Napa Valley Visit

[jsgolfer]

I'll be in SF in April and will be heading to Napa for the second time.  Last time I was there, I hit several of the standard wines you see in Wine Shops, Heitz, St. Clement, Stags Leap Wine Cellars, Chimney Rock and a couple others Pina and Miner Family.  Any Northern CA members, have any other suggestions for someplace different but the wines are excellent.  I've also been over to Sonoma, but we're going to stick around Napa for the day.

[mchepp]

For me, I am not a fan of the Napa Valley. WAY too expensive. Many of the places charge $40 or more tasting fee and then they don't even apply it to the bottles you may buy. There are only a couple I like. I recently found Clif Family Winery which was founded by the owner of the Clif bar. It is a nice tasting room and many good wines there. I recommend you look into areas like the Russian River which often have lower testing fees and less fluff. I like pinots and the Russian River is famous for their Pinots.

[billchao]

I recommend you look into areas like the Russian River which often have lower testing fees and less fluff. I like pinots and the Russian River is famous for their Pinots.

I've never been to any vineyards in CA, but I second this recommendation. Russian River Valley pinot noirs are really good.

[David in FL]

One of our favorites is Frank Family Vineyards. Chateau Montelena is worth a visit too. Both are in Calistoga.

[jsgolfer]

For me, I am not a fan of the Napa Valley. WAY too expensive. Many of the places charge $40 or more tasting fee and then they don't even apply it to the bottles you may buy. There are only a couple I like. I recently found Clif Family Winery which was founded by the owner of the Clif bar. It is a nice tasting room and many good wines there.

I recommend you look into areas like the Russian River which often have lower testing fees and less fluff. I like pinots and the Russian River is famous for their Pinots.

Yeah, I went to a couple of the winery webpages and saw the expensive tastings cost.  $40 for a tasting is ridiculous.  Unfortunately I'm not a very big Pinot fan, usually a little too thin for me.  I'm more of a Cabernet fan, more like snob.  There have only been a couple of pinot's I like and they are both by Belle Glos.

[mchepp]

Yeah, I went to a couple of the winery webpages and saw the expensive tastings cost.  $40 for a tasting is ridiculous.  Unfortunately I'm not a very big Pinot fan, usually a little too thin for me.  I'm more of a Cabernet fan, more like snob.  There have only been a couple of pinot's I like and they are both by Belle Glos.

If you like Cabs then Napa is your place. You can find Cabs in Sonoma but you will find that many of wineries that make the Cab use the grapes from Napa. They will be the most expensive wine they are selling.

I still recommend Clif and also I suggest one really good place such as Caymus or Opus One (I think both place require a reservation). You will need to pay a hefty sum for tasting but it will be the highlight of your trip.

[jsgolfer]

If you like Cabs then Napa is your place. You can find Cabs in Sonoma but you will find that many of wineries that make the Cab use the grapes from Napa. They will be the most expensive wine they are selling.

I still recommend Clif and also I suggest one really good place such as Caymus or Opus One (I think both place require a reservation). You will need to pay a hefty sum for tasting but it will be the highlight of your trip.

I will have to give the Clif Winery a try, been to Caymus already.  My fiance and I will be with her sister and they aren't really wino's so we'll have to see how much they want to spend for a tasting.

[k-troop]

Haven't been to Napa in years (long ago discovered I prefer the more laid back atmosphere of RRV) but Merryvale was one of my favorites. They have a giant "cask room" where you could reserve guided tastings and their wines were fantastic.

[jsgolfer]

We play Chardonnay GC Sunday morning, then Mustards Grill for lunch and then a tour of Stag Leaps Winery.  Have time for one more winery and then dinner at Don Giovanni Bistro.

We have the Jarvis Winery booked for one of our tours on Tuesday.  Looks really cool, tour is in their wine cave.  http://www.jarviswines.com/

Then we are going to try and hit Cliff Lede Winery, then either Mumm Napa or Black Stallion Winery.

[Mr. Desmond]

How about some big, spicy complex zinfandel?

They also have Syrah.

Try Biale...

http://www.robertbialevineyards.com/Contact.html?method=pages.showPage&pageid;=451a1c95-e8be-b515-0bc3-40171ff3f103

I prefer Russian River and Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg ... but one can always find something new between Yountville and Calistoga.

[jsgolfer]

I do like a good petite syrah or a good zin.  I actually like a Primitivo. Primitivo and Zinfandel are clones of the same grape variety .  Depends what the others want to try.  So many choices.

However, I'm more of a Cab snob.

[Mr. Desmond]

I do like a good petite syrah or a good zin.  I actually like a Primitivo.  Primitivo and Zinfandel are clones of the same grape variety.  Depends what the others want to try.  So many choices.

However, I'm more of a Cab snob.

There is always Stag's Leap, although it was bought out several years ago by a conglomerate.

I would stick with the independent - the family owned winery.

After so many years, I enjoy them all -- if excellent quality. Don't drink much now, but when I do, I like it to be better than good.

[jsgolfer]

Laird Family Vineyards looks nice

[jsgolfer]

So only had time to hit the Stags Leap Winery tour, which was fantastic and then went to Merryvale while we waited to go to dinner at The Press, which was awesome.  Merryvale wine was eh!

Mustards Grill for lunch was also great.