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Traveling to San Fran and Napa
Posted on 1/12/22 at 8:09 pm
Posted on 1/12/22 at 8:09 pm
Would like suggestions on vineyards. We have one reservation to Robert Mondavi.
Thoughts on cake bread and caymus?
Any other places to visit or eat in San Fran?
Thoughts on cake bread and caymus?
Any other places to visit or eat in San Fran?
Posted on 1/12/22 at 8:37 pm to TigerGM
There are a few Napa threads on here with a ton of suggestions.
Posted on 1/13/22 at 12:36 am to TigerGM
Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay is one of our favorites.
Posted on 1/13/22 at 4:11 am to TigerGM
How many days will you be in the Napa area and where are you staying?
How “into” wine are you guys? That will help us steer you in the right direction.
How “into” wine are you guys? That will help us steer you in the right direction.
Posted on 1/13/22 at 9:06 am to Panny Crickets
quote:
How “into” wine are you guys?
Based on the Mondavi reservation I'm going to go with "not very"
Posted on 1/13/22 at 9:26 am to Panny Crickets
We’ll be there Thursday-Monday. A friend wants to go to Robert Mondavi. We aren’t huge wine people. But would like suggestions to any vineyards with a good tasting and maybe lunch.
Posted on 1/13/22 at 9:30 am to Panny Crickets
We aren’t huge wine people. Going there for a wedding. But would still like to do some tastings and take in the scenery.
We’ll be around Calistoga.
We’ll be around Calistoga.
Posted on 1/13/22 at 9:34 am to TigerGM
Far Niete, Nickel & Nickel, Opus One
This post was edited on 1/13/22 at 10:12 am
Posted on 1/13/22 at 1:22 pm to TigerGM
Here is a quick summary that I shared with a friend on their first visit to Napa recently. This is not intended to be the ultimate Napa visit but I feel it is a good place for first timers to start with.
1. Oakville/Rutherford - this is the heart of Napa Valley located about 15 minutes north of Napa off Highway 29. There are dozens if not hundreds of great wineries in this region. The wineries here may produce several varietals including Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvingnon Blanc, and Chardonnay. However, the grapes grown here are almost exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon and the wineries would likely grow the other varietals in other parts of the valley. As a general rule, the most expensive grapes in California are grown here. Most of the vineyards (farmland) here is well over $1,000,000 per acre to purchase so many of the most expensive California winers are grown here. Our favorites here are:
Cakebread Cellars - they do a great food pairing with their tasing. A bit of a larger producer but they make great wines. The flagship Cabernet and Chardonnay are available in restaurants nationally but you will find small production and single vineyards wines in this tasting.
Caymus - The Wagner family was an early pioneer in the Vallay starting in the early 70s and produce outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon. It used to be a small intimate tasting around a large oak table (10 people or less).
Plumpjack - Nearly perfect Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. You can’t go wrong here.
Frog’s Leap - Beautiful farmhouse with a really interesting tour that lasts about 45 minutes. Great wines.
If these wineries are booked up, I would consider Bealieau Vineyards, The Prisoner Wine Company, St. Supery or Silver Oak. There is a small grocery in Oakville called the “Oakville Grocery” and is a fantastic place to stop for a picnic style lunch.
Two great options for dinner in this area include Mustards Grill (we go here every time for the pork chop), Bouchon, and Ad Hoc. You can’t go wrong with any of these.
2. Silverado Trail - This is the “Right Bank” of Napa and has dozens of great wineries. It extends North of Napa for about 30 miles between Highway 121 on the South near town and Highway 29 on the North near St. Helena. Similar to Oakville/Rutherford, these wineries have a heavy focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and produce some of California’s greatest examples. Our favorites are:
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (do not confuse this with Stag’s Leap Winery as they are two different wineries) - Outstanding wines, great tour if available, and this winery is the winery that won the 1976 Wine Tasing of Paris (Judgement of Paris) where French wine critics chose American wines over French Wines in a blind tasting. This was really the event that put California on the wine map.
Robert Sinskey - Great wines and they do an outstanding lunch pairing here so you don’t need to find a restaurant if you can get in.
Chimney Rock - One of our favorites with outstanding big red wines.
Mumm Napa - This is a sparkling (Champagne style) winery so it may not be your favorite but we love to make it the last stop of the day as they have a large patio overlooking the Napa Valley with great sunset views.
Other great wineries in the area include ZD, Clos Du Val, and Odette if the first four are booked.
