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re: Napa Valley recs
Posted on 1/2/23 at 10:43 pm to Fun Bunch
Posted on 1/2/23 at 10:43 pm to Fun Bunch
We loved Hall and Montelena. Cakebread was ok. If you’re going west, Copain was good and pretty, but hard to find in Louisiana, which is a bummer. Liked Dutton-Goldfield, too. Of those, liked Cakebread the least.
Posted on 1/3/23 at 11:29 am to Socrates Johnson
Appreciate all of the recommendations. How easy is it to get Ubers if going from one vineyard to the next?
Posted on 1/3/23 at 12:09 pm to Tha Herg
quote:
How easy is it to get Ubers if going from one vineyard to the next?
Hit or miss, depending on how remote your location is. And many are remote.
No Uber available and you’ll miss your next appointment and that’s no bueno.
Hire a driver. You’ll be glad that you did.
Posted on 1/3/23 at 12:19 pm to Tha Herg
quote:From my experience most people drive themselves. If you do two tastings a day and spread them out before and after lunch you’ll be fine. I was nervous prior to going but once you get there you realize the police aren’t out to bust people and you basically only use two main (very straight) roads and a couple of crossroads. If you attempt to go over a mountain that’s when things can get dicey. I think I only saw one police car in 5 days.
How easy is it to get Ubers if going from one vineyard to the next?
Posted on 1/3/23 at 3:40 pm to Panny Crickets
Second emphatic vote for hire a driver—not worth the risk and Uber/Lyft is not reliable up valley or in the mountains. If you’re just in Napa proper, Uber works great, Coombsville is okay, Yountville is pushing your luck.
I agree you can drive yourself on two visits a day if you’re there for more than a few days—I do not recommend driving down from Pritchard Hill or Howell Mountain with any sort of buzz. As far as cops, we’ve had trips where we didn’t see a single one and trips where Hwy 29 was littered with CHiPs. If you are visiting familiar places or run into an ‘accommodating’ host, particularly in the afternoon, good chance you can happily get over served and you’ll be glad you have a driver—expensive-yes, but worth every penny. I can give you driver recs if you need them.
I agree you can drive yourself on two visits a day if you’re there for more than a few days—I do not recommend driving down from Pritchard Hill or Howell Mountain with any sort of buzz. As far as cops, we’ve had trips where we didn’t see a single one and trips where Hwy 29 was littered with CHiPs. If you are visiting familiar places or run into an ‘accommodating’ host, particularly in the afternoon, good chance you can happily get over served and you’ll be glad you have a driver—expensive-yes, but worth every penny. I can give you driver recs if you need them.
Posted on 1/3/23 at 5:03 pm to Fun Bunch
3 sticks in Sonoma. It’s in a bungalow in town but wine is off the charts
Posted on 1/3/23 at 5:22 pm to Humpty Grumpy
quote:
I can give you driver recs if you need them.
Would love that. Most of our tastings are grouped together but are not in Napa proper. One grouping is in St Helena (Terraces and TBD) and the other is Rutherford (Stagland and Round Pond). Curious the price point to hire a driver for the middle of the day (10-3).
Posted on 1/3/23 at 5:58 pm to Tha Herg
Here’s a list of folks you can contact in no particular order. Suggest you reach out to each, discuss your plans, expectations, etc. Pricing can vary widely, but in most cases is by the hour.
Napa Sonoma Blend Wine Tours / John Kopilow
California Wine Services / Bill Boerum
Beau Wine Tours/ Michael Quinlan
A Drive For Wine
Perata Limousine Service
Posted on 1/3/23 at 6:09 pm to Humpty Grumpy
Great list, Mr Grump.
One more to add just in case: WhySpit. Good folk.
One more to add just in case: WhySpit. Good folk.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 4:05 pm to WacoTiger
quote:
Here is my recommendation, in order of preference:
1. Colgin (Ann Colgin - from Waco, Texas)
2. Peter Michael (Sir Peter Michael)
3. Fantesca (Heidi Barrett is their winemaker who made the iconic wine for years at Screaming Eagle)
4. Opus One (owned by Mondavi and Baron Philippine de Rothschild)
5. Darioush (did wine and olive oil tasting)
6. Chappellet
7. Quintessa
8. Far Niente (also owns Nickel & Nickel)
9. Nickel & Nickel (also owns Far Niente)
10. Joseph Phelps
11. Silver Oak
12. Schramsberg (mainly sparkling wine (not my favorite), but JD Davies is a good cabernet)
Had never heard of Colgin until I read your post. Looked into it and wow, rave reviews on their wines. We're going to Napa in August and booked a tasting at Colgin. Price is ridiculous but we'll probably never go again so worth the experience and tasting. Will report back after how it goes.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 7:29 pm to SuperDomed
Do a hot air balloon ride. Seriously. Amazing experience.
Mumm isn’t the best wine but one of the more enjoyable experiences and ridiculous views.
The overall grounds at Montelena are impressive.
Press is a very good restaurant.
Mumm isn’t the best wine but one of the more enjoyable experiences and ridiculous views.
The overall grounds at Montelena are impressive.
Press is a very good restaurant.
Posted on 6/22/23 at 9:56 am to Fun Bunch
quote:
hadn't looked into Schramburg, thanks for that rec.
The Schramsberg tour is really good. They are in the original cave that were carved out by the Chinese in the early 1900s. If you think you will join a wine club, do it before your trip and have one delivery prior. Then you will get 2 tastings/tours for free. I did that with Schramsberg.
I really enjoyed the Del Dotto tour as well. You do barrel tastings there and can see how a wine tastes at different stages of the aging process.
Posted on 6/22/23 at 10:16 am to LaLadyinTx
We did Schramsburg it was fun.
Posted on 6/22/23 at 12:52 pm to Fun Bunch
My cousin owns a winery in Sonoma. J Rickards. It is a small winery, but it has won many awards, and they take care of you. I think the tastings are $20/person. It gets great reviews.
Posted on 6/23/23 at 9:03 pm to SuperDomed
Enjoy the memorabilia, some cool stuff, lots of NBA stuff and even some stuff signed by Eli Manning. Danielle is an excellent hostess and knows her wine.
Posted on 6/24/23 at 9:03 am to Fun Bunch
Great area
This post was edited on 9/9/23 at 8:26 pm
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