife have three tasting rooms for your pleasure and at each one "you will discover Old World winemaking meets New World Style".  Scott and Jana Harvey are serious about his winemaking yet they have never lost their focus that you are a visitor and they are quick to make you feel warm and cozy in their tasting room in Sutter Creek. Scott Harvey Wines also has tasting rooms n the Shenandoah Valley and in Clarksburg and are located in The Old Sugar Mill so don't miss them when you visit there. While all of Scott's wines are wonderful, don't miss out on a chance to get a bottle of Scott's "Vineyard 1869". This Zinfandel comes from a vineyard that dates back to 1869 and is a wonderful expression of "Old Vine Zin". 

Hours:
Mon-     11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tue-    11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wed-    11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thu-   11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fri-        11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat-       11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sun-      11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Laguna Canyon Winery

people sharing wine at the beach

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Laguna Canyon Winery, located between the scenic beauty of Laguna Beach and the urban surroundings of Orange County, was founded by award-winning vintner J.J. Huber. The winery brings a Canadian urban winemaking ethos to life, using grapes sourced from Napa and Sonoma Valley. With its use of Italian winemaking methods and equipment, the winery blends cultural influences to produce exceptional wines that consistently earn medals at the OC Fair Commercial Wine competition.

Visitors are invited to enjoy these meticulously crafted, award-winning wines while taking in the sounds of Rock 'n' Roll on a 10-foot screen, offering a truly unique wine-tasting experience in the heart of Laguna Beach, California—a hidden gem in Orange County.

Whether planning a corporate gathering, a private event, or simply seeking a delightful daytime wine tasting, guests can also explore the offerings of the winery’s exclusive wine club and savor the complex aromas and flavors of its boutique wines.

Painting by Agata Zaborowski Women enjoying wine

 

 

 

 

 

Mitchella Vineyard & Winery

In the eighties, after indulging in a fair amount of White Zinfandel, Angela and Darren Mitchell were converted by a bottle of 1987 Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon, sparking their passionate quest for fine red wine. By 1993, Darren, frustrated by the high costs of their new hobby, decided to take a winemaking class taught by local Zinfandel legend Charles Poalillo at Cuesta Community College. What began as a cost-saving measure evolved into a deeper pursuit of wine knowledge and production, leading to more classes at institutions such as UC Davis, Allan Hancock, Aspen School of Wine, Copia, and Cal Poly, as well as investments in equipment and supplies. Ultimately, this journey returned Darren to his farming roots with the establishment of their own vineyard.

In 1997, seeking greater control over the quality of their grapes, the couple planted their first crops: 10 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 acres of Syrah on the hilltop overlooking the old adobe farmhouse where Darren had grown up. They realized that to give the grapes the attention they deserved, they needed to move onto the property. What was intended to be a temporary two-year stay turned into a nearly nine-year adventure, culminating in the construction of the home and tasting room that exists today. Since then, their passionate endeavor has involved updating, cultivating, and nurturing the vineyard, producing small lots of truly handcrafted wines, and enjoying the fruits of their labor with friends, family, and customers.

Located just off Highway 46 East behind Robert Hall Winery, this family-owned estate winery features a rustic, Tuscan-style tasting room that extends from the main house. Visitors can enjoy award-winning estate wines in a welcoming, elegant, and relaxing atmosphere. Whether you choose to taste inside the tasting room, outside on the patio by the fountain, or within the enclosed patio, you will be treated to continuous views of the vineyard throughout your experience. It's an ideal spot for a picnic paired with a bottle of Mitchella wine. Additionally, a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, cheeses, crackers, and other small edibles are available for purchase.

David Coffaro Estate Winery

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

The wines here were very good really enjoyed them. They charge a $5 tasting fee, which is definitely worth it to try some of their nice blends as well as the Zin, Cab, and Petite Sirah. Nice winery with a great personality. The barrel tasting experience is great. The lobster bisque was very good. The wine selection made it all worth the trip and the picnic area really took things to a new place.

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