1. Oakville/Rutherford - this is the heart of Napa Valley located about 15 minutes north of Napa off Highway 29. There are dozens if not hundreds of great wineries in this region. The wineries here may produce several varietals including Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvingnon Blanc, and Chardonnay. However, the grapes grown here are almost exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon and the wineries would likely grow the other varietals in other parts of the valley. As a general rule, the most expensive grapes in California are grown here. Most of the vineyards (farmland) here is well over $1,000,000 per acre to purchase so many of the most expensive California winers are grown here. Our favorites here are:
Cakebread Cellars - they do a great food pairing with their tasing. A bit of a larger producer but they make great wines. The flagship Cabernet and Chardonnay are available in restaurants nationally but you will find small production and single vineyards wines in this tasting.
Caymus - The Wagner family was an early pioneer in the Vallay starting in the early 70s and produce outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon. It used to be a small intimate tasting around a large oak table (10 people or less).
Plumpjack - Nearly perfect Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. You can’t go wrong here.
Frog’s Leap - Beautiful farmhouse with a really interesting tour that lasts about 45 minutes. Great wines.
If these wineries are booked up, I would consider Bealieau Vineyards, The Prisoner Wine Company, St. Supery or Silver Oak. There is a small grocery in Oakville called the “Oakville Grocery” and is a fantastic place to stop for a picnic style lunch.
Two great options for dinner in this area include Mustards Grill (we go here every time for the pork chop), Bouchon, and Ad Hoc. You can’t go wrong with any of these.
2. Silverado Trail - This is the “Right Bank” of Napa and has dozens of great wineries. It extends North of Napa for about 30 miles between Highway 121 on the South near town and Highway 29 on the North near St. Helena. Similar to Oakville/Rutherford, these wineries have a heavy focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and produce some of California’s greatest examples. Our favorites are:
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars (do not confuse this with Stag’s Leap Winery as they are two different wineries) - Outstanding wines, great tour if available, and this winery is the winery that won the 1976 Wine Tasing of Paris (Judgement of Paris) where French wine critics chose American wines over French Wines in a blind tasting. This was really the event that put California on the wine map.
Robert Sinskey - Great wines and they do an outstanding lunch pairing here so you don’t need to find a restaurant if you can get in.
Chimney Rock - One of our favorites with outstanding big red wines.
Mumm Napa - This is a sparkling (Champagne style) winery so it may not be your favorite but we love to make it the last stop of the day as they have a large patio overlooking the Napa Valley with great sunset views.
Other great wineries in the area include ZD, Clos Du Val, and Odette if the first four are booked.
Posted on 1/13/22 at 10:00 pm to TigerGM
Opus One is cool.
Stags Leap Wine Cellars is great.
Mondavi is solid.
V. Sattui is fun.
The Castellano is memorable.
Stags Leap Wine Cellars is great.
Mondavi is solid.
V. Sattui is fun.
The Castellano is memorable.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 8:43 pm to TigerGM
Coppola is cool, nice museum and buildings.
Chandon has a nice tasting room with view.
Mondovi does a good tour
Mumm is good.
Sterling up North has a gondola up to the top and nice view.
Chandon has a nice tasting room with view.
Mondovi does a good tour
Mumm is good.
Sterling up North has a gondola up to the top and nice view.
Posted on 1/15/22 at 10:26 pm to TigerGM
Mumm is very interesting The robot was worth the trip there. Great "champagne"
Far Niente - cool cars and has some history to it.
Cake Bread - Their cab is amazing. Best wine of our trip
We found a love for petite Syrah wile on the trip, maybe fine one or two.
We did a hot air ballon ride over the valley. Highlight of the trip. Not too pricey.
Sonoma right around the corner has affordable wine that is just a shade under Napa. Worth a visit.
Far Niente - cool cars and has some history to it.
Cake Bread - Their cab is amazing. Best wine of our trip
We found a love for petite Syrah wile on the trip, maybe fine one or two.
We did a hot air ballon ride over the valley. Highlight of the trip. Not too pricey.
Sonoma right around the corner has affordable wine that is just a shade under Napa. Worth a visit.
Posted on 1/16/22 at 2:07 pm to TigerGM
Vineyards: Duckhorn, Frank Family Vineyards, Sodero, Hall Wines, Cakebread
San Francisco: R&G Lounge in Chinatown
San Francisco: R&G Lounge in Chinatown
Posted on 1/16/22 at 3:56 pm to TigerGM
In San Fran, go get an Irish coffee at the Buena Vista.
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